Superyacht News

Ship surveying is being revolutionised by drone technology says ClassNK

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Last September, ClassNK designated ‘survey technology innovation’ as one of four focus areas listed in its new R&D Roadmap, with drones identified as a key technology.
Last September, ClassNK designated ‘survey technology innovation’ as one of four focus areas listed in its new R&D Roadmap, with drones identified as a key technology.

As part of an on-going focus on safety in enclosed spaces, ClassNK describes how it has carried out detailed drone tests to revolutionize ship surveying. In spring this year, ClassNK introduced guidelines on the use of drones in class surveys, covering procedures and technical considerations for safe operation, as well as requirements for drone service suppliers.

Although drones with multiple propellers on the same plane are currently the most widespread design, research is taking place into alternative arrangements with tilt rotors and propellers in a tetrahedral configuration. Meanwhile, significant progress has been seen in autonomous operations using higher precision positioning, and considerable advances in machine image recognition and processing.

Continue reading “Ship surveying is being revolutionised by drone technology says ClassNK”

Markel and Pantaenius set to partner up

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Pantaenius and Markel’s partnership is the logical development when faced with today’s unstable yacht insurance market.
Pantaenius and Markel’s partnership is the logical development when faced with today’s unstable yacht insurance market.

It has been announced that Markel International is to partner with European yacht insurance provider Pantaenius.

Pantaenius has offices across Europe, USA and Australia and has been providing a range of yacht insurance and related protection for yacht owners for more than 50 years.

Markel’s yacht and superyacht team was established two years ago, with the appointment of senior underwriter Mike Wimbridge to head up the business. Mike will become part of Pantaenius, while remaining located in Markel’s London office.

Continue reading “Markel and Pantaenius set to partner up”

Amsterdam success for British manufacturers at the Boat Builder Awards 2018

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Princess Yachts receive their award
Princess Yachts receive their award

British boat manufacturers had a fantastic night at the Boat Builder Awards 2018, which took place on 13 November at the National Maritime Museum in Amsterdam.

Princess Yachts’ innovative communications campaign for the new Princess R35 won the Retail Marketing Initiative award. Noted by the judges for being strikingly as far removed from traditional boat launch marketing as might be imagined, this campaign was awarded for truly breaking the mould.

Continue reading “Amsterdam success for British manufacturers at the Boat Builder Awards 2018”

Feadship gives a construction update on its new Amsterdam facility

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An artist's impression of the new Feadship facility, due to open in May 2019
An artist’s impression of the new Feadship facility, due to open in May 2019

Dutch yard Feadship has offered an insight into the ongoing construction of its new facility in Amsterdam, which is scheduled to open its doors in May 2019. The facility, strategically situated in the heart of the Dutch capital, has recently passed a construction milestone after it was connected to the main district heating operation in the city.

Eleven mobile cranes assembled to simultaneously lift a 160-metre pipe to connect the facility, which will now operate using renewable and surplus heat.

According to the yard, the green energy source will provide the heating in several areas, including the main hall, spray cabins, drying areas, Continue reading “Feadship gives a construction update on its new Amsterdam facility”

Bavaria Yachts is relying on 100 percent Made in Giebelstadt for future success

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The future development of Bavaria is taking clear shape: The yacht builder, respected worldwide for its good price/performance ratio, will once again build its boats one hundred percent in Germany. Bearing the seal of quality “Made in Giebelstadt”, both sailing and motor yachts will be manufactured and handed over to customers in Franconia. The R55 motor yacht, previously produced in Croatia, will for the first time be hand-built at the company’s headquarters in the first half of 2019. The moulds and tools are currently being transported from Croatia to Germany and installed in Giebelstadt.

“We want our outstandingly well trained and committed employees to develop and build all our yachts primarily under own management. The workforce identifies strongly with Bavaria Yachts; it is the key feature of our company,” explains Managing Director Erik Appel, who has been Chief Operating Officer of Bavaria Yachts since December 2017. “This is why we intend to further increase our permanent staff and simultaneously reduce the proportion of temporary workers. This will help considerably to bring down Continue reading “Bavaria Yachts is relying on 100 percent Made in Giebelstadt for future success”

Nippon Paint Marine launches what it claims is the world’s first biocide free SPC antifouling

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The technology adopts an advanced antifouling mechanism based around the anti-thrombogenic polymers used in the construction of artificial hearts and blood vessels in the medical sector.
The technology adopts an advanced antifouling mechanism based around the anti-thrombogenic polymers used in the construction of artificial hearts and blood vessels in the medical sector.

Japan-headquartered Nippon Paint Marine has introduced what is thought the world’s first biocide-free, low friction self-polishing copolymer (SPC) antifouling technology.

Aquaterras, a product name derived from the Japanese word for shining and the Latin for water – Shining Water – is an entirely new type of marine coating developed using neither biocide materials nor silicone.

Nippon Paint Marine Director John Drew said: “Typically ships’ antifouling paints have contained some form of biocide – copper, tributyltin, co-biocides. But the use of biocides today is strictly controlled by both national and international regulations such as the BPR in the EU. And while there are no immediate plans to further regulate the use of approved biocides, we cannot rule out the possibility that copper in antifouling will be regulated in the near future.

“Nippon Paint Marine has always looked to develop systems that go beyond the regulations. And with Aquaterras our chemists have achieved Continue reading “Nippon Paint Marine launches what it claims is the world’s first biocide free SPC antifouling”

Watch video footage as the recently launched Lonian superyacht by Feadship makes her way out to sea through the streets

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Dutch superyacht yard Feadship has released a video showing its newest project, the 87 metre superyacht Lonian, as she carefully manoeuvres and navigates her way through more than 15 bridges on her way out to sea, towering above the local buildings and surroundings.

The video captures onlookers watching as the Feadship yacht squeezes through narrow Dutch canals to enter the North Sea where she will undertake her sea trials.

It comes after the four deck-motor yacht was launched from her shed in July sporting her royal paint finish.

Continue reading “Watch video footage as the recently launched Lonian superyacht by Feadship makes her way out to sea through the streets”

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

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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”

Bahamas Maritime Authority releases safety bulletin following fatality investigation regarding a nitrogen cylinder

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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 cylinders 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 “Bahamas Maritime Authority releases safety bulletin following fatality investigation regarding a nitrogen cylinder”

World’s first ocean going solar powered superyacht set to be unveiled

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Swiss company SolarImpact Yacht AG has announced plans to debut its new project. What is believed to be the world’s first ocean-going solar superyacht, which has been in the research phase for five years, is now ready to be unveiled to the world.

The 23.7-metre (78-foot) vessel, designed by Marlena Ratajska, draws power from a solar-based energy supply and uses optimised SWATH (Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull) construction. The concept merges top-end luxury features and comforts with cutting-edge design and sustainability, and can reportedly boast an unlimited cruising range.

SolarImpact Yacht AG’s technological marvels will be unveiled at Cannes Yachting Festival 2018 (at Palais stand 089), and visitors to the Continue reading “World’s first ocean going solar powered superyacht set to be unveiled”

Problems over the ‘vagaries’ of the standard mean some yachts still not adhering to MCA LY3 fire protocol

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Yacht Protect Services Ltd has claimed that not all applicable yachts are adhering to the Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA) Marine Guidance practises relating to textile fire retardants.

In October 2012, the MCA issued Marine Guidance Notice 453 (MGN 453) – a protocol to approve service providers wishing to apply textile fire-retardant treatments.

The MCA wanted assurances that the fire retardant treatment process provided equivalence to inherently fire retardant materials used Continue reading “Problems over the ‘vagaries’ of the standard mean some yachts still not adhering to MCA LY3 fire protocol”

BPA calls for alcohol limits in UK recreational boating

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Professional mariners and fishermen in charge of commercial ships are covered by alcohol limits but there is a loophole for those in the leisure sector.
Professional mariners and fishermen in charge of commercial ships are covered by alcohol limits but there is a loophole for those in the leisure sector.

The British Ports Association (BPA) has called for new legislation to introduce alcohol limits for non-professional mariners, replicating the rules that already exist for commercial ships in British waters.

Commenting on the anomaly, the BPA’s Chief Executive, Richard Ballantyne, said:
“As it is Maritime Safety Week its right that we revive the debate around the gap in legislation regarding alcohol limits for non-professional mariners. We understand there will be technical challenges to overcome and also that enforcement will not be easy but it cannot be right in this day and age that such a sizeable section of our maritime sector is exempt from drink-drive rules. There have been too many occasions when alcohol has endangered lives in the maritime environment, both within and outside ports and harbours.”

Professional mariners and fishermen in charge of commercial ships are covered by alcohol limits but there is a loophole for those in the leisure sector.

Laws to introduce drink driving offences for Continue reading “BPA calls for alcohol limits in UK recreational boating”

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