Hull crack forces new Scottish ferry out of service
Reading this story, you could be forgiven for asking the question “What’s going wrong with British shipbuilding”. This story beggars belief as it is the latest in a long line of issues that have engulfed Caledonian MacBrayne’s (CalMac) new ferry Glen Sannox. The vessel was originally scheduled to enter service with CalMac in 2018 but was only delivered in late 2024. Her maiden operational voyage in January this year also needed to be postponed due to issues with some of her onboard systems.
I have read that the vessel has been temporarily stood down after a crack was detected in the hull close to the waterline. The company says the ferry was removed because the crack had caused a “very small amount of water” to enter the vessel’s stern near the steering gear. The company said divers will be employed to inspect the hull of the vessel, which is presently berthed at Brodick on the Isle of Arran.
I understand the Scottish government and the shipyard still have questions to answer about the calamitous situation that led to a very late delivery and management of the project. But it goes far deeper than this for me. How is it possible for a ferry to be in such a poor state so soon after launch, and frankly the negative press this story has attracted does further reputational damage to the UK shipbuilding industry. I understand the issue has been dealt with and fixed.
South Korea has reported nearly 75 per cent increase in maritime accident deaths and disappearances
News has reached my desk provided by the Government of South Korea that reveals that more than 160 people died or went missing because of maritime accidents in South Korean waters in 2024. That’s a whopping increase of 75%. Whilst there is nothing to suggest this is anything more than merely a one-year blip, it is of serious concern to the authorities and has sharpened their focus on the issue.
Around 3,255 incidents involving vessel of all types occurred in South Korea in 2024. Although the number of incidents increased by only 5.3 per cent from 2023, the total of fatalities and missing persons climbed 74.5 per cent compared to the previous year. Approximately 700 accidents have been classified by the government as “major” and include collisions, capsizings, and sinkings. Of these cases, collisions accounted for more than 34 per cent.
Kang Do-hyung, Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, has pledged to enforce stricter safety measures to reduce the risk of maritime accidents. Some private sector groups have already taken steps to address the safety issues that have led to many major accidents. Last month, the Korea Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives launched a two-week campaign aimed at increasing public awareness on maritime accidents, especially those involving local fishing vessels.
NTSB calls for urgent safety assessments of iconic US bridges
Although this story is featured elsewhere in the news bulletin, I did want to add some further personal commentary.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has called for urgent safety assessments of 68 bridges in the US. The long list includes some of the most iconic crossings known to us all, including the Golden Gate Bridge, Chesapeake Bay Bridge, Brooklyn Bridge, George Washington Bridge and the Chicago Skyway Bridge.
NTSB Chair, Jennifer Homendy, said the board wants bridge owners in 19 states to perform vulnerability assessments and determine the risk of catastrophic collapse from a vessel collision, “and if warranted, implement a comprehensive risk reduction plan.”
Yes, yes, yes, I say. Surely this safety and risk assessment has routinely happened over the years? It seems perhaps not, and if that is truly the case I simply cannot believe it. The effects of the MV Dali taking out Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge last year are far reaching and that’s a good thing for never again should such a situation be allowed to occur.
The review focuses on bridges built before 1991, frequented by ocean-going vessels, which have not undergone vulnerability assessments.
According to my source, other bridges that need urgent reviews include the Bourne and Sagamore Bridges across the Cape Cod Canal in Massachusetts, Richmond-San Rafael Bridge and Mateo-Hayward Bridge in California, Mackinac Bridge in Michigan, the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Florida, Memorial Bridge in New Hampshire and the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, Manhattan Bridge and Williamsburg Bridge in New York.
Bridge owners need to calculate whether the probability of collapse is above a risk threshold and if so, “develop and implement a comprehensive risk reduction plan,” the NTSB said.
In conclusion, whilst this may seem like a US problem alone, it is not. I am left wondering how many other bridge crossings around the world have, in the wake of the MV Dali incident, undertaken an analysis of risk and how many have simply pushed it under the carpet and ignored the clear warning signs sent out by this disaster? Time to wake up and food for thought me thinks.
Dolphin crash lands into a small boat in New Zealand
One boater and his fishing mates recently got the surprise of their lives when a 900 pound dolphin joined them in their boat somewhat unexpectedly!
The report informs me that three fishermen had their trip go haywire when an 11-foot (3.35 m), 900 lb (408 kg) bottlenose dolphin crash-landed onto the stern of their boat. According to the boat’s owner, Dean Harrison, he and his friends were enjoying a great day on the water when a shadow suddenly appeared overhead. In an instant, a dolphin smashed onto the deck of their tiny 15-foot fishing boat.
“In the blink of an eye, there’s this thrashing dolphin in the middle of the boat and gear and people flying everywhere. It was chaos,” Harrison told Stuff News.
One of Harrison’s friends received minor injuries to his arm when the juvenile male dolphin grazed his back and shoulder.
In a wise move, the men contacted New Zealand’s conservation authority who directed them to a boat ramp roughly an hour away. The conservation had a crew waiting to help treat the dolphin and along with Harrison’s crew and locals, used a tractor to lift the dolphin off the boat and back into the water.
Quite a story and one to tell the grandkids too. Fortunately, it all ended well.
Until the next time.
Mike Schwarz