UK News

Fishing vessel pilot highlights new safety management project

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Image used for illustration purposes only
Image used for illustration purposes only

Leading provider of grants and support to the maritime community, The Seafarers’ Charity, has received funding for a pilot project to develop safety management onboard fishing vessels to the standard of the Fishing Safety Management (FSM) Code. The new service, Fishing First Safety Management by SafetyFolder, aims to improve safety in the UK fishing fleet.

The Seafarers’ Charity’s chief executive, Catherine Spencer says: “I am delighted that funding has been secured for this pilot project as the addition of an auditable safety standard that will transform vessel safety in the fishing industry. The Seafarers’ Charity is improving the lives of seafarers every day and ensuring fishers can work and return home safely from voyages without experiencing harm or accidents isa big part of that.” Continue reading “Fishing vessel pilot highlights new safety management project”

UN Convention on the Law of the Sea inquiry launched

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Professor Steven Haines giving evidence. Photo credit HRAS
Professor Steven Haines giving evidence. Photo credit HRAS

An inquiry into the future of the United Nations on the Law of the Sea Convention (UNCLOS) and its applicability in 21st century has been launched by the UK House of Lords Select Committee on International Relations and Defence. The House of Lords inquiry is considering the extent to which the UNCLOS is fit for purpose in 2021 and is examining the enforcement of UNCLOS, its dispute resolution mechanisms, and the extent to which it has proved able to adapt to new and emerging challenges, including climate change, autonomous maritime systems, and issues of human rights and human security at sea.

The inquiry will explore the UK’s current policy towards UNCLOS and approach in practice, and consider which international partners and alliances will be important for the UK to address these challenges and uphold its interests. Continue reading “UN Convention on the Law of the Sea inquiry launched”

Practical aspects of the carriage of containers on dry bulk vessels

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Practical aspects of the carriage of containers on dry bulk vessels
Practical aspects of the carriage of containers on dry bulk vessels

Mark Dunbar, Surveys Manager at West P&I Club, has highlighted practical aspects on the carriage of containers onboard dry bulk vessels. And as he says, individual cases will vary widely so the following should not be taken as exhaustive, but as an aide memoire for the major factors that need to be considered and addressed.

– Bridge visibility needs to meet SOLAS requirements.
– Vessel stability including bending moments and shear forces to be verified as within limits.
– Container stacking weights – check CSC plate for maximum allowable – US 53 foot containers are usually significantlylower than standard ISO containers.
– Strength of tanktop/hatch covers/deck plating – remember all the weight of a container is distributed Continue reading “Practical aspects of the carriage of containers on dry bulk vessels”

MAIB: Lack of boating experience was a factor when the Norma G boat capsized leading to fatality

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Lack of boating experience was a factor in the events leading to the Norma G fatal accident says MAIB report
Lack of boating experience was a factor in the events leading to the Norma G fatal accident says MAIB report

MAIB have issued a report on the incident involving Norma G. On 25 May 2020, a family were enjoying a day out on the water in the Camel Estuary, Cornwall, on their 5.4m motor cruiser Norma G. The boat was capsized by a large wave close to the Doom Bar. The owner’s 17-year-old daughter became trapped in the cabin when the boat capsized, and she was unable to escape before the cabin filled with water and she sadly drowned.

Safety issues:
– the owner’s daughter died as a result of drowning after being trapped in the cabin of Norma G when it was capsized.
– Norma G’s owner’s limited boating experience meant he did not fully appreciate the dangers of being so close to the Continue reading “MAIB: Lack of boating experience was a factor when the Norma G boat capsized leading to fatality”

New chapter for safe disposal of marine flares from the pleasure boat sector

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The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is to work with industry to develop local self-regulated schemes for the safe disposal of redundant pyrotechnics ( marine flares) from the pleasure vessel sector. It follows a consultation (which concluded on 15 March) with the industry, industry regulators and boat-owners to seek ways considered acceptable to all for the effective means of disposing of flares.

The MCA supported a proposal for an industry-led, self-regulated disposal service that complies with existing legislation. It was also felt this was an opportunity for small regional businesses to tailor a disposal service that meets local needs, enabling an effective geographical spread of options available to boat-owners. Continue reading “New chapter for safe disposal of marine flares from the pleasure boat sector”

MAIB publishes its latest safety digest 2/2021

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MAIB publishes its latest safety digest 2/2021
MAIB publishes its latest safety digest 2/2021

The MAIB has released its latest Safety Digest 2/202 featuring 25 essential case studies following maritime incidents and accidents. Introducing the MAIB Safety Digest 2/2021, Andrew Moll, Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents, says, “I would like to start by thanking Matthew Easton, John Clark and Iain Elliott for writing the introductions to the Merchant, Fishing and Recreational Craft sections of this digest. As always, their perspectives on maritime safety make compelling reading. There are many aspects to safe operations and, purely by coincidence, our three introduction writers have focused on different parts of the safety effort.

