IIMS News

BMA to conduct inspection & maintenance of firefighting installation

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BMA gives instructions for the inspection, maintenance, testing and survey for firefighting installation
BMA gives instructions for the inspection, maintenance, testing and survey for firefighting installation

The Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) provided instructions for the inspection, maintenance, testing and survey requirements for firefighting installations and portable fire extinguishers.

All inspection, maintenance, testing and survey have to take the relevant manufacturer’s guidelines into account. However, certain maintenance procedures and inspections can be performed by competent crewmembers, while others should be performed only by persons specially trained in the maintenance of such systems.

Continue reading “BMA to conduct inspection & maintenance of firefighting installation”

MCA launches consultation on entry into enclosed space regulations on ships

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MCA launches consultation on entry into enclosed space regulations on ships
MCA launches consultation on entry into enclosed space regulations on ships

This consultation from MCA seeks your views on the proposed merchant shipping and fishing vessels entry into enclosed space regulations 2021, which would replace the merchant shipping (entry into dangerous spaces) regulations 1988. The proposed enclosed space regulations incorporate safety of life at sea (SOLAS) amendments, as outlined within section 2 of the consultation document.

Your views are sought on:
– implementation of SOLAS amendments into UK legislation;
– extending to vessels not currently regulated by SOLAS, and;
extending to fishing vessels

Please note the list of exemptions to the proposed regulations, contained within the consultation document page 25 (proposed regulation 10 exemptions). Continue reading “MCA launches consultation on entry into enclosed space regulations on ships”

Med Tuncer: Fire in enclosed lifeboat while testing batteries report issued

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Med Tuncer: Fire in enclosed lifeboat while testing batteries report issued
Med Tuncer: Fire in enclosed lifeboat while testing batteries report issued

Transport Malta has published an investigation report on the fire on a lifeboat while carrying out tests onboard the Maltese-flagged tanker Med Tuncer in May 2020. The investigation identified a very high short circuit current within the batteries as a probable cause of the incident.

While the oil and chemical tanker Med Tuncer was moored at the Oil Tanking Terminal in Antwerp, Belgium, at 0815 on 14 May 2020, the electrician onboard stepped inside the enclosed, freefall lifeboat to carry out tests on the batteries. During the tests, a fire broke out inside the lifeboat. The fire alarm was raised, and the crew swiftly extinguished the fire. Fire and smoke damage were largely restricted to the interior of the lifeboat and control panel. Continue reading “Med Tuncer: Fire in enclosed lifeboat while testing batteries report issued”

Condition survey requirements for tankers carrying HFO as cargo issued by American P&I Club

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Condition survey requirements for tankers carrying HFO as cargo issued by American P&I Club
Condition survey requirements for tankers carrying HFO as cargo issued by American P&I Club

The American P&I Club has published a Marine Circular regarding the condition survey requirements for tankers carrying heavy fuel oil (HFO) as cargo. As part of a concerted industry effort to ensure higher ship standards, the International Group of P&I Clubs continues to implement survey triggers for seagoing vessels of 10 years of age or more carrying HFO.

Consequently, all sea-going vessels aged 10 years or more which have carried heavy HFO as cargo within the previous 12 months will be subject to condition survey, unless:
– the vessel has undergone a P&I club condition survey during the previous 12 months; or
– the vessel has undergone a Special Survey during the previous 6 months; or
– the vessel has a valid Condition Assessment Program (CAP) rating of 1 or 2 with a classification society having membership in the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS). Continue reading “Condition survey requirements for tankers carrying HFO as cargo issued by American P&I Club”

Lube oil contamination due to forgotten rubber membrane seals

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Lube oil contamination due to forgotten rubber membrane seals
Lube oil contamination due to forgotten rubber membrane seals

In a recent publication, the Swedish Club describes a case of lube oil contamination caused by forgotten rubber membrane seals in the engine room of a chemical/oil tanker.

The ship was at anchor off Tenerife. During overhaul work, a large amount of seawater entered the engine room bilge from the inert gas system overboard drain line. This was later estimated to be around 25 cubic metres. Unfortunately, the crew had no knowledge of the problem until one of them rushed into the engine control room and said that he had seen water in the engine room bilges.

The Chief Engineer said, “I was surprised to find out that the inert gas system abnormality alarm had been disabled by a member of my Continue reading “Lube oil contamination due to forgotten rubber membrane seals”

MAIB report on fatal accident between Seadogz and a buoy

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Interim MAIB report on fatal accident between Seadogz and a buoy plus urgent safety recommendation published
Interim MAIB report on fatal accident between Seadogz and a buoy plus urgent safety recommendation published

The Marine and Accident Branch has issued an interim report and safety recommendation on the investigation of the collision between the high-speed passenger craft Seadogz and a navigation buoy resulting in one fatality in Southampton Water on 22 August 2020.

Seadogz was designed and manufactured by Red Bay Ribs Ltd in 2012 with a high sheer bow, deep ‘v’-shaped hull, and inflatable tubes with seven buoyancy chambers. Seadogz was equipped with twin 300hp Yahama outboard engines that, when first fitted, could drive the RIB at speeds of up to 55kts.

