International News

Lloyds Register defines levels autonomous ship design and operation

Posted on by News Hound
Image courtesy of Rolls-Royce
Image courtesy of Rolls-Royce

With autonomous ships likely to enter service soon, LR has set out the ‘how’ of marine autonomous operations in a new ShipRight procedure guidance. The guidance describes autonomy levels (AL) ranging from ‘AL 1’ through to ‘AL 6’ denoting a fully autonomous ship design with no access required during a mission.

The ‘AL’ system of levels provides clarity to designers, shipbuilders, equipment manufacturers, ship owners and operators, enabling accurate specification of the desired level of autonomy in design and operations and paves the way to a clearer understanding of the investment opportunity/risk equation. Continue reading “Lloyds Register defines levels autonomous ship design and operation”

Danish ships to be issued with digital certificates

Posted on by News Hound
The Danish Flag
The Danish Flag

Denmark is set to become an international frontrunner as ships flying the Danish flag are to be fitted with digital certificates. As one of the first countries in the world to make this move, Denmark has put an end to the 100 years old tradition of certifying ships by means of old-fashioned certificates on paper.

Until now, the certification has been carried out by printing, stamping and signing paper certificates and subsequently sending them around the world to be kept on board ships.Digital certification or electronic certification which is the term used internationally – will put an end to these cumbersome procedures, reduce administrative workloads and pave the way for further maritime digitalisation.

Continue reading “Danish ships to be issued with digital certificates”

MAIB releases its report on the grounding of the Hamburg cruise ship

Posted on by News Hound
Damaged propeller from the grounding of the Hamburg cruise ship
Damaged propeller from the grounding of the Hamburg cruise ship

At 1328:21 on 11 May 2015, the Bahamas registered Hamburg cruise ship grounded on charted rocks near the New Rocks buoy in the Sound of Mull, Scotland. The accident caused considerable raking damage to the hull and rendered the port propeller, shaft and rudder unserviceable.

There were no injuries and the vessel continued on its passage to Tobermory.

The investigation found that, having been unable to enter Tobermory Bay on arrival, the passage plan was not re-evaluated or amended. Combined with poor bridge team management and navigational practices, this resulted in the vessel running into danger and grounding. Despite the loud noise and vibration resulting from the grounding, the bridge team did not initiate the post-grounding checklist, no musters were held and neither the managers of the Hamburg cruise ship, nor any shore authorities were notified of the accident.

Continue reading “MAIB releases its report on the grounding of the Hamburg cruise ship”

Japan P&I Club warns of increasing ignition during petcoke loading in Venezuela

Posted on by News Hound
Japan P&I Club Logo
Japan P&I Club Logo

Petcoke (petroleum coke) is a byproduct of the oil refinery coking process that produces low-cost fuel, often with a high sulphur content. Petcoke may also be known as green delayed coke, sponge coke, needle coke, delayed coke or raw coke-fuel grade. Petcoke is over 90 percent carbon and emits 5 to 10% more carbon dioxide (CO2) than coal on a per-unit of-energy basis when it is burned. As petcoke has a higher energy content, petcoke emits between 30 and 80 percent more CO2 than coal per unit of weight.

Continue reading “Japan P&I Club warns of increasing ignition during petcoke loading in Venezuela”

First in-tank drone survey undertaken by DNV GL

Posted on by News Hound
A in-drone survey
A in-drone survey

This week, DNV GL announced that it had completed its first drone survey. This most recent maritime application for drones demonstrates a growing interest in the technology that has, over the last year, seen applications emerging across merchant, naval and research fleets around the world.

The survey took place on the MV Apollo, a chemical tanker owned by Carl Büttner Shipmanagement in Germany. Two DNV GL surveyors used the drone survey to inspect 14 tanks over a period of two and a half days.

Continue reading “First in-tank drone survey undertaken by DNV GL”

BAM set to build and install world’s first gravity base foundations for offshore wind turbines

Posted on by News Hound
Visualization of offshore wind turbine base
Visualization of offshore wind turbine base

BAM International has achieved a worldwide first having been awarded a contract to design, fabricate and install five full-size gravity base foundations for wind turbines off the Northumberland coast in the UK. The contract has been awarded to BAM by EDF Energy Renewables via SPV Blyth Offshore Demonstrator Ltd and utilises leading edge technology, the first of its kind to be built in the world.

The foundation design will utilise ‘self-installing’ technology, which has been developed by two BAM companies, BAM Nuttall and BAM Infra. The design is being undertaken by BAM Infraconsult.

Continue reading “BAM set to build and install world’s first gravity base foundations for offshore wind turbines”

Cyber security goes under scrutiny in The Navigator

Posted on by News Hound
The 12th edition of The Navigator is out now
The 12th edition of The Navigator is out now

The hot topic of cyber security is examined in the twelfth issue of The Navigator. The magazine looks at how cyber security is developing and how navigators can protect themselves, their crew mates and vessel from the associated threats. Articles include a discussion on spoofing and hacking, advice on how to prepare for the worst and an insight into the use of smart technology, social media and the internet at sea.

