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”
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”
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.
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”
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”
Seawork International 2018 will celebrate its 21st edition as the ‘go to’ meeting place for the European commercial marine sector.
Seawork 2018 sees an increased focus on vessel construction and maintenance, new award categories for the European Commercial Marine Awards (ECMAs) and a new Vessel Operations Conference; embracing the new MCA Codes of Practice, Cost Saving through Operational Efficiencies and Techniques, and the Future of Hybrid Drives.
Best Project of the Year is a new ECMA award category for challenges in marine civils or vessel operations. Judged by a panel of industry experts, the ECMAs recognise excellence and achievement across the commercial marine sector.
British yard Fairline Yachts has announced its intention to begin building larger yachts after acquiring the Hythe coastal complex in Hampshire. The five-acre site was left vacant after its previous incumbents, Green Marine, went into liquidation in October 2017.
The Hythe coastal complex, which covers an area of 20,000 square metres, is scheduled to open in mid-2018 and will be used to build models over 18.29 metres in length. The construction of models under 18 metres will continue at Fairline Yacht’s current base in Oundle, Northamptonshire.
Russell Currie, managing director of Fairline Yachts, explained, “As the global yachting market evolves, clients from across the world are increasingly demanding larger yachts than we’ve been able to create. Our new site will boast state-of-the-art facilities, giving us room to expand and create bigger boats whilst making the most of the existing boatbuilding skills in the location. Continue reading “Fairline Yachts taking over Hythe coastal complex”
The UK MCA has released a marine notice, MIN 542, which highlights the specific risks of using non SOLAS or non-pyrotechnic distress flares, for example Electronic Visual Distress Signals (EVDS).
To be effective, distress signals need to be internationally recognised. Not all EVDS provide a distress signal listed in COLREGS Annex IV (such as SOS), and the MCA knows of no EVDS device which is compliant with the SOLAS technical performance standards for distress flares. Consequently, the international carriage requirements do not recognise EVDS and the UK national carriage requirements have not been amended to formally recognise them either.
In the early hours of the morning on 22 August 2016, the 399m long ultra-large container vessel CMA CGM Vasco de Gama grounded on the western side of the Thorn Channel whilst approaching the Port of Southampton. The vessel was the largest UK-flagged vessel at the time and had two of the port’s specialist container ship pilots onboard.
The ship ran aground on a rising tide and on a flat shingle/sand sea-bed. A combination of tugs and ship’s engines enabled it to be re-floated soon after grounding. Continue reading “MAIB report into the grounding of the CMA CGM Vasco de Gama published”
At 0248 (UTC+1) on 3 December 2016, the bulk carrier Muros ran aground on Haisborough Sand on the east coast of the United Kingdom. Attempts to manoeuvre clear of the shallows were unsuccessful but the vessel was re-floated 6 days later with tug assistance. There were no injuries and no pollution, but damage to Muros’s rudder necessitated the vessel being towed to Rotterdam, Netherlands, for repair.
The MAIB investigation identified, inter alia:
Continue reading “MAIB releases its report into the ground of Muros on Haisborough Sand”
British boatbuilder and carbon fibre specialist Green Marine has ceased trading after going into voluntary liquidation, leading to the loss of 46 jobs.
Speaking to the BBC, a spokesperson for the company explained that Green Marine had been hoping to secure an order to build the hull and superstructure of a superyacht, which did not materialise.
Parent company Vitters, who bought Green Marine in 2010 and moved the yard to a new high-tech facility at Hythe Marina, confirmed the news and promised to complete all uncompleted projects. Continue reading “British yard Green Marine has folded with the loss of 46 jobs”
The UK Canal & River Trust is asking all boaters and boating groups to take part in the final stage of their consultation on the future of boat licensing, which has remained little changed for the past 20 years.
A series of licensing options based, on the feedback given by boaters in the first stages of consultation held during the spring and summer, has been drawn up. Canal & River Trust is now emailing or writing to all licence holders and other boating groups and relevant organisations to invite them to take part. Once complete, a final proposal will be put forward, including details of when any changes will come into effect.
Continue reading “Feedback sought on the future of UK inland waterways boat licensing”
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