News

The Cruising Association benefits from VAT changes

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Cruising Association Logo
Cruising Association Logo

The Cruising Association has announced that HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has followed through its proposed positive change to the application of Returned Goods Relief (RGR) for recreational craft resulting in many boat owners no longer becoming liable to pay VAT on the return of their boats to the UK.

The changes have considerable benefits for the UK based cruising community, says the association.

Where a boat currently abroad is eligible to obtain relief from VAT through RGR, there will be no requirement to return the boat to the UK by 30 Continue reading “The Cruising Association benefits from VAT changes”

ABS Autonomous Vessels whitepaper proposes a goal-based framework for future rules to enable autonomous vessel operations

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Autonomous vessel operations proposal outlined in ABS Autonomous Vessels whitepaper
Autonomous vessel operations proposal outlined in ABS Autonomous Vessels whitepaper

The ABS Autonomous Vessels whitepaper is designed to support the industry’s increasing adoption of autonomous capabilities with a focus on safe implementation. It sets out 10 goals to create future rules to enable autonomous vessel operations and addresses key issues in implementation.

The ABS Autonomous Vessels whitepaper also includes an update on the outcome of the IMO’s Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) Regulatory Scoping Exercise, an important step on the road toward the development of requirements governing autonomous operations.

“To allow operations of fully autonomous vessels, Continue reading “ABS Autonomous Vessels whitepaper proposes a goal-based framework for future rules to enable autonomous vessel operations”

Silent-Yachts rebrands as Silent-Group and is set to boost production

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Silent-Yachts rebrands as Silent-Group and is set to boost production
Silent-Yachts rebrands as Silent-Group and is set to boost production

The electric catamaran builder Silent-Yachts has rebranded as Silent-Group and is boosting global production capacity to meet soaring demand, after forging a new partnership with VisionF Yachts. Last year the company sold a record 21 yachts, with 17 more in production this year.

“Our company has been growing at an incredible rate over the past couple of years,” a spokesman tells Superyacht Investor. “This growth was spurred by increasing demands of the market. As a result, it was a necessity for us to adapt our structures with a strong focus on the future.” Continue reading “Silent-Yachts rebrands as Silent-Group and is set to boost production”

IIMS March 2022 News Bulletin published

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IIMS March 2022 News Bulletin published
IIMS March 2022 News Bulletin published

It has been a busy news month, both in terms of Institute news but also as far as marine-related news is concerned. The Bulletin published has some information of importance to the marine surveying profession.

Highlights of the monthly news bulletin include:
– Obituary: Jeffrey Casciani-Wood 1930-2022
– Time to bring your CPD points up to date for last year
– Rosie Webb appointed as Office & Web Administrator at IIMS Head Office
– IIMS Canada Branch AGM and Seminar 12th March Continue reading “IIMS March 2022 News Bulletin published”

Unfortunate events led to oil spill on deck

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Britannia PandI club has been recently made aware of an oil spill on deck
Britannia P&I club has been recently made aware of an oil spill on deck

Britannia P&I Club recently became aware of an incident where a number of unfortunate events, including the fall of the vessel’s spare main engine cylinder liner, led to an oil spill on deck.

A ballasted crude oil tanker arrived at its load port early in the morning and contacted the local Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) who instructed the vessel to drift ten nautical miles off the coast to await berthing. The vessel’s main engine was kept on ten minutes’ notice and used to occasionally reposition the ship while drifting. The following night the wind picked up with reported gusts of up to 60 knots and the master decided to use the main engine to counter the heavy rolling. Continue reading “Unfortunate events led to oil spill on deck”

Report on fatal collision between Rib Tickler and a personal watercraft

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Rib Tickler and a personal watercraft collided at high speed in the Menai Strait
Rib Tickler and a personal watercraft collided at high speed in the Menai Strait

On 8 August 2020, there was a fatal collision between Rib Tickler and a personal watercraft, which collided at high speed in the Menai Strait, Wales. A passenger onboard Rib Tickler was struck by the personal watercraft and fatally injured. The personal watercraft had been jumping across Rib Tickler’s wake when the rigid inflatable boat altered course across the personal watercraft’s path. The two craft were operating too closely to each other at high speed and neither Rib Tickler’s driver nor the personal watercraft rider understood the other’s intentions. Furthermore, the knowledge and skill levels of the persons in control or overseeing the two craft were not appropriate to the manoeuvres being undertaken. Continue reading “Report on fatal collision between Rib Tickler and a personal watercraft”

IIMS stalwart Jeffrey Casciani-Wood has passed away

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Jeffrey Casciani-Wood pictured, who has sadly passed away
Jeffrey Casciani-Wood pictured, who has sadly passed away

News reached the IIMS Head Office late in the evening on 16th February to inform us that Eur.Ing Jeffrey Casciani-Wood CEng, FRINA, HonMIIMS, FLLA, FIDiagE 1930-2022 (known simply to some as Mog) had passed away peacefully following a short illness.

