Partnership formed to study the safe use of lithium-ion batteries in shipping

Partnership formed to study the safe use of lithium-ion batteries in shipping
Partnership formed to study the safe use of lithium-ion batteries in shipping

DNV GL has announced a joint partnership to study the safe use of lithium-ion batteries in shipping. The class society’s partners in the effort include flag states, research institutions, battery and propulsion suppliers, fire system manufacturers, shipowners, vessel operators and yards. DNV GL says that the hope is to identify improvements not just for the batteries themselves, but for the associated systems, procedures, and approval processes.

“We put a great deal of effort into ensuring the safety of these new alternative systems, but the cost of the present safety and approval methodology is cumbersome. This collaborative effort gives a chance for an even greater level of safety,” said Rasmus Nielsen, a naval architect and officer at project partner Scandlines.

The project’s deliverable’s are focused on safety. Tasks include the development of Continue reading “Partnership formed to study the safe use of lithium-ion batteries in shipping”

Deck water spray failure highlighted as one of the main deficiencies on LNG carriers

Deck water spray failure highlighted as one of the main deficiencies on LNG carriers
Deck water spray failure highlighted as one of the main deficiencies on LNG carriers

The US Coast Guard has published an information bulletin about the ongoing issue regarding inadequate deck water spray systems on LNG carriers. US Coast Guard has noted that inadequate coverage of the required areas by a deck water spray system is one of the main deficiencies identified when certificate of compliance inspections are undertaken on these vessels.

The Deck Water Spray system is required by the IGC Code 1993, Regulation 11.3. This requirement text has remained nearly identical back through the GC Code 1983 and to the EGC Code. The new 2016 edition of the IGC Code incorporates the amendments adopted by the IMO MSC at its ninety-third session (May 2014) by resolution MSC.370(93).

These amendments, which entered into force on 1 Jan 2016, consist of a complete replacement text of the IGC Code and will apply to ships whose keels are laid or are at a similar stage of construction, on or after 1 July 2016.

Across the industry, vessel operators and crews have struggled to keep these simple systems operating properly. Ineffective operation of the deck water spray appears easily managed by periodic removal of the Continue reading “Deck water spray failure highlighted as one of the main deficiencies on LNG carriers”

Revolutionary design of harbour escort tug launched

Revolutionary design of harbour escort tug launched
Revolutionary design of harbour escort tug launched

Dutch towing group, Muller Maritime, has taken delivery of the harbour escort tug Multratug 32. Despite the high number in its name, it is both the first in its class and the first vessel of its kind.

Designer Robert Allan Ltd. calls it a “Carrousel RAVE Tug,” or CRT, and it integrates two features into a novel new package. First, it has two Voith cycloidial drives arranged fore and aft (the Robert Allan-Voith RAVE design). Second, its towing winch is mounted on a giant circular bearing – the “Carrousel Towing System” – which sits around the entire wheelhouse. With these design elements the tug can rotate with a load on its line, without fouling the towline on its own superstructure or girting. It is designed to pivot relative to its direction of travel, creating drag with the width of its hull.

Robert Allan says that it is the tug’s relative heading that determines the magnitude of the towline force. At speed, large forces can be generated by applying a small amount of thrust to change the tug’s orientation to the escorted vessel. The propulsion system is primarily used to control the tug’s heading, position and speed – not to generate bollard pull. Continue reading “Revolutionary design of harbour escort tug launched”

MARPOL amendments for ship fuel oil reporting requirements, garbage classification and IOPP certificate now in force

MARPOL amendments for ship fuel oil reporting requirements, garbage classification and IOPP certificate now in force
MARPOL amendments for ship fuel oil reporting requirements, garbage classification and IOPP certificate now in force

Requirements for ships to collect data on their fuel oil consumption entered into force on 1 March. Other important amendments to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) have also entered into force, covering the classification of garbage, including the addition of a new category of “e-waste”, and amendments to the International Oil Pollution Prevention Certificate.

Ship fuel oil consumption data reporting requirements
The ship fuel oil consumption data reporting requirements are the latest mandatory requirements aimed at enhancing the energy efficiency of international shipping.

