UK News

Princess Yachts and BAR Technologies collaborate on revolutionary carbon yacht

Posted on by News Hound
Princess Yachts and BAR Technologies collaborate on revolutionary carbon yacht
Princess Yachts and BAR Technologies collaborate on revolutionary carbon yacht

Plymouth, UK yard, Princess Yachts, has announced that it is working Portsmouth based BAR Technologies on a joint carbon fibre project which has been billed as an entirely new class of yacht.

The project is shrouded in secrecy to prevent any details being released before its official unveiling. Currently the only known fact is that its length is mid-30 foot (approximately 10.6 metres). BAR Technologies covered the new-build in a camouflage hull wrap as it was recently transported out of its yard in Portsmouth.

BAR Technologies was established to Continue reading “Princess Yachts and BAR Technologies collaborate on revolutionary carbon yacht”

Rolls-Royce has announced a strategic review of its marine business

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Image courtesy Rolls-Royce
Image courtesy Rolls-Royce

Rolls-Royce has announced it is considering the sale of its loss-making commercial marine business, on the context of embarking on simplifying its complex business simplification of business. This may result in a reduction from five operating businesses to three core units based around Civil Aerospace, Defence and Power Systems.

As part of this exercise, the company plans to consolidate Naval Marine and Nuclear Submarines operations within the existing Defence business, and Civil Nuclear operations within the Power Systems business, to facilitate a more fundamental restructuring of support and management functions in particular.

“Building on our actions over the past two years, this further simplification of our business means Continue reading “Rolls-Royce has announced a strategic review of its marine business”

British Ports Association has published a video to highlight their importance to the UK economy

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British Ports Association has published a video to highlight their importance to the UK economy
British Ports Association has published a video to highlight their importance to the UK economy

The British Ports Association has launched a video highlighting the importance of ports to the UK’s economy. The film uses new economic impact study data produced for Maritime UK – an umbrella group promoting the industry – to highlight the value of the UK ports industry. The figures show that collectively the industry employs 101,000 people, handles almost 500 million tons of freight and contributes £7.5 billion ($7.9 billion) to the economy.

The Chief Executive of The British Ports Association, Richard Ballantyne, said: Continue reading “British Ports Association has published a video to highlight their importance to the UK economy”

Where will the next generation of marine surveyors come from?

Posted on by CEO

A belated Happy New Year. As we ponder what 2018 might hold for us and, let’s face it, projections for the marine world appear to be very mixed, depending on who you listen to, I have been shocked and saddened by the awful start to January with one disaster after another.

In the first instance, I am referring of course to the tragic accident and substantial loss of life and potential environmental meltdown caused by the collision between the Iranian owned tanker MV Sanchi and the Hong Kong-flagged cargo ship CF Crystal, leading to the subsequent sinking of the former. That such a shocking event can still occur in 2018 seems hard to understand. It is not known yet if the cause will ever be discovered. What can we learn from this awful incident? And yet this incident has meant that numerous other accidents Continue reading “Where will the next generation of marine surveyors come from?”

Ad Hoc Marine Designs unveils 41m SWATH Crew Transfer Vessel

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New SWATH CTV by Ad Hoc Marine. Photo credit: Ad Hoc Marine
New SWATH CTV by Ad Hoc Marine. Photo credit: Ad Hoc Marine

Ad Hoc Marine Designs has introduced a new 41m Walk to Work (W2W) SWATH Crew Transfer Vessel (CTV), capable of being at sea for up to two weeks with 24 technicians onboard, accommodated in their own individual cabins.

The vessel designer said that the new SWATH CTV, which can also carry any combination of 4 ISO containers, gives operators a better alternative to ordering larger vessels, especially when servicing offshore wind farms built far offshore.

The new vessel is based on the company’s Typhoon Class SWATH design that meets significant Continue reading “Ad Hoc Marine Designs unveils 41m SWATH Crew Transfer Vessel”

British Marine research suggests boating sector growth for the sixth consecutive year

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British Marine research suggests boating sector growth for the sixth consecutive year
British Marine research suggests boating sector growth for the sixth consecutive year

The UK’s leisure marine industry has achieved its sixth consecutive year of growth, according to research conducted by British Marine.