Continue reading “MAIB report on fatal accident between Seadogz and a buoy”

IMO set to move on container losses at sea

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IMO set to move on container losses at sea
IMO set to move on container losses at sea

Just under a year ago, the problems caused by containers falling into the sea were in the headlines when the Australian Maritime Safety Authority reported that an APL containership had lost 40 boxes off the coast of New South Wales. Since then the position has worsened dramatically. As a consequence, new measures to mitigate such losses were on the agenda at the May 5-14 meeting of IMO Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 103).

Reporting on the meeting, BIMCO’s Jeppe Skovbakke Juhl notes that containers lost at sea represent a potential danger to maritime safety and is a threat to the environment, particularly with regard to the plastics they contain. Over the course of three months late last year and early this year, almost 3,500 containers were lost in a number of incidents in the Western Pacific. This is far above the numbers usually Continue reading “IMO set to move on container losses at sea”

MPV Everest: Overflowing tank shortly before fire is revealed in preliminary ATSB report

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MPV Everest: Overflowing tank shortly before fire is revealed in preliminary ATSB report
MPV Everest: Overflowing tank shortly before fire is revealed in preliminary ATSB report

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has issued a preliminary report from its ongoing investigation into a fire onboard the MPV Everest while on charter to the Australian Antarctic Division, last April.

On the morning of 5 April, MPV Everest was about 1,075 NM north-east of Mawson station in the Southern Ocean on a north-north-easterly course bound for Hobart, with a crew of 37 and 72 expedition staff onboard, the preliminary report details.
Shortly before 1100, the ship’s master saw large flames erupting from open louvres in the port engine room’s exhaust casing, so he raised the alarm and instructed crew and expedition staff to report to their emergency muster positions. Continue reading “MPV Everest: Overflowing tank shortly before fire is revealed in preliminary ATSB report”

Cygnus Instruments: Famous Face Gets a Lesson on Surveying and UTG

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Cygnus Instruments: Famous Face Gets a Lesson on Surveying and UTG (Sir Tony Robinson pictured left)
Cygnus Instruments: Famous Face Gets a Lesson on Surveying and UTG (Sir Tony Robinson pictured left)

Cygnus Instruments developed the Multiple Echo technique in the 1980s in conjunction with IACS (International Association of Classification Societies).  This special ultrasonic technique uses a “single crystal” probe utilising multiple back wall reflections to both ignore coatings (such as anti-fouling paint) and to give an accurate and reliable result on metal thickness.

Mr John Heath, a highly experienced and respected marine surveyor with over 40 years’ experience is the IIMS Technical Director and a board member.  He recalls using his first piece of Cygnus equipment back in the 1980s.  “I certainly remember using the very large oscilloscopes, pencil and tracing paper to conduct diminution surveys – and naturally, I recall what a revolution it was for our industry. Continue reading “Cygnus Instruments: Famous Face Gets a Lesson on Surveying and UTG”

Warnings of double VAT for extended cruises

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Sir Robin Knox-Johnston warns of double VAT for extended cruises
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston warns of double VAT for extended cruises

In a letter published in The Times, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, patron of the Cruising Association (CA), has highlighted the devastating effect of HMRC’s demands for VAT on boats returning to the UK including extended cruises. This includes all British boats that had been out of the UK for three years having to pay VAT again on their return.

His letter is counter-signed by many other sailing names including Sir Ben Ainslie, Mike Golding OBE, Pip Hare, Dee Caffari MBE, Libby Purves OBE, Paul Heiney and Bob Shepton, in addition to the president of the CA, Julian Dussek.

The text of Knox-Johnston’s letter says:

“The freedom for yachtsmen and women to sail from the United Kingdom and return a few years later has been struck a deadly blow by Continue reading “Warnings of double VAT for extended cruises”

Research project to develop automated verification of wind turbine blade defects

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Research project to develop automated verification of wind turbine blade defects
Research project to develop automated verification of wind turbine blade defects

DNV has launched a new collaborative research project to develop an automated data processing procedure for verification of detected wind turbine blade defects, with the aim of building trust and generating broader acceptance of automated data processing techniques across the industry and to inform future regulation.

The research project, which is being conducted in partnership with the University of Bristol and Perceptual Robotics, will investigate the automated verification, validation and processing of inspection data, collected by autonomous drones, to improve inspection quality and performance. The project aims to contribute to the development of the UK automated inspection industry.

Continue reading “Research project to develop automated verification of wind turbine blade defects”

London maritime arbitration adapts to the changing times

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London maritime arbitration adapts to the changing times
London maritime arbitration adapts to the changing times

A special webinar entitled ‘Maritime Arbitration in London – Present and Future Challenges’, hosted by law firm HFW, attracted an audience of over 300 listeners from 43 countries at this year’s London International Disputes Week (LIDW21) in mid-May.

Following introductory remarks by HFW Partner and webinar host Jonathan Webb, webinar chairman Lord Hamblen, UK Supreme Court Justice and a leading shipping lawyer at the Bar before becoming a judge, introduced Ian Gaunt, Arbitrator and Past President of the London Maritime Arbitrators Association (LMAA).

Gaunt began the panel discussion by pointing out that the LMAA had reacted quickly to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic last year by Continue reading “London maritime arbitration adapts to the changing times”

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