Ship News

Leading Maritime Cities report 2022 by DNV and Menon published

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The 2022 edition of the Leading Maritime Cities (LMC) report was launched at an event hosted by the Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF).

There have been many dramatic developments since the last edition of the LMC report was published in 2019. For one, we are still living with the pandemic. Two years of fluctuating restrictions have caused severe trade and travel upsets. Extreme weather events have made us all more acutely aware of the climate crisis, another major driver of change. Shipowners, charterers, cargo owners and lenders are gearing up for a decarbonized future, with rapid adoption of zero-carbon fuels expected over the next decade. Ongoing digitalization, including Continue reading “Leading Maritime Cities report 2022 by DNV and Menon published”

Cygnus 1 ultrasonic thickness gauge certified to Class 1

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Cygnus Instruments Ltd - Cygnus 1
Cygnus Instruments Ltd – Cygnus 1

The Cygnus 1 ultrasonic thickness gauge is certified to Class 1, Div 1 (“Zone 0”) for ATEX, IECEx and CSA-US. The Cygnus 1 is specifically designed for measuring metal thickness to determine wastage or corrosion in Zone 0, Zone 1 hazardous and potentially explosive environments. It has a highly durable, shock-proof and splash-proof (IP65 rated) construction – this heavy-duty unit is supplied ready to use, and offers up to 12 hours continuous testing before recharge is necessary, with no plant shutdown or hot work permit required.

The exterior houses a set of components, viewed via a bright LED display with polarised filter, in either metric or imperial measurement to suit the user’s preference. These features include an echo strength indicator to aid measurement, measurement self-verification to ensure Continue reading “Cygnus 1 ultrasonic thickness gauge certified to Class 1”

Practical aspects of the carriage of containers on dry bulk vessels

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Practical aspects of the carriage of containers on dry bulk vessels
Practical aspects of the carriage of containers on dry bulk vessels

Mark Dunbar, Surveys Manager at West P&I Club, has highlighted practical aspects on the carriage of containers onboard dry bulk vessels. And as he says, individual cases will vary widely so the following should not be taken as exhaustive, but as an aide memoire for the major factors that need to be considered and addressed.

– Bridge visibility needs to meet SOLAS requirements.
– Vessel stability including bending moments and shear forces to be verified as within limits.
– Container stacking weights – check CSC plate for maximum allowable – US 53 foot containers are usually significantlylower than standard ISO containers.
– Strength of tanktop/hatch covers/deck plating – remember all the weight of a container is distributed Continue reading “Practical aspects of the carriage of containers on dry bulk vessels”

Preventing wet cargo damage

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Preventing wet cargo damage - Image: Swedish Club
Preventing wet cargo damage – Image: Swedish Club

Claims relating to wet cargo damage are all too frequent. Many of these can be avoided entirely with a robust pre-loading condition checking procedure. While humidity and condensation are inevitable challenges through the supply chain, pre-existing CTU damages should be an easy check.

As TT Club regularly articulates, around 65% of cargo damage incidents are attributable in part to the way that goods are packed within the cargo transport unit (CTU). The CTU Code and the more recent ‘CTU Code – a quick guide’ and complementary container packing checklist published by the Cargo Integrity Group, provide invaluable guidance for actors in the supply chain to mitigate such risks. Continue reading “Preventing wet cargo damage”

Failure of diesel generator caused engine room fire onboard Master Dylan

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Failure of diesel generator caused engine room fire onboard Master Dylan
Failure of diesel generator caused engine room fire onboard Master Dylan

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released an accident report focusing on the engine room fire aboard fishing vessel Master Dylan. At about 0745 on 1 December 2020, the fishing vessel Master Dylan was trawling for shrimp in the Gulf of Mexico when an explosion occurred in the engine room.

The captain attempted to extinguish the fire, but was unsuccessful. A nearby fishing vessel rescued the crew from the burning vessel. An offshore supply vessel eventually extinguished the fire using water cannons. Master Dustin II, a vessel owned by the same company, proceeded to tow the Master Dylan to the nearest point of land. But in doing so, the Master Continue reading “Failure of diesel generator caused engine room fire onboard Master Dylan”

UAE Maritime Cluster launched to boost the national maritime economy

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UAE Maritime Cluster - H.E. Suhail Al Mazrouei The UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure
UAE Maritime Cluster- H.E. Suhail Al Mazrouei The UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure

The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure has launched the UAE Maritime Cluster to be an umbrella for the local and federal government and private organisations in the maritime sector. The move aims to promote the UAE’s maritime sector globally. It also supports the Ministry’s role in building alternative economic components to the oil sector, supporting its strategy to be a key contributor to the ‘Projects of the 50’ initiatives. The cluster brings together organisations and individuals in the sector and unites the capabilities of the UAE maritime sector to build a unified force that enhances the UAE’s position as one of the top five global maritime hubs.

To launch the Cluster, the Ministry will build a communication network consisting of the various entities in the maritime sector. This will act as a platform for launching various activities and events that the UAE Maritime Cluster will implement. It will also be a knowledge hub for external maritime authorities around the world to learn about the opportunities available in the maritime industry and invest in the Continue reading “UAE Maritime Cluster launched to boost the national maritime economy”

Green boating ETB partnership secures new funding to electrify the UK Norfolk Broads

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Ra - solar powered boat part of the ETB partnership
Ra – solar powered boat part of the ETB partnership

The ETB partnership, comprising researchers and Norfolk Broads businesses, has been announced as a winner of the Clean Maritime Competition, alongside 55 other projects to investigate how to decarbonise the maritime sector. As part of a range of measures to tackle climate change, the UK Government is planning to phase out the production of new fossil-fuel powered vessels by 2050. This funding will enable the ‘Electrifying The Broads’ – ETB partnership group to research how the transition to cleaner fuels and propulsion could take place in the Broads.

