News Hound

Australian Transport Safety Bureau chooses Rembrandt manoeuvring simulator software

Posted on by News Hound
Australian Transport Safety Bureau chooses Rembrandt manoeuvring simulator software
Australian Transport Safety Bureau chooses Rembrandt manoeuvring simulator software

BMT has announced that the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, Australia’s national transport safety investigator, has purchased a licence for its navigation and manoeuvring simulator, Rembrandt.

This follows on from other recent adopters including the UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch and the Dutch Safety Board.

Phil Thompson, Managing Director at BMT commented: “We are seeing growing momentum and awareness within statutory bodies worldwide in the value of digital evidence generation. Key capabilities of Rembrandt include its ability to automatically read VDR and AIS to deliver a high-fidelity reconstruction. More recent developments include the ability to take full control at any time within the reconstruction replay to explore a range of alternative “what if” scenarios – a key enabler for forensic analysis and reflective learning.”

Rembrandt is Continue reading “Australian Transport Safety Bureau chooses Rembrandt manoeuvring simulator software”

New guidance on firefighting equipment standards

Posted on by News Hound
New guidance on firefighting equipment standards
New guidance on firefighting equipment standards

The US Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance has published a new document entitled “Guidance on Implementation of New Standards for Fire Protection, Detection, and Extinguishing Equipment.”

This guidance covers changes to the regulatory requirements for fire protection, detection, and extinguishing equipment used on inspected and uninspected vessels, Outer Continental Shelf facilities, deepwater ports and mobile offshore drilling units.

The policy documentation points to changes after the US Coast Guard’s 2016 “Harmonization of Standards for Fire Protection, Detection, and Extinguishing Equipment” rulemaking.

This change affects all inspected and uninspected vessels. The most immediate change relates to portable and semi-portable fire extinguishers. Additionally, Continue reading “New guidance on firefighting equipment standards”

Lessons Learned from El Faro on main propulsion published by USCG

Posted on by News Hound
Lessons Learned from El Faro on main propulsion published by USCG
Lessons Learned from El Faro on main propulsion published by USCG

The US Coast Guard has published a safety alert to inform operators and other interested parties of the role that the main propulsion lube oil system was found to have played in the El Faro incident. They have recommended that operators, especially ships’ engineers, review the operational procedures and limitations of vital propulsion machinery and verify compliance with SOLAS, Classification Societies and regulatory standards.

The El Faro sank along with its 33 crew onboard in October 2015, marking one of the worst maritime disasters in US history. The USCG official report on the sinking of the El Faro revealed that loss of propulsion during heavy weather was contributing to the sinking. The exact operational status of all vital El Faro engineering equipment prior to the casualty could not be determined, but bridge audio recordings indicate that the vessel lost lube oil pressure to the main propulsion turbine and reduction gear bearings, resulting in loss of propulsion.

Continue reading “Lessons Learned from El Faro on main propulsion published by USCG”

Trimble launches marine positioning GNSS receiver

Posted on by News Hound
Trimble launches marine positioning GNSS receiver
Trimble launches marine positioning GNSS receiver

Trimble has announced the MPS865 marine positioning system multi-frequency and multi-application GNSS receiver.

The Trimble MPS865 is a versatile and rugged GNSS positioning and heading solution for a wide variety of real-time and post-processing applications for marine survey.

It features integrated communications options such as Wi-Fi, UHF radio, cellular modem for internet connectivity, Bluetooth and MSS satellite-based correction channels.

The patented GNSS-centric technology uses all available GNSS signals to deliver reliable positions in real time. The GNSS receiver provides for the connection of two GNSS antennas for precise heading.

With a modular form factor, the MPS865 is flexible and can be used as an integrated on-board rover receiver, a base station, or a continuously operating reference station. The built-in precise heading feature ensures the receiver is of minimal size, consumes less power, and has less cabling which are all benefits when on-board space it at a premium.

The MPS865 adds new features to improve usability in a Continue reading “Trimble launches marine positioning GNSS receiver”

ABS launches digital e-certificates

Posted on by News Hound
ABS launches digital e-certificates
ABS launches digital e-certificates

ABS launches e-Certificates. Continuously available, tamper-proof, independently verifiable and secure digital equivalents of traditional ABS paper certificates, e-Certificates are now available to ABS’ entire classed-fleet, subject to individual Flag Administrations’ authorisation. Traditional paper certificates are always still available.

“E-Certificates are the latest product from ABS’ FutureClassTM program. Defining the future of class focuses on the utilization of data and digital technology to deliver benefits for our clients,” said ABS Chairman, President and CEO, Christopher J. Wiernicki. “ABS’ e-Certificates are a perfect example of how we strive to add value and operating efficiencies for our customers.”

Uniquely, ABS’ e-Certificate system allows a simultaneous, vessel-wide view of all applicable certificates, rather than requiring the user to look up each certificate individually.

Fully compliant with IMO Guidelines, ABS e-Certificates will reduce Continue reading “ABS launches digital e-certificates”

OCIMF releases new information paper about the preparation of a safety management system

Posted on by News Hound
OCIMF releases new information paper about the preparation of a safety management system
OCIMF releases new information paper about the preparation of a safety management system

Addressing the need for clear and consistently applied definitions of ‘critical spares’ and ‘critical equipment’ across the industry, this information paper provides guidance on the identification of safety critical spare parts for companies to consider when preparing a Safety Management System (SMS).

The paper, released on 29 March 2018, introduces some boundary conditions to consider and walks through several steps that may be required to identify safety critical spare parts. It is equally applicable to companies managing any type of vessel.