Known to many in the marine surveying and diagnostic engineering fields, Jeffrey’s passing leaves a huge hole in the IIMS family. His longevity and desire to continue to contribute to Institute life into his 90s marks him out as a unique and inspirational character. He was IIMS President from 1997-2000. There are many superlative adjectives and words that could be used to describe Mog, and all would be appropriate. Words and phrases such as a heavyweight, a legend, a giant, a humourist, consummate author, ‘good bloke’ and gentleman all Continue reading “IIMS stalwart Jeffrey Casciani-Wood has passed away”

Tackling the issue of underwater noise

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Korean Register issues guidance to help the marine industry tackle underwater noise from ships.
Korean Register issues guidance to help the marine industry tackle underwater radiated noise from ships.

The Korean Register (KR) has issued new class notation and guidance to help the marine industry tackle noise from ships.

“Several countries and ports have already introduced regulations relating to underwater radiated noise and some ports, such as the Port of Vancouver, are offering discounts on port user fees for vessels that meet the standards,” said a KR official.

”If our customers’ vessels have obtained KR’s class notation for underwater radiated noise, they will also be able to benefit from these advantages while reducing their impact on the maritime environment.” Continue reading “Tackling the issue of underwater noise”

MCA approves the safe carriage of a greater number of workers in the offshore wind farm sector

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Offshore boat on the waterNew rules proposed by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to support the UK workers in the offshore wind farm sector are coming into force. The change will mean that vessels transporting those who work on offshore wind farms will be able to carry greater numbers of workers while still meeting safety standards.

The legislative changes followed discussions between the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the industry looking at how to solve the logistical problems of transporting workers. Vessels that transport workers to offshore wind farms are currently not legally allowed to carry more than 12 people, no matter the size of vessel. Continue reading “MCA approves the safe carriage of a greater number of workers in the offshore wind farm sector”

Recreational Sectoral Group 2022 Guidelines to aid compliance for recreational craft published

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2022 Guidelines published by the Recreational Sectoral Group
2022 Guidelines published by the Recreational Sectoral Group

The Recreational Sectoral Group (RSG) has published the new 2022 Guidelines for the general application of the conformity assessment procedures by Notified Bodies and Manufacturers. The aim is to prepare and assist with the conformity assessment procedures undertaken by Notified Bodies for recreational craft, personal watercraft, their components and their engines, in accordance with the Recreational Craft Directive (RCD) 2013/53/EU.

Due to the variety of watercraft, the RSG has considered the applicability of various parts of harmonised standards. Where suitable standards are not available, the RSG has established uniform guidelines to assist with demonstrating conformity with the Essential Continue reading “Recreational Sectoral Group 2022 Guidelines to aid compliance for recreational craft published”

UK inland waterways popularity surges according to the Annual Lockage Report

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The Annual Lockage Report has been published by the Canal & River Trust
The Annual Lockage Report has been published by the Canal & River Trust

The Canal & River Trust says that waterways activity in 2021 surged in popularity post lockdown. The Canal & River Trust’s Annual Lockage Report for 2021 shows that as Covid-19 restrictions lifted in the spring, most places recorded counts that were close to pre-pandemic levels and a boom in lock use.

“The last two years have been like no other, with the lifting of pandemic restrictions resulting in increases in lock use that are unprecedented in the 21 years of preparing this report,” said Adam Comerford, national hydrology manager at the Canal & River Trust.

The Annual Lockage Report, now in its 21st year, shows how many times locks were used across the charity’s 2,000 miles of waterways compared to the Continue reading “UK inland waterways popularity surges according to the Annual Lockage Report”

Engine fault due to effect of low-sulphur fuel on injection control unit says report

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Engine fault due to effect of low-sulphur fuel on injection control unit says report. Photo credit: TAIC
Engine fault due to effect of low-sulphur fuel on injection control unit says report. Photo credit: TAIC

A Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) report reveals that the Singapore-flagged ship Funing had been unable to generate full power because a fuel injector control unit (ICU) had suffered fuel leakage and become clogged with coking debris from the use of low-viscosity low-sulphur fuel.

On 5 July 2020, the log carrier Funing finished loading its cargo at the Port of Tauranga and began preparations for departure. At about 2200 the officer of the watch contacted the engineers and informed them that departure was planned for midnight. When the main engine was tested in the astern direction, the main engine fault log indicated there was a fuel injection quantity piston failure. The engineering team attempted to rectify the fault but were unable to before the vessel departed its berth at about 0018, when the fault reoccurred again Continue reading “Engine fault due to effect of low-sulphur fuel on injection control unit says report”

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