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The shipping and maritime sector is absolutely central to the UK government’s future strategy

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Sailing boat
Sailing boat

Transport Minister, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon addressed the UK Chamber’s inaugural UK Shipping Summit, where leaders from across industry gathered to examine and discuss key issues facing the sector in the years ahead. In his keynote address the Minister called on the shipping and maritime sector to play it’s role in shaping the discussions ahead in light of the decision to leave the European Union;

“As we leave the European Union we will forge a bold and positive new role for ourselves in the world. We must look to economic and industrial strategy, global trade and social reform to ensure Britain’s place in the world and a strong future for its citizens.

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Esthec® Solar Glow pioneers revolutionary luminous decking powered by the sun

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ESTHEC Logo
ESTHEC Logo

Esthec® introduces a special concept luminous decking material in what it claims is World first that will provide more safety on board and a new dimension in design.

It works like this. Solar energy that has been stored during the day is converted into light at night time. The Dutch producer of composite decking for the yacht industry has achieved a world first with this revolutionary invention, which was given the provisional name “Solar Glow”. The luminous decking ensures that gangways remain visible in the dark and thus substantially increases safety aboard boats. At the same time, the innovation is sustainable, since the luminous deck uses solar power instead of electricity from non-renewable sources. In addition to improving safety, the concept also provides designers with a new dimension in creative deck design. Esthec® expects the luminous decking material, which it developed in-house, to be used both by competitive sailors and in recreational boating. The first prototype has already been presented.

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Essential advice on how to avoid claims arising from the transportation of steel cargo

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Avoiding claims from the transportation of steel cargo is the subject of a new guidance publication by The American P&I Club
Avoiding claims from the transportation of steel cargo is the subject of a new guidance publication by The American P&I Club

The handling, stowage and transportation of steel cargo has been an ongoing focus of P&I loss prevention activity. The American P&I Club has published its latest publication: Transport Guidance for Steel Cargoes, which is a detailed guide (downloadable in pdf format below) running to some 100 pages with a view to offering a comprehensive overview of how to avoid claims arising from the carriage of these cargoes from a variety of related perspectives.

The frequency and costs of steel cargo related claims experienced by the American Club between 2000 and 2015 have been substantial. During this period, steel cargo claims have accounted for an astonishing US$ 15.4 million in financial losses to the Association.

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New case study by American P&I Club reminds that lubricating oil maintenance is critical

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lubricating oil issue
lubricating oil issue

If there is one standout cause for failures of main and auxiliary engines, it is through inadequate monitoring and maintenance of the condition of lubricating oil – literally the life-blood of any engine. The American P&I Club has issued a new case study taking into account best practices in the prevention of shipboard machinery failures.

The case study incident:
The medium speed main engine of a bulk carrier suffered a turbocharger failure whilst on transatlantic passage to New York. The engine had then labored for several days with a non-functional turbocharger creating very poor combustion and black exhaust smoke. Whilst in port and undergoing turbocharger repairs the attending surveyor recommended that lubricating oil samples be taken from the main engine for analysis. It wasn’t done, and several days later during another loaded passage, the main bearings and then the crankshaft failed leading to towage, large general average costs and extensive disputes over seaworthiness.

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Critical skill gaps revealed by British boat builders

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Boat builder apprentices
Boat builder apprentices

Despite recruitment across Britain’s marine industry increasing by 2.7% in 2014/15, and with a further increase of 2% predicted for 2015/16, new statistics released today at the Southampton Boat Show have revealed that 30% of companies have identified critical skill gaps that are holding their businesses back.

The majority of the workforce growth has reportedly come from the boat manufacturing (20%), equipment supply chain (20%), and boat distribution and retail (15%) sectors, with the industry’s 4,500 businesses now employing 31,600 people.

The statistics revealed that technical skills are perceived to be the biggest “obstacle to recruitment” in the British marine industry’s, with 74% of businesses citing a lack of technical training, such as manufacturing and engineering as a barrier, compared to the UK-wide average of 41%: “For an industry where one in two jobs are boat building and repair and equipment manufacturing (34% and 13% respectively) the need to plug the skills gap is becoming more important for future growth.”

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ClassNK issues amendment of rules for ship windows

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The Control Window of a ship
The Control Window of a ship

ClassNK has investigated behaviour of waves acting on windows located considerably above the freeboard deck of ships where the navigation bridges are located forward of the midship, such as onboard Ro-Ro cargo ships. Based on the investigation results, ClassNK has issued amendment of rules for ship windows.

It has been found out that there is possibility waves can hit the windows located considerably above the freeboard deck due to waves rolling over the foredeck and running up along the front walls, even though the wave height may not be so high that the wave directly reaches the windows. In fact, cases have been confirmed in which navigation bridge windows seem to have been damaged by the aforementioned phenomenon.

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McMurdo launches the first four frequency EPIRB

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mcmurdo
mcmurdo

McMurdo has launched a new family of EPIRBs that aim to accelerate the search and rescue process by combining multiple frequencies into a single EPIRB product.

