Further warning issued about limited preparation ahead of container weighing from 1 July 2016

According to UK P&I Club, some terminals and shippers are not prepared for the enforcement of the SOLAS on 1st July that will see all packed containers mandatorily weighed before loading. The Club notes that without steps to address the requirements of the SOLAS amendment, it is likely that chaos and commercial disputes could ensue. Furthermore, UK P&I Club warns that a failure to comply will result in fines, delays and potential loss of business for carriers.

The SOLAS amendment coming into force on 1st July 2016 requires, as a condition for loading a packed container onto a ship for export, that the container has a verified gross mass (‘VGM’). As from 1st July 2016, it will become a violation of SOLAS to load a packed container onto a ship if the ship operator and marine terminal operator do not have the VGM of the container. All 163 Signatory States to SOLAS will need to implement this SOLAS amendment through their national legislation.

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Poor decision making led to the Cemfjord’s capsizing reveals MAIB investigation report

The report into MAIB’s investigation of the capsize and sinking of the cement carrier Cemfjord in the Pentland Firth, Scotland with the loss of 8 lives on 2-3 January 2015 has been published.

At 1316 on 2 January 2015, the Cyprus registered cement carrier Cemfjord capsized while transiting the Pentland Firth, Scotland; no distress message was transmitted. Twenty-five hours later, the alarm was raised when its upturned hull was sighted by a passing ferry. An extensive search followed but none of Cemfjord’s eight crew were found and they are all assumed to have perished. The vessel sank late in the evening on 3 January 2015.

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Korean Register agrees to provide statutory services for India

Korean Register is to provide services to the India flag administration
Korean Register is to provide services to the India flag administration

Korean Register has issued an announced to say it has signed an agreement with the Directorate General of Shipping to deliver services on behalf of the Indian flag administration, carrying out vessel surveys and issuing certificates according to international conventions.

Korean Register is now able to conduct relevant surveys and audits and to issue certificates to Indian flagged ships for SOLAS, MARPOL, ITC, ICLL, and MLC.

India’s maritime industry has strong potential for growth because of its geographical location between Asia and Africa and its 7,000km long coastline. India’s recent economic growth has dramatically increased the value of its import and export trade.

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Shipyard De Hoop is set to enter the cruise expedition market

Shipyard De Hoop announces its intention to enter the cruise expedition market
Shipyard De Hoop announces its intention to enter the cruise expedition market

Shipyard De Hoop has engineered three luxury ocean going expedition cruise ships (150-200 passengers) in a move that combines its skills within both the offshore and river cruise market.

Says the chief executive of Shipyard De Hoop, Patrick Janssens, “It’s the next logical step for us.”

The project marks a first within the small cruise ship expedition market as there has never before been a dedicated newbuild expedition cruise vessel, Mr Janssens said. The norm is for ships to be converted to ice class to sail in expedition areas. “We are talking to companies about our concept and they are very interested, they see real market potential,” he said

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South Korea outlines plan to lift sunken Sewol by July

South Korea’s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced that it will start the salvage operation of the Sewol passenger ship next month and complete it before the end of July. The 6,825-ton ship, sank off the country’s southwestern coast two years ago while en route to the southern resort island of Jeju killing 304 people mostly high school students on a field trip.

CNN reports that Yeon Youngjin, deputy minister for the Marine Policy Office, told journalists Thursday that the ministry has used long-term maritime data to put together a salvage operation plan, which is projected to finish by the end of July. The operation will attempt to lift the 140-meter long ferry from beneath the water without having to cut it into pieces. Doing so will help recover bodies believed to be still trapped inside of it. Nine bodies are still unaccounted for.

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Expect the first commercial autonomous ships by 2020 say Rolls-Royce

Autonomous ships are tipped to be operating commercially by 2020
Autonomous ships are tipped to be operating commercially by 2020

Rolls-Royce know a thing or two, having been a world class manufacturer for many years. So, whilst it may be easy to become obsessive with the onslaught and possibilities of new technology, clearly the subject of autonomous ships is not going to go away. It is becoming apparent that such vessels will become part of our everyday lives – and perhaps a lot sooner than most of us realise.

The Rolls-Royce led Advanced Autonomous Waterborne Applications Initiative (AAWA) project recently presented its first findings at a conference in Helsinki, expressing high hopes for vessel automation in commercial service and predicting that it will arrive soon.