The data collection will begin on 1 January 2019 with data reported at the end of each calendar year to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the United Nations agency with responsibility for regulating the safety, security and efficiency of shipping and preventing marine and atmospheric pollution from ships.

Continue reading “MARPOL amendments for ship fuel oil reporting requirements, garbage classification and IOPP certificate now in force”

Fire extinguishing systems recalled by Kidde

Fire extinguishing systems recalled by Kidde
Fire extinguishing systems recalled by Kidde

Kidde Fire Protection has issued a Product Management Bulletin 171b in which it is recalling the hardware replacement of cylinders used in its HFC227 and NOVEC 1230 fire extinguishing systems. All ECS 2-inch Cylinder-Valve assemblies complete with Clean Agent that were shipped for marine applications during the period 16 January 2015 until 31 December 2016 are to be replaced.

The 2-inch valve used on the Kidde Chemical Agent Cylinder-Valve assemblies has four retainer screws in its piston design. Kidde Fire Protection realized that some valves, with one or more of these retainer screws not tightened to the required torque specification, may have escaped the production and inspection process into shipping.

The 2-inch valve operates on a differential pressure design and the loss of any of the screws from its set position could result in Continue reading “Fire extinguishing systems recalled by Kidde”

Ships carrying heavy fuel oil cargoes subject to ongoing condition surveys

Libya releases tanker carrying fuel to rival government
Libya releases tanker carrying fuel to rival government

In order to improve ship standards, the International Group of P&I Clubs has said it will continue to conduct survey triggers for seagoing vessels of 10 years of age or more carrying heavy fuel oil cargoes.

As a result, all sea-going vessels that are 10 years old or more and have carried heavy fuel oil as cargo within the previous 12 months will be subject to condition survey, unless:

– The vessel has undergone a P&I club condition survey during the previous 12 months.
– The vessel has undergone a Special Survey during the previous 6 months.
– The vessel has a valid Condition Assessment Program (CAP) rating of 1 or 2 with a classification society having membership in the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS).

Operators should have in mind that a declaration is now required so that Continue reading “Ships carrying heavy fuel oil cargoes subject to ongoing condition surveys”

Liberia Maritime Authority issues an advisory notice for the safe transport of bauxite

Liberia Maritime Authority issues an advisory notice for the safe transport of bauxite
Liberia Maritime Authority issues an advisory notice for the safe transport of bauxite

The Liberia Maritime Authority has released a Marine Advisory notice to provide guidance for the safe transport of bauxite. It also gives the potential risks regarding the carriage of certain Group A bauxite in bulk due to its potential to undergo dynamic separation.

After the investigation into the loss of the M.V. BULK JUPITER in 2015 with a cargo of bauxite, IMO published CCC.1/Circ.2 on Carriage of Bauxite that may liquefy. At the time, bauxite was listed in the IMSBC Code as a Group C cargo (cargoes neither liable to liquefy- Group A or possess chemical hazards Group B).

For a more peer reviewed report on the nature of bauxite cargoes and to develop a globally applicable transportable moisture limit (TML) test for bauxite cargoes, the Global Bauxite Working Group (GBWG) was established in 2016.

GBWG indicated that Bauxite Fines containing more than Continue reading “Liberia Maritime Authority issues an advisory notice for the safe transport of bauxite”

UK P&I Club releases a detailed guidance report on packing dangerous goods for carriage by sea

UK P&I Club releases a detailed guidance report on packing dangerous goods for carriage by sea
UK P&I Club releases a detailed guidance report on packing dangerous goods for carriage by sea

As accidents involving dangerous goods continue to occur with regularity at sea, the UK P&I Club has published a comprehensive guide running to more than 100 pages to support operators who pack dangerous goods into cargo units for onward transportation by sea.

