Small Craft News

Complaints received by the Canal & River Trust are on the up

Posted on by News Hound
Of the other complaints, there was one about the routing of HS2, as well as others in some way related to land or property.
Of the other complaints, there was one about the routing of HS2, as well as others in some way related to land or property.

252 complaints were received by the Canal & River Trust in 2017/18, according to the latest Waterways Ombudsman report.

The report show that the number of complaints is above the average of 225 over the past five years. During the year the Ombudsman received 35 enquiries about the Trust, down on 39 last year. Fifteen new investigations were opened, which was one more than the previous year and the number of completed investigations was 14, three lower than the previous year.

Of the 14 investigations completed, one was upheld, while in a further four investigations the complaint was either upheld in part, or elements of it were upheld. Goodwill awards were proposed in three cases, although in one case the complainant did not accept it.

Wide-ranging complaints

There was a very diverse range of complaints. The majority were about Continue reading “Complaints received by the Canal & River Trust are on the up”

Sunseeker is set to move into metal boat production

Posted on by News Hound
The new 49m tri-deck yacht will have an interior that can be styled to each owner’s taste.
The new 49m tri-deck yacht will have an interior that can be styled to each owner’s taste.

Sunseeker International is set to partner with Dutch based ICON Yachts to produce aluminium boats.

The first boat, due for launch in 2021, will be a 49m yacht and will capitalise on the demand the boatbuilder is seeing for larger vessels.

“We know there is demand there for larger Sunseeker yachts as the 155 Yacht proved,” said Sunseeker International sales director, Sean Robertson. “The decision to stop building that model was a commercial one based on space and capacity and certainly not due to lack of demand, so we knew we needed to rethink our approach to this size of vessel and have spent considerable time looking at various opportunities.”

He added: “A move into metal also means there is no Continue reading “Sunseeker is set to move into metal boat production”

Princess Yachts is experiencing a revolution as it launches the R35

Posted on by News Hound
Around 20 R35s will be built each year, each using the latest technologies that have been developed through working with BAR Technologies.
Around 20 R35s will be built each year, each using the latest technologies that have been developed through working with BAR Technologies.

Princess Yachts’ latest launch is its R35, a 100% carbon fibre craft whose hull weighs half a tonne less than a comparable GRP boat explained executive chairman Antony Sheriff.

The launch of the R35 follows on from the boatbuilder recording its highest ever revenue in the history of the company in 2017 and increasing the size of its workforce by 50% over the last two and a half years.

“Innovation, design, high levels of build quality and better perceived,” said Antony. “it’s all condensed into one boat, the R35. It’s about beauty and comfort.”

He added: “This boat is symbolic of the revolution that’s happening within Princess. It’s been a very exciting run over the last few years.”

Around 20 R35s will be built each year, each using Continue reading “Princess Yachts is experiencing a revolution as it launches the R35”

Bavaria Yachts saved by sale to private equity fund

Posted on by News Hound
A Bavaria Yacht on the sea
A Bavaria Yacht on the sea

The boatbuilder, Bavaria Yachts, which went into administration in April this year, has been sold to a private equity fund advised by German based CMP Capital Management-Partners. The acquisition includes Bavaria Yachts with its 550 staff and all the shares in its subsidiary Bavaria Catamarans that employs 250 people.

The purchase will be completed after merger control clearance by the German Federal Cartel Office – expected in a couple of weeks.

Restructuring

“We are convinced of Bavaria’s global market potential and will sustainably develop the company,” said Kai Brandes, CMP Capital Management-Partners MD. “The restructuring measures will focus on regaining market share and improving production costs.”

Continue reading “Bavaria Yachts saved by sale to private equity fund”

Raising and lowering a mast during crusing is now made easier by innovation from Balpha Mast and Barton Marine

Posted on by News Hound
Key to the Balpha Mast program is the stainless-steel mast housing which can be adapted for use with the Barton Boomstrut which controls the boom under sail.
Key to the Balpha Mast program is the stainless-steel mast housing which can be adapted for use with the Barton Boomstrut which controls the boom under sail.

