Former IIMS member Kelly Tolhurst is appointed as new UK Maritime Minister

Kelly Tolhurst MP is pictured with Prime Minister, Boris Johnson
Kelly Tolhurst MP is pictured with Prime Minister, Boris Johnson

IIMS is delighted at the news that Kelly Tolhurst, an Institute member for ten years when a practicing marine surveyor, was appointed as the new UK Maritime Minister on 13 February 2020. Kelly who has been the Conservative member of parliament (MP) for Rochester and Strood since 2015, relinquished her membership only last year. She takes up this key role at an interesting time with the huge political upheaval currently underway in the UK post Brexit and IIMS would like to congratulate Kelly and wish her much success in her new role.

Prior to being appointed as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport, Kelly Tolhurst was Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy from 19 July 2018.

Continue reading “Former IIMS member Kelly Tolhurst is appointed as new UK Maritime Minister”

Red Falcon: Report on collision between ro-ro passenger ferry moored yacht at Cowes published

Red Falcon report
Red Falcon report

At 0811 on 21 October 2018, when navigating in severely reduced visibility in Cowes Harbour, the master of the ro-ro passenger ferry Red Falcon lost orientation when his vessel swung out of control, departed the navigable channel and was spun around through 220°. In his confusion the master drove the ferry in the wrong direction resulting in a collision with the moored yacht Greylag which was sunk on its mooring as a result.

Safety issues
the master became fixated upon the information displayed on his electronic chart Continue reading “Red Falcon: Report on collision between ro-ro passenger ferry moored yacht at Cowes published”

HS2: Inland Waterways Association pledges to protect UK canal network

IWA pledges to protect UK canal network from HS2
IWA pledges to protect UK canal network from HS2

Following the UK Government’s recent announcement that the High Speed Rail project HS2 will now go ahead, the Inland Waterways Association (IWA) says it will continue their decade-long campaign to protect the waterways from the worst effects of its construction and operation.

IWA has already achieved several changes to the project since 2010 but continues to be concerned about its noise impacts on many waterways and its damaging effects on some canal restoration schemes. Continue reading “HS2: Inland Waterways Association pledges to protect UK canal network”

Foxton Locks open its gates to the public

Step down into the drained Foxton Locks
Step down into the drained Foxton Locks

The Canal & River Trust (CRT) is inviting the public to step down into the drained Foxton Locks for a chance to see what it takes to keep the 200-year-old famous flight of locks working smoothly.

Over the next two months CRT is completing important works at Foxton, the longest and steepest ‘staircase’ of locks in the UK, including replacing a number of giant oak lock gates. The programme of works will see new lock gates lifted into seven of the site’s ten locks as well as repairs to historic brickwork and other parts of the lock structures. Continue reading “Foxton Locks open its gates to the public”

British Marine: UK marine sector growth outpaces national average

British Marine stats
British Marine stats

According to British Marine, the marine sector’s export growth has outpaced the national average (3.5% according to the Office for National Statistics), hitting the £1.5bn mark in 2018/19.

The Key Performance Indicators for the Leisure, Superyacht & Small Commercial Marine Industry Report show that new and used boat sales now account for 78% of the industry’s exports, while exports to Europe account for 74% of the total and now stand at a value of more than £1bn. Continue reading “British Marine: UK marine sector growth outpaces national average”

Hatch covers and ship holds guidance for safe operation and maintenance – booklet published

The London P&I Club has published an updated guide on the safe operation and maintenance of ship holds and hatch covers, highlighting some of the common associated causes of damage, loss and personal injury and providing recommendations on best practices and points to avoid.

According to the Club’s data, the cause of large cargo claims by value in dry bulk and general cargo vessels accounts for 33%.

As noted, ISM Code systems should include procedures for loading, unloading, ballasting, deballasting, securing manholes, blanking ballast lines, testing bilge Continue reading “Hatch covers and ship holds guidance for safe operation and maintenance – booklet published”

Is the cargo too wet to load?

Wet Cargo
Wet Cargo

Do we know enough about the cargo we carry, ask Gard P&I Club. It may be impossible for crew to estimate the particle size but they can look out for signs of high moisture content.

