International News

News was released in the UK at about 18.30 on 8 September 2022 that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has passed away peacefully at Her beloved Balmoral Estate in Scotland. A period of 10 days mourning is to be observed in the UK before Her state funeral.

As news reports emerged during the day that Her close family were headed to Balmoral at speed, it became clear the situation was not good.

On behalf of its members, staff and the wider marine surveying community, IIMS would like to pay its respects to Her Majesty and to send condolences particularly to Her eldest son, King Charles III, who accedes Her to the throne, Her children and the rest of the Royal Family at this difficult time.

The Queen’s reign was the longest of any British Monarch. She dedicated Her entire adult life to serving Her people in the most dignified and graceful manner, service which was to span more than 70 years.

God save The King.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has published its accident report about an engine room fire on the Roger Blough during the dry bulk carrier’s winter layup at the Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding facility at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.

The Roger Blough had a fixed carbon dioxide (CO2) fire-extinguishing system to suppress fires in the engine room; the system was disconnected during winter layup due to the risk of an accidental discharge with workers in the space. Six portable B-II fire extinguishers and one semiportable CO2 fire extinguisher were also in the engine room. Continue reading “Repeated reinstallation of furnace’s burner causes engine room fire”

Three years after the fire onboard the Conception dive boat in the US, more progress is needed on the safety recommendations the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued as a result of the investigation.

The Conception was anchored in Platts Harbor, off Santa Cruz Island, California, when it caught fire in the early morning of Sept. 2, 2019. The vessel burned to the waterline and sank less than 100 feet from shore. Tragically, the 34 people asleep below deck were trapped in the bunk room: 33 passengers and one crew member lost their lives. Continue reading “Further action required following the Conception fire lessons”