Photo credit: CPD Deputy Director Peter Paul Coleiro.
Nineteen boats and yachts were destroyed by a fire which broke out at a private boatyard near Gharghur, Malta in the early hours of Thursday 1st February.
The incident happened in the Tal-Balal area just before 1:00am after a loud explosion was heard, with all 19 boats having been completely destroyed. The Civil Department reported that personnel managed to prevent the fire from spreading further, despite a quantity of tar also believed to have caught fire.
The Swedish P&I Club has described the case of cargo damage on a bulk carrier caused by water ingress, as a result of the poor condition of hatch covers.
The incident
The bulk carrier had seven cargo holds which had been fully loaded with soybeans. The vessel had side rolling cargo hatch covers. For six days, the vessel encountered heavy weather of force 9 on the Beaufort scale, causing the vessel to pitch and roll heavily. The cargo hatch covers were repeatedly washed over by seawater.
All hatch covers were opened when the vessel was at anchor and waiting for an available berth. This was to ensure the vessel was gas free since fumigation had been carried out in all cargo holds at the loading port. When the cargo hatch covers were removed, it was found that Continue reading “Cargo damage caused by leaking hatch covers”
The World LPG Association puts the focus on marine in a new report
The World LPG Association (WLPGA), with its continued commitment to cleaner environment, has issued a report “LPG for Marine Engines – The Marine Alternative Fuel”, dedicated to the use of LPG in the marine sector.
With upcoming stricter IMO emission rules, the global 0.5 sulphur cup, ECAS and SECAs emission limits and the requirements for higher quality fuel, it is inevitable that there will be a radical change in shipping fuel options from HFO to cleaner alternatives. Amongst the options, LPG is one of the promising solutions for the reduction of exhaust emissions from marine vessels. LPG as a clean and immediately available energy source, is characterised by low particle emissions, low NOx (nitrogen oxide) and nearly zero SOx (sulphur oxide) emissions, offering significant environmental advantages while meeting all energy and environmental challenges.
The WLPGA report aims to open the doors for LPG as the next marine alternative fuel. The report contains a wealth of information, data and compelling arguments in support of using LPG as the fuel of choice in marine vessels. It also promotes the understanding of Continue reading “The World LPG Association puts the focus on marine in a new report”
Boat Safety Scheme certification charges set to rise as part of new four year business and investment plan
The Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) Management Committee has agreed a new four-year business plan to resource its work to 2022 and invest in improvements that will have an even longer-term benefit. The plan also includes the first price rise in certification charges for eight years.
BSS Examiners will pay a new price of £36 (excluding VAT) for each certification they issue to a boat, which is a £7 rise that they will likely choose to pass onto customers.
The new price will apply from 1 April 2018 and the Scheme intends holding it for at least the whole of the four-year business plan period, which is designed to coincide with the four-year lifespan of BSS Certification.
The new BSS business plan includes additional support to BSS Examiners, projects to improve the quality of examinations and enhancements to customer service.
Japan’s first certified LNG-fueled tugboat soon to be constructed
Japanese carrier Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), the ninth largest container shipping company in the world, has signed a deal for the construction of what will be Japan’s first certified LNG-fueled tugboat.
The vessel is Japan’s first LNG-fueled tugboat with the LNG fuel tank mounted on the exposed deck at the stern of the ship and conforming to the IGF code, which regulates safety requirements for vessels that run on gas and low-flashpoint fuels.
This enhances convenience in bunkering, maintenance, and inspection.
Maritime UK has established a Taskforce increase the number of women within the UK maritime sector
The Taskforce brings together leaders from across the maritime sector to identify practical steps to increase the number of women in maritime, and crucially within senior roles across its shipping, ports, marine and business services industries.
Achieving a balanced workforce at all levels in the maritime sector will undoubtedly improve culture, behaviour, outcomes, profitability and productivity.
During London International Shipping Week, then Maritime Minister Rt Hon John Hayes MP called for industry to address gender imbalance in the sector. Government are represented on the Taskforce.
Confusion surrounds antifouling paints which have not been banned in the UK
There is still confusion regarding the future availability of antifouling paints says the British Coatings Federation’s Marine Coatings Group.
The group has produced an explanatory note that it says is intended to provide clarity on the Biocidal Products Regulation, making it clear that antifoul paints – including copper-based antifoul – have not been banned.
“Antifouling paints containing co-biocides also known as ‘booster’ biocides have not been banned,” added Trevor Fielding, regulatory affairs manager at the BCF.
boot Düsseldorf has set new records with 247,000 visitors and 1,923 exhibitors across 16 exhibition halls.
Figures for the Beach World were up by 10% where visitors were able to try out a variety of activities alongside professional athletes representing different water sports.
“These figures are unique in the industry,” said Messe Düsseldorf CEO Werner Dornscheidt. “No other water sports trade fair reflects the entire world market in all its diversity as completely as boot.”
Lifecord – a kill cord you will never forget – launched by Landau
Lifecord is a newly designed kill cord providing the certainty and reliability of a tethered connection between a boat’s engine ignition kill switch and pilot, ensuring the vessel’s engine stops should the pilot be inadvertently thrown from the helm. However, unlike the typical passive kill cords commonly seen, Lifecord is a ‘smart’ kill cord incorporating detection technology designed to trigger an audible and visual warning alarm should Lifecord be connected to the boat’s kill switch but not the pilot, similar to the seat belt warning in your car.
Bilge system back-flow causes significant cargo damage
Writing in the latest publication by UK P&I Club, Captain David Nichol cites a case history describing a cargo damage case involving a bulk carrier caused by insufficient maintenance of the bilge system valves and the crew’s wrong estimation of the ingress alarm system.
The incident
Prior to loading a full cargo of bulk minerals the cargo holds were cleaned and tested successfully for watertight integrity. In addition, the efficient operation of the cargo hold bilge pumping system and water ingress alarms was also verified. A few days after departure from the loading port, the water ingress alarm for no.2 cargo hold was activated. However, when the hold bilges were sounded by the crew, they appeared to be dry and it was therefore assumed that the ingress alarm system was defective. Daily hold bilge soundings continued to give no cause for concern. At the discharge port, wet cargo was revealed at Continue reading “Bilge system back-flow causes significant cargo damage”
Gard P&I Club warns about forthcoming Asian Gypsy Moth season
The Gard P&I Club has published an an alert drawing attention to the Asian Gypsy Moth, the destructive forest pest that is known to spread via ocean-going vessels in international trade. In the alert Gard has highlighted that Australia has heightened vessel surveillance for Asian Gypsy Moth and in New Zealand is introducing new requirements from 1 February 2018.
Therefore, vessels calling at certain ports in Asia Pacific between May and September should be inspected and certified free of Asian Gypsy Moth prior to departure. These inspections are undertaken to minimize the potential for regulatory action when arriving in a country where the pest is not native.
First electrically powered inland cntainer vessel is on the horizon
Dutch electrical firm Werkina, Lloyd’s Register, Asto Shipyard and inland barge operator Port-Liner are working on Europe’s first electrically powered inland container vessel. The first five small ships in the series will be completed this year, and six larger vessels are in the works.
The novel barges will use containerized battery packs for power, which can either be recharged or exchanged at the terminal, allowing for rapid turn times. The smaller barge will carry 24 TEU and use one battery pack, and the larger model will carry 224 TEU with four battery packs.
