UK News

New workboat code edition 2 is published by MCA

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Following collaboration with a number of interested parties to gather industry feedback on the draft MSN for the Workboat Code: Edition 2, the MCA has now published the new Code. This Code applies to small workboats used commercially that operate at sea and to pilot boats of any size operating either at sea or in categorised waters (i.e. inland). It applies to United Kingdom vessels wherever they may be at, and to non-United Kingdom vessels in UK waters or operating from UK ports.

The workboat code edition 2 amends the original Code, “The Safety of Small Workboats and Pilot Boats – A Code of Practice” introduced in 1998, and applies to small workboats and pilot boats, the keels of which are laid, or are at a similar stage of construction, on or after 31 December 2018. This is defined in the Merchant Shipping Notice issued in accordance with the regulation 3(1) of the enabling regulations. From that date, this code supersedes the original Code, and also the use of Marine Guidance Note MGN 280(M)1 “Small Commercial Vessels and Pilot Boat Code of Practice” for small workboats and pilot boats and the Workboat Code Industry Working Group Technical Standard published in June 2014.

Continue reading “New workboat code edition 2 is published by MCA”

The MCA UK code of practice for intended pleasure vessels in temporary commercial use at sea has come into force

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A new code came into force on 1 January 2019 allowing pleasure craft to be in temporary commercial use at sea for a number of defined purposes.

The Intended Pleasure Vessels (IPV) Code, which permits the temporary use of craft at sea for businesses purposes and as race support without the current requirement for inspection, marks a huge step forward for the UK’s leisure marine sector.

Testing, trialling and delivery of sea-going vessels legally will now be cheaper and easier for boatbuilders, brokers, surveyors, repairers, delivery companies and equipment service providers under the exemptions laid out in Part 1 of the new Code. It delivers an easier and Continue reading “The MCA UK code of practice for intended pleasure vessels in temporary commercial use at sea has come into force”

First 2019 IIMS training events are open for booking

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IIMS is pleased to announce its first three training events of 2019 taking place over the next six weeks are open for booking. They are available to members and non-members.

18/19 January 2019
IIMS Baltimore Conference
Available to real-time and online-only delegates
Cost: US$ 225 for both days attendance real-time or US$ 200 for online delegates.

James Renn, IIMS Regional Director, has assembled 15 speakers covering an impressive array of surveying topics for the two day Conference to be held at The Marine Conference Center, MITAGS-Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies, 692 Maritime BLVD, Linthicum Heights MD 21090. More distant delegates are invited to join live via zoom and take an active part, receiving a copy of Continue reading “First 2019 IIMS training events are open for booking”

Canal & River Trust finalises sale of BWML

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LDC is the UK’s leading mid-market private equity investor
LDC is the UK’s leading mid-market private equity investor

The Canal & River Trust has finalised the sale of its wholly-owned marina subsidiary, BWML, in a transaction that sees Lloyds Development Capital (LDC) invest in the business, supporting the existing management team.

Stuart Mills, Chief Investment Officer at the Canal & River Trust, says: “We are delighted to have completed the sale of BWML and will be investing the proceeds into other income-generating assets to support our core work of caring for the nation’s canals and rivers.

“BWML is performing well and we believe its prospects for future growth are good. Coupled with the expertise of LDC we believe the business will benefit and, by extension, its boating customers will Continue reading “Canal & River Trust finalises sale of BWML”

Free registration has opened for Ocean Business 2019

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Ocean Business 2019, taking place at the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton from 9-11 April 2019, has just launched free online registration. Ocean Business promises to be an incredible global show offering the very latest technologies, water-based demonstrations and learning opportunities, as well as Offshore Survey, Ocean Careers, key international associated industry events and an amazing line-up of social opportunities for networking.

Ocean Business 2019 is expected to be the best show yet with such demand from its 360+ international exhibitors that exhibitor space sold out over a year ago. As well as this, record levels of interest in training and demonstration sessions meant that the organisers have had to Continue reading “Free registration has opened for Ocean Business 2019”

Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) management committee set to introduce new CO alarm requirements from April 2019

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Strong support for the changes was demonstrated in the responses to the consultation with 84 per cent in favour of introducing a requirement for suitable working CO alarms.
Strong support for the changes was demonstrated in the responses to the consultation with 84 per cent in favour of introducing a requirement for suitable working CO alarms.

Representatives from the Boat Safety Scheme (BSS), a public safety initiative owned by the Canal & River Trust and the Environment Agency, are urging the industry to take onboard safety seriously following the deaths of three inland boaters.

Ahead of issuing the latest advice on carbon monoxide (CO) detection, communications manager Rob McLean has shared that three boaters died in 2018 as a result of onboard fires whilst several more were taken to hospital following fires, explosions and carbon monoxide poisoning.

In light of this and following a public consultation in the autumn, the BSS management committee has decided to introduce new CO alarm requirements from next April.

