Loss of containers off Hawaii due to poor cargo loading procedures

Several pictures of ship with damaged cargo
Several pictures of ship with damaged cargo

Poor barge loading resulted in the loss of 21 cargo containers into the ocean off the coast of Hawaii last year, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said in its report on the accident.

The barge Ho’omaka Hou, owned and operated by Young Brothers, LLC, was being towed by the Hoku Loa approximately 6.9 nautical miles north-northwest of Hilo at the time of the accident on 22 June 2020. The accident resulted in $1.6 million in damages, but no injuries.

The NTSB determined the probable cause of the collapse of container stacks onboard the barge was the company not providing the barge team with an initial barge load plan, as well as inadequate procedures for monitoring stack weights. “That led to the undetected reverse stratification of container stacks that subjected the stacks’ securing arrangements to increased forces while in transit at sea,” the NTSB said. Continue reading “Loss of containers off Hawaii due to poor cargo loading procedures”

100 years on since the RNLI used tractors to launch lifeboats, the Institution looks back

Photo of a tractor 100 years ago - Image credit: British Illustrations
Image credit: British Illustrations

This year marks 100 years since the RNLI used tractors to launch its lifeboats and the technology nowadays – with the very latest Shannon Launch and Recovery System (SLRS) – is unrecognisable to all those years ago.

RNLI lifeboats often take centre stage in rescues, however, many can’t launch without a tractor and the dedicated shore crew. Operators often launch the lifeboat in raging seas and darkness, and a safe, quick launch can make the difference between life and death. The lifeboat and crew might get the public’s attention, but the tractor and the shore crew are the unsung heroes who more than pull their weight – literally.

Continue reading “100 years on since the RNLI used tractors to launch lifeboats, the Institution looks back”

Sailing community shares the nation’s sadness as RYA pays tribute to HRH The Duke of Edinburgh

Photo of the Duke of Edinburgh on a yacht - Image credit: PA Archive/PA Images
Image credit: PA Archive/PA Images

Though probably best known for founding The Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme in 1956, His Royal Highness was also involved in the work of many more charities and organisations which reflected his wide-ranging interests including conservation, the military and engineering, as well as his passion for getting afloat. Well-known for his love of sailing, as well as his long-standing naval career, The Duke of Edinburgh started sailing while he was at Gordonstoun School in Scotland. He sailed frequently with Prince Charles in the Dragon Class keelboat Bluebottle, which was a gift to The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh on their marriage from the Island Sailing Club in Cowes, Isle of Wight. The Duke sailed the boat competitively for a number of years.

In 1948, Her Royal Highness Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh were listed as new members of the RYA and given Honorary Membership. At the 1956 RYA Annual General Meeting, The Duke of Edinburgh was elected as President of the RYA for the first time. Following his election, the Council was regularly invited to hold one of its meetings on board HMY Britannia during Cowes Week. Continue reading “Sailing community shares the nation’s sadness as RYA pays tribute to HRH The Duke of Edinburgh”

The deaths of John Excell & Peter Morgan announced

The sun rising over the clouds
The sun rising over the clouds

The past week has been one of great sadness for me personally, the IIMS head office team, Institute members, and the wider maritime industry with the announcements of the passing of two IIMS champions. Last week, I received news of the passing of Peter Morgan HonFIIMS. Peter died on 4 April. And then just a week later, news that John Excell HonFIIMS had lost his brave battle and succumbed to a long illness reached me. The news of both deaths affected me greatly.

Detailed obituaries are being prepared for both men and will appear in the June 2021 Report Magazine.

But for now, let me try and make sense of what has been the toughest of weeks as both men were well known to me and many others. Indeed, both in their own ways gave so much to the Institute and will be sorely missed.

Continue reading “The deaths of John Excell & Peter Morgan announced”

MAIB Spring 2021 Safety Digest of accident reports

MAIB Safety Digest 2021/1
MAIB Safety Digest 2021/1

The Spring 2021 Safety Digest has been published by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch. It features 25 case studies involving a range of vessels and accidents. The Safety Digest talks through each scenario and reveals the lessons that arise from each case.

Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents, Andrew Moll, writes in his welcome and introduction “I would like to start by thanking Fran Collins, David Fuller and Roger Brydges for writing the introductions to the merchant, fishing and leisure sections of this Digest. Their perspectives on maritime safety make compelling reading.

At the MAIB, we try to keep our safety messages fresh. Continue reading “MAIB Spring 2021 Safety Digest of accident reports”

RYA licensing arrangement in Spanish waters after Brexit

The Spanish flag being flown on a vessel at sea
The Spanish flag being flown on a vessel at sea

Since Brexit there have been a few individuals who have been working almost non-stop to find solutions and trying to prevent incorrect facts being reported in the news and on social media platforms. The last few days have seen some news articles published in Mallorca that have been fundamentally incorrect and inaccurate and many boat owners in the Balearics are receiving mixed and confusing messages over RYA licensing arrangement and what they can and cannot do.

These are the facts as confirmed by multiple legal opinions:
Why has the acceptance of RYA Licensing arrangement in Spain changed?
From the 1st of January 2021, as a result of Brexit, the Spanish ceased to accept all RYA and ICC [international Certificates of Competence] on any Spanish flagged vessels. This prevented anyone with RYA/ICC Certification from operating on a Spanish flagged vessel. Continue reading “RYA licensing arrangement in Spanish waters after Brexit”

New costs of trading second-hand vessels between the UK and EU

The deck of a yacht
The deck of a yacht

British Marine and the RYA have now received further information from both the EU Commission and the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) on the trade of pre-owned CE marked second-hand vessels between the UK and EU following the UK’s exit from the European Union.

