UK News

MAIB report into the flooding and sinking of survey workboat Bella published

Posted on by News Hound
Bow to stern view of 5.6m open glass reinforced plastic survey workboat Bella moored alongside gravel pathway
Image courtesy of Geosight Ltd

On 6 July 2021, the UK survey workboat Bella flooded and sank while carrying out hydrographic survey operations in the approaches to Lynmouth, England. Bella’s crew abandoned into the liferaft and were rescued uninjured by a local boat owner; there was no pollution.

Safety Issues
– The survey workboat Bella was vulnerable to swamping, even in moderate sea conditions because its multibeam echo sounder gantry reduced its forward freeboard.
– Despite being issued with the necessary certification, Bella was not compliant with The Workboat Code; shortcomings in construction and means of flotation were missed during the certifying survey due to the surveyor’s overreliance on Recreational Craft Directive documentation. Continue reading “MAIB report into the flooding and sinking of survey workboat Bella published”

Two new ISOs set to be added to the list of designated standards to the Recreational Craft Regulations

Posted on by News Hound

The Department of Business Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has published an update to the list of designated standards to the RCR (Recreational Craft Regulations). It has stated its intentions to add the following two ISO standards to the list of designated standards to the Recreational Craft Regulations (RCR).

They are:
– EN ISO 8666:2020/A11:2021 – Small craft – Principal data Continue reading “Two new ISOs set to be added to the list of designated standards to the Recreational Craft Regulations”

MCA consultation on requirements for fixed aerosol fire extinguishing systems in small vessel machinery spaces

Posted on by News Hound

The Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) has opened a public consultation seeking views and opinions for MGN 657 (M+F) Requirements for Aerosol Fixed Fire Suppression Systems for use in Small Vessel Machinery. The draft MGN publishes the test requirements for future approvals of these systems and requires that tests are witnessed by an Approved Body appointed by the MCA. Continue reading “MCA consultation on requirements for fixed aerosol fire extinguishing systems in small vessel machinery spaces”

First glass fibre composites recycling centre in the UK set to open

Posted on by News Hound
First glass fibre composites recycling centre in the UK set to open
First glass fibre composites recycling centre in the UK set to open

The National Composites Centre is aiming to create the UK’s first glass fibre composites recycling and re-use facility of its kind. The organisation is supporting a new consortium that has been formed to address the growing challenge of decarbonisation and recycling of composite materials in the marine industry and beyond.

The Blue Composites Project is made up of the UK’s leading marine and maritime companies, composites specialists, academic institutions and local government organisations, led by Blue Parameters, a Guernsey based marine consultancy. Continue reading “First glass fibre composites recycling centre in the UK set to open”

Despite decreasing marine casualties the Irish authorities remain cautious

Posted on by News Hound
Irish authorities remain cautious despite decreasing marine casualties
Irish authorities remain cautious despite decreasing marine casualties

Marine casualties and fatalities in Irish waters have reduced in the past ten years, but investigators warn this could change if voluntary codes of conduct are ignored. The Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) reports that fatalities have been on a downward trend to zero in 2021 from a high of 13 in 2012. However, this may not remain the case as the number of serious incidents involving kayakers and canoeists continues to rise.

In 2020 the MCIB urged water sports clubs to ensure that all codes of practice, guidelines and recommendations were followed.  Continue reading “Despite decreasing marine casualties the Irish authorities remain cautious”

New laws to restrict the way ships release ballast water into UK seas

Posted on by News Hound
The new laws, put forward by the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA), is based on the international Ballast Water Management Convention
The new laws, put forward by the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA), is based on the international Ballast Water Management Convention

New laws have now come into force which will further protect United Kingdom coastlines by stopping international ships from discharging potentially harmful species into the sea.

