The 110 page world merchant fleet report by Equasis provides a picture of the global shipping fleet in 2022, derived from data contained in the database. The report examines the structure and characteristics of the fleet and its performance. The statistics are grouped into themes which could be of interest to the industry and regulators, as follows:
1. The Merchant Fleet Population
2. Classification Societies
3. P&I Clubs and Insurance Companies Continue reading “World merchant fleet report 2022: Everything you need to know”
News
Shipping Industry Flag State performance table 2023/2024
The 2023/2024 Shipping Industry Flag State performance table, published by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), indicates continuing positive performance by the vast majority of Flag States which are responsible for the safety and environmental performance of the world’s merchant ships.
It is strongly emphasised by ICS that the age of an individual ship is not an indicator of quality, and that the condition of an individual ship is ultimately determined by how it is maintained.
– The new Flag State Performance Table shows an increase in positive performance indicators amongst smaller Flag States. Continue reading “Shipping Industry Flag State performance table 2023/2024”
Red Ensign Group Yacht Code revision published
![New revision of Red Ensign Group Yacht Code published](https://iims-media-library.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/15145355/REG.jpg)
A new revision of the gold standard Red Ensign Group Yacht Code, set to come into force in July 2024, has been published, which intends to provide guidance on the best practice to facilitate safe solutions for commercially operated yachts over 24 metres (78 feet) in load-line length.
The new revision represents all the expertise gained across almost three decades of regulating the large yacht sector since the first version was published by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in 1997.
A spokesperson for Red Ensign Group said, “The Red Ensign Group Yacht Code is the international standard for the design, construction, and operation of these vessels. We will never compromise on safety and crew welfare and maintain the highest maritime regulatory Continue reading “Red Ensign Group Yacht Code revision published”
Engine room flooding leads to sinking of fishing vessel
![Engine room flooding leads to sinking of fishing vessel](https://iims-media-library.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/15121240/capt-alex.jpg)
Uncontrolled flooding through a hole in the plating beneath the engine room of a fishing vessel led to its sinking in the Gulf of Mexico, the National Transportation Safety Board report has revealed.
The commercial fishing vessel Captain Alex was fishing offshore of Galveston, Texas on 25 November 2022, when the vessel began flooding. The four crewmembers on board were unable to stem the flooding and evacuated to a responding U.S. Coast Guard boat. The sinking resulted in an oil sheen and debris field; a reported 17,000 gallons of diesel fuel were on board. Continue reading “Engine room flooding leads to sinking of fishing vessel”
Liquid cargo contamination best practices
![Gard shares guidance about liquid cargo contamination](https://iims-media-library.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/15114130/gard-logo.jpg)
Gard personnel Satoru Yamashita, Senior Claims Executive, Tokyo, and Cheryl Acker, Senior Claims Executive, New York, present the following best practices in order to avoid liquid cargo contamination claims.
P&I Club, Gard, has handled a number of liquid cargo contamination claims arising from previous cargo residues. As a result of these cases and their experience Gard has issued some helpful advice and guidance to assist the industry to try and avoid future claims.
Liquid cargo contamination claims can be costly and Gard has seen cases arising when the last cargo onboard was coconut oil, palm oil, or other edible oils. Continue reading “Liquid cargo contamination best practices”
Towpaths for Everyone is a new policy document from the Canal & River Trust
![Towpaths for Everyone is a new policy document](https://iims-media-library.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/11140547/crt.jpg)
With the UK’s canals attracting record numbers of visitors and more people using towpaths than ever before, a policy document entitled Towpaths for Everyone has been published by the Canal & River Trust (CRT) setting out how these vital, historic and typically narrow routes can be sustainably used, managed, and made more accessible for the benefit of all.
Towpaths for Everyone
Alongside the canals’ core use for boating and angling, Towpaths for Everyone outlines the key role that the 2,000-miles of towpaths play in public life, Continue reading “Towpaths for Everyone is a new policy document from the Canal & River Trust”
New MCA notes, guidance and advice
![New MCA notes, guidance and advice](https://iims-media-library.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/10155505/Maritime-and-Coastguard-Agency.jpg)
Here are the most recent MCA notes, guidance and advice to be released for the period December 2023 to January 2024.
