Small Craft News

ICOMIA Small Craft Standards Bulletin Edition 2019-1 has been published

Posted on by News Hound

The International Council of Marine Industry Associations’ (ICOMIA) Small Craft Standards Bulletin provides industry stakeholders with early notification on changes to existing standards and modifications to production methods; as developed and maintained by the ISO (International Organization for Standards) Technical Committee for Small Craft Standards – TC188 and SC2

The 11th edition of the ICOMIA Small Craft Standards Bulletin provides an update of standards following a week of ISO TC 188 & SC 2 Working Group meetings which took place during BOOT held in Düsseldorf, Germany, from 21 – 25 January 2019.

Continue reading “ICOMIA Small Craft Standards Bulletin Edition 2019-1 has been published”

Poor maintenance the key cause leading to sinking of Ms Nancy C says report

Posted on by News Hound
Photo by Frank Kammerer, towboatgallery.com
Photo by Frank Kammerer, towboatgallery.com

The NTSB has published its investigation report into the flooding and sinking of the towing vessel ‘Nancy C’ on Lower Mississippi River, near Dyersville, Tennessee, in March 2018. The investigation has identified poor maintenance as the principle cause of the incident.

On 6 March 2018, about 1630 local time, the uninspected towing vessel Ms Nancy C was moving and positioning cargo barges while operating in Everett Lake, a tributary of the Mississippi River, when a deckhand discovered water in a void at the stern of the vessel. While the captain and deckhand attempted to dewater the vessel, it sank in 15 feet of water. Both crew members disembarked to a barge prior to the sinking without injury. Damage was estimated at $667,306.

Continue reading “Poor maintenance the key cause leading to sinking of Ms Nancy C says report”

UK MAIB issues amended guidance to MGN 564 on marine incident reporting

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The MAIB investigates marine casualties involving UK vessels worldwide and vessels of any flag in UK territorial waters with the aim of preventing further avoidable accidents from recurring in the future. The UK MAIB has published amended guidance on marine incident reporting – what who and when an incident should be notified – with modifications made to MGN 564.

Who must report
The master/skipper, or senior surviving officer of a UK ship must notify the MAIB of any marine casualty or marine incident.

The master/skipper of any ship must notify the MAIB of any marine casualty or marine incident if:
– the ship is within UK waters and carrying passengers to / from the UK, or
Continue reading “UK MAIB issues amended guidance to MGN 564 on marine incident reporting”

MCA safety bulletin issued for all mariners who use GPS equipment

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Credit: Vic Drosso
Credit: Vic Drosso

The Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) has issued a special safety bulletin to all mariners that use GPS to prepare for a rollover event that will occur on 6 April 2019.

On April 6 navigation data from some older GPS systems might become inaccurate due to the ‘week number’ rollover event.

This could cause stand-alone GPS receivers and systems using GPS chips, to produce data that is 19.7 years either in the past or future, therefore generating errors in both the GPS position and time. However, if onboard equipment has been installed after August 1999, or has regular firmware updates from the manufacturer, there should be minimal Continue reading “MCA safety bulletin issued for all mariners who use GPS equipment”

Danish Maritime Authority gives approval to innovative new survival craft

Posted on by News Hound
With four independent electric engines at its corners, each Survival Craft is highly manoeuvrable.
With four independent electric engines at its corners, each Survival Craft is highly manoeuvrable.

The Danish Maritime Authority (DMA) has officially approved the LifeCraft Survival Craft by Viking as a Novel Life-Saving Appliance.

The device now meets the requirements for replacing conventional lifeboats on passenger ships and advancing progress toward greater safety in large-scale ship evacuation emergencies.

The approval, awarded on March 8, 2019, is the culmination of a long development and approval process including heavy weather trials in November 2018. Viking claims that the DMA approval marks the first time a truly ‘Novel’ Lifesaving Appliance (LSA) has been approved anywhere in the world. Continue reading “Danish Maritime Authority gives approval to innovative new survival craft”

Wärtsilä moves towards remote guidance for vessel repair and maintenance

Posted on by News Hound
Wärtsilä’s remote guidance service also proved successful during a demonstration in the TT-Lines office
Wärtsilä’s remote guidance service also proved successful during a demonstration in the TT-Lines office

Wärtsilä has successfully tested its remote guidance service, so claiming to have created ‘an entirely new dimension in vessel repair and maintenance operations’.

Through real-time communication using voice-controlled Augmented Reality (AR) wearables and remote guidance software, ship crew members, field service engineers and shipyard personnel can communicate with shore-based experts anywhere in the world.

The tests were carried out onboard the Huckleberry Finn, a RoRo ferry operated by TT-Lines, while sailing between Trelleborg, Sweden and Travemünde, Germany.

Simulated remote guidance service situations were carried out on the ship’s navigation equipment on the bridge and on the shaft line seals and bearings in the engine room.

Continue reading “Wärtsilä moves towards remote guidance for vessel repair and maintenance”

New commercial shipyard facility opened by Fairline at Hythe

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Altogether it is hoped 65 boats will be built at both sites in 2019, with the core range from 40 – 60ft built in Arundel and the larger boats built in Hythe.
Altogether it is hoped 65 boats will be built at both sites in 2019, with the core range from 40 – 60ft built in Arundel and the larger boats built in Hythe.

Fairline Yachts has opened a new commercial shipyard facility in Hythe, Southampton.

