Marine News

PowerCell Sweden AB has received the first marine order for two S3 prototype stacks

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Per Wassen, CEO of Powercell Sweden AB
Per Wassen, CEO of Powercell Sweden AB

The leading fuel cell company PowerCell Sweden AB (publ) has received the first marine order for two PowerCell S3 prototype stacks, which Swiss Hydrogen will install on a ship powered by photovoltaics.

“The marine industry is a very interesting area, in which our capacity to deliver electricity without emissions is extremely important. This order comprises two PowerCell S3 prototypes. The order is of strategic importance, but has a limited effect on the result. We are responsible for the fuel cells and Swiss Hydrogen will manufacture the system and conduct adjustments to certify it for the marine environment. The advantage is that our fuel cell stacks are modular and in this way we can get in a few hundred horsepower where it is required in marine applications”, said Per Wassén, CEO, PowerCell Sweden AB.

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US Coast Guard releases five year strategic plan for boaters

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The US Coast Guard’s Office of Auxiliary and Boating Safety has released the Strategic Plan of the National Recreational Boating Safety Program for 2017 to 2021.

This plan is the third in a series of five-year strategic plans and continues or updates boating safety initiatives and progress measurements that have proven successful over time, while closing gaps identified in the most recent review of strategic opportunities.

“This strategic plan is an important piece of the Coast Guard’s boating safety program,” said Rear Adm. Paul Thomas, assistant commandant for prevention policy. “Over the next five years, the Coast Guard will work closely with representatives of national recreational boating safety organizations to implement the various elements of the plan.”

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UK MAIB issues its second Safety Digest of 2016

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The UK MAIB has announced the publication of the second issue for 2016 of its Safety Digest which includes lessons learned from maritime accidents. This latest edition of the Safety Digest contains 25 articles which are examples of poor risk awareness demonstrated by the crews of vessels from the merchant, fishing and recreational sectors.

Steve Clinch, Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents states:
“The procedures and safe working systems that lie at the core of all safety management systems are there for a reason – invariably mariners have been hurt, ships and/or their cargoes have been damaged or lost, or the environment harmed. MAIB investigations into marine accidents consistently identify cases where mariners chose to ignore the instructions and guidance contained in companies’ safety management systems.“

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IIMS Small Craft Working Group 2016 ‘super’ training day report

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Over 30 yacht and small craft surveyors converged on Boathouse No.4 at the iconic Portsmouth Historic Dockyard for the 2016 ‘super’ training day on Monday 24 October and were joined by half a dozen more who came to the event remotely using video conferencing.

Chairman of yacht and small craft surveying, John Excell, welcomed guests to the day and particularly thanked Cygnus Instruments Ltd and Matrix Insurance Ltd for their generous sponsorship support of the day.

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IIMS India Branch Silver Jubilee Conference report

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An unusually wet October day in the bustling city of Mumbai, India experienced an unusually large gathering of the representatives from Marine Surveying Companies, P&I Clubs, Correspondents, Vessel Owners, Agents and Equipment Manufacturers. It was the 5th of October 2016 at the Majestic Ballroom of ‘The Lalit’ Hotel near the new swanky T2 terminal of Mumbai’s International Airport.

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UK superyacht sector shows impressive growth despite challenges

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Figures from the latest Superyacht UK Annual Survey reveal that the national superyacht industry is buoyant and growing, despite uncertainty and financial volatility surrounding the EU referendum.

International demand for British products, services and expertise helped to grow industry revenue by 11.5 per cent to £605 million in 2015 and 2016 — the fourth consecutive year of growth. Over the same period, the sector contributed £273 million in GVA to UK GDP (+6.1 per cent) and full-time employment rose by 4.5 per cent to 4,125.

“The superyacht sector continues to outperform the rest of the marine industry and the domestic economy,” says Peter Brown, senior sales broker at Burgess and chairman of Superyacht UK, the dedicated association of British Marine. “The decision to leave the EU is likely to dampen this growth, but the sector is showing confidence going into the end of the year. This is because we have less exposure to domestic economic risk and a depreciation in sterling has strengthened the purchasing power of our overseas buyers.”

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Joop Ellenbroek, IIMS member, passes away after a lengthy battle with illness

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The death of IIMS member, Joop Ellenbroek, following a long illness has been announced
The death of IIMS member, Joop Ellenbroek, following a long illness has been announced

It is with deep sadness and regret that we announce the passing away of IIMS member and CCS founder Mr Johannes Wilhelmus ‘Joop’ Ellenbroek. Although Joop passed away on September 9 after a lengthy illness, news has only just reached the IIMS office of his death.

