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River Canal Rescue wins award for Bilgeaway pollution filter

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River Canal Rescue wins award for Bilgeaway pollution filter
River Canal Rescue wins award for Bilgeaway pollution filter

River Canal Rescue has won the British Safety Industry Federation’s Water Pollution Award for its Bilgeaway pollution filter. The British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) is the UK’s leading trade body for the safety sector and its annual Safety & Health Excellence Awards cover four categories; product innovation, safety solutions, customer service and water pollution prevention (the latter added in 2020).

For its entry, River Canal Rescue (RCR) explained how Bilgeaway – the world’s first environmentally-friendly bilge discharge filter – was developed to address a well-known pollution problem. Launched in January 2019, Bilgeaway traps contaminants before they’re discharged overboard by automatic bilge pumps, rendering the filter’s contents non-reactive so they can be safely disposed of, instead of going to landfill. Continue reading “River Canal Rescue wins award for Bilgeaway pollution filter”

MCA launches consultation on entry into enclosed space regulations on ships

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MCA launches consultation on entry into enclosed space regulations on ships
MCA launches consultation on entry into enclosed space regulations on ships

This consultation from MCA seeks your views on the proposed merchant shipping and fishing vessels entry into enclosed space regulations 2021, which would replace the merchant shipping (entry into dangerous spaces) regulations 1988. The proposed enclosed space regulations incorporate safety of life at sea (SOLAS) amendments, as outlined within section 2 of the consultation document.

Your views are sought on:
– implementation of SOLAS amendments into UK legislation;
– extending to vessels not currently regulated by SOLAS, and;
extending to fishing vessels

Please note the list of exemptions to the proposed regulations, contained within the consultation document page 25 (proposed regulation 10 exemptions). Continue reading “MCA launches consultation on entry into enclosed space regulations on ships”

Interim MAIB report on fatal accident between Seadogz and a buoy plus urgent safety recommendation published

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Interim MAIB report on fatal accident between Seadogz and a buoy plus urgent safety recommendation published
Interim MAIB report on fatal accident between Seadogz and a buoy plus urgent safety recommendation published

The Marine and Accident Branch has issued an interim report and safety recommendation on the investigation of the collision between the high-speed passenger craft Seadogz and a navigation buoy resulting in one fatality in Southampton Water on 22 August 2020.

Seadogz was designed and manufactured by Red Bay Ribs Ltd in 2012 with a high sheer bow, deep ‘v’-shaped hull, and inflatable tubes with seven buoyancy chambers. Seadogz was equipped with twin 300hp Yahama outboard engines that, when first fitted, could drive the RIB at speeds of up to 55kts.

Continue reading “Interim MAIB report on fatal accident between Seadogz and a buoy plus urgent safety recommendation published”

Cygnus Instruments: Famous Face Gets a Lesson on Surveying and UTG

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Cygnus Instruments: Famous Face Gets a Lesson on Surveying and UTG (Sir Tony Robinson pictured left)
Cygnus Instruments: Famous Face Gets a Lesson on Surveying and UTG (Sir Tony Robinson pictured left)

Cygnus Instruments developed the Multiple Echo technique in the 1980s in conjunction with IACS (International Association of Classification Societies).  This special ultrasonic technique uses a “single crystal” probe utilising multiple back wall reflections to both ignore coatings (such as anti-fouling paint) and to give an accurate and reliable result on metal thickness.

Mr John Heath, a highly experienced and respected marine surveyor with over 40 years’ experience is the IIMS Technical Director and a board member.  He recalls using his first piece of Cygnus equipment back in the 1980s.  “I certainly remember using the very large oscilloscopes, pencil and tracing paper to conduct diminution surveys – and naturally, I recall what a revolution it was for our industry. Continue reading “Cygnus Instruments: Famous Face Gets a Lesson on Surveying and UTG”

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston warns of double VAT for extended cruises

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Sir Robin Knox-Johnston warns of double VAT for extended cruises
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston warns of double VAT for extended cruises

In a letter published in The Times, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, patron of the Cruising Association (CA), has highlighted the devastating effect of HMRC’s demands for VAT on boats returning to the UK. This includes all British boats that had been out of the UK for three years having to pay VAT again on their return.

His letter is counter-signed by many other sailing names including Sir Ben Ainslie, Mike Golding OBE, Pip Hare, Dee Caffari MBE, Libby Purves OBE, Paul Heiney and Bob Shepton, in addition to the president of the CA, Julian Dussek.

The text of Knox-Johnston’s letter says:

“The freedom for yachtsmen and women to sail from the United Kingdom and return a few years later has been struck a deadly blow by Continue reading “Sir Robin Knox-Johnston warns of double VAT for extended cruises”

Research project to develop automated verification of wind turbine blade defects

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Research project to develop automated verification of wind turbine blade defects
Research project to develop automated verification of wind turbine blade defects

DNV has launched a new collaborative research project to develop an automated data processing procedure for verification of detected wind turbine blade defects, with the aim of building trust and generating broader acceptance of automated data processing techniques across the industry and to inform future regulation.