“The identification of safety critical equipment and the need for safety critical spare parts is a complicated subject”, says OCIMF Director Andrew Cassels. “This paper provides guidance on the challenges that may be encountered when considering safety critical spare parts so that a ship owner can strive to efficiently manage their risks.”

Continue reading “OCIMF releases new information paper about the preparation of a safety management system”

Wärtsilä Aquarius EC Ballast Water Management System submitted for USCG Type Approval

Posted on by News Hound
The Wärtsilä Aquarius Electro-Chlorination BWMS is now expected to receive USCG Type Approval.
The Wärtsilä Aquarius Electro-Chlorination BWMS is now expected to receive USCG Type Approval.

Wärtsilä has submitted its Aquarius Electro-Chlorination (EC) Ballast Water Management System (BWMS) for US Coast Guard (USCG) Type Approval (TA) after successfully completing all the testing procedures required.

Wärtsilä received type approval from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 2013 for the Electro-Chlorination system and the same successful design was used for the USCG application. This current testing has again proven the consistent performance of the Wärtsilä solution, and demonstrates the high reliability, robustness and effectiveness of the system.

“Achieving this significant USCG testing milestone is a major step forward for the product. It provides customers with further assurance that this system efficiently addresses ballast water treatment compliance needs, with a reliable product and a partner committed to long-term global support,” says Joe Thomas, Director, Ballast Water Management Systems at Wärtsilä.

The Wärtsilä Aquarius EC BWMS utilises Continue reading “Wärtsilä Aquarius EC Ballast Water Management System submitted for USCG Type Approval”

Surveying Sails by Ian Nicolson handy guide released for publication

Posted on by News Hound

IIMS Surveying Sails guideWhat a Marine Surveyor Needs to Know About Surveying Sails by Ian Nicolson has been published.

Author, Ian Nicolson, was a doughty pioneer in the field of ocean cruising in his early years. He emigrated by sail in 1952 to Vancouver, Canada. He returned to Britain by hitchhiking across Canada and building himself a small wooden yacht cruiser near Halifax, which he sailed home singlehanded across the Atlantic in 1954. He continues to sail regularly.

Having written more than 20 books and many articles on design, construction, operation and handling of small marine craft, Ian is perfectly placed to apply his knowledge and experience to the subject of sail surveying. The aim of the Surveying Sails handy guide is to give a comprehensive overview of the skills and knowledge required by a marine surveyor to satisfactorily undertake this important task.

Continue reading “Surveying Sails by Ian Nicolson handy guide released for publication”

IMCA and OCIMF team up to improve OVID inspection system

Posted on by News Hound

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) and the Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) have agreed to establish a joint committee to review, share and progress developments of the Offshore Vessel Inspection Database (OVID) inspection system.

The aim of the OVID Inspection system will be to improve the efficiency of the vessel assurance process by pooling the knowledge and expertise of oil companies and their marine contractors, while at the same time maintaining the highest standards of vessel assurance and risk management.

The joint committee will discuss and review various elements of the system on an ongoing basis, to ensure continuous improvement. Elements to be reviewed include:

– the Offshore Vessel Particulars Questionnaire (OVPQ),
– the Offshore Vessel Inspection Questionnaire (OVIQ) and
– the Offshore Vessel Management and Self Assessment (OVMSA).

Continue reading “IMCA and OCIMF team up to improve OVID inspection system”

Britain’s oldest boat builder confirms its intention to stop building boats

Posted on by News Hound

Britain’s oldest boat builder, dating back to 1898, Broom, is to discontinue boatbuilding and instead restructure its operations into a leading leisure operator on the Southern Norfolk Broads.

The move follows low customer demand, overseas competition and rising costs explained group sales manager Greg Houlston, all of which have changed the marketplace significantly.

“This has led to a strategic decision to focus on the growing leisure part of their operations and to discontinue boat building,” he said.

Continue reading “Britain’s oldest boat builder confirms its intention to stop building boats”

Oyster is snapped up by Richard Hadida Yachting

Posted on by News Hound
Richard Hadida Yachting is confirmed as the new owners of Oyster
Richard Hadida Yachting is confirmed as the new owners of Oyster

UK software entrepreneur Richard Hadida has been confirmed as the new owner of Oyster. The deal – brokered by administrators KPMG – covers the assets and business of Oyster Marine Ltd and the assets of Oyster Marine Holdings Ltd, including its shareholdings in companies within the Oyster Group

The sale, to a new company, Richard Hadida Yachting, will secure the employment of the retained staff at Oyster’s Southampton and Wroxham sites.

Mr Hadida has sailed an Oyster yacht for several years and says he has fallen in love with the yachts themselves, the events and the Oyster Continue reading “Oyster is snapped up by Richard Hadida Yachting”

ISO 12944 revision

Posted on by News Hound
ISO 12944 revision (Picture credit: http://www.hempel.com)
ISO 12944 revision (Picture credit: http://www.hempel.com)

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has now published the revised ISO 12944 standard.

ISO 12944 is one of the main international standards for corrosion protection of steel by paint. The revision will impact all existing parts of the standard and include a new addition – Part 9 – dedicated solely to offshore structures. Continue reading “ISO 12944 revision”

Instagram Posts from the IIMS @iimsmarine

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

Show details
Performance & Marketing Cookies

This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages. This also helps us optimise our marketing campaigns. User data sent to Google Analytics may be used for ad personalization and measurement of our ad campaigns. Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.

Show details
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance