10th edition Shipping Law Review 2023 published by HFW

The aim of the tenth edition of this book is to provide those involved in handling shipping disputes with an overview of the key issues relevant to multiple jurisdictions. As with previous editions of The Shipping Law Review, we begin with cross-jurisdictional chapters looking at the latest developments in important areas for the shipping industry, including international trade sanctions, ocean logistics, offshore, piracy, shipbuilding, ports and terminals, marine insurance, environmental and regulatory issues, decommissioning and ship finance.

We have invited contributions on the law of leading maritime nations, including both major flag states and the countries in which most shipping companies are located. Continue reading “10th edition Shipping Law Review 2023 published by HFW”

Documentary series Coastguard: Every Second Counts set to air from 2 July

For the first time, the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is bringing a TV audience a behind-the-scenes documentary series. The new series, Coastguard: Every Second Counts, which rund for six episodes will air on Sunday 2 July at 9pm on Channel 5. It offers viewers the chance to see the wide breadth of work covered by the agency.

From the surveyors who check the safety of vessels to the nail-biting rescues HM Coastguard carry out, viewers will see that safety always underpins the work across the agency. The MCA granted full and exclusive access to TV crews for 12 months to allow time to provide insight into the varied, complex and, at times, tragic work of the maritime regulator in the UK. Continue reading “Documentary series Coastguard: Every Second Counts set to air from 2 July”

Fund Britain’s Waterways makes urgent call on Government to stop inland waterways falling into disrepair

Fund Britain’s Waterways makes urgent call on Government

Britain’s unique and well-loved network of canals and navigable rivers is deteriorating because of inadequate funding. At a time of unprecedented challenges caused by the climate emergency and high inflation, the government is failing to respond. Fund Britain’s Waterways (FBW), a coalition of organisations representing hundreds of thousands of users and supporters of inland waterways, is campaigning for national and local governments to act now and protect our waterways’ public benefit and natural capital.

Management of Britain’s 5,000 miles of navigable inland waterways is fragmented. The Canal & River Trust (CRT) is responsible for Continue reading “Fund Britain’s Waterways makes urgent call on Government to stop inland waterways falling into disrepair”

Optima e10 electric boat first to circumnavigate UK’s Isle of Wight

Putting a new twist on the age-old challenge of racing around the UK’s Isle of Wight, the Optima e10 is now the first electric boat to accomplish the feat.

With its innovative ‘stabilized monohull’‘ design and creator David Kendall at the helm, it completed the 51 nautical mile (95km) journey in just under 6 hours, starting and finishing at Lymington Yacht Haven with no enroute charging.

‘An incredibly comfortable and enjoyable trip’
Kendall, also the CEO of Optima’s boatbuilding operations, Continue reading “Optima e10 electric boat first to circumnavigate UK’s Isle of Wight”

Angry response voiced at Seawork over proposed new MCA Workboat Code 3

The proposed MCAs Workboat Code 3 has drawn angry responses
The proposed MCAs Workboat Code 3 has drawn angry responses

Anger erupted and spilled over at the MCAs handling of the Workboat Code 3 consultation process at the Seawork conference. Accusations were made that the MCA (Maritime & Coastguard Agency) is not communicating new coding regulations that could have disastrous consequences for small workboats.

There was standing room only at the UK’s Maritime & Coastguard Authority Workboat Code 3 update presentation at Seawork as the Workboat Association teetered close to expressing a vote of no confidence in the UK’s statutory body. Something of a showdown with Continue reading “Angry response voiced at Seawork over proposed new MCA Workboat Code 3”

MGN 681 (M) Fire safety and storage of small electric powered craft on yachts

Notice to all shipowners, masters, deck and engineer officers, certifying authorities and surveyors involved with yachts. This MGN notice should be read with the Red Ensign Group Yacht Code Parts A and B.

