New ‘smart yacht’ forum planned for Monaco

A new event focusing on smart yachts from 24m (79ft) and above is scheduled to be held from March 23-24 at the Yacht Club de Monaco (YCM).

The 1st Monaco Smart Yacht Rendezvous is being organised by M3 (Monaco Marina Management), a Monegasque consultancy specialised in eco-marinas, and follows on from the success of its Monaco Smart & Sustainable Marina Rendezvous held in advance of the Monaco Yacht Show 2022.

With this new event, M3 wants to promote sustainable solutions for superyachts, Continue reading “New ‘smart yacht’ forum planned for Monaco”

Announcing the Ian Nicolson Lecture: Your invitation to attend

Image credit: The Helensburgh Advertiser
Image credit: The Helensburgh Advertiser

One of the more interesting nonagenarians you are likely to meet is Ian Nicolson C.Eng. FRINA HonMIIMS, a marine surveyor based in Scotland, who is not your average ninety-plus-year-old. For one thing, he has been marine surveying for over 70 years – in itself a remarkable feat.

IIMS is delighted to be hosting the Ian Nicolson Lecture “Lessons learned from 78 years of marine surveying” live on Thursday 13th April between 10.30 and 12.30 (UK time). The lecture is open to anyone who wishes to attend. Continue reading “Announcing the Ian Nicolson Lecture: Your invitation to attend”

Here’s hoping for a calmer year ahead

The Legacy of the Fjords. Image credit thefjords.no
The Legacy of the Fjords. Image credit thefjords.no

Welcome to 2023. I wish you all the best for a fulfilling and successful year ahead despite the global challenges that surround us.

The January news bulletin is a bumper start to the year. I have decided to introduce a new feature that will appear in this and subsequent monthly news bulletins. Compiling the IIMS 2022 Safety & Loss Prevention Briefings Compendium late last year made me aware of just how many marine incidents and accidents are reported each month, many of which go unnoticed. I decided rather than saving them all up to publish at the end of this year, I’d share them with you on a month-by-month basis. I believe it is important to give surveyors (and the Continue reading “Here’s hoping for a calmer year ahead”

Poor wiring results in ship’s detention

Photo credit: American Club
Photo credit: American Club

In its most recent “Good Catch” series, the American Club has shared a case where a ship was detained due to an ISM deficiency, arising from poor wiring.

Since there was no electrician onboard, the vessel’s third engineer was sent to investigate why the vessel’s forward anchor light was out. He found the wiring in extremely poor condition. The insulation was missing in some areas and heavily cracked in others. The wire itself was shorted out against the side of the deck penetration. He made repairs using some wire he had in his tool belt and a lot of electrical tape. He then reported that the problem was fixed. Continue reading “Poor wiring results in ship’s detention”

New International Code of Safety for Ships Carrying Industrial Personnel

The IMO has adopted a new mandatory International Code of Safety for Ships Carrying Industrial Personnel (IP Code), anchored in a new SOLAS Chapter XV. The code enters into force on 1 July 2024 and enables cargo ships and high-speed cargo craft to transport and accommodate industrial personnel working offshore. A growing offshore energy sector, including renewable energy construction projects, has triggered the need for clear requirements to facilitate the safe and efficient transfer of technicians serving offshore installations.

The new IP Code is based on the Code of Safety for Special Purpose Ships (2008 SPS Code), but with adaptations and provisions for the Continue reading “New International Code of Safety for Ships Carrying Industrial Personnel”

Provisional announcement of a 2023 IIMS UK Conference in June

Chilworth Manor Hotel near Southampton
Chilworth Manor Hotel near Southampton

You are invited to join us for the first truly hybrid IIMS Annual Conference on 6-7 June 2023. The last face-to-face IIMS Annual Conference took place way back in 2019. With the pandemic receding, IIMS has decided it is long overdue and plans to test the Conference waters again. So, the Institute is delighted to announce the 2023 Annual Conference, AGM and Dinner which is scheduled to take place on Tuesday 6 and Wednesday 7 June.