As part of the new guide, UK P&I Club makes the following points and advice:
– Improper packing practices and loads not properly secured increase the number of accidents across the supply chain and have as a result caused damages, loss and injuries, both on land and at sea.
– There is a lack of guidance regarding personnel working in the cargo handling industry. That is where the Code of Practice for Packing of Cargo Transport Units (CTU) becomes relevant. The CTU provides information regarding packing cargo in containers, in order to comply with the requirements of sea and land transport.
– Classification of dangerous goods: The first key task for an operator is to make sure that the dangerous goods on board have the correct UN classification.
– Selection of Continue reading “UK P&I Club releases a detailed guidance report on packing dangerous goods for carriage by sea”

Guidelines for ensuring the safe carriage of cocoa butter in freight containers

Guidelines for ensuring the safe carriage of cocoa butter in freight containers
Guidelines for ensuring the safe carriage of cocoa butter in freight containers

Members of the CINS Organisation (the Cargo Incident Notification System) have issued guidance and guidelines for the carriage of cocoa butter in freight containers, under the principles set out in the IMO/ILO/UNECE Code of Practice for Packing of Cargo Transport Units (CTU Code).

Nature of cocoa nutter cargo
Cocoa butter is derived from whole cocoa beans which are fermented, roasted, and then separated. About 54–58% of the residue is cocoa butter, containing 57-64% of saturated fats and 43-36% unsaturated fats. Cocoa butter becomes soft and malleable at 30-32°C and can melt at 37°C. Having become warm or molten, it can retain the latent heat and remain in such a condition down to as low as 17°C.

Upon heating, cocoa butter expands and may cause it to Continue reading “Guidelines for ensuring the safe carriage of cocoa butter in freight containers”

Operators and surveyors urged to test cargo hold’s bilge system to minimise claims

Operators and surveyors urged to test cargo hold bilge systems to minimise claims
Operators and surveyors urged to test cargo hold bilge systems to minimise claims

The UK P&I Club has reminded those working in the marine industry that significant insurance damage claims can result if a bulk cargo is damaged due to the leakage of the bilge system into a loaded bulk cargo hold.

To reduce the chance of such cargo damage, operators and surveyors are advised to inspect and test the cargo hold bilge system as part of the routine pre-loading checks of the cargo holds.

Inspection and testing of cargo hold bilge system non-return valves should be included in routine pre-loading checks of the holds. These non-return valves may not be seated tightly, because of the Continue reading “Operators and surveyors urged to test cargo hold’s bilge system to minimise claims”

Rolls-Royce to provide tug sector with its first Hybrid System

Photo credit: Rolls-Royce
Photo credit: Rolls-Royce

Rolls-Royce will supply the tug boat sector with its first hybrid propulsion arrangement for installation to a multi-purpose tractor tug undergoing construction for Baydelta Maritime LLC. The vessel is being built at Nichols Brothers Boat Builders, in Washington State, U.S.A.

The order represents the first hybrid tug using proven Rolls-Royce hybrid technology, the first installation of a hybrid system for Nichols Brothers and the first hybrid tug designed by Jensen Maritime, Crowley Maritime Corp’s Seattle-based naval architecture and engineering firm.

The 100-foot long tug will feature the same ship assist and tanker escort capabilities of existing Delta Class harbour tugs but with greatly improved towing performance. The Rolls-Royce hybrid system enhances the Continue reading “Rolls-Royce to provide tug sector with its first Hybrid System”

Revolutionary ultraviolet light-emitting diodes fouling prevention technology under development

Revolutionary ultraviolet light-emitting diodes fouling prevention technology under development
Revolutionary ultraviolet light-emitting diodes fouling prevention technology under development

AkzoNobel has teamed up with Netherlands based healthcare company Royal Philips to develop ultraviolet light-emitting diodes fouling prevention technology.

The system will use technology developed by Royal Philips with the aim of combining experience from both companies to produce an economically viable solution for underwater fouling prevention.

The system will integrate UV light-emitting diodes in a protective coating, which AkzoNobel says will allow for the UV light to be emitted from the coating surface, preventing biofouling from accumulating.

“In our sustainable fouling control initiative, we actively explore and develop alternatives to Continue reading “Revolutionary ultraviolet light-emitting diodes fouling prevention technology under development”

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