Small electrically powered craft and other vehicles (such as personal watercraft) are becoming more commonly used in place of similar petrol-powered craft or vehicles stowed on yachts. Whilst electric craft do not necessarily represent a greater fire risk than petrol craft, there are considerable differences Continue reading “MGN 681 (M) Fire safety and storage of small electric powered craft on yachts”

The Inland Waterways Association appoints CEO

The Inland Waterways Association (IWA) is an independent, national charity campaigning for Britain’s canals and rivers, and Niblock will have primary responsibility for the organisation’s long-term strategy.

She is an experienced narrowboater and a qualified helmsman and joins IWA from the UK Council for Psychotherapy, where she was chief executive.

“Supporting and regenerating our inland waterways is one of the top talking points in the UK,” she says. “It’s no wonder, given the well-documented role that our rivers, estuaries and canals play in our economy, ecology and wellbeing. Continue reading “The Inland Waterways Association appoints CEO”

Investigation report into mechanical failure due to wrong-sized bearing issued

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has issued an investigation report regarding a diesel generator engine failure on board Offshore Supply Vessel Ocean Guardian. ​On May 27, 2022, about 1435, the offshore supply vessel Ocean Guardian was conducting sea trials in Shilshole Bay near Seattle, Washington, when its no. 3 main diesel generator engine suffered a mechanical failure that resulted in a fire in the engine room.

The crew extinguished the fire before it could spread throughout the vessel. There were no injuries reported for the 22 crewmembers and contractors on board, and there was no pollution reported. Damage to the Ocean Guardian totaled an estimated $1.1 million. Continue reading “Investigation report into mechanical failure due to wrong-sized bearing issued”

Annual Digest of safety reports published by CHIRP

CHIRP Maritime has published its eighth annual digest of maritime safety reports, covering all the cases published during 2022. Additionally, it includes some in-depth articles specially commissioned to highlight important safety topics.

As Captain Alan Loynd, FNI FITA MCIArb BA (Hons) says, “All companies are able to demonstrate a robust safety culture, and there are still ships where living conditions are abominable, safety is ignored, and crew welfare counts for nothing.
..said on the report.”

According to the report, 2022 was another difficult year for seafarers. As the Covid-19 situation showed signs of improving, mariners were faced with added dangers due to conflicts, especially in waters off Ukraine. Continue reading “Annual Digest of safety reports published by CHIRP”

Get involved with Invasive Species Week

Do you know the three simple actions that can help reduce the spread of non-native invasive species? Check, Clean, Dry. Some non-native species are completely harmless but others, known as invasive or species, have the ability to cause damage to the environment, the economy and our health.

Invasive Species Week runs from 15 to 21 May 2023 and is an annual national event organised by the GB Non-Native Species Secretariat (NNSS) to raise awareness of the impacts of invasive non-native species. Providing advice and guidance on the simple things everyone can do to help prevent the spread as well as sharing stories on some of the fantastic work taking place across the UK, Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man to protect the environment and reduce their impacts. Continue reading “Get involved with Invasive Species Week”

UK boaters could be priced out as above inflation licence fees bite

Above inflation price increases to the licence fees will risk pricing boaters off the system or result in them being unable to pay. That’s the warning from the Inland Waterways Association (IWA) regarding the Canal & River Trust’s (CRT) proposals to its boat licence fee.

The IWA says that bearing in mind the CRT is dependent on a government grant that is not inflation linked for a good part of its income and needs to raise more from other sources to compensate, increasing the licence fee beyond inflation could result in a net loss.

Proposals have been made to raise licence fees for continuous cruisers above those with home moorings, Continue reading “UK boaters could be priced out as above inflation licence fees bite”

Emma Louise fatal carbon monoxide poisoning report published

The vessel Emma Louise
The vessel Emma Louise

On the morning of 12 January 2022, two men were found unconscious on board the sports cruiser, Emma Louise, which was berthed in Port Hamble Marina, on the River Hamble, England. It was later established that both men had died because of carbon monoxide poisoning.

The two men had boarded the boat the previous evening and had left the engine running while they remained in the boat’s covered cockpit area. The MAIB investigation concluded that the boat’s exhaust gas, which contained carbon monoxide, had likely been funnelled into the cockpit by an inflatable towable ski Continue reading “Emma Louise fatal carbon monoxide poisoning report published”

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