Making friends ‘Down Under’

Clearly something amused me during my key note address to delegates at the IIMS Australia workshop
Clearly something amused me during my key note address to delegates at the IIMS Australia workshop

It was a pleasure to make the long journey to Adelaide to be part of what was a very successful IIMS Australia branch two day workshop. Sadly my stay was only a short one. Mind you, given how cold it was (no-one told me about that), I was happy to head back to warmer climes.

The day before the main event I was fortunate enough to spend the day briefing Adam and his colleagues at AMSA (Australian Maritime Safety Authority) about how maritime regulation operates and is governed in the UK. This proved to be a useful two way discussion and I think left the group with plenty of food for thought and lots to ponder over.

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Small Craft Surveyors Forum Seminar at Seawork

scsfThe Small Craft Surveyors Forum annual conference at Seawork Exhibition in Southampton was held on board the “Ocean Scene” with the theme “Workboats and Surveyors”. Over 40 interested persons were on board to hear from the distinguished speakers: Richard Morris and Gary Venning on RNLI surveying their lifeboats by condition based maintenance (CBM); Jenny Vines from MCA giving an update on the Workboat Code; and Simon Mockler from DNV-GL on issues of design, propulsion and personnel transfer of offshore wind farm support vessels.

Lifeboats
The RNLI sphere of activity includes 236 lifeboats stations and 430 lifeboats. Traditionally lifeboat refits were calendar based with boats kept afloat having a refit every 3 years and for those Continue reading “Small Craft Surveyors Forum Seminar at Seawork”

RINA set to revise its rules for offshore cranes

RINA set to revise its rules for offshore cranes
RINA set to revise its rules for offshore cranes

Classification society RINA is launching revised rules for offshore cranes and new standards for cranes that will be used for trans-shipment of bulk cargoes at sea.

RINA’s revised rules for offshore cranes have been based on European Standard EN 13852, which takes a different approach to commonly used offshore crane standards, said to allow for a more structured approach to offshore crane certification.

“RINA believes that there is a need in the offshore industry for a clear standard for floating cranes and cranes built onto OSVs which is based on European requirements,” said Dino Cervetto, director, technical services, RINA Services.

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IMO to promote careers at sea as part of its Seafarer campaign

imo careers at seaThis year’s theme, A Career At Sea, aims to help address the predicted shortage of seafarers in the future by promoting and highlighting the positive benefits of choosing a career at sea.

In particular, the campaign will focus on encouraging young people to consider seafaring and other maritime professions when making choices concerning their careers or their further education.

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Nautical Institute and IIMS joint seminar at Seawork

DSC_1802The Nautical Institute and the International Institute of Marine Surveying jointly presented ‘The surveyor and the surveyed – on board interaction’ on MV Ocean Scene on 17th June 2015 at Seawork 2015, Southampton

A senior commercial shipping surveyor; a senior recently retired shipmaster and a senior small craft surveyor tackled the topic ‘The surveyor and the surveyed – on board interaction’. Each speaker was invited to address the attendees for about 10 to 15 minutes then the floor was opened up for open discussion.

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IIMS Australia workshop voted a great success

Capt Peter Lambert talks compass adjusting at the IIMS Australia workshop in Adelaide
Capt Peter Lambert talks compass adjusting at the IIMS Australia workshop in Adelaide

Nearly 60 delegates came together for the first IIMS Australia workshop in a while, which was held on 17/18 June at the Australian Fisheries & Maritime Academy at Port Adelaide.

Adam Brancher welcomed delegates to the event, which proved to be popular as the two day programme rolled out.

First to speak on day one was IIMS CEO, Mike Schwarz. In his presentation, Mike took the opportunity to showcase the many activities that the Institute is currently involved with and invited delegates to get involved. Russ Fraser then Continue reading “IIMS Australia workshop voted a great success”

Surveying large crewed yachts

Surveying large crewed yachts requires a different skill set to the norm argues Phil Duffy
Surveying large crewed yachts requires a different skill set to the norm argues Phil Duffy

Article by Phil Duffy MIIMS
Principal Surveyor at Interface Marine Yacht and Boat Surveyors France

The focus of this article is on the process and the logistics involved in surveying large crewed yachts, rather than on the practicalities of the survey. The areas of inspection are basically the same as on any pre purchase survey, albeit larger and with regard to machinery systems can be more technically involved, the time frame of course is much longer.

