Small Craft News

Angry response voiced at Seawork over proposed new MCA Workboat Code 3

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The proposed MCAs Workboat Code 3 has drawn angry responses
The proposed MCAs Workboat Code 3 has drawn angry responses

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

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The vessel Emma Louise
The vessel Emma Louise

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

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Tambrey Laine/Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, via Associated Press
Tambrey Laine/Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, via Associated Press

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”

RSG Guidelines 2023 Version 2 published

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RSG Guidelines 2023 (version 2) published
RSG Guidelines 2023 (version 2) published

The most recent revised version of the RSG Guidelines 2023 (version 2) has been released and contains a number of updates.

These guidelines are the go-to document for boatbuilders and boatyards, detailing the RCD requirements, and supporting ISO Standards which clarify certain areas of the regulations.

The RSG Guidelines 2023 are prepared to assist with the conformity assessment procedures undertaken by Notified Bodies for recreational craft, personal watercraft, their components and their engines, in accordance with Directive 2013/53/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council, dated 20 November 2013 on recreational craft and personal watercraft and repealing Directive 94/25/EC Continue reading “RSG Guidelines 2023 Version 2 published”

EMSA plans to streamline Flag State Inspections

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The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) has announced it has developed and released the Flag State Inspection functionality in RuleCheck. The objective of this innovative functionality is to support the work of flag state inspectors performing periodic flag state inspections (not statutory).

RuleCheck facilitates the work of the PSCOs by filtering the applicable requirements of the international instruments and regional procedures for a specific ship according to its type, Continue reading “EMSA plans to streamline Flag State Inspections”

Reckless UK jet skiers to face prison and unlimited fines thanks to law change

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New legislation is being introduced to crack down on the dangerous misuse of watercraft such as jet skis, with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) being granted more powers to prosecute perpetrators of accidents.

The new law comes into force on 31 March 2023 in time for the busy summer period and will enable watercraft users to be prosecuted and bound by the same laws that apply to ships in order to help to prevent accidents. This follows a boom in the watercraft industry during the pandemic with the number, size, power and availability of watercraft like jet skis increasing, and their use in UK waters rising significantly. Continue reading “Reckless UK jet skiers to face prison and unlimited fines thanks to law change”

Announcing the Ian Nicolson Lecture: Your invitation to attend

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Image credit: The Helensburgh Advertiser
Image credit: The Helensburgh Advertiser

One of the more interesting nonagenarians you are likely to meet is Ian Nicolson C.Eng. FRINA HonMIIMS, a marine surveyor based in Scotland, who is not your average ninety-plus-year-old. For one thing, he has been marine surveying for over 70 years – in itself a remarkable feat.

IIMS is delighted to be hosting the Ian Nicolson Lecture “Lessons learned from 78 years of marine surveying” live on Thursday 13th April between 10.30 and 12.30 (UK time). The lecture is open to anyone who wishes to attend. Continue reading “Announcing the Ian Nicolson Lecture: Your invitation to attend”

Recovery of Persons in Water, a Guide to Good Practice for Small Vessels published by British Tugowners Association.

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The British Tugowners Association has released its latest guidance to industry, Recovery of Persons in Water (PIW), a Guide to Good Practice for Small Vessels.

“The guide looks to debunk and demystify various myths and fallacies within the industry, spurring on open debate and discussion with the intent being to save lives,” said BTA chairman and Svitzer Head of Marine Standards Scott Baker.

The intent of the guide is not limited to tugs but applicable across the small boat sector, whether crewboats, pilot boats, workboats or tugs, many of which share similar characteristics and equipment. Continue reading “Recovery of Persons in Water, a Guide to Good Practice for Small Vessels published by British Tugowners Association.”

IIMS 2022 Safety & Loss Prevention Briefings Compendium published

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Following the surprise runaway success of the first edition of the Safety & Loss Prevention Briefings Compendium, published in January 2022 by the International Institute of Marine Surveying (IIMS), and subsequently downloaded many thousands of times, Edition II has been launched covering the period January to October 2022. It is now available to download and read in pdf or eReader formats.

Edition II builds on the success of the launch publication and extends to 160 pages. The simple aim is to highlight the dangers of working in the maritime industry, the ensuing accidents and some of the prevention measures available to mitigate disasters at sea. The publication blends a mix of incident and accident reports with essential loss prevention advice generated over the year. One significant new feature is a calendar, featuring some of the many accidents that have occurred during 2022, catalogued month by month. Continue reading “IIMS 2022 Safety & Loss Prevention Briefings Compendium published”

Lack of personal flotation device led to skipper’s death

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Colin Golder perished because he was not wearing a personal flotation device
Colin Golder perished because he was not wearing a personal flotation device

In a tragic accident, the failure by a skipper to wear a personal flotation device, harness and tether, caused his death when he was washed overboard during the 2022 Newport-Bermuda race in June 2022 is the finding from a review by US Sailing.

Colin Golder was racing the Centurion 42, Morgan of Marietta, when he went overboard on 19 June 200 miles off the US east coast. Despite the efforts of the crew, which rescued Colin in challenging seas, he died soon after, most likely from drowning.

US Sailing’s review and subsequent report of the incident attribute his death primarily Continue reading “Lack of personal flotation device led to skipper’s death”

CRT publishes Boater Report 2022

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The Boater Report 2022 has been released by the CRT
The Boater Report 2022 has been released by the CRT

The Canal & River Trust has published its Boater Report 2022 into how it generates its income and how that money is invested on behalf of its licence holders. Income for the year remained broadly stable and the Trust was able to increase the amount spent on core maintenance and repair works

The Boater Report 2022 highlights examples of the work the Trust carries out to keep the waterways safe and open for navigation, including 451 planned repairs and 52 arising and emergency repairs. Over the year the Trust replaced 132 lock gates, dredged 37km and removed almost 125,500 tonnes of silt. Continue reading “CRT publishes Boater Report 2022”

Former Discovery Yachts director ordered to make £1m payout

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An ex director of Discovery Yachts Group will have to pay over a million pounds in compensation to a couple who sued the company over their leaking boat. Both Discovery Yachts Group and Discovery Yachts Ltd, are in liquidation – but Discovery Group’s ex-director Sean Langdon, 58, will now have to pay £1.12m compensation in person after losing a lawsuit.

Andrew France and his wife Maria bought the 58-foot Discovery sailing yacht ‘Elusive’ for £1.5 million in January 2017.
They sued Southampton based boat broker Discovery Yachts Sales Ltd (DYS) and Discovery Yachts Group Ltd Continue reading “Former Discovery Yachts director ordered to make £1m payout”

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