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MAIB Spring 2021 Safety Digest of accident reports

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MAIB Safety Digest 2021/1
MAIB Safety Digest 2021/1

The Spring 2021 Safety Digest has been published by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch. It features 25 case studies involving a range of vessels and accidents. The Safety Digest talks through each scenario and reveals the lessons that arise from each case.

Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents, Andrew Moll, writes in his welcome and introduction “I would like to start by thanking Fran Collins, David Fuller and Roger Brydges for writing the introductions to the merchant, fishing and leisure sections of this Digest. Their perspectives on maritime safety make compelling reading.

At the MAIB, we try to keep our safety messages fresh. Continue reading “MAIB Spring 2021 Safety Digest of accident reports”

Mediterranean Maritime Hub Malta: Oil and gas hub to be constructed in Malta

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Mediterranean Maritime Hub Malta: Oil and gas hub to be constructed in Malta
Mediterranean Maritime Hub Malta: Oil and gas hub to be constructed in Malta

The Mediterranean Maritime Hub Malta (MMH) is investing more than €20 million to turn Valletta into a hub for vessels from the maritime and oil and gas exploration sectors. Located in the far reaches of Valetta Harbour at Albert Town, the first investment of €8 million went towards the preparation of the site, with a large proportion dedicated to the dredging of the basin to a depth of 10.5 metres. This dredging successfully removed pollutants from the main dock and allowed the port to accommodate larger vessels from the offshore sectors, including supply and construction vessels as well as superyachts.

“Today, thanks to the collaborative work with Jan De Nul Group, Malta’s harbour can accommodate larger vessels Continue reading “Mediterranean Maritime Hub Malta: Oil and gas hub to be constructed in Malta”

New production facility as Oyster Yachts makes a significant investment

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New production facility as Oyster Yachts makes a significant investment
New production facility as Oyster Yachts makes a significant investment

Oyster Yachts is undertaking a considerable expansion programme by acquiring an additional 27,000 sq ft at the Hythe Marine Park, Southampton. The additional space will be used to create a state-of-the-art production facility for the new Oyster 495 yacht.

“With several Oyster 495s already sold, investment in this dedicated production facility fits seamlessly with our growth strategy,” says Oyster’s CEO Richard Hadida. “We have great plans for Hythe Marine Park, this location is already a centre of excellence for boat building, and it is the ideal location for our expansion of Oyster.”

Oyster Yachts is moving into the historic Grade II listed Continue reading “New production facility as Oyster Yachts makes a significant investment”

Safety warning about multiple cruise ship anchor failures

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Anchor failures - Image courtesy of the Financial Times
Anchor failures – Image courtesy of the Financial Times

In early 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic forced the international cruise industry into an unprecedented operational pause, resulting in many cruise ships anchoring off the UK south coast for long periods of time. The MAIB has been made aware of several marine incidents of anchor failures since October 2020 where cruise ship anchors or anchor cables have failed, often while trying to ride out named winter storms. One cruise ship lost both its anchors within a week.

The strength of anchoring equipment is defned by ship Classifcation Rules and it is intended for temporary mooring of a ship within a harbour or sheltered area. In good holding ground, the anchoring equipment should be able to hold the ship to a maximum wind strength of 48 knots in fast water, but this reduces to a maximum of 21 knots wind strength in seas with a signifcant wave height of 2m. Continue reading “Safety warning about multiple cruise ship anchor failures”

The Ever Given Suez Canal Incident

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Ever Given. Photo credit: Vesselfinder
Ever Given. Photo credit: Vesselfinder

I am minded to write this post for my blog on the very afternoon that the mega container ship, Ever Given, is freed from her unfortunate mooring, which has been her home for the best part of a week. The freak incident with the Ever Given, (causes unknown at this point), is yet another reminder of the perils of shipping and our reliance on it. And it has certainly hit the world news headlines big time, not surprisingly. Smit Boskalis, it seems, has done a remarkable job to free her. I know little of such intricate salvage situations, but clearly they handled it in such a way as to preserve the ship and her valuable cargo. Only time will tell, once inspected more fully, if there is hull damage. It serves as a reminder to the dangers and hazards of shipping, some of which cannot be envisaged until it is too late, which lurk around each corner.  I can only imagine the cost to marine insurers and vessel owners will run into many billions.

Continue reading “The Ever Given Suez Canal Incident”

Yanmar underway with field demo testing for hydrogen fuel cell

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Yanmar underway with field demo testing for hydrogen fuel cell
Yanmar underway with field demo testing for hydrogen fuel cell

With marine environmental regulations tightening worldwide, in December 2020 the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry formulated its ‘Green Growth Strategy towards 2050 Carbon Neutrality’. The strategy highlights the development of energy and power sources that reduce the impact on the environment, including those for vessels powered by carbon-free fuels such as hydrogen and ammonia. Looking towards the future of powertrain technology, Yanmar has developed a maritime fuel cell system that incorporates hydrogen fuel cell modules from Toyota’s MIRAI automobile. The system was installed into Yanmar’s EX38A FC pleasure boat for field testing. The boat Continue reading “Yanmar underway with field demo testing for hydrogen fuel cell”

Returned goods relief grace period post Brexit extended by six months

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Returned goods relief grace period post Brexit extended by six months
Returned goods relief grace period post Brexit extended by six months

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has announced a 6-month extension to the 1-year grace period previously put in place by the government for returned goods relief. The announcement follows representations from the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) and British Marine asking for a 3-year transition period. The organisations say the 1-year period of grace effective from 1 January 2021, in respect of the three-year condition for RGR, was not sufficient as many factors affect the repatriation of vessels, including travel restrictions, the Schengen area immigration restrictions, insurance restrictions and the length of sailing season.

