The American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC) has released the results of a study that examined the effectiveness of its standards in enhancing boating safety. The research firms Industrial Economics and ITA International conducted the analysis, which used NMMA-certified boats to ensure compliance with ABYC standards through their inspection process. And although the results – voluntary standards (for marine safety) reduce the risk of involvement in a focused accident by 43 to 47 per cent – were reported at a recent seminar, it’s now ‘official’. Continue reading “Certified boats have lower chance of accidents”
Small Craft News
‘Risk of drowning’ alert for some Jeanneau Yachts issued
IIMS has been contacted directly by the UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) to alert us to potential issues surrounding Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 410, 440 and 490 models, which are equipped with Sleipner-Sidepower retractable bow thruster modules. These models were built in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
The advice from Jeanneau is to immediately stop sailing. The company has issued a Continue reading “‘Risk of drowning’ alert for some Jeanneau Yachts issued”
UK Office for Product Safety and Standards issues product recall alert for Honda Marine Outboards
The affected Honda Marine Outboard products present a risk of injuries as it has been identified that the actuator link rod may break during use due to a lack of durability. This can then result in a loss of shift operation, leading to a potential loss of control of the vessel. The product does not meet the requirements of the Recreational Craft Regulations 2017. Due to this, the product has been recalled from end users. Continue reading “UK Office for Product Safety and Standards issues product recall alert for Honda Marine Outboards”
What caught my eye: March 2024
Floating sauna in Oslo fjord rescues occupants of sinking Tesla
This is a remarkable story, one of my favourites for ages, which fortunately had a happy ending. What caught my eye specifically were the details of the good Samaritan vessel – a floating sauna – which came to the aid of a sinking Tesla. I must have led a sheltered life as I was completely unaware that such craft existed and that they are indeed popular in Norway and can be hired by the hour! And being a skipper of a floating sauna sounds like a very cool job – never getting cold on the job either! Continue reading “What caught my eye: March 2024”
CHIRP Annual Digest 2023 published
Recently published, the CHIRP Annual Digest 2023 is the ninth edition to be released by CHIRP Maritime. The publication covers the reports and cases that were published during 2023 along with additional articles on safety topics.
The Digest extends to 78 pages and celebrates CHIRP Maritime’s 20th anniversary. The publication presents a collection of safety-focused incident reports and insightful articles derived from real-life experiences in the maritime industry. The Digest is organized into themed sections, providing readers the flexibility to explore topics of interest. Continue reading “CHIRP Annual Digest 2023 published”
Red Ensign Group Yacht Code revision published
A new revision of the gold standard Red Ensign Group Yacht Code, set to come into force in July 2024, has been published, which intends to provide guidance on the best practice to facilitate safe solutions for commercially operated yachts over 24 metres (78 feet) in load-line length.
The new revision represents all the expertise gained across almost three decades of regulating the large yacht sector since the first version was published by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in 1997.
A spokesperson for Red Ensign Group said, “The Red Ensign Group Yacht Code is the international standard for the design, construction, and operation of these vessels. We will never compromise on safety and crew welfare and maintain the highest maritime regulatory Continue reading “Red Ensign Group Yacht Code revision published”
ICOMIA launches essential new Paint Colour Guide: Yacht Coating Technical Guidelines
The International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA) has produced a Paint Colour Guide: Yacht Coating Technical Guidelines as a result of their work with leading yacht coating manufacturers including Akzo Nobel, Hempel, Boero, CMP Chugoku and specialist coating consultants the Safinah Group.
The guide has been produced by ICOMIA members, for their members and the wider marine sector, in conjunction with industry technical experts including yacht paint surveyors, inspectors, chemists and formulators. It aims to provide clear, objective industry guidance on the use of paint colours and yacht coatings.
The days of yachts being painted only with the typical blue hulls and white superstructures are long gone. Continue reading “ICOMIA launches essential new Paint Colour Guide: Yacht Coating Technical Guidelines”
Oily rags were the cause of luxury yacht fire are accident investigation findings
The marine environment takes a toll on coatings, and to keep up with maintenance, most ships’ crews use oil-based paints and finishes almost every day that the weather allows. These materials come with an inherent fire risk, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has warned, because waste and rags from cleanup can easily combust. For finishes containing linseed oil – a common ingredient in wood finishes – the risk is elevated by the material’s tendency to self-heat and ignite. Left alone, a linseed-soaked rag can catch fire without any external source of ignition as the crew of the yacht Pegasus discovered last year. Continue reading “Oily rags were the cause of luxury yacht fire are accident investigation findings”
From ‘Sofa to Sailboat’ a unique challenge for one IIMS member
A leisure sailor and IIMS member and his inexperienced ex-Team GB crewmate are moving from their sofas onto a tiny 17ft sailboat to cross the Atlantic Ocean in aid of charity. In December 2023, John-Kenneth D Habbershaw, a Yacht and Small Craft Marine Surveyor, and his crewmate Farris Collins will take on an incredible challenge as they cross 3,000 miles of the Atlantic Ocean, unassisted in a tiny upcycled 50-year-old ‘Leisure 17’ sailboat, which has been nicknamed their ‘dinghy with a lid’. The pair aim to raise £100,000 in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support, Mind, MS-UK, and St Helena Hospice. MS-UK and St Helena Hospice are based in Colchester, Essex, UK. Continue reading “From ‘Sofa to Sailboat’ a unique challenge for one IIMS member”
Angry response voiced at Seawork over proposed new MCA Workboat Code 3
Anger erupted and spilled over at the MCAs handling of the Workboat Code 3 consultation process at the Seawork conference. Accusations were made that the MCA (Maritime & Coastguard Agency) is not communicating new coding regulations that could have disastrous consequences for small workboats.
There was standing room only at the UK’s Maritime & Coastguard Authority Workboat Code 3 update presentation at Seawork as the Workboat Association teetered close to expressing a vote of no confidence in the UK’s statutory body. Something of a showdown with Continue reading “Angry response voiced at Seawork over proposed new MCA Workboat Code 3”
Emma Louise fatal carbon monoxide poisoning report published
On the morning of 12 January 2022, two men were found unconscious on board the sports cruiser, Emma Louise, which was berthed in Port Hamble Marina, on the River Hamble, England. It was later established that both men had died because of carbon monoxide poisoning.
The two men had boarded the boat the previous evening and had left the engine running while they remained in the boat’s covered cockpit area. The MAIB investigation concluded that the boat’s exhaust gas, which contained carbon monoxide, had likely been funnelled into the cockpit by an inflatable towable ski Continue reading “Emma Louise fatal carbon monoxide poisoning report published”
Key items to check for enhanced fire safety on small passenger vessels
Over the past year, fires on several small passenger vessels (SPVs) have highlighted the need for a renewed focus on fire safety, says the US Coast Guard (USCG) and consequently has issued a Marine Safety Information Bulletin to address key areas of concern.
USCG has initiated a focused self-assessment by owners and operators of all small passenger vessels, and a Coast Guard-led concentrated inspection campaign. The Coast Guard’s concentrated inspection campaign will include additional inspections of some SPVs initially certificated prior to 1996 that carry 100 or more passengers.
The focus of the inspection aligns with the list below. Continue reading “Key items to check for enhanced fire safety on small passenger vessels”