The Merchant Shipping (Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments) Regulations 2022 introduces legislation into UK law controlling the discharge of ships’ ballast water into UK waters. Ballast water can contain aquatic species that are harmful to native UK ones and the legislation will stop ships from potentially releasing them onto our coasts. Continue reading “New laws to restrict the way ships release ballast water into UK seas”

UK boat licence fees set to increase from 1 October 2022

Posted on by News Hound

In light of soaring inflation, which is impacting the costs required to keep the waterways safe and navigable, the Canal & River Trust has annouced an inflationary rise of 4% in UK boat licence fees from 1 October 2022. This is in conjunction with cost saving measures that the Trust is taking and actions to increase income from other sources.

Whilst recognising that a second increase in fees this year is regrettable, the Trust is facing significant increases in a range of its costs – notably the prices of energy, fuel, materials and other construction costs which are rising by more than headline consumer inflation rates, Continue reading “UK boat licence fees set to increase from 1 October 2022”

Revised MCA documentation issued between 8 June and 15 July

Posted on by News Hound

The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has published a list of revisions to various documentation from 8 June to 15 July 2022.

All M-Notices (MSNs, MGNs and MINs) can be found through the use of the search engine on the MCA website.

Issued 9 June 2022
SI 2022 No. 0629 – The Merchant Shipping (Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments) Order 2022 Continue reading “Revised MCA documentation issued between 8 June and 15 July”

Office for Product Safety & Standards issues product recall on some life jacket sold via Amazon

Posted on by News Hound

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has issued a product recall for 11 models of life jacket sold via the Amazon online platform. The products are being recalled from end users and the listings will be removed by the Amazon platform.

The products do not meet the requirements of the PPE Regulation 2016/425. The products were not supplied with the required compliance documentation or markings to demonstrate that they have been adequately conformity assessed. Mandatory third-party Continue reading “Office for Product Safety & Standards issues product recall on some life jacket sold via Amazon”

Red Ensign Group Conference looks at challenges of maritime

Posted on by News Hound
From left to right: Katy Ware, Sir John Lorimer and Cameron Mitchell
From left to right: Katy Ware, Sir John Lorimer and Cameron Mitchell

Dealing with the challenges of maritime and coastal state responsibilities are coming under the spotlight at the annual Red Ensign Group Conference. Challenges of the sector include recovery of maritime following the pandemic, environmental and coastal concerns, as well as commercial competition.

The conference which oversees and upholds maritime safety standards across the thirteen British Shipping Registers is meeting in the Isle of Man to discuss best practice and to look at ways of improving the performance of the British Registers internationally. It is the first time the conference has met in person since the global pandemic took a hold in 2020. Continue reading “Red Ensign Group Conference looks at challenges of maritime”

Maritime and Coastguard Agency: Consultation on updates to fire protection regulations

Posted on by News Hound

Plans to update UK law around rules governing the fire safety and protection of vessels are going out to public consultation as part of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s commitment to ensuring seafarer safety.

The new regulations will implement updated international rules on fire protection, fire detection and fire extinction. This includes provision for improvements made to structural fire protection, escape from fire and operational requirements.

There are already stringent rules around protecting seafarers in the event of fire on board vessels and these amendments to the international regulations are in addition to those. Continue reading “Maritime and Coastguard Agency: Consultation on updates to fire protection regulations”

Reflections and highlights from UK Maritime Safety Week

Posted on by News Hound

This year’s Maritime Safety Week commenced on 4 July. Over the course of the week, a series of blogs reiterating safety messages to the industry were published by the MAIB. A few of the highlights are published below.

Andrew Moll OBE
Opening Maritime Safety Week, Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents, Andrew Moll OBE, said:
“Today marks the start of Maritime Safety Week 2022, an important moment when the marine industry comes together to focus on how we can collectively continue to improve safety across the sector. As the MAIB has done in previous years, this week we plan to highlight a number of key areas of ongoing concern and reiterate the safety messages that the industry must note. Continue reading “Reflections and highlights from UK Maritime Safety Week”

Instagram Posts from the IIMS @iimsmarine