The shipyard is able to accommodate vessels of up to 950 tonnes and 11.5m beam, which can be removed from the water via the slipway and stored undercover.

The site has more than 10,000sqm of covered working halls with workspace for crew or contractors to carry out required works.

“Opening this new facility is an exciting step for Fairline Yachts,” said Fairline Yachts commercial manager, Robert Hammond.

The shipyard is also capable of berthing vessels from 10m to 100m.

The move follows on from Fairline CEO David Tydemann admitting boatbuilding has been slower than desired at Hythe, largely due to problems recruiting the workforce resulting in a production challenge.

Continue reading “New commercial shipyard facility opened by Fairline at Hythe”

Spirit Yachts set to launch its first electric yacht in early 2020

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The yacht’s eco credentials continue below decks with a reversible heating/air conditioning Webasto pump, that will heat and cool the yacht using minimal power.
The yacht’s eco credentials continue below decks with a reversible heating/air conditioning Webasto pump, that will heat and cool the yacht using minimal power.

Spirit Yachts has begun construction of its first electric yacht, a 13.4m vessel due to launch early 2020.

The Spirit 44E, has two solar panels integrated into her deck, colour matched to the teak. These will charge OceanVolt 48VDC 30.4kWh batteries (made up of 48 1.9kWh batteries), which will power an Oceanvolt SD15 electric drive.

“From afar, the Spirit 44E will look like any other Spirit sailing yacht,” said Spirit Yachts head designer Sean McMillan. “Low freeboards, long overhangs, flush decks and the timeless beauty of quality wooden craftsmanship.

Up close, she will display signs of the sailing yachts of the future.”

Hydrogeneration via the propeller is used to regenerate the batteries while sailing, calculated at 1.5kW while sailing at five knots. Continue reading “Spirit Yachts set to launch its first electric yacht in early 2020”

IMO Sub-Committee finalises draft amendments to ventilation requirements for survival craft

Posted on by News Hound
During the meeting of the IMO Sub-Committee, a correspondence group was established.
During the meeting of the IMO Sub-Committee, a correspondence group was established.

The IMO Sub-Committee on Ship Systems and Equipment held its 6th Session from 4 to 8 March 2019. The meeting focused on improvements in ventilation conditions of survival craft that will be achieved by finalising draft amendments to the LSA Code on ventilation requirements for survival craft and draft amendments to the ‘Revised recommendation on testing of life-saving appliances’.

Mainly, the Sub-Committee discussed the draft amendments to the LSA Code, relating to ventilation requirements of totally enclosed lifeboats.

In the meantime, the meeting made progress in developing draft amendments to the revised recommendation on testing of life-saving appliances regarding the ventilation of survival craft, aiming to ensure a habitable environment is maintained in such survival craft.

Continue reading “IMO Sub-Committee finalises draft amendments to ventilation requirements for survival craft”

Safe loading practices highlighted in fishing vessel sinking

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Around 0900 on 9 April, the mate, who was on watch, noticed that the vessel was not fully returning upright when it was heeled over by the swell
Around 0900 on 9 April, the mate, who was on watch, noticed that the vessel was not fully returning upright when it was heeled over by the swell

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) has published an investigation report on the sinking of the fishing vessel ‘Western Commander’ off Triple Islands, Dixon Entrance, British Columbia, in April 2018. The report highlighted issues related to safe loading practices and proper risk identification.

In April 2018, the vessel was under contract to sea urchin buyers to transport urchins for 11 different harvesters. From 4 April to the morning of 6 April, the vessel remained at anchor in Parry Passage due to inclement weather.

Around 0900 on 9 April, the mate, who was on watch, noticed that the vessel was not fully returning upright when it was heeled over by the swell. Water was coming over the port railing and remaining on deck, and the vessel developed a port list. At some point, water had entered the port forward fish hold. In an attempt to Continue reading “Safe loading practices highlighted in fishing vessel sinking”

Vessel stability compromised by weight creep says USCG advice note

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Photo credit: A crewmember from Ocean Rover
Photo credit: A crewmember from Ocean Rover

The US Coast Guard has published its Findings of Concern with essential information it wishes to share about unsafe conditions that investigators have identified as causal factors in a casualty that could contribute to future incidents. The Findings of Concern follow the sinking of a fishing vessel in February 2017.

In February 2017, immediately after 27 days of cod fishing, a 98-foot commercial fishing vessel carrying 200 crab pots with a crew of six departed Dutch Harbor, Alaska, and proceeded towards St. Paul Island to drop off bait with the intent to transit to the Opilio crab fishing grounds.

The vessel got underway despite multiple National Weather Service (NWS) marine forecasts indicating areas of freezing spray throughout the vessel’s planned route.

Continue reading “Vessel stability compromised by weight creep says USCG advice note”

More glazing is the trend

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Bigger is better appears to be a key current glazing trend with ever large pieces of glass being used throughout vessels.

This is evidenced in the latest UK and Italian designs, which incorporate swathes of glass passing down the superstructure spanning main deck saloon, galley and dining areas, points out Trend Marine’s Jim Boulton.

Glazing helps vessel ventilation and also enables maximum light into a vessel.

“Large format single piece screens allow uncluttered panoramic views from the helm,” said Jim. “Switchable glass interior panels offer hi-tech options for separating spaces but allowing light to transmit through the boat.”

Continue reading “More glazing is the trend”

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