Marine News

The future of fish farming vessels is here now in the form of a fully electric workboat

Posted on by News Hound

‘Astrid Helene’ is a fully electric salmon farm workboat designed and built by Grovfjord Mekaniske Verksted, Norway. Owner/ operator Northern Lights Salmon saves the planet from up to 90t CO2 and 900kg of NOx particles annually – the average emission of a diesel powered fish-farm workboat.

There are no longer any diesel fumes on deck either. For crew, the fumes could be quite annoying – particularly if the wind was blowing it in their direction. Now, there is just clean air.

Fully electric work boats such as Astrid Helene will play a key role in the industry’s future: “Electric work boats are perfect for fish farming. Continue reading “The future of fish farming vessels is here now in the form of a fully electric workboat”

ICOMIA Small Craft Standards Bulletin Edition 2019-1 has been published

Posted on by News Hound

The International Council of Marine Industry Associations’ (ICOMIA) Small Craft Standards Bulletin provides industry stakeholders with early notification on changes to existing standards and modifications to production methods; as developed and maintained by the ISO (International Organization for Standards) Technical Committee for Small Craft Standards – TC188 and SC2

The 11th edition of the ICOMIA Small Craft Standards Bulletin provides an update of standards following a week of ISO TC 188 & SC 2 Working Group meetings which took place during BOOT held in Düsseldorf, Germany, from 21 – 25 January 2019.

Continue reading “ICOMIA Small Craft Standards Bulletin Edition 2019-1 has been published”

Poor maintenance the key cause leading to sinking of Ms Nancy C says report

Posted on by News Hound
Photo by Frank Kammerer, towboatgallery.com
Photo by Frank Kammerer, towboatgallery.com

The NTSB has published its investigation report into the flooding and sinking of the towing vessel ‘Nancy C’ on Lower Mississippi River, near Dyersville, Tennessee, in March 2018. The investigation has identified poor maintenance as the principle cause of the incident.

On 6 March 2018, about 1630 local time, the uninspected towing vessel Ms Nancy C was moving and positioning cargo barges while operating in Everett Lake, a tributary of the Mississippi River, when a deckhand discovered water in a void at the stern of the vessel. While the captain and deckhand attempted to dewater the vessel, it sank in 15 feet of water. Both crew members disembarked to a barge prior to the sinking without injury. Damage was estimated at $667,306.

Continue reading “Poor maintenance the key cause leading to sinking of Ms Nancy C says report”

IMO introduces new safety signage standard

Posted on by News Hound
The ISO Committee on Graphical Symbols had been working to devise a consistent system for safety signage for both maritime and on-shore applications
The ISO Committee on Graphical Symbols had been working to devise a consistent system for safety signage for both maritime and on-shore applications

Since 1st January 2019, hundreds of new International Maritime Organisation (IMO) compliant signs entered into force as part of the new IMO Resolution A.1116(30) Escape Route Signs and Equipment Location Markings. The assembly of the IMO recalls resolutions A760(18) as amended by resolution MSC82(70), and A952(23).

It has agreed to adopt the safety symbols of ISO 7010 and ISO 24409-2 and, subsequently, all escape route signs, equipment location markings and other safety signage aboard a vessel must be compliant and brought into line.

Continue reading “IMO introduces new safety signage standard”

New technology – the root of all evil or the way forward?

Posted on by CEO

We all love to knock new technology it seems don’t we? For many of us, technology can be something of an Achilles heel and because we do not understand it, we go slightly negative and on the defensive! However, I have been genuinely taken aback by the initial feedback following the launch of the IIMS Marine Surveyor Search App last month. Comments received such as “Simplicity itself” and “Fabulous cutting-edge initiative IIMS” have certainly buoyed me up. One gets so close to these projects during the development phase, so it is pleasing to get positive early feedback from real users who see instant benefit. Interestingly only a handful of IIMS members have yet to download the App. I urge you to do so. Our developers, eDot Solutions, have released several updated versions and are continuing to look for ways to enhance the App and the experience of using it. Keep watching for more news. If you have yet to engage with the App, this link will help you do that.

Continue reading “New technology – the root of all evil or the way forward?”

Reducing the risk of incidents due to systemic failures booklet published

Posted on by News Hound

The guide ‘Reducing the risk of incidents due to systemic failures’ is based on the partnership between Bureau Veritas, TMC Marine and the London P&I Club. It offers guidance on decreasing onboard systemic failures and highlights the challenges in shipping with the aim of preventing injury, loss of life and damage to ships and cargo.

Essentially the booklet focuses on enhanced onboard systems so that they are in line with the requirements of the International Safety Management (ISM) Code’s Safety Management Systems to reduce risk and develop a culture of continual improvement.

The publication provides an insight into systemic failures on board ships in response to a global trend of increases in system deficiencies related to the requirements of the ISM code.

