News Hound

The world’s largest ever cruise ship, Harmony of the Seas, starts sea trials

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Harmony of the Seas, cruise ship
Harmony of the Seas, cruise ship

Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas has undergone her first set sea trials, which took place 10-13 March 2016.

The world’s largest cruise ever built set sail from the STX France Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. STX France indicated this first sea trial is devoted mainly to test her electric power plant and propulsion system, as well as maneuverability tests.

There are believed to be 500 people onboard Harmony of the Seas, including crew members, STX test teams, suppliers and Royal Caribbean’s customer monitoring team. Also onboard are engineers and technicians and representatives from the classification society DNV GL.

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Electrical safety: An evaluation of electrical hazards

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A series of electrical hazards
A series of electrical hazards

In its latest Safety Bulletin, published in March 2016, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) tackles the issue of electrical hazards full on. Although aimed at those working onboard in an electrical capacity, it serves as a timely reminder of the potential electrical hazards a surveyor may be faced with too.

Electrical hazards can lead to deaths and injuries such as shocks and burns. They can also lead to shipboard fires, explosions and the disabling (through blackouts) of essential equipment and services on board which can compromise safety. Ensuring that the right controls and mitigation measures are in place is critical for maintaining safe operations. To be effective, control measures need to be developed at the organisational, technical and individual levels.

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Engine crankshaft deflection measurement

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Understanding engine crankshaft deflection measurement will aid a diagnostic engineer
Understanding engine crankshaft deflection measurement will aid a diagnostic engineer

At some time in his career the Diagnostic Engineer may well have to examine the running of a compression ignition engine. Many of the defects that occur on such units are down to wear in the main bearings causing the crankshaft to change its longitudinal straightness. Usually the first diagnostic test on such an engine is to take a series of measurements between the crank webs at various points round the circle of rotation called somewhat in correctly crankshaft deflections. If a driving engine is of the compression ignition type with a cylinder bore above about 250 mm (10 inches), it is also necessary to consider the alignment of its crankshaft. Below that size, the overall stiffness and small size of the unit and the fact that the crankshaft itself is an integral forging make the measurement of crankshaft deflections both extremely difficult and unnecessary.

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Updated third generation silicone fouling release coatings

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Multiple devices showing the Hempel app
Multiple devices showing the Hempel app

Feature article prepared by the Research & Development Department, Hempel A/S, February 2016 (Original paper published in 2008)

Traditional fouling release coatings consist of a silicone elastomer (PDMS) and rely on a low surface tension (hydrophobic) and a low modulus of elasticity, usually with a good initial foul free performance. With time, the coatings ability to self-clean is lowered, which results in a higher hull skin friction. The invention behind the 3rd generation fouling release coatings is a unique blend of silicone polymers that has and maintains a more hydrophilic surface, with fouling release performance that lasts. The foul free period is longer, and required speed for self-cleaning is lower. This results in a lower hull skin friction over time with potentially lower fuel consumption.

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An approach to a modern sailboat lightning protection system

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When lightning strikes, and it does, having a lightning protection system can save your life
When lightning strikes, and it does, having a lightning protection system can save your life

We were lucky when we were struck by lightning on our small 35’ GRP cruising sailing boat in Turkey in 2013, but without an LPS. All the plastic and some of the metal gear at the top of the mast exploded (see photo below) and simultaneously the headlining in the saloon exploded downwards with a loud bang. So much smoke that we initially thought we were on fire; but my wife and I survived unscathed to tell the tale.

The most likely discharge exit was through the propeller shaft, but practically all electronics were violently destroyed and, as an electrical and electronic engineer, my assessment for our insurance claim afterwards showed that most devices had experienced severe arcing with small electronic components having exploded internally (see photo below).

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Machinery, what is the underwriter’s problem?

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A ships systems
A ships systems

We are haemorrhaging money! Machinery is the biggest cost in terms of overall claims amount that insurers pay. Machinery incidents amount to over 40% of the overall claims paid by underwriters. To give some background, insurers cover the cost of replacing machinery which has broken as a result of negligence by the crew providing such loss or damage has not resulted from want of due diligence by the
insured, owners or managers. This is very wide coverage and effectively acts as warranty insurance for the machinery. Obviously it is open to abuse and insurers trust the owners to be open and honest when presenting a claim for machinery damage.

I have been in the insurance industry for over 30 years and have benefited from the Braemar’s, previously the Salvage Association, monthly reports. The top four causes of casualty are always machinery, grounding, fire and collision in that order. This is also backed up by the International Union of Marine Insurers (IUMI), where the data is kindly provided by Lloyd’s List Intelligence.

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Best practices for RO/RO vehicle deck fire safety released

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interferry logo
interferry logo

In response to a string of major incidents, trade association Interferry has produced operational best practice guidance for fire safety on RO/RO ship vehicle deck.

