Author: News Hound

RRS Sir David Attenborough polar research ship launched

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The UK’s polar research ship RRS Sir David Attenborough was launched into the River Mersey, Birkenhead on Saturday July 14.

Once in the river, tugs towed the 129-meter (423-foot) 10,000 ton hull to Cammell Laird’s wet basin for the next stages of construction. The polar research ship is scheduled to commence operation in 2019.

More than 3,000 shipyard workers, engineers, scientists and maritime industry experts gathered with special guest speakers, including world-renowned broadcaster Sir David Attenborough, to celebrate.

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UK Government publishes Maritime Annual Report 2018

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Parliamentary Under Secretary for Transport and Minister for Maritime, Nusrat Ghani MP, has written this foreword to the recently published Maritime Annual Report 2018.

The UK sits in the front rank of global maritime nations. Since my appointment as Minister for Maritime, I have experienced at first hand the full range and impact of the UK’s maritime sector. I am proud that we have one of the most vibrant and competitive maritime sectors in the world.

Over the past year, the Government has signalled its intention to be more ambitious in both leading and supporting the maritime sector. Continue reading “UK Government publishes Maritime Annual Report 2018”

The importance of kill cords reiterated by UK Coastguard following an incident

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The UK Coastguard has issued kill cord safety advice following a recent incident when two men were thrown from their speedboat in the afternoon of 12 July off the coast of Kent. The kill cord is designed to ‘kill’ a boat engine in case the driver goes overboard.

At around 2.25pm on 12 July, HM Coastguard received a number of 999 calls reporting that two men had been thrown from a speedboat, which then continued unmanned until it crashed into the sea wall at Minnis Bay Margate. The two men were rescued by the RNLI Lifeguards.

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Electrical fault caused the fire on Best Revenge 5 says NTSB report

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Image credit: Sailing Directions
Image credit: Sailing Directions

The NTSB has issued its investigation report on the fire onboard sailing boat ‘Best Revenge 5’, while it was docked at a marina pier at Inner Harbor in Falmouth, Massachusetts, in July 2017.

At about 0130 on 11 July 2017, the ‘Best Revenge 5’ caught fire while docked at a marina pier in Falmouth Inner Harbor. The vessel’s two crew members escaped the burning vessel and attempted to fight the fire but could not contain it. Local firefighters later extinguished it.

One crew member sustained second and third degree burns to the arms, hands, and feet. An oil sheen was observed in the immediate Continue reading “Electrical fault caused the fire on Best Revenge 5 says NTSB report”

Australian Government extends Domestic Commercial Vessel scheme levy-free period in surprise move

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In an unexpected turn in the face of severe criticism from the local surveying profession and others associated with the maritime industry, the Australian Government government has announced an additional AUS$10 million in funding to support the launch of the National System for Domestic Commercial Vessel Safety (National System). The scheme, administered by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), officially started on 1 July.

Last year, in response to an industry backlash over new fees and charges associated with the National System, the government promised AUS$102 million in funding over ten years and announced that no levies would be charged during the first year of the scheme’s operation.

Continue reading “Australian Government extends Domestic Commercial Vessel scheme levy-free period in surprise move”

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