John Clark’s accident in 2013 was the trigger for him to focus on assessing risks and taking steps to reduce them. Continue reading “MAIB publishes its latest safety digest 2/2021”

Green boating ETB partnership secures new funding to electrify the UK Norfolk Broads

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Ra - solar powered boat part of the ETB partnership
Ra – solar powered boat part of the ETB partnership

The ETB partnership, comprising researchers and Norfolk Broads businesses, has been announced as a winner of the Clean Maritime Competition, alongside 55 other projects to investigate how to decarbonise the maritime sector. As part of a range of measures to tackle climate change, the UK Government is planning to phase out the production of new fossil-fuel powered vessels by 2050. This funding will enable the ‘Electrifying The Broads’ – ETB partnership group to research how the transition to cleaner fuels and propulsion could take place in the Broads.

To date, electric motors are only widely used on small outboard vessels, electric day-boats and sailing yachts. The ‘cruiser’ fleet of private and hire boats is almost entirely fossil-fuel powered, and there are currently no environmentally-friendly options for hire vessels that Continue reading “Green boating ETB partnership secures new funding to electrify the UK Norfolk Broads”

UK aspirations to establish regulatory framework for autonomous shipping become clearer

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UK aspirations to establish regulatory framework for autonomous shipping become clearer
UK aspirations to establish regulatory framework for autonomous shipping become clearer

The UK Department for Transport (DfT) has announced it is set to ‘unleash the UK’s potential as a world leader in future technologies’ with proposals to support the development of autonomous ships and shipping. The UK government is proposing to amend the current legal framework to take powers in primary legislation to regulate all Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) regardless of size, including craft that would not traditionally be considered ships.

The benefits of this approach would be to:
Continue reading “UK aspirations to establish regulatory framework for autonomous shipping become clearer”

Canal & River Trust wages battle to overcome invasive weeds in the Lancaster Canal

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Canal & River Trust wages battle to overcome invasive weeds in the Lancaster Canal
Canal & River Trust wages battle to overcome invasive weeds in the Lancaster Canal

Throughout the summer and early autumn, a combination of warm weather, sunshine and extra nitrates from agricultural run-off create perfect growing conditions for duckweed, water fern, common reeds and Canadian waterweed. These fast-growing plants are spread by passing boats, canoeists, paddle boarders, anglers’ nets and walkers’ muddy boots and, left undisturbed, can form a thick green carpet on the water. This can then cause problems for boat engines, and its solid appearance makes it a potential danger for children and animals. Hotspots for the invasive weeds are low flow areas around the Lancaster Canal, Garstang, Cabus Nook, north Preston, Radcliffe Wharf and Woodplumpton.

Continue reading “Canal & River Trust wages battle to overcome invasive weeds in the Lancaster Canal”

IIMS President speaks out: Beware the challenges of surveying steel hull inland waterways craft – and other considerations

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IIMS President speaks out: Beware the challenges of surveying steel hull inland waterways craft – and other considerations
IIMS President speaks out: Beware the challenges of surveying steel hull inland waterways craft – and other considerations

IIMS President, Geoff Waddington, has spoken out passionately in light of a number of issues that are causing concern regarding the survey of steel hull inland waterways craft, steel narrowboats and barges in the UK particularly. His advice, however, is good practice for surveyors working around the world. The result is a helpful pdf document that can be downloaded and retained as a reference source (see below).

Geoff takes up the story:
I admit that I have only limited experience of inland waterways craft. My career in the marine industry started over fifty years ago on ships. Over the last forty years of surveying both large and small craft, I have been involved with the new construction of a wide beam barge, fitting out of a narrowboat, insurance investigations involving narrowboats and small, steel inland waterways craft, and of course many GRP motor cruisers designed for both use on inland waterways and RCD CE CAT B vessels, which were in use on inland waterways. Continue reading “IIMS President speaks out: Beware the challenges of surveying steel hull inland waterways craft – and other considerations”

Maritime UK launches its Coastal Powerhouse Manifesto

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Maritime UKs Coastal Powerhouse Manifesto is available to read now
Maritime UKs Coastal Powerhouse Manifesto is available to read now

Maritime UK and the Local Government Association Coastal Special Interest Group (LGA Coastal SIG) have urged the UK government to come up with a clear strategy to stem the brain drain by launching a new Coastal Powerhouse Manifesto.

The Coastal Powerhouse Manifesto sets out proposals to boost connectivity to the rest of the country, extend freeport benefits to all coastal areas, install a shore power network across the coast to charge tomorrow’s Teslas of the seas, and develop new skills in coastal communities, including digital skills.

Maritime UK chair, Sarah Kenny, said, “There is nothing inevitable about coastal decline. These areas are Britain’s gateway to the world Continue reading “Maritime UK launches its Coastal Powerhouse Manifesto”

LIFE of a BOAT tells the history of a 90 year old lifesaving boat in a new book

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W&S on acceptance trials in February 1931 by Beken of Cowes. Credit RNLI Archive
W&S on acceptance trials in February 1931 by Beken of Cowes. Credit RNLI Archive

The LIFE of a BOAT is a new book, or as author Graeme Ewens calls it, a ‘Nautobiography’, about a 90-year-old lifesaver comprising tales of shipwreck, heroic rescue, wartime tragedy and its later resurrection.

Ninety years ago, in February, 1931, the RNLI took charge of a new lifeboat, the W&S, which is still surviving after a heroic career and a longer period of retirement. The publication of its ‘nautobiography’ celebrates the boat’s history and will help finance its life support. A share of proceeds will also be donated to the Penlee Lifeboat Station. Continue reading “LIFE of a BOAT tells the history of a 90 year old lifesaving boat in a new book”

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