The guidance is based on input from a questionnaire sent to association members last year following at least seven serious fire incidents on ROpax ferries in Europe since 2010. The two most recent incidents resulted in fatalities and total loss of the ships, prompting the initiative by Interferry’s Operators Policy Committee to identify and publicize a common set of best practice mitigating actions.

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Maersk Tankers completes first drone delivery at sea

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Drone flying around a tanker ship
Drone flying around a tanker ship

Now on the face of it, this could be regarded as a rather frivolous news story – the delivery of a tin of cookie biscuits to the tanker Maersk Edgar at sea. But as you read the story, the potential ramifications for the future become clear.

The first drone delivery to a vessel at sea has been successfully completed by Maersk Tankers, heralding a big cost and time-saving potential for vessels.

The delivery, which took place near Kalundborg in Denmark and was a test, demonstrated how using drones to deliver urgent parcels to vessels and conduct inspections has huge potential for Maersk Tankers. Further tests will now follow before the new drones can become a part of the supply chain for Maersk Tankers’ vessels.

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The next generation of superyachts unveiled by Mathis Ruhl Architecture Navale

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The breathtaking new superyacht concept from Mathis Ruhl Architecture Navale
The breathtaking new superyacht concept from Mathis Ruhl Architecture Navale

Mathis Ruhl Architecture Navale has unveiled its concept for the exciting, next generation of superyachts.

Measuring 77 metres in length, the latest sailing superyacht concept from Mathis Ruhl Architecture Navale is the R77. She has been designed with a very specific design brief: to create a vessel able to sail both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans by means of passing through the Panama Canal, a passage that most large sailing yachts are sometimes limited with due to the 62.5 metre air draft limit placing restrictions on rig height.

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New DNV GL Class notation announced: Scrubber Ready

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Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen (Photo: DNV GL)
Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen (Photo: DNV GL)

A new class notation from DNV GL aims to help shipowners prepare newbuilds for scrubber installations. Scrubber Ready ensures that the necessary preparations are in place for a smooth and cost-efficient scrubber retrofit at a later stage, the classification society said.

“There is no doubt that stricter emissions regulations for sulphur oxides are here to stay,” said Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, CEO at DNV GL – Maritime. “This new Scrubber Ready Class notation gives shipowners the flexibility to minimize their initial investment when ordering a newbuilding, while at the same time having the confidence that their vessels are already on the track to easy compliance with incoming emissions regulations.”

“Ship managers have to factor in many considerations when planning for a potential future scrubber installation, from space and stability requirements, to fire safety, piping, corrosion resistance and the effect on the main engine,” said Hans Jacob Horgen, responsible engineer at DNV GL for exhaust gas cleaning rules. “It is very important to have an overview of the design and an understanding of how the system will interact with the engines and auxiliary Continue reading “New DNV GL Class notation announced: Scrubber Ready”

Lake District National Park Authority decides not to adopt BSS

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Lake District Dock
Lake District Dock

At a recent meeting of the Lake District National Park Authority, it was decided not to adopt the Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) following the Marine Accident Investigation Board’s (MAIB) recommendation, as the scheme is not an effective comprehensive method of addressing the important issue of boat safety.

A media statement released said;
While we support many of the scheme’s initiatives, these alone would not necessarily ensure public safety. Our reasons for not adopting the Boat Safety Scheme include:
• The BSS inspection is not a full condition survey and does not provide a fit for purpose evaluation
• It is not a mandatory condition to install a carbon monoxide or smoke detector on-board a boat under the BSS scheme
• The BSS inspection is only conducted every four years. This would not necessarily ensure safety of users
• For the BSS to be adopted it requires byelaw changes. Byelaws are designed to address local issues and must not attempt to address issues that are of national concern.

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Contract awarded for the first phase rebuild of the Maid of the Loch

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The march to rebuild the Maid of the Loch is finally underway
The march to rebuild the Maid of the Loch is finally underway

The first contract to be awarded in the £5.5 million project to rebuild the Loch Lomond Scotland) Paddle Steamer, the Maid of the Loch, has been signed. The contract ahead of the actual rebuild has been awarded to OSD-IMT Ltd, of Dundee, and is for marine consultancy services. OSD will provide the necessary naval architecture, engineering, structure, and outfitting expertise to produce all the required calculations, drawings, and designs to ensure that the rebuild meets all regulatory requirements.

John Beveridge, founder of the Loch Lomond Steamship Company, the charitable trust that owns the Maid of the Loch, said, “This is a landmark event for us. It is almost exactly 20 years since the charity took ownership of the Maid of the Loch, and we are now able to start work on returning this unique ship back into steam operating condition. It is hugely exciting for everyone and our thanks for all the wonderful support we have had. This is a major investment for Loch Lomond”.

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