International News

Norway plans to eliminate accidents involving recreational boats

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Norway plans to eliminate recreational boat accidents
Norway plans to eliminate recreational boat accidents

The Norwegian Minister of Trade and Industry Torbjørn Røe has initiated an action plan to reduce the number of serious accidents related with the use of recreational boats in Norwegian waters. The government has a zero-accidents vision for boat traffic.

The target is to achieve zero accidents associated with recreational boats at sea. For this reason, the Norwegian Maritime Directorate was tasked to prepare the plan, which covers the period from 2019 to 2023.

In addition to the zero vision, an ambitious milestone for the first period has been set: 50% reduction in the number of fatalities associated with use of recreational boats before the end of the planning period.

“We want everyone to come home safely when they have been on the sea, Continue reading “Norway plans to eliminate accidents involving recreational boats”

Zero emission ships in UK waters given ambitious deadline of 2025

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Maritime Minister Nusrat Ghani plans for zero emission
Maritime Minister Nusrat Ghani plans for zero emission

All new ships for UK waters ordered from 2025 should be zero emission ships designed with ‘zero-emission capable technologies’, in ambitious plans set out by Maritime Minister Nusrat Ghani to cut pollution from the country’s maritime sector.

The commitment is set out in the Clean Maritime Plan published in early July. The government is also looking at ways to incentivise the transition to zero-emission shipping and will consult on this next year.

The plan also includes a £1 million competition to find innovative ways to reduce maritime emissions and is published alongside a call for evidence to reduce emissions on UK waterways and domestic vessels.

Continue reading “Zero emission ships in UK waters given ambitious deadline of 2025”

Carbon Tetrachloride found in St Petersburg bunkers

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FOBAS confirms the presence of Carbon Tetrachloride in the contaminated fuel
FOBAS confirms the presence of Carbon Tetrachloride in the contaminated fuel

Following a late June alert regarding contaminated bunkers that were supplied in St Petersburg, Russia, the Lloyd’s Register Fuel Oil Bunkering Analysis and Advisory Service (FOBAS) has published an update on 12 July, in which it confirms the presence of Carbon Tetrachloride in the contaminated fuel.

On 26 June, FOBAS issued an alert to say it was investigating a number of samples bunkered in St Petersburg, Russia, taken from mid-April to the beginning of May. During the use of these fuels, vessels reported a range of, including damage to plungers and M/E and A/E filter damage.

Investigation showed that the operational problems resulted from damage to fuel injection equipment of main and auxiliary engines, as Continue reading “Carbon Tetrachloride found in St Petersburg bunkers”

Smart fuel hose set to enhance safety at sea

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Smart fuel hose set to enhance safety at sea
Smart fuel hose set to enhance safety at sea

“A fire in the engine room is any seafarer’s worst nightmare,” says Tom Backlund, Wärtsilä’s General Manager Large Bore Engines and why smart fuel hose are so important.

This is especially true when it comes to fuel leakages in vessel engine rooms. This is why the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) regulation, enforced by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), stipulates a number of minimum safety standards for operations throughout the vessel, including the engine room, with a strict limit for splash guards’ surface temperatures that could ignite liquid and cause fires.

Wärtsilä continuously delivers improvements to its engines and has introduced a variety of new solutions to comply with the hot surface Continue reading “Smart fuel hose set to enhance safety at sea”

Archaeologists have uncovered Viking-era boat burial in Sweden

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The Viking-era boat burial site with a skull in the ground - Image courtesy Arkeologerna
The Viking-era boat burial site with a skull in the ground – Image courtesy Arkeologerna

Archaeologists in Sweden have uncovered two rare Viking-era boat burial sites during an excavation in Uppsala. It has been five decades since the last similar find in the area, and national archaeology agency Arkeologerna described the discovery as “sensational.”

The team stumbled upon the Viking-era boat burial sites during the excavation of more modern ruins in Old Uppsala. The boat graves were buried beneath a well and a cellar from later eras. One of the two graves was quite intact, with remains of a man at the stern of the boat and those of a horse and a dog found towards the bow. Personal items – a sword, a spear, a shield and a comb – were also laid within the vessel. Continue reading “Archaeologists have uncovered Viking-era boat burial in Sweden”

IIMS recognises IMCA’s Technical Director with a Blue Water Award

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Mark Ford (pictured left) is presented with his Blue Water Award by Mike Schwarz
Mark Ford (pictured left) is presented with his Blue Water Award by Mike Schwarz

Mark Ford, Technical Director of the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) was caught by surprise when he was recently awarded an IIMS (International Institute of Marine Surveying) Blue Water Award at the IIMS London 2019 Conference Dinner held at 10/11 Carlton House Terrace in central London.

