Munkebo Maersk becomes the biggest ship to sail the Thames
The 399 metre long Munkebo Maersk, which weighs in at 195,000 tonnes and is 60 metre wide became the largest vessel ever to sail up the Thames. The Munkebo Maersk is one of the largest container vessels in the world. She was helped into port by pilots from the Port of London Authority.
Munkebo Maersk can carry 18,300 x 20 foot containers.
Simon Moore, chief executive of DP World London Gateway, said: “This is yet another record and landmark moment for DP World London Gateway.
Scottish Minister, Richard Lochhead, calls for funding for emergency towing vehicles to be extended
The provision for Emergency Towing Vehicles should be reviewed immediately and extended beyond March 2016, Richard Lochhead said during the recent national marine plan debate as he calls UK Government to extend funding for emergency towing vehicles. This call comes as a result of the recent sinking of the Cemfjord and the grounding of a large cargo ship Lysblink Seaways at Ardnamurchan Point.
The UK Government must reassure maritime industries that emergency tug provision is available across Scotland’s waters including the Western Isles and the west coast of Scotland. Marine industries bring approximately £18 billion into the Scottish economy and there must be adequate provision to protect these interests and the marine environment itself. The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that the development of Scotland’s seas stay within environmental limits, which is why we have developed this plan. The plan outlines the Government’s vision for the sustainable development and use of the marine environment. It provides clarity and flexibility to developers and decision makers on Scotland’s priorities for sustainable use of the sea.
On the 28-29 January, Cordstrap, the global leader in the protection of cargo in transit, hosted a two day seminar which focused on sharing knowledge and experience of one-way cargo securing systems.
The gathering was held at the Cordstrap Training Center in Oostrum, The Netherlands, with an audience of 21 British and Italian marine surveyors, cargo supervisors and port managers, some of whom are IIMS members. The focus was safety; the most important common concern of all parties present.
This skilled and experienced audience take the responsibility of protecting their personnel, colleagues in the logistics chain – and beyond that their cargo itself and the environment – very seriously.
According to The Swedish Club, half of the costs of hull and machinery claims handled by the Club have arisen due to navigational claims such as collisions, contacts or groundings – a figure that has remained steady over recent years despite improved technology and the widespread implementation of Safety Management Systems. In short, The Swedish Club says poor procedures means no let up in navigational claims.
The Swedish Club, in its latest Loss Prevention publication, Navigational Claims, has revealed a number of interesting findings relating to claims made for hull and machinery damage between 2004–2013.
Marine vessels are a significant source of greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions, including CO2, NOX, SOX, particulate matter, and black carbon, which impact local air quality, human health, and the global climate. Since the record low Arctic sea ice extent recorded in September 2012, policy attention has increasingly focused on strategies for addressing shipping activity in the Arctic and the associated environmental impacts.
Built by Oceanco, INFINITY is the first superyacht to be delivered in 2015
The new 89 metre INFINITY is the superyacht industry’s first delivery in 2015 – constructed by Oceanco. Built under the project name Y710, this magnificent yacht boasts a commanding exterior design by Espen Øino and an exceptional interior design by Sinot Exclusive Yacht Design and David Kleinberg Design Associates. Continue reading “Oceanco Delivers the first superyacht of 2015 – INFINITY”
The Missing Seafarers Reporting Programme is live and open for business
The Missing Seafarers Reporting Programme is the flagship programme delivered to the international and maritime communities by the Human Rights at Sea (“HRAS”) organisation. It is a privately funded programme delivered through the generosity of international donors having been conceived by the HRAS Founder in September 2013.
The vision is to primarily support seafarers, fishermen and their families by the registration of seafarers and fishermen missing at sea through a secure, independent and international on-line platform. That platform is known as the Missing Seafarers Register.
Issue 8 of The Navigator magazine by the Nautical Institute is available to read now.
Communicating effectively on the bridge, between ships or to the shore is the topic under discussion in the eighth issue of The Navigator – the free publication from The Nautical Institute. The 12-page magazine, aimed at marine navigational officers at all stages in their career, is now being distributed to SOLAS vessels around the world. This issue puts communications under the spotlight in issue 8 of The Navigator
Editor of The Navigator, Emma Ward, said: “Miscommunication or the use of poor information is a leading cause of accidents at sea. In this issue of The Navigator, we aim to encourage readers to adopt effective communication techniques onboard ship. We also want to open a discussion about best practices across the industry.”
The new issue looks at the importance of different methods of communications at sea and examines the difference between data and information. There is an interview with a serving third officer and a brand new letters page offering insight into a number of maritime issues from members of the magazine’s readership.
Dublin Port Company has officially opened its newly completed Alexandra Quay Container Terminal
The opening marks the completion of the third and final phase of the development of the new facility. This third phase will enable the terminal to cater for an additional 80,000 TEUs (twenty foot equivalent units) per annum bringing the terminal’s total capacity to over 400,000 TEU per annum.
The initial two phases of the project created new runways for three rows of rubber tyred gantry cranes (RTGs), a type of large mobile crane used for stacking shipping containers. The third and final phase added a fourth runway for RTGs and deepened and strengthened the quay wall to allow bigger container ships to be loaded and discharged with modern high speed ship-to-shore gantry cranes.
The MAIB has published its report and findings about two fatalities aboard the Arniston. Photo credit: Dave Nelson
The MAIB has published its report and findings on the investigation of the two fatalities due to carbon monoxide poisoning on board the Bayliner 285 named Arniston on Lake Windermere on 1 April 2013.
This tragic case, which could have easily been avoided, involved a mother and her daughter who were overcome by fumes from a portable generator, which had been installed in the engine bay. It had been modified by the addition of an exhaust which subsequently failed allowing the small sleeping area to fill with lethal carbon monoxide.
South Asia still the preferred end of life location says NGO Shipbreaking Platform. Photo: NGO Shipbreaking Platform
The NGO Shipbreaking Platform has released a complete list of all ship owners and their ships sold for breaking last year and list shows that South Asia still the preferred end of life location.
The Statistics
Out of a total of 1026 ships dismantled globally in 2014, 641 – representing 74% of the total gross tonnage (GT) scrapped – were sold to substandard facilities in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh where ships are dismantled directly on tidal beaches. None of the South Asian yards comply with international standards for safe and environmentally sound ship recycling.
End-of-life ships contain toxic materials such as asbestos, heavy metals, PCBs, oil residues and organic waste within their structures – these pollutants can not be contained or safely removed on a tidal beach. The demolition of the largest movable man-made structures is hazardous and must be conducted in a controlled manner using adequate infrastructure such as cranes as well as necessary health and safety provisions – in 2014 the Platform reported 23 deaths and 66 severe injuries due to accidents such as explosions, workers crushed under steel plates and falling from heights on the South Asian beaches.
The righted Hoegh Osaka car transporter ship finally under tow back to Southampton Docks. Photo: Mick Hopley
The rather dramatic grounding of the large car carrier Hoegh Osaka on the 3rd January raised the spectacle of first, how did it happen and second, how would it be removed.
As I write this article the salvors, Svitzer, have successfully brought the ship into Southampton.
The ship sailed from Southampton at about 2020 hours on the 3rd January. It has been reported that soon after leaving the berth she developed an alarming list. The Master and pilot became extremely concerned and just after passing the notorious Bramble Bank located between the mouth of Southampton water and Cowes on the Isle of Wight a Continue reading “Thoughts on the salvage operation of Hoegh Osaka”