The challenge of being able to lower the mast on a small yacht to get beneath bridges and access under other low obstacles is an age old problem. Addressing this matter, a new rigging programme allows the Balpha Mast to be lowered and raised during cruising easily and safely using a boom strut to hold the boom in place.

Working together, Balpha Mast and Barton Marine have made technical improvements and advancements to refine the core apparatus and the carbon fibre mast system now has UK and US patents in place.

“Our technical plan was to create the most simple and user-friendly rigging programme so that virtually anyone can swiftly lower and raise the mast to make sailing more of a joy for those restricted by bridges or transporting their sailing craft by trailer,” explained Suzanne Blaustone, Barton Marine CEO. “We are proud that we accomplished this using Continue reading “Raising and lowering a mast during crusing is now made easier by innovation from Balpha Mast and Barton Marine”

Rudder compartment hull leak causes major capsizing of towing vessel says NTSB investigation

Posted on by News Hound
NTSB determines that the probable cause of the capsizing and sinking of the Gracie Claire was the towing vessel’s decreased stability and freeboard due to undetected flooding through a hull leak in the rudder compartment, which made the vessel susceptible to the adverse effects of boarding water from the wake of a passing vessel.
NTSB determines that the probable cause of the capsizing and sinking of the Gracie Claire was the towing vessel’s decreased stability and freeboard due to undetected flooding through a hull leak in the rudder compartment, which made the vessel susceptible to the adverse effects of boarding water from the wake of a passing vessel.

The US NTSB issued an investigation report on the capsizing of the towing vessel ‘Gracie Claire’, while moored on the Lower Mississippi River in Venice, Louisiana. The report revealed that several factors affecting the stability of the vessel led to its capsizing.

The incident
On 23 August 2017, at 0756, Gracie Claire was moored in Tiger Pass near mile marker 10 on the Lower Mississippi River. While taking on fuel and water, the towboat began to slowly list to starboard. After the wake of a passing crewboat washed onto the Gracie Claire’s stern, the list increased. In a short period of time, water entered an open door to the engine room and flooded the space.

The towboat sank partially, its bow being held above the water by the lines connected to the dock. All three crewmembers escaped to the dock without injury. Approximately 1,100 gallons of diesel fuel were discharged into the waterway. Damage to the Gracie Claire was estimated at $565,000.

Probable cause

NTSB determines that the probable cause of the capsizing and sinking of the Gracie Claire was the Continue reading “Rudder compartment hull leak causes major capsizing of towing vessel says NTSB investigation”

MPA Singapore has issued advice on how to conduct effective marine incident reporting

Posted on by News Hound
Once this is ensured, the owner, manager and shipmaster of the affected Singapore-registered ships should alert MPA of the incident immediately or at the latest, within 2 hours.
Once this is ensured, the owner, manager and shipmaster of the affected Singapore-registered ships should alert MPA of the incident immediately or at the latest, within 2 hours.

MPA Singapore issued a marine notice to inform operators of Singapore-registered ships on the procedure of reporting of any marine casualty, incident or security-related incident involving Singapore-registered ships.

To begin with, the following can be considered to-be-reported marine incidents:
– the death of, or serious injury to, a person;
– the loss of a person from a ship;
– the loss, presumed loss or abandonment of a ship;
– material damage to a ship;
– the stranding or disabling of a ship, or the involvement of a ship in a collision;
– material damage to marine infrastructure external to a ship, that could seriously endanger the safety of the ship, another ship or an individual; or
– severe damage to the environment, or the potential for severe damage to the environment, brought about by the damage of a ship or ships.

As noted, the general principle in any incident is that urgent steps on the ground, in accordance with ships’ and companies’ approved plans, must first be taken by Continue reading “MPA Singapore has issued advice on how to conduct effective marine incident reporting”

BMA releases safety bulletin following nitrogen cylinder fatality

Posted on by News Hound
The examination showed that the damaged nitrogen cylinder had suffered significant corrosion at the point of failure.
The examination showed that the damaged nitrogen cylinder had suffered significant corrosion at the point of failure.

