Marine News

USCG says MARPOL deficiencies found on bilge alarm systems

Posted on by News Hound
USCG makes recommendations after discovery
USCG makes recommendations after discovery

During an inspection by the Marine Safety Detachment Port Canaveral Port State Control Officers, there were MARPOL deficiencies identified related to the 15-ppm Bilge Alarm system of the Oily Water Separators (OWS) onboard four separate ships.

Specifically, the PSCOs discovered that the entries in the Oil Record Book (ORB) weren’t compliant to the Bilge Alarm Data being displayed by the bilge alarm, also known as oil content meter.

Concerning the Bilge Alarm Data, it is required to record:
– date
– time
– alarm status
– the operating status of the 15-ppm Bilge Separator.

Moreover, the device is required to store the data for minimum of eight months, so that data is displayed or printed in a protocol for official system inspections as Continue reading “USCG says MARPOL deficiencies found on bilge alarm systems”

Clipper Ventures calls for independent inquiry into the MCA and MAIB

Posted on by News Hound
Simon Speirs was lost overboard while working forward when tragically his tether line hook distorted and released. Image © Clipper Race

Following an investigation into the tragic death of Simon Speirs, Clipper Ventures has called on the Department for Transport to hold an independent inquiry to establish the full extent of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) investigatory teams’ failure of professionalism, impartiality and honesty.

On the 18th November 2017, Simon Speirs, a 60 year old retired solicitor, fell overboard whilst helping to reduce sail. The yacht, CV30, owned by Clipper Ventures, was participating in an around the world race and was experiencing increasing winds and sea state in the Southern Ocean. Mr Speirs was tethered to the boat but fell overboard due to a freak failure of a tether safety clip. Mr Speirs was recovered Continue reading “Clipper Ventures calls for independent inquiry into the MCA and MAIB”

AMSA set to consult with accredited marine surveyors and others over standards for domestic commercial vessels

Posted on by News Hound
AMSA is reviewing its approach to setting standards
AMSA is reviewing its approach to setting standards

To ensure standards are fit for purpose for the domestic industry, the Australian Maritime Authority (AMSA) is reviewing its approach to setting standards. For this reason, in August 2019, AMSA will be consulting with individual stakeholders, focusing on those who have regular, direct interaction with the technical standards.

AMSA is responsible for developing and maintaining the National Standard for Commercial Vessels (NSCV), which is the contemporary technical standard for domestic commercial vessels.

To make sure that the standards remain fit for purpose for the Continue reading “AMSA set to consult with accredited marine surveyors and others over standards for domestic commercial vessels”

Shipwreck of 500-Year-Old Vessel Discovered in Baltic Sea Looks ‘Like it Sank Yesterday’

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Credit: Deep Sea Productions/MMT
Credit: Deep Sea Productions/MMT

An international team of scientists has announced the discovery of a shipwreck. The 500-year-old ship remains pristinely intact in the cold, dark depths of the Baltic Sea.

Scientists say the shipwreck is perhaps the best preserved shipwreck of its period yet to be discovered.

It was first detected in 2009 by the Swedish Maritime Administration using state-of-the-art sonar. For years it went unexplored until earlier this year when, as part of work carried out by survey specialists MMT, the wreck was identified as having great archaeological and historical significance.

Further inspection of the wreck was led by Dr. Rodrigo Pacheco-Ruiz, Continue reading “Shipwreck of 500-Year-Old Vessel Discovered in Baltic Sea Looks ‘Like it Sank Yesterday’”

The opportunities that long haul flights present for strategic thinking

Posted on by CEO

Long haul flights present the perfect downtime for thinking and reflection in my opinion. Those endless hours whiling away the time in the air, wondering how many more absurd movies you can watch or books you can read, is a challenge! It’s true, I do a lot of strategic thinking when I travel. My colleagues tease me whenever I come back from a long trip as my head is stuffed with good ideas, well some are good, some less so.

How lucky for me then that I am about to head out to Australia the week after next – more thinking time – stopping in Singapore on the way back. I am particularly thrilled at the number of members and non-members who have signed up for the two day IIMS Australia seminar in Brisbane. We are quite a crowd. I am very much looking forward to meeting both those I know well and those who I have never Continue reading “The opportunities that long haul flights present for strategic thinking”

Red diesel propulsion ban consultation opened by UK government

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HM Revenue and Customs
HM Revenue and Customs

The UK government intends to abolish the scheme introduced in 2008 that allowed users of diesel powered private pleasure craft, including yachts, narrowboats and and motorboats to purchase red diesel and pay the duty differential between red and white diesel on the fuel used for propulsion.