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World’s first ocean going vessels capable of running on methanol set for delivery

Starting in April, Waterfront Shipping Company Ltd. (WFS), Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL), Westfal-Larsen Management (WL) and Marinvest/Skagerack Invest (Marinvest) are proud to welcome innovative, clean-burning, fuel-efficient vessels to the sea. These seven 50,000 dead weight tonne vessels are built with the first-of-its kind MAN B&W ME-LGI 2-stroke dual fuel engines that can run on methanol, fuel oil, marine diesel oil, or gas oil.

This groundbreaking ship technology will significantly reduce emissions while giving ship owners a viable, efficient and convenient fuel alternative. With the growing demand for cleaner marine fuel to meet environmental regulations, methanol is a promising alternative fuel for ships that can meet the industry’s increasingly stringent emissions regulations. Methanol is a biodegradable, clean-burning marine fuel that reduces smog-causing emissions such as particulates, sulphur oxides and nitrogen oxides.

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DNV GL’s Technology Outlook 2025 looks ahead to the next ten years

Every five years, DNV GL publishes its Technology Outlook. This keenly awaited report is primarily intended to give customers and stakeholders a basis for discussion and insight into the technology landscape of the next decade within selected industries.

“It may be hard to believe we’re on the cusp of a technological revolution at a time when the global economy as a whole is slowing. But our view in DNV GL is that we are indeed entering a new ‘renaissance’ in industrial progress, with the accelerated uptake of cyber-physical systems,” says Remi Eriksen, Group President and CEO.

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North P&I Club issues warning of the risks of reduced generator capacity

Reduced generator capacity onboard ships is the subject of North P&I Club's latest newsletter
Reduced generator capacity onboard ships is the subject of North P&I Club’s latest newsletter

North P&I Club is advising its members to be aware of the potentially severe consequences of poorly maintained or overloaded on-board generators being unable to meet the electrical demands of ships at sea. The warning about reduced generator capacity comes in the latest issue of the club’s loss prevention newsletter Signals.

According to deputy loss prevention director Colin Gillespie, ‘Generators have a critical function to play on all ships. They provide electrical power for ever-more complex navigation, communication and safety systems as well as essential on-board services and vital equipment such as cranes, winches and bow thrusters. If the generators cannot cope due to poor condition or excess demand, it can lead to total loss of electrical power and put the safety of the ship, crew and cargo at risk.’

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DNV GL issues technical guidance for deck cargo on bulk carriers

DNV publishes guidance on deck cargo for bulk carriers
DNV publishes guidance on deck cargo for bulk carriers

DNV GL has issued Technical and Regulatory News including all related information you need when preparing a deck cargo for bulk carriers.

Structural strength
The deck and hatch covers on modern bulk carriers usually have a structural capacity of around 2.0 to 2.5 t/m2 of uniformly distributed load (UDL), without any reinforcements. This load corresponds to the green sea pressure used in the approval of the vessel. With a few minor reinforcements, it may be possible to increase the UDL, especially for the deck area.

Stability documentation
Compliance with applicable stability and longitudinal strength criteria in deck cargo loading conditions shall be shown in updated/amended stability manuals.

In general, intact GM limit curves shall be recalculated taking into account an additional wind profile area from deck cargo.

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FONABSA container weighing survey says there is work to do

The second round of the FONASBA survey on the status of implementation of the amendments to SOLAS VI.2 shows that with just three months to go before the 1st July 2016 deadline, the situation varies widely across more than 50 countries represented in FONASBA membership. The results of the survey, covering a wide range of topics from the nomination of the “designated authority” to how trans-shipment containers and those shipped under FOB sales will be treated, are available from the FONASBA website. For ease of reference, the extensive, detailed and comprehensive full report, listing the information provided by each individual country, is complemented by a consolidated Executive Summary.

Of particular concern at this late stage is that eighteen associations have advised that no guidance has been issued on the practical application of the measures in the country concerned. This situation has been exacerbated by the failure, until very recently in some cases, of governments to nominate the designated authority.

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What’s next for LNG fuelled ships?

The future for LNG fuelled ships depends on price, availability and legislation
The future for LNG fuelled ships depends on price, availability and legislation

Dr Gerd-Michael Würsig is Business Director LNG fuelled ships at DNV GL – Maritime. In this news article he assesses some of the current issues being faced by the LNG industry and gives an overview of what DNV GL is doing to support growth in this growing important market sector as LNG looks set to become ever important as a fuel choice.

“The main drivers, in order of importance for LNG fuelled ships, are price, availability, and of course legislation. LNG as a fuel has the potential to become the most important fuel solution for environmentally sustainable shipping over the next few years,” explained Würsig.

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