The Canal & River Trust annual report shows progress despite significant challenges

Canal & River Trust annual report shows progress despite significant challenges
Canal & River Trust annual report shows progress despite significant challenges

Boating numbers and income are up for 2019/20 according to the annual report and accounts published by the Canal & River Trust. The report charts a year when income, volunteering, and spend on the trust’s charitable activities grew to record levels. Income increased by £6.1m to £216.1m and spend on charitable activities increased by £10.9m, with underlying expenditure on maintenance, repairs and infrastructure works continuing to grow.

Whilst boating was put on hold for most during the initial stages of the Covid-19 lockdown, there was a small growth in boat numbers and income from boating and Continue reading “The Canal & River Trust annual report shows progress despite significant challenges”

LBV35: World’s most sustainable boat to date set to arrive in 2021

LBV35: World's most sustainable boat to date set to arrive in 2021
LBV35: World’s most sustainable boat to date set to arrive in 2021

Next year La Belle Verde (LBV) and Innovation Yachts are launching the ‘LBV35’, said to be the world’s most sustainable boat. LBV is a pioneer of the green boating movement, having designed, developed and introduced a fleet of solar powered, emission free vessels since launching in Ibiza 2014.

Maarten Bernhart, one of the founders of LBV said it was time for change. “There are currently around 20 million recreational vessels in the EU and USA, all built with highly toxic and nonrecyclable materials. All of these boats will end up on landfills or on the bottom of the sea within the next ten to 20 years,” he said.

Having previously focused on reducing emissions by implementing solar-electric propulsion Continue reading “LBV35: World’s most sustainable boat to date set to arrive in 2021”

MAIB issues urgent safety bulletin about the death of two men caused by carbon monoxide poisoning

On 4 December 2019 two men returned to 9.18m privately owned motor cruiser Diversion, which was moored on the river Ouse in York. The diesel fuelled heater had been leaking exhaust fumes into the boat’s cabin while they were ashore, and both men were overcome by a high level of carbon monoxide poisoning and died shortly after they entered the boat’s cabin.

Safety Issues
1) no carbon monoxide alarm was fitted;

2) the cabin heater had been installed by the vessel’s owner, but the installation had not been professionally checked and no servicing had been carried out. Continue reading “MAIB issues urgent safety bulletin about the death of two men caused by carbon monoxide poisoning”

New electric ferries take to the water in Plymouth and Paris

New electric ferries take to the water in Plymouth and Paris
New electric ferries take to the water in Plymouth and Paris

The UK’s first sea-going electric ferries has set sail for the first time in Plymouth. Plymouth Boat Trips and Voyager Marine, Cornwall has partnered with the University of Plymouth, the University of Exeter, Teignbridge Propellers, MarRi-UK and EV Parts UK to make the project come to life.

Funded through the £1.4m Clean Maritime Call, a Maritime Research and Innovation UK (MarRI-UK) initiative supported by the Department for Transport (DfT), the project’s part of the UK’s goal of zero emission shipping.

The boat has been completely rebuilt over several months and will undergo rigorous trials – including assessments of its emissions – before it carries its first paying passengers in April 2021. Continue reading “New electric ferries take to the water in Plymouth and Paris”

Small Craft Standards Bulletin published by ICOMIA

The International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA) has released its latest Small Craft Standards Bulletin. The bulletin provides industry stakeholders with early notification on changes to existing standards or new work items that are developed and maintained by the ISO Technical Committee for Small Craft Standards (TC 188).

This edition includes an additional appendix at the end which covers various platforms available to use to access the ISO TC 188 Small Craft Standards.

Continue reading “Small Craft Standards Bulletin published by ICOMIA”

Seven minute recharge for zero-emission ferries for Niagara Falls tour

Seven minute recharge for zero-emission ferries for Niagara Falls tour
Seven minute recharge for zero-emission ferries for Niagara Falls tour

A pair of vessels installed with all-electric propulsion from ABB have been approved to enter service at Niagara Falls. The zero-emission ferries named the James V. Glynn and the Nikola Tesla are said to be the first all-electric vessels built in the US, with power drawn from a high-capacity battery pack supplied and integrated by ABB. In addition to batteries, ABB has supplied an integrated power and propulsion solution for the newbuild zero-emission ferries, including an offshore charging system, enabling sustainable operation.

“Maid of the Mist has always evolved with the technology, and we are thrilled to open a new page in Continue reading “Seven minute recharge for zero-emission ferries for Niagara Falls tour”

900,000 UK boaters set to be hit by post-Brexit travel rules is RYA survey finding

Almost 900,000 UK boaters are due to be hit by post-Brexit travel rules on how long they can stay in Europe after the Brexit transition period ends on 31 December 2020, a new survey by the RYA has found.

With the end of the free movement of people, UK citizens, including boaters, will be restricted to spending no more than 90 days in a rolling 180-day period in the Schengen Area (the Schengen rule) before they have to obtain a visa for each Schengen country they plan to visit.

