The UK’s marine assistance breakdown service Sea Start has experienced one of its busiest periods, with call outs to engine breakdowns at sea amongst the busiest on record.
It’s blaming owners’ “desperate rush to feel freedom” overshadowing much of the normal spring preparation made by conscientious owners.
“The boating population have left their berths en masse,” observes founder and MD, Nick Eales, of Sea Start. “We have received a record number of call outs, many of them to report quite serious failures. It’s not a Continue reading “Sea Start: Record engine failures as owners fail to prepare”
Over the years there have been many incidents in the shipping industry involving leakage of flammable and toxic gases into pump rooms, void spaces, engine rooms and other compartments. A mixture of gas in the air beyond certain concentration levels can be life threatening for crew entering these spaces and pose a serious fire risk. The International Gas Carrier Code (IGC Code) states that gas detection equipment shall be installed to monitor the integrity of the cargo containment, cargo handling and ancillary systems, and should be tested in accordance with recognized standards. To ensure that the fixed gas detection system operates effectively, timely and accurate calibration of the sensors is critical.
With the current COVID-19 pandemic forcing the country into lockdown, the Royal Yachting Aassociation has received a considerable number of enquiries from concerned members who are not able to gain access to their boats now that most marinas have closed.