Emma Ward, Editor of The Navigator, said: “With more advanced onboard technology, this subject should concern everyone. Targeted, malicious cyber attacks are not the only way a ship can come under threat. Risks can come from sources much closer to home, for example a crew member plugging a smart phone into a USB port on the ECDIS and disrupting the display, or an unsuspecting social media download introducing a virus. So, the more we know about cyber security, the better we can shore up our defences and stay safe at sea.”

Continue reading “Cyber security goes under scrutiny in The Navigator”

IMO issues advice regarding verification of gross mass of packed containers as deadline looms

Posted on by News Hound
Containers and Container ships
Containers and Container ships

An MSC circular on Advice to Administrations, port State control authorities, companies, port terminals and masters regarding the SOLAS requirements for verified gross mass of packed containers has been agreed by the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), following discussion on the pending entry into force of the requirements in SOLAS regulations VI/2.4 to VI/2/6 on the verification of the gross mass of packed containers on 1 July 2016.

Concerns were noted with regards to the application of the requirements to a container which was loaded before 1 July 2016 and then transhipped. The Committee, meeting for its 96th session (11-20 May), also noted delegations’ comments that, in the first few months after 1 July 2016, some leeway should be provided in order for any problems resulting from software updates, required for the electronic collection and transmittal of verified gross mass data, to be rectified without causing delays to containers being loaded.

Continue reading “IMO issues advice regarding verification of gross mass of packed containers as deadline looms”

Caterpillar Marine unveils new hybrid thruster in pursuit of efficiency

Posted on by News Hound
Caterpillar Marine has announced delivery of its first Cat Marine Hybrid Thruster system in search of ever increasing efficiencies
Caterpillar Marine has announced delivery of its first Cat Marine Hybrid Thruster system in search of ever increasing efficiencies

Caterpillar Marine has unveiled a new hybrid thruster concept which it claims can offer dramatic cost. Caterpillar Marine has announced that the first Cat Marine Hybrid Thruster system will be delivered to an undisclosed shipyard in Singapore and will be commissioned this year.

This new propulsion setup is claimed to outperform a straight diesel mechanical drive system in all partial load conditions and offers improved fuel economy and substantial through-life savings for a variety of offshore support vessels. Caterpillar claims that for vessels spending long periods of time in standby or DP (dynamic positioning) service, the annual fuel savings by adopting this hybrid system could be as high as 35% calculated across the entire operating profile of the vessel.

Continue reading “Caterpillar Marine unveils new hybrid thruster in pursuit of efficiency”

Sky-Futures and TU Delft University to collaborate on improving corrosion measurement by drone

Posted on by News Hound
Research and development facilities at Sky-Futures
Research and development facilities at Sky-Futures

Sky-Futures, the world leading drone inspection specialists for oil and gas, has announced they are funding a project with Dutch University, TU Delft to develop technology that will allow drones to accurately measure defects on structures through drone sensor technology and display the data collected.

Sky-Futures technology team, led by CTO Adrian Karl, already uses sophisticated software to automate the analysis of the data its drones gather, helping to identify potential problems in a rig and provide accurate corrosion forecasts. Clients access imagery and analysis through a cloud-hosted portal, together with expert input from Sky-Futures’ experienced engineers.

Continue reading “Sky-Futures and TU Delft University to collaborate on improving corrosion measurement by drone”

Marine surveyor gives testimony on El Faro Steam Plant inspection

Posted on by News Hound
A El Faro containership
A El Faro containership

The US Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation into the loss of the El Faro continued with testimony from marine surveyors for the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), which provided classification and inspection services for the vessel.

Mark LaRose, a senior marine surveyor for ABS, performed a survey for the El Faro in June 2015, part of its continuous machinery survey program. Under the program, the ABS surveys 20 percent of the machinery on a ship every year for five years.

Continue reading “Marine surveyor gives testimony on El Faro Steam Plant inspection”

New hybrid ferry named M/V Berlin by Scandlines

Posted on by News Hound
Scandlines has christened its new hybrid ferry Berlin
Scandlines has christened its new hybrid ferry Berlin

On Tuesday 3 May it became official. The first of two new passenger ferries for the route Rostock-Gedser was named M/V Berlin by Scandlines at a ceremony in Rostock.

150 specially invited guests had a festive day with views of the beautiful Warnemünde passage from on board the new hybrid ferry, which is currently lying in her new berth in Rostock.

“It has definitely been worth the wait, and I am pleased that Scandlines kept their resolve in spite of the history of M/V Berlin and her sister vessel,” says Ines Rehberg, the Godmother of the vessel. Ines Rehberg is married to Eckhard Rehberg, a member of the Bundestag Continue reading “New hybrid ferry named M/V Berlin by Scandlines”

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