International News

Lloyd’s Register (LR) has won a contract to class the world’s largest heavy lift crane vessel (NSCV) for the Netherlands-based Heerema Group. The semi-submersible vessel will be constructed at the newly opened Sembcorp ‘Mega yard’ in Singapore.

The dual-fuel LNG and MGO vessel is due to be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2018 and will be a key asset in the offshore market and a leading player in the installation and decommissioning of offshore facilities. It follows another significant Heerema project, the delivery of the LR-classed Aegir deepwater construction vessel (DCV) in 2013 (see article in the January 2014 Horizons).

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The recent catastrophe at the port of Tianjin in China resulted in the loss of at least 100 lives and many more people are still missing. It is far too early to speculate on the cause but the explosions left extensive physical damage as well as the appalling loss of life.

Accumulation risks – when a single event causes an exceptionally large group of related losses – such as this, are continuing to grow.

IUMI President, Dieter Berg says: “This extremely sad and regrettable incident demonstrates the persistent growth of accumulation of Continue reading “Tianjin explosion highlights growth of accumulation risks”

Crowley Maritime Corp. subsidiary, Jensen Maritime has announced the development of two new, liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunker barge concepts that can be fully customised to meet a customer’s unique needs.

The first concept involves outfitting an existing barge with an above-deck LNG tank. The concept can be further modified to accommodate more than one type of product, if a customer has a need for multiple liquid transfers. Advantages of this design include a fast turnaround and a reduced need to invest in specialised assets if a customer has short-term LNG requirements.

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After becoming the first classification society to issue Cargo Ship Safety and Small Commercial Ships Safety Certificates to two Trinidad and Tobago vessels LR was recently authorised by several Caribbean flag administrations to carry out surveys and issue certificates under new codes on their behalf.

As part of the survey and certification services, LR may undertake surveys for the following:

• Code of Safety for Caribbean Cargo Ships (CCSS). This applies to ships of under 500gt. The administrations authorising LR are: The Bahamas, Belize, Cayman Islands, Trinidad & Tobago and St. Kitts & Nevis

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The 150th anniversary of the German lifeboat service is celebrated in a handsome book of images, as appreciated by Graeme Ewens. This year the German Lifeboat service, the Deutsche Gesellschaft zur Rettung Schiffbrüchiger (DGzRS) celebrates its 150th anniversary.

The German lifeboat service, manned by 185 full-time staff and some 800 volunteers, operates 61 vessels from 54 lifeboat stations around the German North Sea and Baltic coasts. Twenty of those boats are seagoing ‘rescue cruisers’, ranging in size from 20 metres to 46 metres.

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