The new announcement extends the grace period for RGR until 30 June 2022 for all goods including recreational craft, regardless of when Continue reading “Returned goods relief grace period post Brexit extended by six months”

Cruising Association: New survey suggests four out of five are set to quit long-term cruising in EU waters

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Cruising Association new report. Image credit: Gordon Knight/EIWS/CA
Cruising Association new report. Image credit: Gordon Knight/EIWS/CA

A survey carried out amongst Cruising Association (CA) members who keep their boats on the rivers and canals of Schengen countries has revealed that 80% of British owners are likely to sell their boats and give up cruising altogether, or move their base to a non-Schengen country.

Overall figures for coastal cruising boat owners are expected to be broadly similar although with more sailing out of Schengen waters to other cruising grounds.

The failure of the UK government to negotiate a fair deal with the EU means that UK citizens can now only visit Schengen countries for 90 Continue reading “Cruising Association: New survey suggests four out of five are set to quit long-term cruising in EU waters”

Flooding of towing vessel caused by a lack of monitoring

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Flooding of towing vessel caused by a lack of monitoring
Flooding of towing vessel caused by a lack of monitoring

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has published an investigation report on the flooding of the towing vessel ‘Alton St Amant’ while moored in the Harvey Canal in New Orleans. The incident resulted in an oil discharge into the water. The investigation identified lack of pre-inspection and monitoring procedures for water transfer as a key cause of the incident.

On May 17, 2020, about 0530 local time, a shipyard worker reported that the towing vessel Alton St Amant was partially submerged while moored at a shipyard in the Harvey Canal in New Orleans, Louisiana. There were no crew members or shipyard workers aboard the vessel. Approximately five gallons of diesel fuel were released into the water. Damage to the vessel was estimated at $1.5 million. No injuries were reported. Continue reading “Flooding of towing vessel caused by a lack of monitoring”

Colregs violation that caused three deaths result in prison sentence for skipper

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Colregs violation that caused three deaths result in prison sentence for skipper
Colregs violation that caused three deaths result in prison sentence for skipper

A commercial vessel’s skipper has been convicted after passing too close to a small motor boat off the coast of Sussex, UK capsizing it and leaving three men dead as a result – a result of violation of colregs. David Marr was in charge of the fishing vessel Vertrouwen just after midnight on 6 August 2017, when it passed extremely close to the James 2, a smaller leisure fishing craft which was swamped and sank. Only one of the four men on board survived, after being picked up from the water five hours after the boat sank. The other three men all drowned. Marr was jailed for one year at Lewes Crown Court on 12 March.

The only survivor told Lewes Crown Court that they saw the Vertrouwen from about a kilometre away and all four men had been signalling “like mad” before the collision. Despite this, the Vertrouwen carried on in the same direction at the same speed and the James 2 was Continue reading “Colregs violation that caused three deaths result in prison sentence for skipper”

Case study following explosions onboard after cargo fumigation

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Swedish Club case study following multiple explosions onboard after cargo fumigation
Swedish Club case study following multiple explosions onboard after cargo fumigation

As part of its recently launched casebook series giving safety lessons learned from maritime incidents, the Swedish Club describes a case of multiple explosions onboard a bulk carrier caused by cargo fumigation. A bulk carrier had loaded yellow corn in all cargo holds up to the hatch coamings. After the loading was complete fumigation technicians came onboard and fumigated the cargo with fumitoxin pellets. As per the cargo documentation, the fumigation pellets were required to be applied subsurface.

In this instance, the technicians poured the pellets from flasks while walking on the hatch coamings or hatch covers. This work took a little more than an hour and, afterwards, all the cargo hatches were closed and the vessel sailed. A couple of hours later, an explosion occurred Continue reading “Case study following explosions onboard after cargo fumigation”

RYA licensing arrangement in Spanish waters after Brexit

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The Spanish flag being flown on a vessel at seaSince Brexit there have been a few individuals who have been working almost non-stop to find solutions and trying to prevent incorrect facts being reported in the news and on social media platforms. The last few days have seen some news articles published in Mallorca that have been fundamentally incorrect and inaccurate and many boat owners in the Balearics are receiving mixed and confusing messages over RYA licensing arrangement and what they can and cannot do.

These are the facts as confirmed by multiple legal opinions:
Why has the acceptance of RYA Licensing arrangement in Spain changed?
From the 1st of January 2021, as a result of Brexit, the Spanish ceased to accept all RYA and ICC [international Certificates of Competence] on any Spanish flagged vessels. This prevented anyone with RYA/ICC Certification from operating on a Spanish flagged vessel. Continue reading “RYA licensing arrangement in Spanish waters after Brexit”

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