Joop was well known within the coatings, chemicals and superyacht industry and much respected by all he worked with. After many years of working for paint manufacturers, he began his career in the superyacht industry in 1994 when he founded CCS (Coating Consultants for Superyachts), which due to his efforts is now one of the most well-known and respected coating surveying companies in the world.

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Essential advice on how to avoid claims arising from the transportation of steel cargo

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Avoiding claims from the transportation of steel cargo is the subject of a new guidance publication by The American P&I Club
Avoiding claims from the transportation of steel cargo is the subject of a new guidance publication by The American P&I Club

The handling, stowage and transportation of steel cargo has been an ongoing focus of P&I loss prevention activity. The American P&I Club has published its latest publication: Transport Guidance for Steel Cargoes, which is a detailed guide (downloadable in pdf format below) running to some 100 pages with a view to offering a comprehensive overview of how to avoid claims arising from the carriage of these cargoes from a variety of related perspectives.

The frequency and costs of steel cargo related claims experienced by the American Club between 2000 and 2015 have been substantial. During this period, steel cargo claims have accounted for an astonishing US$ 15.4 million in financial losses to the Association.

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New case study by American P&I Club reminds that lubricating oil maintenance is critical

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If there is one standout cause for failures of main and auxiliary engines, it is through inadequate monitoring and maintenance of the condition of lubricating oil – literally the life-blood of any engine. The American P&I Club has issued a new case study taking into account best practices in the prevention of shipboard machinery failures.

The case study incident:
The medium speed main engine of a bulk carrier suffered a turbocharger failure whilst on transatlantic passage to New York. The engine had then labored for several days with a non-functional turbocharger creating very poor combustion and black exhaust smoke. Whilst in port and undergoing turbocharger repairs the attending surveyor recommended that lubricating oil samples be taken from the main engine for analysis. It wasn’t done, and several days later during another loaded passage, the main bearings and then the crankshaft failed leading to towage, large general average costs and extensive disputes over seaworthiness.

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Significant skills gaps revealed by British boat builders

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Despite recruitment across Britain’s marine industry increasing by 2.7% in 2014/15, and with a further increase of 2% predicted for 2015/16, new statistics released today at the Southampton Boat Show have revealed that 30% of companies have identified critical skill gaps that are holding their businesses back.

The majority of the workforce growth has reportedly come from the boat manufacturing (20%), equipment supply chain (20%), and boat distribution and retail (15%) sectors, with the industry’s 4,500 businesses now employing 31,600 people.

The statistics revealed that technical skills are perceived to be the biggest “obstacle to recruitment” in the British marine industry’s, with 74% of businesses citing a lack of technical training, such as manufacturing and engineering as a barrier, compared to the UK-wide average of 41%: “For an industry where one in two jobs are boat building and repair and equipment manufacturing (34% and 13% respectively) the need to plug the skills gap is becoming more important for future growth.”

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The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has launched a consultation on its fees

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The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is required to comply with the guidance set out in HM Treasury’s publication Managing Public Money when recovering the full cost of the fee-funded services it provides in its role as a regulator which covers direct and indirect costs associated with delivering services to the public. The full cost recovery norm to fees ensures Government neither profits at the expense of consumers nor makes a loss for taxpayers to subsidise.

Since September 2006, the MCA has not changed its fee level and has consequently absorbed increases in ship registrations, ship surveys and merchant navy training costs. As a result, the industry has paid below-cost fees so the services which the industry has received have been publicly subsidised. There has been a shortfall between income and costs for the services provided in each year since 2010-11 (and likely since 2006). The shortfall for 2010-11 (the base year) is estimated at £3.7m (in 2010 prices). MCA efficiency improvements have helped maintain standards while keeping costs down.

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McMurdo launches the first four frequency EPIRB

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mcmurdoMcMurdo has launched a new family of EPIRBs that aim to accelerate the search and rescue process by combining multiple frequencies into a single EPIRB product.

Apparently, the McMurdo SmartFind and Kannad SafePro EPIRBs will be the world’s first distress beacons that can support each of the four frequencies used in the search and rescue process – 406MHz and 121.5MHz for beacon transmission, GNSS for location positioning, and AIS for localised connectivity.

This multiple-frequency capability should help ensure faster detection, superior positioning accuracy, greater signal reliability and, ultimately, accelerated rescue of people or vessels in distress.

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