Golden Ray: Heavy crane set to lift and salvage capsized vessel

Picture of the Golden Ray - Golden Ray Photo by U.S. Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer John D. Miller
Golden Ray Photo by U.S. Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer John D. Miller

The team working on the removal of the capsized car carrier Golden Ray is preparing for the final stage of the operation to remove the vessel that has been lying on its side in St. Simons Sound since September 2019.

The twin-hull heavy lift vessel VB-10,000 arrived at the Port of Fernandina in Florida on July 3 for final modifications and function checks before heading to St. Simons Sound. The lift vessel is currently scheduled to arrive at the wreck site by mid-July.

The 255-foot tall gantries of the VB-10,000 made an impressive sight at the docks in Florida. The configuration of the rigging beams underneath the top of the gantries will be modified to prepare for the lifting on the Golden Ray.

Continue reading “Golden Ray: Heavy crane set to lift and salvage capsized vessel”

New white paper by National Cargo Bureau calls for a new approach to address container fires

National Cargo Bureau white paper calls for urgent action to prevent serious container incidents
National Cargo Bureau white paper calls for urgent action to prevent serious container incidents

A white paper published by the National Cargo Bureau calls for urgent reform to stem the increasing number of container related incidents caused by poorly stowed, undeclared or misdeclared dangerous cargoes. This follows a recent inspection initiative that revealed an alarming number of containers with misdeclared dangerous cargoes that represent a serious safety risk.

Consequently, the National Cargo Bureau, the US inspection body for Dangerous Goods regulations, is calling for industry to adopt a comprehensive, holistic and coordinated approach to address this worrying trend. The inspection initiative also showed that 55% of containers were non-compliant with 43% failing to secure dangerous goods correctly within the container itself. Approximately 6.5% of Continue reading “New white paper by National Cargo Bureau calls for a new approach to address container fires”

IIMS is supporting UK Maritime Safety Week

MAIB Logo and the Maritimes Safety Week logoMy blog is long overdue for an update and what better time to scribble down a few words than at the start of UK Maritime Safety Week which runs from 6 to 10 July 2020. It seems appropriate to put the IIMS weight behind an awareness campaign of this kind, not least as one of the major roles of any marine surveyor, not just in the UK, is to help to keep lives safe at sea and to help protect vessels, cargoes and maritime assets.

UK Maritime Minister, Kelly Tolhurst MP outlined the objectives of the week:
– Recognise the excellent safety work that already goes on across the sector;
Continue reading “IIMS is supporting UK Maritime Safety Week”

Geo Therm Ltd picks up LR and ABS accreditation

Geo Therm Ltd  logo - Geo Therm Ltd picks up LR and ABS accreditation
Geo Therm Ltd picks up LR and ABS accreditation

Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown the team behind Geo Therm Ltd has actively sought to gain the coveted Lloyds Register (LR) and American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) approved service supplier status, bolstering its existing ISO 9001:2015, FPAL and Safe Contractor accreditations.

As an independent third-party inspection company Geo Therm Ltd prides itself with performing condition monitoring inspections across the globe, to-date surveying in over 40 countries, as far north as the Arctic Circle to as far south as the Falkland Islands. The company has been supporting the offshore energy sector since 2002 with their inspection surveys to aid fleet with their safe systems of work remits, preventative maintenance, and regulatory commitments.

With the team was in lockdown, audit allocation and rechecking was undertaken online, ensuring all systems documents were current, fit for purpose and error free, while the actual LR and ABS audits being undertaken at Geo Therm Ltd’s premises in Reydon, Suffolk and the Continue reading “Geo Therm Ltd picks up LR and ABS accreditation”

Underwater examination and survey key requirements outlined by RMI Ship Registry

Underwater examination and survey key requirements
Underwater examination and survey key requirements

The Marshall Islands Ship Registry has issued a revised marine notice to outline the procedures and circumstances by which the underwater examination/survey of a passenger ship’s hull by divers in lieu of drydocking may be permitted.

Underwater Examination (UWE) is the inspection of the outside of the ship’s bottom while afloat as part of the Passenger Ship Safety Renewal survey while Underwater Survey (UWS) is the inspection of the outside of the ship’s bottom while afloat in lieu of a dry-docking, including measurements of shaft and rudder bearing clearances, as applicable.

Why Underwater Examination and Survey are important Continue reading “Underwater examination and survey key requirements outlined by RMI Ship Registry”

Seed cake carriage in containers – updated guideline published

CINS LogoEarlier this year, the International Group and CINS, the Cargo Incident Notification System, jointly published guidelines for the carriage of seed cake in containers. An updated version has been released containing some minor changes to the text including an updated description and some clarification of details following queries received from container ship operators.

