UK News

The British boating sector has grown for the seventh consecutive year

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The increase in exports has been attributed to the strong global economic growth over the last year and a weakened sterling as a consequence of Brexit.
The increase in exports has been attributed to the strong global economic growth over the last year and a weakened sterling as a consequence of Brexit.

The figures produced by British Marine show a 1.7% growth in revenue, with the marine industry contributing more than £1.1bn of Gross Value Added (GVA) to the UK economy and supporting more than 33,000 direct employees.

Leisure marine exports in 2018 surpassed £1bn for the first time since 2013, an increase of 16% compared to 2017.

Half of the exports went to the Eurozone and wider EU, however the USA is a growing sector accounting for 25% of British exports, an increase of 30%. In addition, Asia has seen growth of 20% and South America 39%.

“These latest figures illustrate that the British boating sector has continued to prosper, despite challenging conditions and the ongoing uncertainty about Brexit,” said Lesley Robinson, BM CEO.

Continue reading “The British boating sector has grown for the seventh consecutive year”

Finding a surveyor just got easier as IIMS launches the Marine Surveyor Search App

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Finding a marine surveyor just got even easier with the launch of the free Marine Surveyor Search App from IIMS, the next generation search tool.

In a bold and imaginative initiative, the International Institute of Marine Surveying (IIMS) has launched a new free App for iOS and Android devices that makes finding a commercial, or yacht and small craft marine surveyor by area, or specialism, fast and simple. Not only a key benefit for members of IIMS, it will make the search for a surveyor easier for the boating and yachting public, brokers, P&I Clubs, marine insurers – in fact anyone needing the services of a marine surveyor on an occasional or ongoing basis. IIMS member surveyors will be granted access to the back end web site behind the App where they can manage their listing and specialization, subject to the usual checks and final authorisation by IIMS head office.

Continue reading “Finding a surveyor just got easier as IIMS launches the Marine Surveyor Search App”

Pride of Kent report published by MAIB

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Image credit REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol
Image credit REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol

On 10 December 2017, the UK registered ro-ro passenger ferry Pride of Kent struck a jetty and then grounded while departing Calais, France. The ferry was re-floated later that day and subsequently moved to a berth where the passengers disembarked. The ferry’s starboard propeller and tail-shaft were damaged and required repair in dry dock. The jetty was also damaged. There were no injuries to crew or passengers and no pollution.

Safety lessons
control of the ferry during the turn towards the harbour entrance was lost due to the fast rate of turn, strong gale-force winds, use of full rudder and propeller pitch, and the tripping of one of the ferry’s bow thrusters the omission of a departure briefing to the bridge team Continue reading “Pride of Kent report published by MAIB”

Failure of a throw bag rescue line during a boat capsize drill report published

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The rescue line of the throw bag failed during a boat capsize drill

On the evening of 24 March 2018, the Warrington Rowing Club was carrying out a boat capsize drill in a swimming pool. At around 1830, as a young person was being pulled to the side of the pool using a throw bag rescue line, the line parted. The young person was uninjured during the incident. The parted line was examined and found to be made up of four pieces of rope thermally fused together, and it had failed at one of the joints. A customer notification campaign by the manufacturer, RIBER, and prompt publication of the incident in British Rowing’s newsletter, identified a total of ten throw bags with defective rescue lines. Laboratory tests conducted for the MAIB established that the joined sections were 12 times weaker than the rope itself.

Continue reading “Failure of a throw bag rescue line during a boat capsize drill report published”

HS2 construction workers find remains of first sailor to circumnavigate Australia

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His grave disappeared in the 1840s when the original Euston station was expanded into part of the cemetery.
His grave disappeared in the 1840s when the original Euston station was expanded into part of the cemetery.

Construction workers building the new London-Birmingham high-speed railway line have unearthed the grave of the Royal Navy sailor who gave Australia its name.

For 180 years the last resting place of explorer and navigator Captain Matthew Flinders has been lost among 40,000 other bodies in graves near Euston station. But archaeologists excavating St James’ burial ground to pave the way for the new HS2 terminus have identified the officer’s grave out of the thousands at the site. The lead depositum plate – breast plate – put on top of Flinders’ coffin when he was buried in July 1814 meant his remains could be formally identified.

As commanding officer of HMS Investigator, Flinders sailed from Portsmouth in Continue reading “HS2 construction workers find remains of first sailor to circumnavigate Australia”

UK Department for Transport has launched Maritime 2050

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Maritime 2050 is a long term strategic collaboration between the Department of Transport and Maritime UK
Maritime 2050 is a long term strategic collaboration between the Department of Transport and Maritime UK

Maritime 2050 is a collaboration between the Department of Transport and Maritime UK, the body for the UK maritime sector. This is the first ever long-term strategy for the UK maritime sector.

Maritime UK Chair Harry Theochari said: “For the first time the maritime sector has a real long-term strategy – setting out what government and industry will do to position the UK as the world’s leading maritime nation over the coming decades in an increasingly competitive global context. The global ocean economy will double in value to $3trn by 2030. Competitor maritime nations are hungry for the prize, and Maritime 2050 will ensure that the UK is best-placed to capitalise.