Released on 12 December 2023
MGN 691 (M) Navigation and radar training requirements for workboat code 3
Go to https://bit.ly/47tvJzw
Released on 19 December 2023
The Code of Practice for the Safety of Small Fishing Vessels of less than 15m Length Overall
Go to https://bit.ly/4aTUdoy
Released on 21 December 2023
MSN 1870 (M+F) Amendment 5 Personal protective equipment regulations 1999 Continue reading “New MCA notes, guidance and advice”
Autonomous shipping whitepaper explores degrees of automation
![BV has recently published a whitepaper, in which it describes the different degrees of autonomous shipping through two key factors](https://iims-media-library.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/10095055/BV.jpg)
Bureau Veritas (BV) has recently published a whitepaper, in which it describes the different degrees of autonomous shipping through two key factors a) the degree of automation and b) the degree of control.
The degree of automation represents the degree of decision making (authority) deferred by the human to the system. It is a way to make a distinction between the human and the system’s roles as the system performs various functions.
What is an autonomous ship?
According to BV, “autonomous ship” is a broad term. Continue reading “Autonomous shipping whitepaper explores degrees of automation”
Hong Kong Convention set to impact the shipping industry from 2025
![On 26 June 2023, Bangladesh and Liberia acceded to the Hong Kong Convention.](https://iims-media-library.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/08102806/zoshua-colah-MF2Glw9Rq28-unsplash-1.jpg)
On 26 June 2023, Bangladesh and Liberia acceded to the Hong Kong Convention. This means the Convention will enter into force for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships on 26 June 2025, writes Stela Spiraj, Senior Engineer, Regulatory Affairs Department, ABS. And it could present opportunities and have profound effects for marine surveyors.
The goal of the Hong Kong Convention is to prevent significant risks to human health and the environment throughout a ship’s operating life and during ship recycling. Upon the Convention’s entry into force new and existing ships with a gross tonnage (GT) of 500 or more Continue reading “Hong Kong Convention set to impact the shipping industry from 2025”
Fund Britain’s Waterways announces weekend of action to raise awareness
![Fund Britain’s Waterways has announced it is planning a weekend of action over the UK’s May Day holiday weekend](https://iims-media-library.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/05114349/Fund-Britains-Waterway.jpg)
Campaign group Fund Britain’s Waterways has announced it is planning a weekend of action over the UK’s May Day holiday weekend from 4-6 May 2024. The aim of the weekend’s activities is to raise awareness of the current challenges facing Britain’s canals and rivers.
The group, which was launched in June 2023, has created a coalition of over 100 member organisations, representing hundreds of thousands of users and supporters of inland waterways. A public petition has astonishingly attracted nearly 50,000 signatures.
The group has organised three campaign cruises which will take place in Birmingham, Gloucester, Continue reading “Fund Britain’s Waterways announces weekend of action to raise awareness”
MV Mona fire: Transport Malta issues the report
![MV Mona was transiting the Aegean Sea when a fire broke out in the engine room](https://iims-media-library.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/05100941/MONA.jpg)
Transport Malta has published an investigation report about an incident that took place on 14 September 2022. The vessel MV Mona was transiting the Aegean Sea, en route to a dry dock in Tuzla, Türkiye, when a fire broke out in the engine-room. Flames were observed rising above the main engine’s cylinder unit no. 2.
On 11 September 2022, MV Mona departed in ballast condition from the port of Ashdod, Israel, bound for a scheduled dry docking in Tuzla, Türkiye. On 14 September, the vessel was transiting the Aegean Sea, between the Greek islands, and was expected to arrive at Tuzla the next day. The voyage had been uneventful until around 1715 Continue reading “MV Mona fire: Transport Malta issues the report”
Containership MSC Rita and fishing vessel collision report published
![Containership MSC Rita and fishing vessel collision report published](https://iims-media-library.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/04141434/msc-rita.jpg)
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its investigation report on the collision between containership MSC Rita and fishing vessel Tremont which happened on October 28, 2022.
On October 28, 2022, about 0036 local time, the containership MSC Rita and the fishing vessel Tremont were underway in the Atlantic Ocean, 55 miles southeast of Chincoteague, Virginia, when the two vessels collided. The 13 people aboard the Tremont abandoned the vessel and were rescued by Good Samaritan vessels and a US Coast Guard helicopter. No injuries were reported. Continue reading “Containership MSC Rita and fishing vessel collision report published”