Both the UK and EU have confirmed that any trade between second-hand vessels between the UK and EU will be required to meet the obligations set out in either the Recreational Craft Directive (RCD) in the EU or the Recreational Craft Regulations (RCR) in the UK when placed on either market after the 1 January 2021.

Continue reading “New costs of trading second-hand vessels between the UK and EU”

HM Treasury confirms decision to maintain recreational boaters’ entitlement to use red diesel beyond April 2022

HM Treasury confirms decision to maintain recreational boaters’ entitlement to use red diesel beyond April 2022
HM Treasury confirms decision to maintain recreational boaters’ entitlement to use red diesel beyond April 2022

The lobbying campaign, mounted by The Cruising Association, Royal Yachting Association (RYA) and British Marine which the three supported in various ways, has argued successfully that having two colours of diesel including red diesel would cause fuel supply problems and impact on safe sailing in the UK.

The decision allows for easy refuelling in England, Wales and Scotland and will avoid the logistical and environmental difficulty for the fuel supply industry of changing to white diesel, they say. Now pleasure craft in Great Britain will be able to use red diesel and pay fuel suppliers the difference between the red diesel rate and the white diesel rate, on the proportion intended for propulsion use.

For heating purposes, a vessel with a separate tank will still be able to use red diesel at the lower duty rate. The percentage relief scheme for heating use, for a craft with one tank, is to be announced. Continue reading “HM Treasury confirms decision to maintain recreational boaters’ entitlement to use red diesel beyond April 2022”

IIMS publishes the March 2021 Report Magazine edition 95

The Report Magazine, edition 95, published by IIMS
The Report Magazine, edition 95, published by IIMS

The International Institute of Marine Surveying has published edition 95 of The Report Magazine, March 2021. The 108 page publication has placed an editorial emphasis on two topical and concerning issues:
1) shipping container incidents at sea and;
2) the unintended consequences of Brexit affecting the marine surveying profession in certain parts of the EU.

The highlights and main feature articles of this edition of The Report Magazine are:

– The CTU code – why we need it
– VAT on boats post Brexit explained
– Container stack collapses (causes and solutions)
– New insights into MSC ZOE in shallow water that require further action to prevent future container loss
– Tackling the scourge of container ship fires
– The Estonia disaster continues to be a bottomless source of learning
– Costly claims for crane failures caused by human errors
– From composite evolution to vessel construction revolution
Continue reading “IIMS publishes the March 2021 Report Magazine edition 95”

CWind launches world’s first hybrid surface effect ship CWind Pioneer

CWind Pioneer. Image courtesy of CWind
CWind Pioneer. Image courtesy of CWind

CWind Pioneer is the world’s first hybrid powered Surface Effect Ship (SES) and has been delivered by CWind, a leading provider of project services, CTVs and GWO-accredited training courses to the offshore wind industry.

Named the CWind Pioneer to demonstrate its position at the forefront of crew transfer vessel innovation, the vessel was developed in response to an industry-wide push to develop and deploy innovative technologies that reduce CO2 emissions, while cost-effectively servicing windfarms located further offshore. The CWind Pioneer achieves this through a hybrid diesel and battery electric power system which enables the vessel to operate purely on battery power while in harbour or at standby in the windfarm, resulting in a decrease in fuel burn and CO2.

Continue reading “CWind launches world’s first hybrid surface effect ship CWind Pioneer”

Cruising Association says boat owners are caught ‘in perfect storm’

Boat owners caught in a perfect storm post Brexit. Photo: Cruising Association
Boat owners caught in a perfect storm post Brexit. Photo: Cruising Association

Robin Baron, chairman of the Cruising Association RATS committee, has said that cruising yachtsmen are in the middle of ‘a perfect storm’. His words come at the end of months of COVID-19 restrictions, a VAT ‘trap’ and new visa rules exacerbating everything. Amid a surge of enquiries about Brexit which has seen the Cruising Association run a seminar and respond to multiple questions from members in unfolding territory, Baron has settled on a plan to at least help members negotiate visa arrangements. He’s looking to exert pressure from within.

Since 1 January 2021, people can only stay 90 days in any 180-day period within the Schengen area. The 180-day reference period is not fixed. It is a moving window, based on the approach of looking backwards at each day of the Continue reading “Cruising Association says boat owners are caught ‘in perfect storm’”

New chief executive appointed by Inland Waterways Association

New chief executive appointed by Inland Waterways Association
New chief executive appointed by Inland Waterways Association

The Inland Waterways Association has appointed Phil Hornsey as its new chief executive. Hornsey is an experienced leader with a strong strategic, development and marketing background. He has a 20-year career across corporate and not-for-profit sectors.

As director of membership and community at British Rowing, Hornsey led the national delivery of programmes to engage, support and grow the sport, achieving record levels of participation, paying members, and unrestricted income for the organisation. Prior to joining British Rowing, Hornsey held senior management positions at O2, EE and Betfair. Continue reading “New chief executive appointed by Inland Waterways Association”

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