One question I often get asked is how to get the business, or how to make the jump from surveying small pleasure craft to larger vessels…. As always, the client will need to trust your ability to carry out the job, and for that you will need to prove your track record with references etc. It can be a chicken and egg situation, unless you have worked for one of the larger surveying companies or are able to assist on some large yacht surveys and gain an insight that way. In my case it was quite an easy transition, as during my career at sea I have held both Engineer and Captain Positions of large yachts.

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Helm Operations report pinpoints workboat and OSV safety shortcomings

Some 50% of crews working on offshore support vessels are willing to compromise safety rather than say ‘no’ to clients or senior management says a new report by Helm Operations
Some 50% of crews working on offshore support vessels are willing to compromise safety rather than say ‘no’ to clients or senior management says a new report by Helm Operations

In a shocking study by Helm Operations, some 50% of crews working on offshore support vessels are willing to compromise safety rather than say ‘no’ to clients or senior management, while nearly 80% believe commercial pressures could influence the safety of their working practices. These findings and more come from a new report on workboat and OSV safety commissioned by operations and maintenance management software specialist Helm Operations.

The chilling findings, released to coincide with this week’s International Maritime Organization Maritime Safety Committee meeting, come from a new report on workboat and OSV safety commissioned by operations and maintenance management software specialist Helm Operations.

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The Ian Millen Interview: Maritime surveillance and security

The Report Magazine went to interview Ian Millen, COO of Dryad Maritime, a specialist company providing a range of maritime security products and services that are essential in times of heightened security risks to keep seafarers safe. Dryad Maritime says it is a maritime operations company with a high grade intelligence capability. But what does this actually mean? Mike Schwarz went in search of some answers.

Q. Your company slogan interests me: ‘Dryad Maritime is a maritime operations company with a high grade intelligence capability’. What are the core services that you provide? I understand it is more comprehensive than just giving details of the threat of worldwide piracy attacks?

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Latest hydrofoil technology catamaran project

If built this catamaran will utilise the very latest thinking in hydrofoil technology
If built this catamaran will utilise the very latest thinking in hydrofoil technology

Longtime sailing enthusiast Tom Phillips from Orlando is looking to combine the best of both worlds: the speed and manoeuvrability of the latest hydrofoil technology along with the luxury of a 70-foot catamaran.

So far the new ‘foiling’ methods have only been used for small boats and they’ve worked extremely well. “The hydrofoil technology is available and we’re looking to bring it into the cruising world,” says Phillips. “We are seeking funding for the research, development and construction of a completely carbon fibre luxury cruising yacht that employs this foiling technology.

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Griffon Hoverwork BHT 150 fitted with Dometic air cooled system

Dometic Marine is behind the air cooled system fitted to the Griffon Hoverwork BHT 150, the largest hovercraft to be built in the UK since the 1970s
Dometic Marine is behind the air cooled system fitted to the Griffon Hoverwork BHT 150, the largest hovercraft to be built in the UK since the 1970s

Heating, ventilation and air conditioning specialists, Dometic Marine, have supplied a custom made air cooled system for the Griffon Hoverwork BHT 150 – the largest hovercraft to be manufactured in the UK since the 1970s.

The 30.8-metre craft, which was recently delivered to South Korea for use by the Korean Coast Guard, has been fitted with Dometic’s air-cooled DuraSea Condensing Units. According to the brand, the new unit is an optimal solution for hovercraft, which are vessels that can be difficult to cool with normal marine air-conditioning.

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Preparing the Clipper race fleet to sail

What does it take to prepare the Clipper race fleet and what goes on behind the scenes?
What does it take to prepare the Clipper race fleet and what goes on behind the scenes?

The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is the longest ocean race on the planet and is open to everyone. Now approaching its tenth anniversary edition, what does it take to complete the extreme challenge; and more importantly what are the refit and engineering challenges that go on behind the scenes to ensure the fleet is fit for purpose?

“There is nothing like the intensity of running along the top of a wave in the Southern Ocean and deciding to turn down the front of it into chaos. We ran on adrenaline for days on end.”

Round the world crew member and company director Peter Brumby, 50, left his job before the race, swapping it for the thrill of taking on Mother Nature’s toughest conditions for a year. Sailing through hurricanes, waves the size of several houses and facing threats of cyclones, pirates and icebergs were all part of life on board his team’s yacht Qingdao.

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