All are welcome and encouraged to participate in the event, either face-to-face or by Zoom Continue reading “Provisional announcement of a 2023 IIMS UK Conference in June”

IIMS 2022 Safety & Loss Prevention Briefings Compendium published

Following the surprise runaway success of the first edition of the Safety & Loss Prevention Briefings Compendium, published in January 2022 by the International Institute of Marine Surveying (IIMS), and subsequently downloaded many thousands of times, Edition II has been launched covering the period January to October 2022. It is now available to download and read in pdf or eReader formats.

Edition II builds on the success of the launch publication and extends to 160 pages. The simple aim is to highlight the dangers of working in the maritime industry, the ensuing accidents and some of the prevention measures available to mitigate disasters at sea. The publication blends a mix of incident and accident reports with essential loss prevention advice generated over the year. One significant new feature is a calendar, featuring some of the many accidents that have occurred during 2022, catalogued month by month. Continue reading “IIMS 2022 Safety & Loss Prevention Briefings Compendium published”

Lack of personal flotation device led to skipper’s death

Colin Golder perished because he was not wearing a personal flotation device
Colin Golder perished because he was not wearing a personal flotation device

In a tragic accident, the failure by a skipper to wear a personal flotation device, harness and tether, caused his death when he was washed overboard during the 2022 Newport-Bermuda race in June 2022 is the finding from a review by US Sailing.

Colin Golder was racing the Centurion 42, Morgan of Marietta, when he went overboard on 19 June 200 miles off the US east coast. Despite the efforts of the crew, which rescued Colin in challenging seas, he died soon after, most likely from drowning.

US Sailing’s review and subsequent report of the incident attribute his death primarily Continue reading “Lack of personal flotation device led to skipper’s death”

Planned maintenance on domestic commercial vessels safety alert from AMSA

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has published a safety alert to draw the attention of vessel operators to the importance of planned maintenance in ensuring the safe operation of domestic commercial vessels in Australia.

Planned maintenance is essential on domestic commercial vessels. Good maintenance work in port or at anchor can help avoid breakdowns and getting into hazardous situations at sea. Recent incidents have demonstrated the potentially serious consequences of a lack of effective maintenance that can pose serious risks to the safe operation of vessels. Analysis of 117 incident investigations since 2020 found that maintenance problems were a factor in 28% of incidents, including half of the very serious incidents and 27% of serious Continue reading “Planned maintenance on domestic commercial vessels safety alert from AMSA”

CRT publishes Boater Report 2022

The Boater Report 2022 has been released by the CRT
The Boater Report 2022 has been released by the CRT

The Canal & River Trust has published its Boater Report 2022 into how it generates its income and how that money is invested on behalf of its licence holders. Income for the year remained broadly stable and the Trust was able to increase the amount spent on core maintenance and repair works

The Boater Report 2022 highlights examples of the work the Trust carries out to keep the waterways safe and open for navigation, including 451 planned repairs and 52 arising and emergency repairs. Over the year the Trust replaced 132 lock gates, dredged 37km and removed almost 125,500 tonnes of silt. Continue reading “CRT publishes Boater Report 2022”

Women seafarers experience onboard gender-based discrimination, harassment and bullying are key report findings

An in-depth survey into the maritime industry has revealed shocking figures in gender-based discrimination against women, onboard harassment and bullying. The Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA International), Anglo Eastern, International Seafarers Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN) and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) conducted a public online survey designed to examine how female seafarers perceived “discrimination” and how it manifested itself onboard based on their personal experiences. The complete findings from the survey and recommendations are published in The Diversity Handbook, being launched at the WISTA International conference in Geneva, Switzerland, on 26 October 2022. Continue reading “Women seafarers experience onboard gender-based discrimination, harassment and bullying are key report findings”

Former Discovery Yachts director ordered to make £1m payout

An ex director of Discovery Yachts Group will have to pay over a million pounds in compensation to a couple who sued the company over their leaking boat. Both Discovery Yachts Group and Discovery Yachts Ltd, are in liquidation – but Discovery Group’s ex-director Sean Langdon, 58, will now have to pay £1.12m compensation in person after losing a lawsuit.

Andrew France and his wife Maria bought the 58-foot Discovery sailing yacht ‘Elusive’ for £1.5 million in January 2017.
They sued Southampton based boat broker Discovery Yachts Sales Ltd (DYS) and Discovery Yachts Group Ltd Continue reading “Former Discovery Yachts director ordered to make £1m payout”

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