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Report published into the fatal sinking of the Globetrotter

Report published into the fatal sinking of the Globetrotter
Report published into the fatal sinking of the Globetrotter

At about 0800 on 31 May 2020, the 12m wooden-hulled recreational boat Globetrotter was found sinking in 5m of water during a sea-angling trip off the coast of Fleetwood, England. Its owner made a Mayday call shortly before he, his son, and a friend all entered the water. None of the sea anglers were wearing lifejackets or buoyancy aids, but they were able to use Globetrotter’s two lifebuoys to help them remain afloat.

The legs of the owner’s son became entangled in Globetrotter’s anchor rope and despite the exhaustive rescue efforts of the crews of two nearby boats, he was dragged under the water and drowned. Continue reading “Report published into the fatal sinking of the Globetrotter”

Allianz Safety and Shipping Review 2021 published

The Safety and Shipping review by Allianz reveals foundered vessels as the main cause of total losses during 2020
The Safety and Shipping review by Allianz reveals foundered vessels as the main cause of total losses during 2020

Allianz has published its Shipping and Safety Review 2021, identifying loss trends and a number of risk challenges for the maritime sector. According to the report, 49 total losses took place in 2020, representing a 50% decline over a decade.

Foundered (sunk/submerged) was the main cause of total losses during 2020, accounting for one in two. Contributing factors include bad weather, poor visibility leading to contact, flooding and water ingress and machinery breakdown.

The number of fires/explosions resulting in total losses of vessels increased again year‑on‑year, hitting a four‑year high of 10. Collectively, Continue reading “Allianz Safety and Shipping Review 2021 published”

New IIMS small craft remote tonnage measurement surveyor training approved by MCA

IIMS set to roll out remote tonnage measurement training for small craft surveyors
IIMS set to roll out remote tonnage measurement training for small craft surveyors

A proposal by IIMS to extend its popular face-to-face tonnage measurement training into an innovative remote online format has been accepted and approved by the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA). The innovative approach to delivering this training, which is open to both IIMS members and non-members, marks new ground for the Institute. The first online seminar will be delivered on 22 September from 10.00 (UK time).

To become formally authorized to process tonnages through IIMS you need to be a member, and Part I and Part II must be completed. Those who wish to study Part I only, the UK online tonnage measurement theory, may do so to extend their surveying knowledge.

Continue reading “New IIMS small craft remote tonnage measurement surveyor training approved by MCA”

Britannia sustainability report published for the first time

Published for the first time the Britannia sustainability report sets out its future roadmap
Published for the first time the Britannia sustainability report sets out its future roadmap

With the publication of the first Britannia sustainability report, the P&I Club is defining the starting position of its sustainability initiative and roadmap for the future. The report outlines how Britannia P&I is embedding the management of climate related risk into its business strategy and integrating sustainability into its core processes.

Climate change represents a material financial risk to all regulated firms and the financial system. Britannia P&I, as an insurer, is equally exposed to this risk. However, sustainability encompasses not only climate change but also informs a company’s overall approach to improving corporate social behaviour and demands sound corporate governance. The Britannia sustainability report seeks to apply environmental, social and governance (ESG) concepts to all the strategic choices and operations of the Club. Continue reading “Britannia sustainability report published for the first time”

Random spot checks by MCA reveal a high number of fishing boat deficiencies

Vessel image used for illustration purposes only
Vessel image used for illustration purposes only

More than a fifth of fishing vessels subject to a random spot inspection have either been detained or prohibited from being used for fishing  by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, being cited as fishing boat deficiencies. The targeted campaign saw surveyors from the MCA visiting ports in Scotland and the South West of England, inspecting 212 vessels at random.

All sizes of vessel were inspected during the unannounced inspections held across seven days in June. A total of 1,249 deficiencies or non-compliant items were found across all those inspected with just 14 being fully compliant with the regulations.

Continue reading “Random spot checks by MCA reveal a high number of fishing boat deficiencies”

Joint Concentrated Inspection Campaign on vessel stability to be undertaken

Container ship - Image credit: Paris and Tokyo MOUs
Image credit: Paris and Tokyo MOUs

Member authorities of the Tokyo and the Paris Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Port State Control are to launch a joint Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on vessel stability. It will be held for three months, commencing from September 1, 2021, and ending November 30, 2021, and inspectors will examine specific areas related to the campaign in conjunction with the regular Port State Control inspection.

The purposes of the campaign are:

– to confirm that the ship’s crew are familiar with assessing the actual stability condition on completion of cargo operations before departure of the ship and on all stages of the voyage;
– to create awareness among the ship’s crew and owners about the importance of calculating the actual stability condition of the ship on completion of cargo operations and before departure of the ship; and
– to verify that the ship complies with intact stability requirements (and damage stability requirements, if applicable) under the relevant IMO instruments. Continue reading “Joint Concentrated Inspection Campaign on vessel stability to be undertaken”

Fully electric boat on Loch Lomond helps steer National Park towards Net Zero

Electric BoatNational Park Rangers on Loch Lomond can now be seen but not heard as they cruise the water on a new fully electric boat. The zero direct emissions vessel is the latest addition to the National Park Authority’s marine fleet and is believed to be the first of its kind in the UK. Unlike the distinctive hum heard from a traditional diesel powered boat, the electric maintenance boat on Loch Lomond is almost silent as it moves across the loch, creating less disturbance to surrounding wildlife and zero water pollution. The boat is three times more efficient than a traditional petrol or diesel boat.