The research project, which is being conducted in partnership with the University of Bristol and Perceptual Robotics, will investigate the automated verification, validation and processing of inspection data, collected by autonomous drones, to improve inspection quality and performance. The project aims to contribute to the development of the UK automated inspection industry.

Continue reading “Research project to develop automated verification of wind turbine blade defects”

London maritime arbitration adapts to the changing times

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London maritime arbitration adapts to the changing times
London maritime arbitration adapts to the changing times

A special webinar entitled ‘Maritime Arbitration in London – Present and Future Challenges’, hosted by law firm HFW, attracted an audience of over 300 listeners from 43 countries at this year’s London International Disputes Week (LIDW21) in mid-May.

Following introductory remarks by HFW Partner and webinar host Jonathan Webb, webinar chairman Lord Hamblen, UK Supreme Court Justice and a leading shipping lawyer at the Bar before becoming a judge, introduced Ian Gaunt, Arbitrator and Past President of the London Maritime Arbitrators Association (LMAA).

Gaunt began the panel discussion by pointing out that the LMAA had reacted quickly to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic last year by Continue reading “London maritime arbitration adapts to the changing times”

UK boat financing deals up 71%

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UK boat financing deals up 71%
UK boat financing deals up 71%

Marine finance lender, Promarine Finance, has seen a 71% increase in the number of boat financing deals in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the same period in 2020 as uncertainty caused by COVID-19 continues.

The company has seen the biggest demand driven by motorboat finance during this time with a 180% increase in the number of motorboat mortgages in Q1 2021.

There has also been a 150% year-on-year increase in finance deals for RIBs for the same period compared to 2020 and a 30% increase in the number of canal boat finance deals. Continue reading “UK boat financing deals up 71%”

New London Maritime Arbitrators Association terms announced

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New London Maritime Arbitrators Association terms announced
New London Maritime Arbitrators Association terms announced

With reports of 3,010 arbitrator appointments, 2020 recorded the highest number of London Maritime Arbitrators Association arbitrator appointments since 2015, thus confirming that the LMAA remains a popular forum for dispute resolution in the shipping industry.

The London Maritime Arbitrators Association has published a new set of terms for all of the ‘full’ procedures (the LMAA Terms 2021), the LMAA Intermediate Claims Procedure 2021 and the LMAA Small Claims Procedure 2021. All take effect from 1 May 2021 and will apply to new arbitrations commenced after that date.

Though certain amendments are simple fine tuning of the rules, others are particularly important in view of the recent challenges arising from by the COVID 19 pandemic. The amendments have again been spearheaded by David Owen QC, and the revised full terms and procedures can be found on the London Maritime Arbitrators Association website. Continue reading “New London Maritime Arbitrators Association terms announced”

Post-Brexit boat certification requirements clarified

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Following the successful cooperation on VAT and customs, the leading European, British, and international leisure marine associations continue to provide clarity on the new post-Brexit trade relationships, including the Post-Brexit boat certification.

The International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA), European Boating Industry (EBI), European Boating Association (EBA), British Marine (BM) and the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) have now issued clarification on certification requirements for second-hand boats in trade between the EU and UK post-Brexit. Continue reading “Post-Brexit boat certification requirements clarified”

Revised UK Hire Boat Code for the design, construction and operation published

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Revised UK Hire Boat Code for the design, construction and operation published
Revised UK Hire Boat Code for the design, construction and operation published

British Marine and the Association of Inland Navigation Authorities (AINA) are pleased to announce the launch of a revised Hire Boat Code to ensure the continued safe operation of hire boats for all.

The Hire Boat Code outlines the standards for boats let for hire on UK inland waterways and carrying 12 people or less. Developed by British Marine and AINA, it provides the framework for continued safe business operations of hire boats on inland waterways, and clarifies the responsibilities of operators, navigation authorities and users. It also helps businesses by the consistent application of licensing and registration requirements through inland navigation authority waterways in the UK. Importantly, the Maritime & Coastguard Agency has been actively involved throughout the development of the Hire Boat Code and is supportive of its purpose and Continue reading “Revised UK Hire Boat Code for the design, construction and operation published”

New gate rudder technology claims to make a fuel saving of save up to 30%

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New gate rudder technology claims to make a fuel saving of save up to 30%
New gate rudder technology claims to make a fuel saving of save up to 30%

A more efficient gate rudder system, designed at the University of Strathclyde, will be demonstrated as part of a €6 million EU-funded research project. The GATERS project led by the University of Strathclyde under the Horizon 2020 Fund, will see the gate rudder – a novel propulsion and steering system – retro-fitted to a commercial vessel as part of a trial.

Unlike a traditional rudder which sits behind a ship’s propellers to steer the vessel, the U-shaped gate rudder – essentially two separate rudders – sits astride the propeller which, as a result, acts like a nozzle around the propeller and generates additional thrust.

Both rudders can be independently controlled to provide better steering as well as providing additional crabbing ability when docking.

Continue reading “New gate rudder technology claims to make a fuel saving of save up to 30%”

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