Mike Schwarz, CEO of IIMS quotes from his speech on the night:

“…….Talking about having good people around us, I am also reminded that we have some brilliant partners who we work with and they with us. One of our key partners who we have developed a solid relationship with going back five years is IMCA, the International Marine Contractors Association. We entered into dialogue with IMCA back in early 2014 and the result is the now acclaimed eCMID Accredited Vessel Inspector scheme. I am proud that with IMCA’s help we have been able to play a vital role in cleaning up what was once an unregulated offshore inspection sector. Vessel operators now know who is boarding their ships and boats and where the inspector’s competencies lie. It is testament that organisations such as Siemens, Vattenfall and Orsted, to name but three, have publicly backed the scheme. 600 people have come forward for accreditation. Continue reading “IIMS recognises IMCA’s Technical Director with a Blue Water Award”

USCG raises awareness on towing vessel’s unsafe conditions

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USCG logo
USCG logo

The US Coast Guard has published Findings of Concern 009-19, entitled Corrosion Caused Casualties. The purpose of this release is to bring awareness to towing vessel’s unsafe conditions. Discovered during 2018 on a Louisiana towing vessel during a marine casualty investigation.

On September 25, 2018, an Inspected Towing Vessel (ITV), pushing a loaded tank barge, experienced a loss of steering and ran aground.

The marine casualty investigation decided the initiating event to the incident to be the port shaft propeller nut that was wedged into the rudder, which obstructed the free and full movement of the steering gear.

Continue reading “USCG raises awareness on towing vessel’s unsafe conditions”

CHIRP has published its Maritime Feedback Report 55

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CHIRP Publication frontpage
CHIRP Publication frontpage

The CHIRP Charitable Trust has published Maritime Feedback 55. This second bulletin of 2019 contains reports on engine room heat protection, main engine failures, CBM systems, communications and hours of rest violations.

MFB 55 is currently available online in 3 languages; English, Chinese and Filipino and will soon be available in Portuguese.

The CHIRP Maritime Annual Digest 2018, giving a round-up of reports for 2018 along with insight articles, is also available online here.

A second study in collaboration with UCL Department of Neurosciences is close to completion and will be published in June. This second study focuses on “critical decision making” at sea and is a follow on from CHIRP’s “perception” study of 2018.

About CHIRP
The aim of CHIRP is to contribute to the enhancement of aviation safety in the UK and maritime safety worldwide, by providing a totally independent confidential (not anonymous) reporting system for all individuals employed in or associated with these industries.

Continue reading “CHIRP has published its Maritime Feedback Report 55”

Ammonia comes under the spotlight as a potential new low emissions fuel

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Ammonia fueled ship
Ammonia fueled ship

Ammonia can be safely and effectively applied as a marine fuel to reduce harmful emissions according to new research published by C-Job Naval Architects.

The ground-breaking research uses a new concept design, a carrier fuelled by its own cargo, to study the concept of using ammonia as a marine fuel and achieve a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in shipping. It shows ammonia can be used as marine fuel if a number of safety measures are included in the design.

Niels de Vries, Lead Naval Architect at C-Job Naval Architects and research lead, said: “Reviewing all ammonia power generation options, the Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) is clearly the most efficient. However, it does have practical challenges as the power density and load response capability are not on an acceptable level yet. “Therefore, in the short term applying the internal combustion engine is the way to go.” Continue reading “Ammonia comes under the spotlight as a potential new low emissions fuel”

DNV GL has published updated bulk cargo liquefaction guidance information

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A bulk cargo ship at harbour
A bulk cargo ship at harbour

DNV GL Classification society has updated its bulk cargo liquefaction guidelines. Originally published in 2015, the revised guidelines are based on feedback from readers and practical experiences that have arisen historically. The guidelines focus on design and operation of vessels with bulk cargoes that may liquefy.

Specifically, the revised guidelines provide additional material to better describe precautions to be followed during voyages or even the steps to be taken in the possibility of cargo liquefaction.

Continue reading “DNV GL has published updated bulk cargo liquefaction guidance information”

New Allianz review reveals the lowest shipping losses this century

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Allianz logo
Allianz logo

In 2018, the maritime industry saw the number of total shipping losses of vessels over 100GT falling significantly to 46, representing the lowest total this century, said Allianz in its new Shipping and Safety review 2019. To put it into context, there were 207 total losses reported in 2000. Cargo vessels were the ship type involved in a third of losses (15) during 2018.

Key points

Shipping losses declined by a record level of more than 50% year-on-year from 98 in 2017, driven by a significant fall in hotspots around the world and weather-related losses halving after a quieter year of hurricane and typhoon activity.

The 2018 loss year is exceptional compared with the rolling 10-year loss average of 104 (down by 55%).

Continue reading “New Allianz review reveals the lowest shipping losses this century”

Impact Tier III Regulation on yachts rejected by IMO

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ICOMIA Logo
ICOMIA Logo

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has rejected a proposal submitted by Turkey and the International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA) that sought to mitigate the impact on the yachting industry caused by Tier III regulation.

Turkey and ICOMIA proposed an alternative standard for vessels currently covered under a delay provision which expires in 2021. Meeting this standard results in reduced guest cabin space as gas exhaust treatment systems have to be installed.

The consequence of this could render yachts just above the 24m threshold commercially unattractive, a segment that ICOMIA considers crucial for the marine industry. Continue reading “Impact Tier III Regulation on yachts rejected by IMO”

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