Marine News

MAIB report into the Hoegh Osaka grounding published

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At 2109 on 3 January 2015, the pure car and truck carrier Hoegh Osaka was rounding West Bramble buoy in The Solent when it developed a significant starboard list causing some cargo shift and consequent flooding.

With the list in excess of 40°, the ship lost steerage and propulsion, and subsequently drifted onto Bramble Bank, grounding at 2115.

Hoegh Osaka had sailed from the port of Southampton, bound for Bremerhaven, at 2006. A pilot was embarked and there were 24 crew on board. Following the accident, all crew were successfully evacuated from the ship or recovered from the surrounding waters. There was no pollution. A major salvage operation successfully refloated Hoegh Osaka and it was subsequently taken to a safe berth in Southampton on 22 January.

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Electrical safety: An evaluation of electrical hazards

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In its latest Safety Bulletin, published in March 2016, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) tackles the issue of electrical hazards full on. Although aimed at those working onboard in an electrical capacity, it serves as a timely reminder of the potential electrical hazards a surveyor may be faced with too.

Electrical hazards can lead to deaths and injuries such as shocks and burns. They can also lead to shipboard fires, explosions and the disabling (through blackouts) of essential equipment and services on board which can compromise safety. Ensuring that the right controls and mitigation measures are in place is critical for maintaining safe operations. To be effective, control measures need to be developed at the organisational, technical and individual levels.

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Commercial boat standards are for safety warns AMSA

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The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is urging owners of boats that may be made available for charter or hire for money, to comply with the standards that apply to commercial vessels.

Boats used for commercial purposes are subject to safety standards that do not apply to recreational boats. Domestic commercial vessels will usually undergo regular surveys (inspections) to ensure they comply with standards for structure, stability and safety equipment and have a safety management system to ensure the safety of passengers and crew.

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Chatham Maritime Marina set for £500,000 berth expansion

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MDL’s Chatham Maritime Marina, situated on the River Medway in Kent, is investing £500,000 in a state-of-the-art expansion plan which will include the addition of 54 new berths.

This exciting new development, due to open in April 2016, will also see a brand new pontoon in the marina which will lie adjacent to notable vessels at The Historic Dockyard.

The Historic Dockyard is a truly stunning 80-acre site with important buildings, museum galleries, historic warships and is described as the finest example of a Dockyard of the Age of Sail anywhere in the world.

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New yachting paint guide application released by Jotun

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As leading suppliers of marine performance paints and coatings, Jotun has announced the launch of a new yachting application (app) to make boat care and maintenance easier for yacht owners and professionals.

The Jotun Yachting Paint Guide is a digital application which is available free for smartphones and tablets. According to Jotun, the app gives yachting professionals all the information they may need to make quick and easy decisions, and will be available to them whenever and wherever needed.

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The next generation of superyachts unveiled by Mathis Ruhl Architecture Navale

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The breathtaking new superyacht concept from Mathis Ruhl Architecture Navale
The breathtaking new superyacht concept from Mathis Ruhl Architecture Navale

Mathis Ruhl Architecture Navale has unveiled its concept for the exciting, next generation of superyachts.

Measuring 77 metres in length, the latest sailing superyacht concept from Mathis Ruhl Architecture Navale is the R77. She has been designed with a very specific design brief: to create a vessel able to sail both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans by means of passing through the Panama Canal, a passage that most large sailing yachts are sometimes limited with due to the 62.5 metre air draft limit placing restrictions on rig height.

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Wärtsilä research project eliminates problem of singing propellers

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Wärtsilä research finds the reasons for singing propellers
Wärtsilä research finds the reasons for singing propellers

A joint research project carried out by Wärtsilä and City University London has succeeded in identifying the specific design parameters that create the risk of singing propellers. Though rare, singing propellers are nevertheless an annoying problem that occurs as a strong tonal noise originating from the propeller, thus causing a negative effect to onboard comfort levels. The research programme reached its conclusions in December 2015.

The problem has long been recognised in the marine industry. While the general perception has been that the frequency of the propeller blades’ vibration mode coincides with the frequency of the hydrodynamic excitation forces at the trailing edge of the blades, the current research indicates that there is more complexity and sensitiveness to this hypothesis.