BSS manager, Graham Watts, thanked Continue reading “Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) management committee set to introduce new CO alarm requirements from April 2019”

Boat made from plastic bottles wins environmental green award

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Michael Bennet (l) from PGT Reclaimed Vietnam presents the Green Apple Award to Plaswood's Katherine Lorek-Wallace and Hubbub's Adam Robinson Photo: The Green Organisation
Michael Bennet (l) from PGT Reclaimed Vietnam presents the Green Apple Award to Plaswood’s Katherine Lorek-Wallace and Hubbub’s Adam Robinson Photo: The Green Organisation

Polythene film recycler, RPC bpi recycled products and environmental charity, Hubbub, have won a Green Apple Environment Award 2018 for its 100% recycled plastic boat.

The Poly-Mer is made from Plaswood, a lumber made entirely from recycled materials, used as an educational tool for school children to raise awareness of the growing levels of plastic pollution in Britain’s waterways.

“To be singled out for a Green Apple Award is an honour,” said Katherine Lorek-Wallace, Plaswood general manager at RPC bpi recycled products.

“It is also testament to the ingenuity and creativity of Hubbub and our unique product. We have always Continue reading “Boat made from plastic bottles wins environmental green award”

Report published by MAIB on the capsize and sinking of fishing vessel Solstice with loss of one life

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At 1938 on 26 September 2017, the 9.9m fishing vessel Solstice capsized in calm weather conditions about 7 miles south of Plymouth. The skipper and crewman were rescued from the vessel’s upturned hull about 5½ hours later, but the vessel’s owner was trapped and drowned in the wheelhouse. Solstice later sank.

The scallop dredger had recently been modified to operate as a stern trawler and its owner, skipper and crewman were in the process of hauling a heavy catch on board when the capsize occurred. The net’s cod-end was full of fish, moss and sand, and started to roll uncontrollably along the transom as the vessel heeled in the light swell.

Continue reading “Report published by MAIB on the capsize and sinking of fishing vessel Solstice with loss of one life”

What future for freight on the UK canal network?

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Cargoes on the Trent, the Aire & Calder Navigation and the Sheffield & South Yorkshire Navigation included coal, stone, oil, gravel and sand. But one by one these traffics disappeared
Cargoes on the Trent, the Aire & Calder Navigation and the Sheffield & South Yorkshire Navigation included coal, stone, oil, gravel and sand. But one by one these traffics disappeared

Four years ago the Canal & River Trust launched a last-ditch attempt to revive commercial freight carrying on the larger waterways before it died out completely. How has it fared since then?

Back in the 1990s, any guide describing the canals and rivers of Yorkshire and the north eastern part of the network would make a point of emphasising how these large-scale waterways were still busy with freight barges loading several hundred tonnes each and helping to satisfy the nation’s transport needs – unlike the small-scale canals of the Midlands and most of the rest of the system, where regular commercial freight had died out a quarter of a century earlier.

Cargoes on the Trent, the Aire & Calder Navigation and the Sheffield & South Yorkshire Navigation included coal, stone, oil, gravel and sand. But one by one these traffics disappeared, not necessarily for Continue reading “What future for freight on the UK canal network?”

UK MCA releases a notice on the transport of dangerous goods and marine pollutants

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The IMO has adopted the amendment 39-18 to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code
The IMO has adopted the amendment 39-18 to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code

The UK MCA has released a Merchant Shipping Notice regarding the transport of dangerous goods and marine pollutants in packaged form by sea on ships within UK waters and on UK ships.

The IMO has adopted the amendment 39-18 to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code. It will enter into force globally on 1 January 2019, with a twelve month “transitional period” until 31 December 2019.

From 1 January 2019, until 31 December 2019 dangerous goods and marine pollutants in packaged form shall be Continue reading “UK MCA releases a notice on the transport of dangerous goods and marine pollutants”

Round up and reports of IIMS autumn 2018 training events

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Surveyors got to play with various surveying testing equipment at the training event at Glasgow
Surveyors got to play with various surveying testing equipment at the training event at Glasgow

Over recent weeks, the International Institute of Marine Surveying has run a series of training events, conferences and training seminars at a variety of worldwide locations, including Mumbai, Sydney and the UK. All events have been well attended and it brings the number to 200 plus of the members who have taken part in face to face training events and seminars in 2018.

IIMS has also recently published its provisional schedule for training events in 2019. Click to see the outline schedule. As well as the UK and Europe, events are planned for USA, Australia (to be confirmed), South East Asia and the UAE. Next year, IIMS is returning with a high profile London Conference too in June.  Continue reading “Round up and reports of IIMS autumn 2018 training events”

CRT to create regional teams to improve customer service and engage with local communities

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Richard Parry, CRT CEO (pictured right)
Richard Parry, CRT CEO (pictured right)

Canal & River Trust will move resource from its centrally based roles into its six regional customer-facing teams to improve customer service and engage with local communities.

The changes will be made as part of the trust’s waterways and well being strategy and will see operational management roles adapted to meet the requirements of the new regions.

Richard Parry, CEO, commented: “The Trust has been repositioning as a charity for the waterways and well being, with a new structure that has seen us move from ten waterways to six larger regions, with some activities previously managed centrally now devolved to these regional teams, and a reduction in senior manager numbers overall.

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