International News

The US Coast Guard (USCG) has recently investigated a fire on board an inspected towing vessel which resulted in the vessel suffering a loss of propulsion. The source of the fire was determined to be heat cables (also referred to as heat tracing cable or heat tape), which were improperly installed to prevent condensate from forming and freezing within hoses used to transmit compressed air for the vessel’s air-operated engine throttle control system.

The heat cables were designed to be installed on fixed piping systems. They were not designed to be used on hoses or in applications which subjected the heat cables to movement. This installation had the heat cables wrapped around hoses connected to a retractable pilot house, which would move whenever the pilot house was raised or lowered. This movement subjected the cables to stresses from flexing and bending for which they were not designed. Continue reading “Improper use of heat cables is a fire hazard”

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has published its 2022 Inspection Report. It reveals that container ships are in the top five detained ship types for three years in a row, accounting for nearly 15 per cent of arrivals during last year. In 2022, 1,181 bulk carriers were inspected with 3,446 deficiencies issued resulting in 76 detentions. The detention rate for bulk carriers increased to 6.4 per cent from 6.1 per cent in 2021.

According to the report, the average Port State Control (PSC) deficiencies per inspection increased from 2.2 per cent in 2021 to 2.58 per cent in 2022. This is significantly higher than the 10-year rolling average of 2.3 deficiencies per inspection. Continue reading “AMSA Inspection Report 2022 published”

AMSA has announced they will be focusing on watertight and weathertight integrity inspections during routine Port State Control (PSC) throughout 2023.

The aim of this PSC campaign is to support foreign-flagged and regulated Australian ships with information to help operators avoid water ingress and the associated safety and financial risks. Ship inspection data shows that watertight and weathertight integrity remains a persistent and concerning issue for ships in Australian ports, making up 9% of detainable deficiencies in 2021. Continue reading “AMSA focusing on watertight and weathertight integrity at Port State Control”

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) has released a safety alert to addresses the importance of proper maintenance and adherence to manufacturer’s recommendations for filling and/or inflating buoyancy chambers on some models of inflatable boats.

During a recent investigation of an incident that occurred involving foreign cruise vessel operations in the Antarctic, a US passenger was severely injured due to a Zodiac MILPRO model FC 580/MK5 keel bladder failure while underway on a sightseeing excursion. In calm weather, the keel bladder suddenly ruptured, sending the passenger several feet into the air before landing onto the deck and sustaining serious injuries including a fractured femur. Continue reading “Adherence to instructions for inflatable boats is crucial says USCG safety alert”

An ongoing commitment to pioneering technology, sharing resources and continuing improving the expertise it offers to the maritime world at large as well as its own members was the focus of the recent REG Technical Forum.

The Red Ensign Group Technical Forum was held in Southampton (UK) and included delegates from Anguilla, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey, Montserrat, Turks and Caicos Islands and the UK. Continue reading “Red Ensign Group brings together expertise to focus on supporting maritime”

There are signs that the global boating market is returning to normal after sales surged during the Covid-19 pandemic. Online marketplace, Boats Group, reports that the total number of boats sold worldwide decreased last year for the first time since before the pandemic.

The change towards more typical market conditions emerged in 2022 as the total number of boats sold dipped by just 4.3% compared to the same period pre-pandemic in 2019. By comparison, boats sold in 2020 and 2021 were down 15.9% and 11.8% respectively, compared to 2019.

“For the first time in three years, we’re seeing consumer demand soften,” said Courtney Chalmers, vice president of marketing at Boats Group. Continue reading “Has the post Covid boating boom bubble burst?”