Industry revenues increased by 3.4% in 2017 – rising to £3.12bn – their highest level since the financial crisis of 2007/08. The sector directly contributed over £1.3bn to the UK economy between March 2016 – April 2017, while supporting over 33,000 full-time equivalent jobs in the UK’s manufacturing and service industries.

And while UK productivity remains sluggish compared to Continue reading “British Marine research suggests boating sector growth for the sixth consecutive year”

European Commission Reducing marine litter stakeholder survey and consultation

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Photo credit: Creative Commons/Forest/Kim Starr
Photo credit: Creative Commons/Forest/Kim Starr

The European Commission has published a stakeholder survey “Reducing marine litter: actions on single use plastics and abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear” as part of the follow up to the EU Strategy on Plastics scheduled for adoption in January 2018.

Plastics are an important material in our economy and present in many aspects of our daily lives, but they also have relatively low rates of reuse and recycling and are prone to littering.

The European Commission Action Plan for a Circular Economy (2015) therefore identified plastics as one of 5 priority areas. A Communication outlining the strategy for Continue reading “European Commission Reducing marine litter stakeholder survey and consultation”

Scotland inland waterways 250 year history soon to be available to the public

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Scotland's inland waterways - Details of the machinery of the proposed inclined plane at Blackhill
Scotland’s inland waterways – Details of the machinery of the proposed inclined plane at Blackhill

The public will soon be able to delve into the 250-year-old tales of Scotland’s inland waterways as Scottish Canals’ historic records are transferred to the National Records of Scotland for the first time.

The archive features an array of hand-drawn plans, maps and other records stretching back to when the canals were industrial highways carrying coal, goods and people across Scotland. Continue reading “Scotland inland waterways 250 year history soon to be available to the public”

MCA amends its Code of Safe Working Practices

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The UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) has published an updated version of the ‘Code of Safe Working Practices for Merchant Seafarers’. The amendments give advice on improving health and safety of seafarers, primarily for those on board UK registered ships. But surveyors should also take note.

The Code provides guidance on safe working practices for the many and numerous situations that occur on ships.

However, it should not be considered a comprehensive guide to safety and its advice should always be considered in conjunction with the Continue reading “MCA amends its Code of Safe Working Practices”

Aqua Narrowboats set to move and expand

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Aqua Narrowboats are set for a new home and expansion
Aqua Narrowboats are set for a new home and expansion

Boatbuilder Aqua Narrowboats is to expand its operations into a new purpose-built factory. The company, currently based at Mercia Marina in Derbyshire, has been granted planning permission to build the 7,500sqft factory a short distance away in Foston.

The facility, which will include a 40 tonne crane and boat testing tank, will enable the business to increase production allowing two boats to be built simultaneously – both narrowboats and widebeam boats.

As part of the development a dedicated reception and showroom will also be built, providing space for boat build customers as well as customers of the Aqua Furnishings business.

Continue reading “Aqua Narrowboats set to move and expand”

Berthon set to celebrate their centenary in 2018

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The May family is celebrating 100 years of Berthon Boat Company and Lymington shipyard ownership.

Frank Aubrey May brought Berthon from Edward Berthon in 1917. He partnered with his brother Harry, who bought the lease for the Lymington shipyard in 1918 from Courtenay & Sons, closing the Romsey premises of Berthon and moving it to Lymington.

In 1925, with the financial support of third brother George May, the shipyard was also purchased by the Mays.

Continue reading “Berthon set to celebrate their centenary in 2018”

Burgess Marine partly rescued after falling into administration

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Following falling into administration Burgess Marine assets have been partly sold off to Southampton Marine Services (SMS) saving some jobs at the company with maybe more to follow in the future.

The business and assets at three of the company’s trading locations – in Lowestoft, Avonmouth & Poole, have been transferred to SMS along with all of their works in progress, resulting in 45 jobs being saved.

But the administrator confirmed that at this time 106 employees have still been made redundant.

Continue reading “Burgess Marine partly rescued after falling into administration”

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