Workboats

VEKA Group set to build the world’s first hybrid trimaran for transporting personnel offshore

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VEKA Group set to build the world's first hybrid trimaran workboat
VEKA Group set to build the world’s first hybrid trimaran workboat

Workers on drilling rigs and offshore wind farms can hopefully look forward to a more pleasant commute to work with considerably lower risk of seasickness thanks to a special, innovative ship built by VEKA Group. VEKA will be building two trimarans intended specifically for transporting personnel and freight to offshore wind farms. These are the first hybrid trimarans in the world. Transporting offshore personnel takes place mainly by catamaran. These will be VEKA’s first trimarans.

Most of the innovations are intended to make the so-called workboat more stable and more comfortable, thereby reducing the risk of seasickness. For example, the ships have lower windows than is customary, so that the passengers have a better view. The third bow is designed to ensure additional stability and comfort. There are also innovative stabilisers built into the hull.

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Extracts from an IMCA safety flash concerning workboat and corrosion incidents

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The wooden bung found to be the cause of the problem
The wooden bung found to be the cause of the problem

IMCA (International Marine Contractors Association) has reported a number of incidents, extracts of which are published here involving workboat and corrosion incidents, giving suggested recommendations in each case.

Incident one. Incomplete engine service by vessel crew led to an auxiliary power unit engine breakdown.
After servicing of a vessel’s electrical generator (auxiliary power unit) it was found that the motor could not be returned to a functioning service. Initial investigation revealed a lack of coolant movement, causing the motor to overheat which in turn was causing the generator to automatically shut down. Further investigation (not by the crew) found a blockage was located within the coolant line. The blockage was a wooden bung.

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New water lubricated seal for workboats developed by Wärtsilä

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Wärtsilä has developed a new water lubricated seal, Enviroguard SLR, which provides cost-effective reliability for small workboats.

Available in nine standard sizes that suit 75mm-306mm of shaft size, the new seal is expected to provide more reliability to smaller workboats, fishing boats, motorised barges, and super yachts.

The Wärtsilä Enviroguard SLR seal is also designed to survive large shaft movements and to tolerate aggressive waters that are heavy with silt or sand.

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MAIB report into the grounding and capsize of berthed trawler Saint Christophe 1

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On 9 March 2016, three French fishing vessels sought shelter from bad weather in Dartmouth harbour, on the south-west coast of England. One of the vessels, Saint Christophe 1, was directed to berth alongside a quay wall and when the tide went out it grounded and capsized alongside. Saint Christophe 1 subsequently flooded and sank with the incoming tide, and was declared a constructive total loss.

Safety issues
The lack of effective communication between harbour authority staff and vessel’s crew failed to ensure a common understanding of the fact that the boat would ground at low water
The assumption that the crew understood the information provided by the harbour staff, prevented further safety checks from being made
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Report on the sinking of the scallop dredger JMT published by the MAIB

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The report on the sinking of the scallop dredger JMT has been published
The report on the sinking of the scallop dredger JMT has been published

The MAIB has issued its report into the capsizing and sinking of the scallop dredger JMT in 2015. The report will be of particular interest to surveyors given that the incident raises issues around the effect modifications made potentially had on the stability of the craft.

During the afternoon of 9 July 2015, routine contact was lost with the skipper and crewman on board the 11.4m scallop dredger JMT that was fishing off Plymouth, UK. A search and rescue operation was initiated the following morning when the vessel did not return alongside as expected.

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Beware signage dropping from a crane boom warns IMCA

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In one of its regular safety bulletins, the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has issued new information on an incident involving parts falling from a crane – in this instance a steel sign. IMCA says that this is not the first time this has happened and individuals may wish to review this in light of other similar reported incidents.

A piece of metal fell from a crane boom. The incident occurred on a vessel whilst alongside during the testing of the luffing motors’ braking system on the main crane. During this testing the crane boom made an uncontrolled descent into its crutch, resulting in a 60 kg steel sign falling 15m down to the deck. Investigation revealed that the sign was fixed by 4 x stitch welds, of which three were completely rusted away.

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Small Craft Surveyors Forum Seminar at Seawork 2016 report

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The Ocean Scene
The Ocean Scene

On board the vessel “Ocean Scene” at the Seawork pontoons in Southampton on 14 June, some 60 plus surveyors and interested parties were treated to presentations associated with surveys on the smaller vessels in the industry.