Charlotte Wallace, Climate Action Manager at Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority said: “Our Mission Zero route map is bold and ambitious but that is exactly what is needed in the face of the climate crisis we are facing. Continue reading “Fully electric boat on Loch Lomond helps steer National Park towards Net Zero”

Cargo Integrity Group calls for risk-based measures to prevent pest contamination

COA, ICHA, Golbal Shipping Forum, TTV and World Shipping Council logoThe international freight transport organisations of the Cargo Integrity Group are calling for urgent action from actors in global supply chains to reduce the risk of pest transference through international cargo movements. The five partners in the Cargo Integrity Group, known as CIG, recognise the vital importance of focusing on the threat of invasive pests to natural resources across the world, and of the urgency in crafting risk reduction measures that address the situation.

This call to action follows the intentions by pest control experts under the auspices of the International Plant Protection Convention Continue reading “Cargo Integrity Group calls for risk-based measures to prevent pest contamination”

Guidelines for fuel oil sampling and designated sampling points

Guidelines for fuel oil sampling and designated sampling points
Guidelines for fuel oil sampling and designated sampling points

During MEPC-75 meeting, that was held in November-2020, new amendments to MARPOL Annex VI were adopted through Resolution MEPC.324(75). These amendments will enter into force on 1 April 2022. It introduces new requirements for fuel oil sampling points and outline methods for sampling fuel oil to validate its sulphur content.

Essentially, there are three types of fuel oil samples as defined in the IMO guidelines:
-sample of the fuel delivered to the ship during the bunker operation, i.e. ‘MARPOL delivered sample’ (MEPC.182(59))
– sample of the fuel oil in use on a ship, i.e. ‘in-use sample’ (MEPC.1/Circ.864/Rev.1) Continue reading “Guidelines for fuel oil sampling and designated sampling points”

Autonomous ships and safety at sea white paper published

Autonomous ships and safety at sea white paper published
Autonomous ships and safety at sea white paper published

One Sea, the industry alliance that brings together leading exponents of autonomous ship technology, has published an autonomous ships and safety at sea white paper

The paper examines the safety advances achieved by and expected from autonomous ship technology, with the aim of driving the consultative process forward towards a revised set of maritime regulations. It considers today’s safety framework, cybersecurity, views from ship owners and operators, consequences for labour and insurance, and the classification implications for varying levels of autonomy, before offering a proposal for next steps by the industry.

Continue reading “Autonomous ships and safety at sea white paper published”

Canada’s new vessel safety certificates and inspection standard

Transport Canada has published an overview of the new vessel safety certificates and inspection standard effective from 23 June 2021.
Transport Canada has published an overview of the new vessel safety certificates and inspection standard effective from 23 June 2021.

Transport Canada has published an overview of the new Vessel Safety Certificates Regulations and Canadian Vessel Plan Approval and Inspection Standard. These new regulations came into force on 23 June 2021, and the standard is now effective.

Applying to all Canadian vessels and any foreign vessels in Canadian waters, the regulations specify which vessels require certification and inspection. The standard (TP15456) outlines plan submissions and inspection standards for Canadian vessels requiring a vessel safety certificate.

The new Vessel Safety Certificates Regulations update and modernize old regulations and Canada’s inspection regime. The regulations Continue reading “Canada’s new vessel safety certificates and inspection standard”

Shipping: Does location matter anymore?

A nap with a small boat next to the pin logoFor centuries the great port cities analysed in the recent Xinhua-Baltic International Shipping Centre Development Index report were built on the confluence of trade, people and ideas. Centred around ships and the presence of their owners, managers and charterers, maritime clusters steadily grew across Europe, Asia and the Americas. A combination of talent, time-zone, geography, expertise and government policies has helped locations such as Singapore, London and Shanghai thrive. Successful clusters combine the experience and size of established companies with the energy and drive of smaller and start-up firms. Collectively they have consistently delivered innovation, jobs and tax receipts.

But has the successful shift to working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic ruptured the maritime business cluster concept forever? Will like-minded and complementary as well as competing businesses operating in the same field continue to see the advantage of co-locating in the same expensive business districts? Has the theory of clustering, which describes the economic advantages of the concentration of specialised industries in a single location, been overturned by a brave new world of remote meetings and home working? Or will we see a swift return to business as usual and offices in maritime clusters fill up again with shipbrokers, tech-specialists, financiers, insurers and lawyers when the pandemic ebbs? Continue reading “Shipping: Does location matter anymore?”

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