Continue reading “Reducing the risk of incidents due to systemic failures booklet published”

UK MAIB issues amended guidance to MGN 564 on marine incident reporting

Posted on by News Hound

The MAIB investigates marine casualties involving UK vessels worldwide and vessels of any flag in UK territorial waters with the aim of preventing further avoidable accidents from recurring in the future. The UK MAIB has published amended guidance on marine incident reporting – what who and when an incident should be notified – with modifications made to MGN 564.

Who must report
The master/skipper, or senior surviving officer of a UK ship must notify the MAIB of any marine casualty or marine incident.

The master/skipper of any ship must notify the MAIB of any marine casualty or marine incident if:
– the ship is within UK waters and carrying passengers to / from the UK, or
Continue reading “UK MAIB issues amended guidance to MGN 564 on marine incident reporting”

MCA safety bulletin issued for all mariners who use GPS equipment

Posted on by News Hound
Credit: Vic Drosso
Credit: Vic Drosso

The Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) has issued a special safety bulletin to all mariners that use GPS to prepare for a rollover event that will occur on 6 April 2019.

On April 6 navigation data from some older GPS systems might become inaccurate due to the ‘week number’ rollover event.

This could cause stand-alone GPS receivers and systems using GPS chips, to produce data that is 19.7 years either in the past or future, therefore generating errors in both the GPS position and time. However, if onboard equipment has been installed after August 1999, or has regular firmware updates from the manufacturer, there should be minimal Continue reading “MCA safety bulletin issued for all mariners who use GPS equipment”

Guidelines on cyber security onboard ships

Posted on by News Hound

Ships are increasingly using systems that rely on digitisation, digitalisation, integration and automation, which call for cyber risk management on board. As technology continues to develop, information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) onboard ships are being networked together – and more frequently connected to the internet. This brings the greater risk of unauthorised access or malicious attacks to ships’ systems and networks. Risks may also occur from personnel accessing systems on board, for example by introducing malware via removable media.

To mitigate the potential safety, environmental and commercial consequences of a cyber incident, a group of international shipping Continue reading “Guidelines on cyber security onboard ships”

DNV GL rolls out remote surveys for all vessels

Posted on by News Hound
The Maritime Operational Centre in Høvik from where remote surveys are being carried out.
The Maritime Operational Centre in Høvik from where remote surveys are being carried out.

Leading classification society DNV GL announced today that all DNV GL classed vessels are now able to utilize the possibility of remote surveys for some inspections through the Veracity data platform. This means that for a range of surveys, a DNV GL surveyor will not be required to travel to the vessel.

Instead, by using an online connection or video streaming link, a dedicated team of remote surveyors can provide support to vessels anywhere in the world with documentation, images, video (streaming or recordings), and input provided by the customer and crew.

“This is another big step forward in using the power of digitalization and increased connectivity to deliver smarter and more efficient services,” said Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, CEO of DNV GL – Maritime.

Continue reading “DNV GL rolls out remote surveys for all vessels”

Danish Maritime Authority gives approval to innovative new survival craft

Posted on by News Hound
With four independent electric engines at its corners, each Survival Craft is highly manoeuvrable.
With four independent electric engines at its corners, each Survival Craft is highly manoeuvrable.

The Danish Maritime Authority (DMA) has officially approved the LifeCraft Survival Craft by Viking as a Novel Life-Saving Appliance.

The device now meets the requirements for replacing conventional lifeboats on passenger ships and advancing progress toward greater safety in large-scale ship evacuation emergencies.

The approval, awarded on March 8, 2019, is the culmination of a long development and approval process including heavy weather trials in November 2018. Viking claims that the DMA approval marks the first time a truly ‘Novel’ Lifesaving Appliance (LSA) has been approved anywhere in the world. Continue reading “Danish Maritime Authority gives approval to innovative new survival craft”

Windfarm crew transfer vessels are getting larger

Posted on by News Hound
MHO Gurli and MHO Esbjerg are operated from the third deck, where the wheelhouse and workstations enjoy uninterrupted vision of the turbine tower and surrounding working areas.
MHO Gurli and MHO Esbjerg are operated from the third deck, where the wheelhouse and workstations enjoy uninterrupted vision of the turbine tower and surrounding working areas.

Tasmanian high speed catamaran designers Incat Crowther recently announced the delivery of the 39m Multipurpose Crew Transfer Vessels ‘MHO Gurli’ and ‘MHO Esbjerg’.

The vessels were built by PT Bintang Timur Samudera in Indonesia and delivered to MH-O & Co to be operated in European waters for Orsted in their Hornsea Project One offshore wind farm.

The vessels, designed by Incat Crowther, are the largest Wind Farm Support Vessels to enter service to date anywhere in the world. They draw on Incat Crowther’s experience with larger offshore fast catamarans operating in the oil and gas industry.

The platform was specifically designed to deliver exceptional seakeeping, stability and comfort, whilst accommodating a highly redundant quad-engine / quad-jet propulsion package.

Continue reading “Windfarm crew transfer vessels are getting larger”

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