The carriage of these cargoes continues to cause confusion and the potential for mis-declaration remains high with the consequent risk of fire on board container ships. Seed cake is the term used for pulp, cake, Continue reading “Seed cake carriage in containers – updated guideline published”

Yanmar aiming for zero emissions using new engine technology

Yanmar are to develop a hydrogen fuel cell system
Yanmar are to develop a hydrogen fuel cell system

Yanmar Holdings and its subsidiary Yanmar Power Technology are to develop a hydrogen fuel cell system for marine applications based on vehicle fuel cell technology.

Initially the new maritime fuel cell system will be installed on Yanmar’s own test boat with field testing starting by the end of 2020.

The company will start with coastal vessels and work vessels in ports with the aim of expanding the Continue reading “Yanmar aiming for zero emissions using new engine technology”

Over 100 Flag State detentions according to the USCG 2019 Annual Report

USCG: Over 100 Flag State detentions
USCG: Over 100 Flag State detentions

The USCG has published its 2019 Flag State Control Domestic Annual Report, summarizing statistics regarding inspections and enforcement of regulations on US-flagged vessels. In comparison to 2018, the number of vessel inspections increased by 1,423 and the average number of deficiencies identified per inspection has increased from 1.26 to 1.48. The report also found that there were over 100 Flag State detentions.

As a result, the overall US Flag fleet inspection total increased in 2019 by 7%. Additionally, the number of deficiencies issued increased by 25% from the 2018 calendar year report. Continue reading “Over 100 Flag State detentions according to the USCG 2019 Annual Report”

Scout Drone Inspection: Autonomous drone inspections move step closer after successful test

Scout Drone Inspection: Autonomous drone inspections
Scout Drone Inspection: Autonomous drone inspections

A drone has successfully inspected a 19.4 meter high oil tank on board a Floating Production, Storage and Offloading vessel. The video shot by the drone was interpreted in real-time by an algorithm to detect cracks in the structure. It is the latest step in a technology qualification process that could lead to tank inspections becoming safer and more efficient. Scout Drone Inspection and DNV GL, the quality assurance and risk management company, have been working together to develop an autonomous drone system to overcome the common challenges of tank inspections. For the customer, costs can run into hundreds of thousands of dollars as the tank is taken out of service for days to ventilate and construct scaffolding. The tanks are also tough work environments, with Continue reading “Scout Drone Inspection: Autonomous drone inspections move step closer after successful test”

Inventory of Hazardous Materials compliance has new guide published by UK P&I Club

New guide for compliance with the Inventory of Hazardous Materials
New guide for compliance with the Inventory of Hazardous Materials

The UK P&I Club, a leading provider of protection and indemnity insurance to the international shipping community, has published a guide for ship-owners to ensure compliance with the Inventory of Hazardous Materials legislation.

The guide addresses the technical aspects, important concepts, processes and requirements of the Inventory of Hazardous Materials, aiming to assist Members in ensuring compliance with the existing regulations and reduce the likelihood of reputational risks.

Over the last decade international and regional ship recycling legislation has been adopted, some of which is Continue reading “Inventory of Hazardous Materials compliance has new guide published by UK P&I Club”

Sea Start: Record engine failures as owners fail to prepare

Record high of engine failures reported to Sea Start
Record high of engine failures reported to Sea Start

The UK’s marine assistance breakdown service Sea Start has experienced one of its busiest periods, with call outs to engine breakdowns at sea amongst the busiest on record.

It’s blaming owners’ “desperate rush to feel freedom” overshadowing much of the normal spring preparation made by conscientious owners.

“The boating population have left their berths en masse,” observes founder and MD, Nick Eales, of Sea Start. “We have received a record number of call outs, many of them to report quite serious failures. It’s not a Continue reading “Sea Start: Record engine failures as owners fail to prepare”

IIMS: What a marine surveyor needs to know about on-off hire condition and bunker surveys handy guide published

IIMS publishes new handyguide
IIMS publishes new handyguide

IIMS has published the twenty-third guide in its series ‘What a marine surveyor needs to know about’, this one covering the important topic of on-off hire condition and bunker surveys.

Capt Allen Brink, a Past President of IIMS and a marine surveyor with many years’ big ship experience, has authored this impressive handy guide, now released for sale. Allen was a driving force in the early days and was one of those who worked hard behind the scenes to get the Institute off the ground nearly 30 years ago.

Running to 244 pages, this comprehensive handy guide takes the surveyor through the main parts and requirements of conducting on-off hire condition and bunker surveys. The handy guide contains examples of a number of templated reports which the surveyor can adapt for his/her use. There are photos to assist, diagrams and examples of the certification and documentation the surveyor needs to inspect too.

The handy guide also contains the most comprehensive appendix with a selection of marine terms to assist the marine surveyor when conducting inspections of ships for charter purposes.

Continue reading “IIMS: What a marine surveyor needs to know about on-off hire condition and bunker surveys handy guide published”

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