Apparently, the McMurdo SmartFind and Kannad SafePro EPIRBs will be the world’s first distress beacons that can support each of the four frequencies used in the search and rescue process – 406MHz and 121.5MHz for beacon transmission, GNSS for location positioning, and AIS for localised connectivity.

This multiple-frequency capability should help ensure faster detection, superior positioning accuracy, greater signal reliability and, ultimately, accelerated rescue of people or vessels in distress.

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What can be done about the contamination of GMO crop cargo

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container with cargo
container with cargo

The West P&I Club has reproduced an article written by Dr. Tim Moss and Dr. Daniel Sheard of Brookes Bell entitled “Contamination with GMO crop cargo – What can be done?”. The article discusses the science behind GMO crops, along with the ramifications of being found to have GMO contaminated cargo onboard. It also looks at the practical measures that can be taken to prevent a cargo becoming contaminated and to prevent the spoilage of a cargo that has been rejected due to GMO contamination.

Problems for the carrier may arise due to traces of GMO crops being found in a subsequent cargo due to ineffective cargo hold cleaning, and the cargo is rejected at the discharge port, or where a cargo found to contain GMO remains onboard the vessel for an extended period before it is possible for it to be discharged, and the condition of the cargo begins to deteriorate.

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Report on the IIMS 2016 Annual General Meeting

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Capt Bertrand Apperry hands the President's medal over to Adam Brancher at the AGM. Photo by Kirk Schwarz - www.kirkschwarz.co.uk
Capt Bertrand Apperry hands the President’s medal over to Adam Brancher at the AGM. Photo by Kirk Schwarz – www.kirkschwarz.co.uk

The 2016 Annual General Meeting of the International Institute of Marine Surveying took place at Herringham Hall, Regent’s University on Wednesday 31 August at 14.45. The meeting was called to order and opened by President, Capt Bertrand Apperry.

Acceptance of the minutes of the 2015 Annual General Meeting were proposed by Capt Khalil Khan and seconded by Capt Syed Humail.

The President gave his verbal report to those in attendance, his final one before stepping down. He said:
“It has given me great pleasure to have been your President for the last two years. It is special that my presidency has coincided with the Institute’s twenty fifth anniversary in 2016. Since our formation in 1991, the organisation has grown steadily and we have reached this significant milestone in good shape.

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MAIB issues its report into the Arco Avon engine room fire

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Photograph of Arco Avon at anchor
Photograph of Arco Avon at anchor

This reports the MAIB’s investigation into a fire in the engine room of the dredger Arco Avon while the vessel was loading a sand cargo approximately 12 miles off Great Yarmouth, UK. The fire claimed the life of the vessel’s third engineer, who was attempting to repair a failed fuel pipe when fuel, under pressure in the pipe, ignited.

Statement from the Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents
The sad death of an experienced officer serving on a UK registered ship serves as a salient reminder of the risks that crews can be exposed to when policies and procedures designed to mitigate such risks are not followed, and recognised safe systems of work are allowed to lapse. Robust risk assessments and safe systems of work are important barriers that prevent marine accidents. Everyone, from the individual seafarer to the senior company executive ashore, needs to develop shared company safety cultures that make the use of risk assessments and safe systems of work an unquestioned part of life when working on board UK registered vessels.

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IIMS 25th Anniversary Conference voted a great success

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Delegates in The Old Library at Lloyd's
Delegates in The Old Library at Lloyd’s

This is a brief overview of what took place in London on 31 August and 1 September as events to celebrate the Institute’s 25th  anniversary conference.

Conference Day 1 – Technical presentations
Five presentations covering a variety of topics had been arranged, each lasting around 50 minutes. Nick Smith from Charles Taylor Adjusting covered the fascinating subject of commonly breached warranties for small craft and their implications for insurers and insured. IIMS member, Luc Verley talked passionately about dredging technology.

The next two presentations of the morning could best be described as ‘chalk and cheese’. Representing FLIR UK, the leading provider of thermal imaging equipment, John Reynolds gave an overview of the thermography products currently available to surveyors and their potential uses. Whilst over in the Knapp Gallery, Sam Ignarski, extolled the virtues of social media to an eager audience of budding Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter users.

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Winners of the IIMS Silver Jubilee Awards for Excellence announced

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Sir Alan Massey, MCA CEO, (right), is thanked by IIMS CEO, Mike Schwarz, for presenting the IIMS Silver Jubilee Awards
Sir Alan Massey, MCA CEO, (right), is thanked by IIMS CEO, Mike Schwarz, for presenting the IIMS Silver Jubilee Awards

Following a search lasting six months to discover and recognise excellence in marine surveying, the IIMS Silver Jubilee Awards for Excellence were announced on 31 August 2016 at Regent’s University in central London as part of the Institute’s 25th anniversary celebrations.

Presentations of the crystal trophies were made by Sir Alan Massey during a splendid luncheon and ceremony. Sir Alan, who is Chief Executive Officer of the UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency, also addressed around 100 delegates at the end of the ceremony when he gave a short key note speech.

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