The RYA’s survey shows that of the estimated 1.2 million UK boaters who currently boat in the Schengen Area, 74% spend more than 90 days in 180 in the Area either boating or on other leisure or travel activities. This equates to almost 900,000 UK boaters whose plans will be disrupted by the change in travel rules on 31 December. Responding to specific questions in the survey, 53% of UK boaters boating abroad said they will be ‘greatly affected’ by the limitations of the Schengen rule. Continue reading “900,000 UK boaters set to be hit by post-Brexit travel rules is RYA survey finding”

MCA: Bilge water alarms consultation under way

MCA: Bilge water alarms consultation under way
MCA: Bilge water alarms consultation under way

The Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA) have released information about their new proposed regulation for Bilge Water Alarms.

Consultation is due to begin on draft legislation that intends to reduce the risk of an accident arising as a result of water coming into a vessel without the crew knowing it is happening.

The new regulations would mean that all vessels greater than 24 metres in length but less than 500 gross tonnage would have to be fitted with bilge alarms.
Owners of vessels less than 500 gross tonnage would still have to formally assess the risks to crew Continue reading “MCA: Bilge water alarms consultation under way”

MAMBO: world’s first 3D printed fiberglass boat using a thermoset continuous fibre composite material

World’s first 3D printed fiberglass boat
World’s first 3D printed fiberglass boat

Italian start-up, Moi Composites, is unveiling its MAMBO (Motor Additive Manufacturing Boat) at the Genoa Boat Show. The MAMBO is the world’s first real 3D printed fiberglass boat using a thermoset continuous fibre composite material, demonstrating a new, unique shaped boat that cannot be achieved with traditional manufacturing.

At 6.5 metres long by 2.5 metres wide, MAMBO has a dry weight of approximately 800kg, and is equipped with a real navigation system, cork flooring, white leather seats, and a 115 cv engine. The hull is an inverted tricycle inspired by the famous Arcidiavolo by Sonny Levi. Continue reading “MAMBO: world’s first 3D printed fiberglass boat using a thermoset continuous fibre composite material”

Baltic countries to look at new evidence on 1994 roll-on roll-off ferry Estonia sinking

Photo credit: REUTERS/Ints Kalnins/File Photo reuters_tickers
Photo credit: REUTERS/Ints Kalnins/File Photo reuters_tickers

The roll-on roll-off ferry Estonia, carrying 803 passengers and 186 crew, sank on a stormy Baltic Sea shortly after midnight on September 28, 1994. The official investigation in 1997 concluded that the bow shield had failed, damaging the bow ramp and flooding the car deck. However, Sweden said that a Discovery Network documentary about the disaster included new underwater video images from the wreck site showing damage on the starboard side of the wreck.

“Estonia, Finland and Sweden have agreed that verification of the new information presented in the documentary will be made,” the foreign ministers of the three countries said in a joint statement on Monday. Continue reading “Baltic countries to look at new evidence on 1994 roll-on roll-off ferry Estonia sinking”

The bizarre account of how RCR saved 49 boats on the River Avon in an18 hour shift

RCR saved 49 boats on the River Avon in an18 hour shift
RCR saved 49 boats on the River Avon in an18 hour shift

A report at Somerset Live reveals how the RCR (River Canal Rescue) team managed to pull off a huge logistical feat to save 49 canal boats in one 18 hour shift in Bath. Disaster struck on the Kennet and Avon Canal when a sluice gate broke at Twerton at September 15. Water rapidly drained from the canal and in the space of an hour no more than a trickle was left.

Several boats were capsized completely when their tight moorings pulled them in the wrong direction as the water disappeared. In total 49 canal boats became stranded in thick silt for several days, with boats perched precariously on concrete slabs, on their sides or submerged in filthy water.

RCR is regularly called in to attend incidents with canal boats often involving Continue reading “The bizarre account of how RCR saved 49 boats on the River Avon in an18 hour shift”

Dixie Delight: Report published into Alabama boat and marina fire which killed eight people

NTSB report on Dixie Delight fire
NTSB report on Dixie Delight fire

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has published its investigation report on the fire and explosion aboard houseboat Dixie Delight which spread through Jackson County Park Marina, Alabama, in January 2020, killing eight people. The report has highlighted that marinas should have measures and guidelines in place to prevent such incidents.

On 27 January 2020, about 0035 local time, fire broke out aboard the Dixie Delight, a 43-foot liveaboard houseboat, tied to Dock B at Jackson County Park Marina in Scottsboro, Alabama. The owner of the vessel attempted to extinguish the fire and push the burning vessel away from the dock, but the blaze engulfed the Dixie Delight and then spread to neighbouring vessels and the wood- Continue reading “Dixie Delight: Report published into Alabama boat and marina fire which killed eight people”

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