Oceanwings is a new development and concept from VPLP
Drawing on extensive experience in the field of rigid sail development, France’s VPLP Design has developed a two-element wingsail for commercial craft which is furlable, reefable and entirely automated.
Called Oceanwings, this new automated sailing system has been tested on small sail craft but is being developed for use as a sail assistance system for shipping.
From steam to diesel and now electricity: Finland’s oldest ferry has become the nation’s first all-electric passenger vessel after being fitted with Visedo power.
The City of Turku has seen the historic Föri ferry relaunched, complete with a new zero-emission electric drivetrain that will deliver greater efficiency, less noise and reduced operating costs.
The Föri initially entered service in 1904 after the City of Turku commissioned local shipyards Aktiebolaget Vulcan to build a city commuter ferry to take passengers across the Aura River to Åbo.
The new Wavecraft CTV from Norwegian firm Umoe Mandal
Umoe Mandal in Norway has unveiled a new design, the Wavecraft, a series of high-speed, all-composite service vessels designed for fast crew transport. The company says the high-speed craft offers offshore operators “a long range economical, commercially feasible and safe alternative to helicopters.”
REMBRANDT simulator will aid the MAIB in future investigations
BMT Ship & Coastal Dynamics (BMT), a subsidiary of BMT Group Ltd, has announced a new contract with the UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), acknowledged as a world leader in ship electronic evidence gathering, including VDR data recovery and interpretation. BMT has installed its industry leading marine navigation and manoeuvring REMBRANDT simulator and will provide ongoing specialised training, to allow MAIB personnel to benefit from its unique attributes.
Richard North, Technical Manager at MAIB comments: “REMBRANDT simulator is a well-regarded and trusted solution, widely used by a broad spectrum of stakeholders including pilot organisations, shipping companies on-board and ashore, naval architects, civil marine engineers and port authorities, therefore it was a natural choice for us. A key and unique attribute of REMBRANDT is its ability to automatically input a broad range of VDR data including 3D, Radar and bridge audio to deliver a more enhanced and accurate visual Continue reading “MAIB contracts with BMT Ship & Coastal Dynamics for their REMBRANDT simulator”
AIMEX, the Australian organisation that supports and promotes Australian marine exporters to succeed in global markets has called on the Federal Government to change restrictive legislation holding back Australia’s superyacht industry after an economic impact study revealed its high value to the Australian economy.
The AEC Group study found the Australian superyacht industry contributed a total of A$1.97 billion ($1.5 billion) to gross domestic product (GDP) in the 2016 financial year.
Conducting around 900 surveys per year in the port of Hamburg, Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) requires high-end products for their multi-sensor systems and survey vessels.
The vessel ‘Deepenschriewer IV’ is the smallest survey vessel of Hamburg Port Authority and intended to carry out multibeam surveys for depth control and documenting in shallow water areas. For this purpose, MBT, MacArtney Germany, has done supply, installation, and setting-to-work of a dual head multibeam echo sounder system suitable for hydrographic survey applications.
The Canal & River Trust kicks off ‘Boats in Bloom’ Awards. (Photo from Gardeners’ World Live 2016)
‘It’s blooming marvellous on the waterways’ is the theme by the Canal & River Trust about the green fingered boaters and waterside gardeners in the UK. The charity is launching its first-ever ‘Boats in Bloom’ awards to say thank you to the many people who bring the waterways in Britain to life with plants and flowers.
Starting in May, the Canal & River Trust will be presenting colourful certificates to anyone whose boat or waterside planting is putting a smile on the face of passers-by. The charity is also calling on people to share photos of blossoming boats and waterways to create an online gallery to inspire and delight others.
As we emerge from winter and go full into Spring in the UK, I become fully energised at this time and the passing of the years does not diminish this. As we emerge from the gloom of winter, the weather improves, daylight hours get longer, I can cycle in the late evening sunshine and my life changes with the changing seasons.
Setting this new found optimism against a darkening international political backdrop slightly takes the edge off things for sure. These are worrying times. We are all watching what is happening in the world closely I am sure. It leads me to question if there are implications for the marine surveying sector specifically? I suspect not however. Many surveyors already work in highly dangerous locations across the world and in difficult circumstances too, performing their important and challenging roles. But if I have one message it is to be safe in your work and to ensure you risk assess carefully.
The first two 105HT superyachts have been delivered by Turkish yard Numarine
Hull one, also known as Dolce Vita, was delivered to a European client and hull two was delivered to Hong Kong says Turkish superyacht builder Numarine. Both interior and exterior design for the hulls were delivered by Can Yalman and featured a distinctive sporty exterior.
Speaking about the hardtop design, Yalman commented, “The Numarine HT design language involves gill shaped glass elements in the superstructure. Previously we have used this in the ceiling panels, but in the 105HT this has been taken to the extreme and the complete side glass has this gilled, scaled structure emphasising the power within.”
Increasing frequency of major vessel casualties is causing concerns for underwriters says the International Union of Marine Insurance
Statistics released at the International Union of Marine Insurance Annual Spring meeting in Hamburg have raised a series of issues that will continue to challenge marine underwriters for the foreseeable future.
The frequency of major vessel casualties rose again in 2016 for the second consecutive year reports the International Union of Marine Insurance. They had enjoyed a year-on-year decline until 2015 when they recorded a sharp upturn which was continued in 2016.
Photo taken by a Spence crew member and provided by the Coast Guard of the listing vessel
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has concluded its investigation and has issued a full report about the incident on the towing vessel Spence, which caused it to list badly before finally sinking. The incident occurred on 14 December 2015 about 115 nm north of Cartagena, Colombia.
The NTSB report says that the list increased despite efforts by the crew to correct it. Consequently, the captain activated the vessel’s emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB), and the crew climbed onto the barge that the Spence was towing. The towing vessel sank shortly thereafter. US Coast Guard District 7 received the EPIRB alert and directed the Coast Guard cutter Decisive to the scene. On arrival, the Decisive rescued the four crew members from the drifting barge. Three crew members sustained non-life threatening injuries.
IIMS arranged a visit for a dozen members and non-members to the Royal Huisman superyacht yard in Vollenove, Netherlands on 6 and 7 April, followed by half a day’s training on day two.
The yard visit, which had been planned for some months, was hailed a great success by those who attended. To see and understand at first hand the challenges and high skills required to produce these iconic craft was a privilege indeed.