The government intends to remove the right of operators of such craft to use red diesel for propulsion and mandate the use of white diesel in its place. Users will be allowed to continue to use red diesel for on-board non-propulsion use where they have a separate fuel tank for this purpose. This means that craft with only one Continue reading “Red diesel propulsion ban consultation opened by UK government”

Maritime Annual Report 2018-2019 published by the UK Government

Posted on by News Hound
Maritime Annual Report
Maritime Annual Report

The UK Government has released its Maritime Annual Report 2018-2019 and Nusrat Ghani MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Transport, Minister for Maritime, says in her introduction:

“As Maritime Minister over the past year I have had the privilege to see first-hand the extraordinary work done across the sector. I am delighted to say that this period has seen Government deliver ground breaking work, and this report shines
a spotlight on a number of these outstanding achievements.

This year we have published Maritime 2050, a long-term strategy that lays out our ambitions for the sector. It is the first strategy of its kind in a generation, and it is indicative of the type of ambitious, original Continue reading “Maritime Annual Report 2018-2019 published by the UK Government”

Norway plans to eliminate accidents involving recreational boats

Posted on by News Hound
Norway plans to eliminate recreational boat accidents
Norway plans to eliminate recreational boat accidents

The Norwegian Minister of Trade and Industry Torbjørn Røe has initiated an action plan to reduce the number of serious accidents related with the use of recreational boats in Norwegian waters. The government has a zero-accidents vision for boat traffic.

The target is to achieve zero accidents associated with recreational boats at sea. For this reason, the Norwegian Maritime Directorate was tasked to prepare the plan, which covers the period from 2019 to 2023.

In addition to the zero vision, an ambitious milestone for the first period has been set: 50% reduction in the number of fatalities associated with use of recreational boats before the end of the planning period.

“We want everyone to come home safely when they have been on the sea, Continue reading “Norway plans to eliminate accidents involving recreational boats”

Tiger One report by MAIB says impact of collision lessened by the use of a kill cord and robust construction

Posted on by News Hound
Tiger One was severely damaged.
Tiger One was severely damaged.

The MAIB has published its report into the incident on the River Thames involving Tiger One. At 1738 on 17 January 2019, the commercially operated rigid inflatable boat Tiger One hit a mooring buoy on the River Thames in London, England, at a speed of about 26 knots in darkness. Two passengers and the boat’s two crew were taken to hospital with minor injuries. Tiger One was severely damaged.

Tiger One was one of two 12m RIBs owned and Continue reading “Tiger One report by MAIB says impact of collision lessened by the use of a kill cord and robust construction”

Murrills House set to become the Institute’s permanent home as IIMS opens crowdfunding opportunity

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Murrills House is set to become the permanent home for IIMS
Murrills House is set to become the permanent home for IIMS

In a strange turn of events, Murrills House in Portchester, UK, is set to become the new Head Quarters of the IIMS. But wait a minute I hear you say. IIMS is already headquartered in Murrills House isn’t it? Yes you are right of course. IIMS has been renting these offices for the past decade since its move from Gosport. But with the end of the lease looming, IIMS entered into talks with the landlord earlier this year with a view to the Institute acquiring the freehold of the property and adjacent land. The outright purchase of suitable office accommodation rather than renting one was something that the membership voted in favour of at the 2018 AGM.

So now IIMS would like your help. We are reaching out to the members and supporters of the Institute to invite them to make a financial donation towards the essential maintenance we would like to undertake upon completion of the deal to secure Murrills House as the Continue reading “Murrills House set to become the Institute’s permanent home as IIMS opens crowdfunding opportunity”

Superyacht leaders vow to reduce industry’s carbon footprint

Posted on by News Hound
Superyacht leaders vow to reduce industry's carbon footprint
Superyacht leaders vow to reduce industry’s carbon footprint

Some of the biggest names in the superyacht industry have vowed to reduce their carbon footprint in support of the non-profit organisation, Water Revolution Foundation.

So far Benetti, Feadship, Heesen, Lürssen, Abeking & Rasmussen, Alexseal, Amels and Damen, MB92 and Rybovich have signed up to help reduce the carbon footprint of the superyacht industry.

The arrangement means the yachting companies have made a promise to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. They will also make Continue reading “Superyacht leaders vow to reduce industry’s carbon footprint”

MAIB Annual Report 2018 and review published

Posted on by News Hound
MAIB Annual Report 2018 has been published
MAIB Annual Report 2018 has been published

The MAIB 2018 Annual Report  has been published and is available to read in full as a 104 page pdf document which can be downloaded below.

Captain Andrew Moll, Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents of the Marine Accident Investigation Branch, says in the MAIB Annual Report 2018 introduction:

“2018 was a challenging year for the MAIB, though to some extent it was business as usual. The year saw 1227 accidents reported, just a few less than the previous year; and 23 investigations started, up from 21 in 2017 but still lower than 2016 when the Branch started 29 Continue reading “MAIB Annual Report 2018 and review published”

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