The past couple of years have presented challenges for the resilient global superyacht industry, not least for those whose role it is to inspect and report on the complex coatings systems. The pandemic and other factors beyond the Registered Marine Coatings Inspector (RMCI) team’s control brought the successful programme to a temporary halt. But recent news from RMCI states that the marine coatings inspector is due for a relaunch.
We hear all the time about exciting breakthroughs in new technology and enhanced safety management systems designed to keep lives and assets safe at sea. We read in various reports that, in general, the number of serious incidents and accidents is falling year on year, leading to my use of the phrase ‘carnage at sea’. So, what on earth went wrong in August? It was carnage at sea! If you can help me to make sense of it all, please do so! Continue reading “Carnage at sea in August. What’s happened and why?”
The US Coast Guard (USCG) has shared lessons learned from a recent marine casualty that resulted in a severe injury to a crewmember onboard a cargo vessel. The incident brought to light a dangerous and potentially fatal situation involving hidden corrosion involving D-ring lifting points.
While positioning a removable hatch cover on the vessel, three of the four D-ring securing straps failed, causing an uncontrolled snap-back of the lifting sling assembly that struck the crewmember in the head. The three fractured securing straps showed similar failures with a significant amount of corrosion beneath the paint and on the underside of the straps. It is likely that just one D-ring failed initially, which Continue reading “Hidden corrosion can cause dangerous failures”
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has set out a new policy statement for the assessment and certification of what it terms ‘novel’ vessels. If operators are planning to build or buy a vessel within one of the vessel types set out in the policy, they should contact AMSA for advice on whether it is considered novel and the best certification pathway for the vessel.
– Submarines
– Passenger-carrying submersibles
– Dynamically supported vessels (including fully foil-born, and vessels that are partially foil supported)
– Wing-in-ground effect (WIG) vessels Continue reading “New policy for assessment and certification of novel vessels issued by AMSA”
An Indian marine surveyor has been jailed for three months for his role in a long-running bunker theft ring in Singapore, the world’s largest bunkering hub. The jailed marine surveyor is Kumunan Rethana Kumaran, 40, was one of 12 surveyors charged with taking bribes from former Shell Bukom employees who ran an illegal scheme to siphon off fuel oil from Shell’s physical bunker operations in Singapore. Continue reading “Marine surveyor jailed over bunker theft scheme”
The Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) of Ireland invites applications from an expert marine consultant to enhance the technical skills within the MCIB Secretariat, support investigations and investigators, and provide technical advice to the Board as required. Continue reading “Marine Casualty Investigation Board call for applications for appointment as an Expert Marine Consultant”
DNV has joined ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company and Microbial Insights, Inc in a Joint Industry Project (JIP) to develop the next generation of tackle microbial corrosion issue such as detection, monitoring and mitigation technology.
With global costs of corrosion estimated at USD 2.5 trillion, the project aims to significantly enhance detection and monitoring methods of microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC). MIC poses a significant problem in numerous industries, and taking early action to mitigate its effects can protect the environment and safe operations by reducing the risk of costly pipeline failures. Continue reading “Joint industry initiative to tackle microbial corrosion issue”
I have written this short article following the publication of a report into a Lithium-ion battery fire onboard the ‘MS Brim’ which generated the investigation by the Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority. The vessel in question is the ‘MS Brim’, a 2019-built all-electric excursion catamaran offering excursion tours in the Norwegian fjords. Although not a technical man, I am troubled by some of the report findings, and forgive me as I have cherry-picked the bits that concern me most from a lengthy report. Continue reading “Lithium-ion batteries – should we be concerned?”
The The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has revised various documentation issued between 8th of June and the 15th of July.
All M-Notices (MSNs, MGNs and MINs) can be found through the use of the search engine on the MCA website.
Issued 9 June 2022
SI 2022 No. 0629 – The Merchant Shipping (Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments) Order 2022 Continue reading “Revised MCA documentation issued between 8 June and 15 July”
Leading Classification Society ClassNK released a comprehensively revised version of Part C of its Rules and Guidance for the Survey and Construction of Steel Ships setting the requirements for hull structures on 1 July 2022.
ClassNK is constantly revising its Rules and Guidance in order to reflect the latest results from relevant research and development projects, feedback from damage investigations, requests from industry, as well as changes made to the relevant regulations such as international conventions. Continue reading “ClassNK releases comprehensively revised structural rules”
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has published its 2021 annual report. One of the main findings to note is the number of fatalities in the fishing vessel fleet, which hit a 20-year high. In his annual report statement, Chief Inspector of Accidents, Capt. Andrew Moll OBE, says, “I am pleased to introduce MAIB’s annual report 2021. It was another busy and successful year for the branch improving safety at sea by our sustained output of safety investigation reports, safety digests, and safety bulletins despite lockdown conditions affecting work early in the year. The branch raised 1530 reports of marine accidents and commenced 22 investigations in 2021. Continue reading “MAIB Annual Report 2021 published”
At the IIMS Annual General Meeting, broadcast live from Murrills House in Portchester UK on Tuesday 7th June 2022, Peter Broad formally took up his position as the new IIMS President of the International Institute of Marine Surveying for a two-year term succeeding Geoff Waddington. Whilst most delegates joined the AGM online, the management board meeting had taken place earlier in the day meaning that a few could attend the AGM in person for the first-time post-pandemic. The now immediate Past President, Geoff Waddington, opened the AGM with a short speech. In it, he explained what a strange presidency it had been with the inability to meet members due to the pandemic. Continue reading “New IIMS President takes up office”
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