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MCA makes important changes to the Passenger Vessel Certificate

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The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is changing the way a Passenger Vessel certificate is issued. These have, up until now, been a combined Passenger Certificate (PC) and Domestic Safety Management Certificate (DSMC) which have been valid for five years with annual endorsements.

The MCA is now splitting the one certificate into two certificates; a PC and a DSMC. The PC will only be valid for one year whilst the DSMC will be valid for five years, but will need an interim audit on the 2nd or 3rd anniversary that the certificate was issued. The MCA has stated that this audit would take place during the running trials to minimise costs. A full crew will be required and drills will need to be performed to the satisfaction of the MCA. As well as this, owners will now be required to submit to the MCA an annual self-assessment against their Safety Management System (SMS).

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Lake District National Park Authority decides not to adopt BSS

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At a recent meeting of the Lake District National Park Authority, it was decided not to adopt the Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) following the Marine Accident Investigation Board’s (MAIB) recommendation, as the scheme is not an effective comprehensive method of addressing the important issue of boat safety.

A media statement released said;
While we support many of the scheme’s initiatives, these alone would not necessarily ensure public safety. Our reasons for not adopting the Boat Safety Scheme include:
• The BSS inspection is not a full condition survey and does not provide a fit for purpose evaluation
• It is not a mandatory condition to install a carbon monoxide or smoke detector on-board a boat under the BSS scheme
• The BSS inspection is only conducted every four years. This would not necessarily ensure safety of users
• For the BSS to be adopted it requires byelaw changes. Byelaws are designed to address local issues and must not attempt to address issues that are of national concern.

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Alert issued about the recall of Kidde and Lifesaver fire blankets 

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Surveyors should be aware that Kidde Safety Europe Ltd has issued a recall for some of its products. Furthermore, the Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) is supporting Kidde Safety Europe Ltd to alert any boaters to the immediate product recall on its “Kidde” or “Lifesaver” fire blankets following concerns regarding their effectiveness in the event of an oil pan fire.

Kidde Safety Europe Ltd has identified a potential safety issue with regard to fire blankets sized 1m² which may impact upon the fire blankets’ effectiveness in the event of an oil pan fire. Kidde states that no reports of any adverse incidents have been received to date, however, testing of certain fire blankets has identified a risk that the affected fire blankets may not fully extinguish an oil pan fire and/or may allow the fire to re-ignite very soon after application of the fire blanket. Accordingly, a recall has been initiated on a precautionary basis to ensure end-user safety.

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Contract awarded for the first phase rebuild of the Maid of the Loch

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The march to rebuild the Maid of the Loch is finally underway
The march to rebuild the Maid of the Loch is finally underway

The first contract to be awarded in the £5.5 million project to rebuild the Loch Lomond Scotland) Paddle Steamer, the Maid of the Loch, has been signed. The contract ahead of the actual rebuild has been awarded to OSD-IMT Ltd, of Dundee, and is for marine consultancy services. OSD will provide the necessary naval architecture, engineering, structure, and outfitting expertise to produce all the required calculations, drawings, and designs to ensure that the rebuild meets all regulatory requirements.

John Beveridge, founder of the Loch Lomond Steamship Company, the charitable trust that owns the Maid of the Loch, said, “This is a landmark event for us. It is almost exactly 20 years since the charity took ownership of the Maid of the Loch, and we are now able to start work on returning this unique ship back into steam operating condition. It is hugely exciting for everyone and our thanks for all the wonderful support we have had. This is a major investment for Loch Lomond”.

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MCA issues MGN 543: Safety of Navigation: Offshore Renewable Energy Installations

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windfarmThe UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency has issued guidance note MGN 543 to highlight issues that need to be taken into consideration when assessing the impact on navigational safety and emergency response (search and rescue, salvage and towing, and counter pollution) caused by offshore renewable energy installation developments. It applies to proposals in United Kingdom internal waters, Territorial Sea and Exclusive Economic Zone.

Offshore Renewable Energy Installations (OREI) include offshore wind farms, tidal energy converters (including tidal range devices), wave energy converters and any associated infrastructure with the potential to affect marine navigation and emergency response, proposed in United Kingdom (UK) internal waters, Territorial Sea and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

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