Appendix 3, Art 2 of the IMSBC Code states “many fine particle cargoes, if possessing a sufficiently high moisture content are liable to flow”. There are two main concerns here for seafarers relating to liquefaction. Firstly, the fine particle size of the cargoes and secondly, the high moisture content, i.e. the moisture content is higher than the cargo’s transportable moisture limit (TML).

Continue reading “Is the cargo too wet to load?”

European Yacht of the Year 2020 winners announced

Seventeenth "European Yacht of the Year"
Seventeenth “European Yacht of the Year”

Europe’s best sailing yachts are awarded the “Oscar of water sports” in a total of five categories every year. For the seventeenth time, the international award “European Yacht of the Year” was presented on Saturday 18th January during the Flagship Night of boot Düsseldorf and Delius Klasing Verlag.

Every year, around 60 new sailing boats are launched on the European market. But only five shipyards can celebrate the title “European Yacht of the Year 2020”. The tests took the jury members of the twelve sailing magazines from all over Europe to Port Ginesta, south of Barcelona, in October 2019. All 16 candidates were thoroughly tested and evaluated. In total, the specialised journalists covered almost Continue reading “European Yacht of the Year 2020 winners announced”

MOB recovery equipment and drills inspections to be witnessed by MCA surveyors following MAIB report

MCA surveyors to witness inspections of MOB recovery equipment and drills
MCA surveyors to witness inspections of MOB recovery equipment and drills

The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has published its report on the investigation into an accident where a tug’s chief engineer lost his life boarding his vessel. The MCA has instructed its surveyors to witness inspections of MOB recovery equipment and drills following the MAIB report.

The accident highlights the forever-present dangers seafarers including tug crews face in carrying out everyday tasks and the difficulties reacting to incidents despite the presence of well-prepared procedures and equipment.

The tug was carrying out typical shiphandling and standby duties at a UK Continue reading “MOB recovery equipment and drills inspections to be witnessed by MCA surveyors following MAIB report”

Winners of the 2020 MotorBoat Awards announced

2020 MotorBoat Awards announced
2020 MotorBoat Awards announced

The winners of Motor Boat and Yachting 2020 Motor Boat Awards were announced at boot Düsseldorf in January 2020. With 11 categories, and plenty of nominations for each, the judges’ winners were announced at a sparkling dinner.

The winners are:

Sportsboats and RIBs
The Brig Eagle 8 shows how RIBs “have been transformed from tough workhorses Continue reading “Winners of the 2020 MotorBoat Awards announced”

‘Book it right and pack it tight’ guide produced by UK P&I Club and TT Club

‘Book it right and pack it tight’ guide collaboration
‘Book it right and pack it tight’ guide collaboration

At the start of 2020, the latest version of the IMDG Code, Amendment 39-18, came into force. The UK P&I Club has collaborated with TT Club to produce and publish ‘Book it right and pack it tight’ guide – a collaboration 108 page set of guidelines. It offers an insight for all involved and responsible for preparing unitized consignments for carriage at sea.

The ‘Book it right and pack it tight’ guide is designed to support shippers, forwarders, shipping line booking personnel and those who pack dangerous goods into cargo transport units, helping them understand the technical aspects of the Continue reading “‘Book it right and pack it tight’ guide produced by UK P&I Club and TT Club”

Cargo lashings insufficient says MAIB report on European Causeway incident

Cargo lashings insufficient says MAIB report
Cargo lashings insufficient says MAIB report

At 0633 on Tuesday 18 December 2018, the roll-on/roll-of (ro-ro) passenger ferry European Causeway rolled heavily in very rough seas and very high winds during its voyage from Larne, Northern Ireland to Cairnryan, Scotland. Insufficient cargo lashings have been found to be a key factor in the incident.

The violent motion caused several freight vehicles to shift and nine to topple over. This resulted in damage to 22 vehicles, some damaged severely. At least six freight vehicle drivers had remained in their cabs on the vehicle decks
during the crossing and four were found in cabs of vehicles that had toppled over. One driver was trapped and had to be freed by the emergency services when the ship arrived in Cairnryan. Continue reading “Cargo lashings insufficient says MAIB report on European Causeway incident”

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