The Bahamas Maritime Authority issued a safety alert regarding the potential serious risk for safety on board a ship where nitrogen cylinder are used as a stored kinetic energy system for launching lifeboats. This alert was issued after the authority obtained information from an ongoing maritime incident investigation conducted by the Transport Accident Investigation Commission, New Zealand.

The vessel had hydraulically powered davits with six power packs, three on each side of the vessel. A stored energy system consisted of a piston accumulator and a bank of four high pressure (180-210 Bar) nitrogen cylinders were fitted to each lifeboat launching davit.

In February 2017, one of the nitrogen cylinders of a stored energy system onboard exploded while being topped up to maintain the correct pressure. A crew member died as a result of the explosion. The findings of the investigation indicate that significant corrosion affected the structural integrity of the cylinder.

The remains of the exploded nitrogen cylinder and other three cylinders from the same Continue reading “BMA releases safety bulletin following nitrogen cylinder fatality”

Application Spotlight – Undercarriage Inspection

Posted on by News Hound
Cygnus 4+ general purpose
Cygnus 4+ general purpose

In Construction and Mining, machine performance is integral to a project’s success and cost efficiency. Undercarriage can make up more than 50% of the maintenance costs of a machine. Any component failures could lead to serious delays or costly replacements.

Integrated with Cygnus 4+ Ultrasonic Thickness Gauge, TrackTreads developed an Undercarriage Tool to monitor a machine’s undercarriage quickly and effectively. Thickness Measurements are taken on each undercarriage component using Cygnus Ultrasonic Thickness Gauge – a truly simple to use and accurate thickness gauging device. Connected to a mobile application via  Continue reading “Application Spotlight – Undercarriage Inspection”

MCA new code to allow pleasure vessels to be used for business

Posted on by CEO
A race support boat
A race support boat

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is seeking feedback from the public on a new code of practice for intended pleasure vessels (IPV)

The MCA would like feedback on a new proposal to allow pleasure craft to be temporarily used for business purposes and as race support boats.

The organisation has been working with British Marine, RYA, and the Yacht Brokers, Designers and Surveyors Association (YBDSA) to develop the new code of practice which is due to be published on 1 January 2019.

The code is divided into parts. The first refers to intended pleasure vessels (IPV) to be used for temporary commercial reasons and the second for said craft to be used to support race boats.

Continue reading “MCA new code to allow pleasure vessels to be used for business”

Maud makes a welcome return to her homeland in Norway after 100 years

Posted on by News Hound
The Maud on the water - Image courtesy of Maud Returns Home
Image courtesy of Maud Returns Home

Maud, the ship that Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen tried to reach the North Pole with, returned to Norway on Monday after nearly a century.

The vessel arrived in Bergen, where she spent two days back in July 1918 on her way to the high Arctic.

Maud was raised from the seabed in Cambridge Bay, Canada, over the summer of 2016 by the Maud Returns Home project.

Named for Queen Maud of Norway, she was built for Amundsen’s second expedition to the Arctic and launched in June 1916. In the summer of 1918, Amundsen departed Norway. His ambition was to sail into the high north and deliberately get stuck in the ice so the ship could function as a floating scientific research station as she drifted across the North Pole. Maud spent several years in the Arctic ice without reaching the North Pole. Continue reading “Maud makes a welcome return to her homeland in Norway after 100 years”

Lively Lady back on the water after refit 50 years on

Posted on by News Hound
Lively Lady on the sea
Lively Lady on the sea

Classic yacht Lively Lady is back in the water 50 years after her first single-handed global circumnavigation, following a full repaint and extensive refit at Hayling Yacht Company.

The refit work to restore the 36ft cutter was carried out by volunteers from the charity Around and Around and included replacing the deck, reassembling the wheelhouse, installing new electrics and an interior refit, alongside a repaint using Jotun Yachting paint products.

“The hard work carried out by the volunteers at Around and Around has certainly paid off, with Lively Lady looking better than new and in a condition which will see her through the next 50 years,” said Jim Brickwood, business development manager at Jotun Yachting UK.

Continue reading “Lively Lady back on the water after refit 50 years on”

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