Opening the seminar, Mike Schwarz, CEO of IIMS (International Institute of Marine Surveying), spoke of the need to enhance surveyor standards. He said we need to be aiming higher than the minimum standard. Why does it matter? We need to rid the industry of incompetent surveyors and to nurture, help, and mentor the young and aspiring surveyors to develop and maintain higher standards. To set yourself apart from the incompetent surveyors, of which there are many, you need to invest time, money and commitment. Enhancing standards can be accomplished by addressing areas of weakness in knowledge and by developing other skills e.g. photographic and word processing to present better reports. Professional bodies can help by holding conferences, training days and Continue reading “Small Craft Surveyors Forum Seminar at Seawork 2016 report”

Debut Seawork International at Mayflower Park voted a success

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Seawork International closed its doors for the nineteenth successive year, following three successful days of business at its new and permanent home in Southampton’s Mayflower Park.

Councillor Simon Letts, leader of Southampton City Council, opened Seawork International on Tuesday 14 June at the Waterfront Restaurant, sponsored by Golden Arrow Marine. He was joined by the Deputy High Commissioner of Barbados, Althea Wiggins. The Barbadian inward delegation is just one of a number of VIPs who attended Seawork to explore procurement opportunities. Seawork also welcomed the Naval Advisor to New Zealand, VIPs from Brazil, a delegation from the United Arab Emirates and China, as well as the US Naval Attaché, who is a returning visitor. These delegations provide valuable export opportunities to Seawork attendees, many of whose businesses have flourished thanks to the opportunities that Seawork presents. Many exhibitors reported superb feedback and have high expectations for future business success.

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Cheetah Marine builds the world’s first hydrogen powered boat

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Cheetah Marine has built a hydrogen-fuel catamaran which demonstrates the potential of zero CO2 technology in the marine industry. It is believed to be the first hydrogen powered craft.

The 9.95m catamaran, designed and built at Cheetah Marine’s workshops on the Isle of Wight in the UK, features a Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine (HICE). The Honda outboard works in the same way as traditional petrol engine, except it burns hydrogen and produces harmless water vapour as the only emission.

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Death of workboat Carol Anne skipper could have been avoided says MAIB Report

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The collapsed crane which caused the death of the Carol Anne skipper
The collapsed crane which caused the death of the Carol Anne skipper

The MAIB has now released its report into the incident in which skipper, Jamie Kerr, died on the Carol Anne when the crane fitted to the vessel collapsed leaving the reader in little doubt that this was an avoidable accident. The installation of a crane to a workboat adds significant challenges for the marine surveyor when assessing the structure as this report highlights.

On 30 April 2015, an Atlas lorry loader crane fitted on the workboat Carol Anne collapsed while being used to offload a net at a fish farm at Balure on Loch Spelve, Scotland. The crane fell directly onto the workboat’s skipper, who was declared dead at the scene. The crane had been in operation since its installation just six and a half weeks earlier. It was not overloaded when it failed.

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Bureau Veritas publishes guidelines for offshore access systems

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The increasing use of offshore access systems that are now routinely used in the offshore oil and gas, as well as the offshore wind industry, has prompted classification society, Bureau Veritas, to publishing some guidelines.

The guidelines have been developed for motion compensated offshore access systems, which are used to transfer various personnel from all disciplines to and from offshore vessels and offshore installations and structures.

Guidance Note NI629: Certification of Offshore Access Systems provides a clear and comprehensive overview of the safety principles and technical requirements for the design, manufacturing and operation of reliable and dependable equipment for the safe transfer of personnel at sea. Continue reading “Bureau Veritas publishes guidelines for offshore access systems”

Seawork Asia set to run again in Shanghai

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China’s marine economy has experienced rapid growth in recent years. The 2015 Marine Development Report1 indicated new orders within the marine manufacturing industry alone was worth 13.9 billion US Dollars in China. In light of the findings of this report, commercial marine and workboat organisations will have the opportunity to explore the potential for growth in this rapidly increasing marketplace at Seawork Asia, Asia’s fastest-growing commercial marine exhibition.

Adding to this potential, the event attracts a number of representatives from military and government departments who are key influencers and purchasers, including the Chairman of China Pilots Association, and Director of China Maritime Safety Administration.

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