To date, electric motors are only widely used on small outboard vessels, electric day-boats and sailing yachts. The ‘cruiser’ fleet of private and hire boats is almost entirely fossil-fuel powered, and there are currently no environmentally-friendly options for hire vessels that Continue reading “Green boating ETB partnership secures new funding to electrify the UK Norfolk Broads”

Golden Ray NTSB report reveals inaccurate stability calculations as the cause of the capsizing

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Golden Ray NTSB report reveals inaccurate stability calculations as the cause of the capsizing
Golden Ray NTSB report reveals inaccurate stability calculations as the cause of the capsizing

Inaccurate stability calculations caused the capsizing of the vehicle carrier Golden Ray that resulted in $200 million worth of damages, the National Transportation Safety Board reveals in its marine accident report. The report gives details of the NTSB’s investigation into the capsizing of the roll-on/roll-off vehicle carrier as it transited outbound through St. Simons Sound near Brunswick, Georgia on 8 September 2019.

All 23 crewmembers and one pilot on board were rescued, including four engineering crew who were trapped in the vessel for nearly 40 hours. Two crewmembers sustained serious injuries. The Golden Ray sustained significant damage due to fire, flooding and saltwater corrosion and was declared a total loss estimated at $62.5 million. An estimated $142 million worth of cargo, including more than 4,100 Continue reading “Golden Ray NTSB report reveals inaccurate stability calculations as the cause of the capsizing”

ABS and Vanderbilt put spotlight on US waterways decarbonization

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ABS and Vanderbilt put spotlight on US waterways decarbonization
ABS and Vanderbilt put spotlight on US waterways decarbonization

The current GHG emissions profile of the US inland waterway sector is low compared to other freight modes. The American Waterways Operators cites statistics that show that one dry cargo barge can carry the same amount of cargo as 16 rail cars or 70 trucks and that barge transportation produces 30% less greenhouse gas emissions than rail and more than 1,000% less than trucks. Still, that does not mean that decarbonization is an issue that the industry can afford to ignore, and ABS and Vanderbilt University have just published a landmark report analyzing decarbonization strategies for U.S. inland waterways.

Called “Decarbonization of the Inland Waterway Sector in the United States,” the report evaluates the potential for possible future Continue reading “ABS and Vanderbilt put spotlight on US waterways decarbonization”

MAIB and DMAIB publish collaborative report on ECDIS use from the perspective of practitioners

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MAIB and DMAIB publish collaborative report on ECDIS use from the perspective of practitioners
MAIB and DMAIB publish collaborative report on ECDIS use from the perspective of practitioners

The UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) and the Danish Maritime Accident Investigation Board (DMAIB) have published a comprehensive 94 page study focusing on the practical application and usability of ECDIS. The study follows a qualitative methodology, primarily based on semi-structured interviews with 155 ECDIS users and observation data gathered between February and July 2018 during sea voyages in European waters on 31 ships of various types.

Challenges
The report showed that while the standardisation and allocation of simple and repetitive tasks (plotting the ship’s position and chart update for example) has brought about tangible benefits, the required user interaction with ECDIS has introduced challenges that cut Continue reading “MAIB and DMAIB publish collaborative report on ECDIS use from the perspective of practitioners”

Ensuring safe carriage of containers in bulk carriers guidelines issued by Bureau Veritas

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Ensuring safe carriage of containers in bulk carriers guidelines issued by Bureau Veritas
Ensuring safe carriage of containers in bulk carriers guidelines issued by Bureau Veritas

Bureau Veritas has published a comprehensive set of guidelines to promote and support the safe carriage of containers in bulk carriers. In recent months there has been unprecedented demand for the carriage of containers. This has prompted charterers to explore the possibility of using of bulk carriers for that task. Bulk carriers, in general, are non-cellular vessels compared to container ships.

Whilst the carriage of containers in bulk carriers is possible, but only after extensive planning, assessment and scrutiny, operators must liaise with their insurance carriers, the Class society of their vessel(s) and corresponding Flag Administration for advice and guidance on the necessary modifications and/or additions to satisfy their requirements.

Continue reading “Ensuring safe carriage of containers in bulk carriers guidelines issued by Bureau Veritas”

NTSB Safer Seas Digest published and reveals 14 key findings from investigations in 2020

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NTSB Safer Seas Digest published and reveals 14 key findings from investigations in 2020
NTSB Safer Seas Digest published and reveals 14 key findings from investigations in 2020

The latest NTSB Safer Seas Digest report includes lessons learned from US maritime incident investigations. Following analysis of 42 cases NTSB warns that new lithium-ion battery hazards can be every bit as deadly as the worst storms.

NTSB commented, “The real world is a peculiar academy. We hope that this collection of lessons learned in the investigations closed in 2020 helps readers to take a step back and view their own operation with a cold, critical eye, then return to their day-to-day routines ready to take the appropriate action.”

The Safer Seas Digest runs to 112 pages. The key 14 highlights and lessons learnt from the Safer Seas Digest report are: Continue reading “NTSB Safer Seas Digest published and reveals 14 key findings from investigations in 2020”

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