Continue reading “UK Department for Transport has launched Maritime 2050”

Report issued by MAIB on the grounding of general cargo vessel Celtica Hav

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Hull damage caused to the Celtica Hav
Hull damage caused to the Celtica Hav

At 1438 on 27 March 2018, the Bahamas registered general cargo vessel Celtica Hav grounded on a stone training wall in the approach channel to the River Neath, Wales.

The vessel had a harbour pilot on board at the time who had control of the steering and speed. Celtica Hav was quickly re-floated and manoeuvred clear of the training wall.

It suffered extensive shell plate damage to the bottom of its hull, which resulted in water ingress to several ballast tanks and flooding in the engine room.

The flooding was contained using the vessel’s bilge and ballast pumps, and submersible salvage pumps provided by the harbour authority.

There were no injuries to personnel and no damage to the environment. Continue reading “Report issued by MAIB on the grounding of general cargo vessel Celtica Hav”

Non adequate fire protection on boats is a concern says Sea-Fire

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“In many ways, it is understandable that fire suppression on board is overlooked. The actual percentage of boat fires in relation to boat usage is very small”.
“In many ways, it is understandable that fire suppression on board is overlooked. The actual percentage of boat fires in relation to boat usage is very small”.

Most marine insurance policies state that boats must have adequate fire protection says Sea-Fire’s Richard Duckworth.

But he says many boatbuilders are fitting the minimum protection they can get away with and crossing their fingers it will never be put to the test.

“For the last 20 years, major production boat builders have recognised they have a duty of care to protect their customers and to fit as standard a comprehensive engine room fire suppression system using fully tested and marine approved components,” says Richard.

“Unfortunately, this is not mirrored across all the industry.”

And he said safety and fire suppression should Continue reading “Non adequate fire protection on boats is a concern says Sea-Fire”

RCR cites lack of vessel maintenance as reason for increasing number of call outs

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RCR engineers frequently come across vessels with no smoke or CO alarms that have fire risks and ventilation issues.
RCR engineers frequently come across vessels with no smoke or CO alarms that have fire risks and ventilation issues.

River Canal Rescue (RCR) is urging boaters to pay more attention to vessel maintenance and safety following an increase in the number of call-outs for faults caused by what it describes as a general lack of maintenance.

In 2016, this amounted to 948 call-outs, in 2017 there were 1031 and in 2018 RCR had 1081 call-outs due to lack of maintenance and safety, together with continuing fires and CO poisoning incidents.

“Boaters who fail to maintain their vessels or pay attention to boat safety put themselves and others at risk,” said RCR operations director, Jay Forman.

He said, “With Continue reading “RCR cites lack of vessel maintenance as reason for increasing number of call outs”

Beware the dangers of aluminium dross

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If the product meets the Class 4.3 criteria, it should be declared as UN 3170, noting the application of Special Provision 244 regarding ventilation and protection against water ingress throughout the intended journey.
If the product meets the Class 4.3 criteria, it should be declared as UN 3170, noting the application of Special Provision 244 regarding ventilation and protection against water ingress throughout the intended journey.

The UK P&I Club and the TT Club have published advice following an incident involving a consignment of aluminium pellets (or dross) that was found at the port of loading with the doors and sides of the container blown out. The terminal arranged to test the samples, as there was no evidence that the unit had been dropped during handling.

The test results indicated that aluminium dross is highly susceptible to a reaction with chlorides when moisture is present. The commodity produces gases when exposed to moisture and the build-up of gasses was considered the most likely cause of the container exploding.

The container was damaged beyond repair and it is understood that some lines and ports are refusing this cargo commodity.

According to the UK Club, at the time the material is tested, before filling the container and subsequent shipping, the moisture level is such that the reaction with the commodity does not generate Continue reading “Beware the dangers of aluminium dross”

New SOSREP at the helm to oversee response to accidents at sea

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Picture credit to Maritime & Coastguard Agency/MCA
Picture credit to Maritime & Coastguard Agency/MCA

A former Coastguard with a wealth of experience has been appointed to the vital role of Secretary of State’s Representative (SOSREP) for Maritime Salvage & Intervention, which oversees the response to accidents at sea.

Stephan Hennig had previously been working with the Maritime & Coastguard Agency’s Counter Pollution Branch since 2012 and was appointed Deputy to the SOSREP in 2017.

The SOSREP is responsible for reducing the risk to safety and the environment arising from accidents at sea. Incidents which were overseen by previous SOSREPs include the Transocean Winner rig grounding off the Isle of Lewis in 2016 and the Hoegh Osaka car carrier incident in the Solent in 2015. Continue reading “New SOSREP at the helm to oversee response to accidents at sea”

Clipper Ventures has acquired the Hamble School of Yachting

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The announcement follows the setting up of Clipper China, Clipper Ventures’ Chinese sail training division aimed to meet the country’s growing participation in offshore sailing.

“The decision to buy the Hamble School of Yachting is part of a wider strategy to develop our offering within the offshore sailing industry,” said Clipper Race chairman and co-founder Sir Robin Knox-Johnston.

“Clipper Ventures is the world’s leading provider of offshore sail training and Continue reading “Clipper Ventures has acquired the Hamble School of Yachting”

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