Marine News

Feadship gives a construction update on its new Amsterdam facility

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An artist's impression of the new Feadship facility, due to open in May 2019
An artist’s impression of the new Feadship facility, due to open in May 2019

Dutch yard Feadship has offered an insight into the ongoing construction of its new facility in Amsterdam, which is scheduled to open its doors in May 2019. The facility, strategically situated in the heart of the Dutch capital, has recently passed a construction milestone after it was connected to the main district heating operation in the city.

Eleven mobile cranes assembled to simultaneously lift a 160-metre pipe to connect the Amsterdam facility, which will now operate using renewable and surplus heat.

According to the yard, the green energy source will provide the heating in several areas, including the main hall, spray cabins, drying areas, workshops and office. Feadship has also decided to utilise other green energy options at the site to limit its impact on the environment; the main building roof set to be covered in 2262 solar panels, with estimations suggesting they will generate 550,000kWh of energy every year. Continue reading “Feadship gives a construction update on its new Amsterdam facility”

Cargo hold cleaning robots undergo testing

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Cargo hold cleaning is a critical aspect of the complex bulk carrier operations that require careful preparation to maintain cargo quality and to avoid any delays. A conventional bulk carrier may transport coal this week and soya beans the next week, which requires thorough wash-downs and cleaning in between. Danish shipping company Norden has said it has tested a cargo hold robot which can be remotely operated to prevent risk and delays, also leading to enhanced safety for crew and others who are required to enter holds.

The prototype, developed by Danish company CLIIN with assistance from the Market Development Fund, is a new belt-driven robot which can be operated remotely to go up and down along the sides of the holds while pressure cleaning them. The robot is driven forward by Continue reading “Cargo hold cleaning robots undergo testing”

CRT to create regional teams to improve customer service and engage with local communities

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Richard Parry, CRT CEO (pictured right)
Richard Parry, CRT CEO (pictured right)

Canal & River Trust will move resource from its centrally based roles into its six regional customer-facing teams to improve customer service and engage with local communities.

The changes will be made as part of the trust’s waterways and well being strategy and will see operational management roles adapted to meet the requirements of the new regions.

Richard Parry, CEO, commented: “The Trust has been repositioning as a charity for the waterways and well being, with a new structure that has seen us move from ten waterways to six larger regions, with some activities previously managed centrally now devolved to these regional teams, and a reduction in senior manager numbers overall.

Continue reading “CRT to create regional teams to improve customer service and engage with local communities”

Clipper Ventures embarks on expansion plan in China

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Zhang Xiaodong and William Ward OBE celebrate the launch of Clipper Ventures Chinese division Photo: Clipper Ventures
Zhang Xiaodong and William Ward OBE celebrate the launch of Clipper Ventures Chinese division Photo: Clipper Ventures

Clipper Ventures has announced the biggest expansion in its 23 year history with the opening of a new division in China.

The company, organiser of the Round the World Yacht Race, hopes that Clipper China will become the industry leader in the development of offshore training and sailing events in the country.

Together with running its own academies, the new division will build its own one-design keelboats and offshore racing yacht fleets under the aegis of British naval architect Tony Castro Design.

Announcing the news at the first China Sailing Cities forum in Beijing, William Ward OBE, chief executive and co-founder (together with Sir Robin Knox-Johnston) of Clipper Ventures, said: Continue reading “Clipper Ventures embarks on expansion plan in China”

AMSA has reported seven serious marine incidents in October

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AMSA has published a list of the most serious incidents that occurred during October
AMSA has published a list of the most serious incidents that occurred during October

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) informed that a total of forty five domestic commercial vessel incidents were reported in the month of October. Of these, seven were categorised as serious.

AMSA has published a list of the most serious incidents that occurred during October:
– A deck hand was bitten by sea snake while bringing in the nets. He could not be revived by emergency services.
– Vessel anchor rope become entangled in the propeller, damaging the rudder and seizing the motor, leaving the vessel disabled.
– A 10m yacht sank with 400 litres of diesel on-board. Joint Rescue Coordination Centre Australia assisted in the rescue of the crew.
– Vessel grounded causing damage to chain locker. A hull inspection revealed damage to the hull and bow stem.
– Collision between two vessels causing damage to Continue reading “AMSA has reported seven serious marine incidents in October”

European Maritime Safety Agency publishes an overview of maritime casualties in 2017

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Photo credit: EMSA
Photo credit: EMSA

The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) has published its annual review of maritime casualties. It has reported a total of 3,301 incidents through 2017. The report reveals that the number of very serious casualties has continuously decreased since 2014 with 74 reported in 2017. A total of 61 people were injured and 61 ships were lost. During the 2011-2017 period, 405 accidents led to a total of 683 lives lost, which represents a decreasing trend.

The report contains statistics on marine casualties and incidents that: involve ships flying a flag of one of the EU Member States; occur within EU Member States’ territorial sea and internal waters as defined in UNCLOS; or involve other substantial interests of the EU Member States.

Key points
– With 3301 occurrences reported in 2017, the total number of occurrences recorded in EMCIP has grown to over 20,000. This amounts to an average of Continue reading “European Maritime Safety Agency publishes an overview of maritime casualties in 2017”

Numerous lessons learned from US maritime casualties in 2017 as NTSB releases its annual report

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US Coast Guard photo by Stasia Ellis
US Coast Guard photo by Stasia Ellis

The NTSB has published its 94 page Safer Seas digest annual report giving an overview of key lessons to be learned from a series of major maritime casualties.

NTSB has noted that many of the issues in last year’s report were recurring topics, including fatigue, poor bridge resource management, and distraction. The 41 marine accidents included in the report involved allisions, capsizings, collisions, fires, explosions, flooding, groundings, equipment damage, loss of life, injuries, and significant property damage.

The failure to maintain watertight integrity was the number one cause of Continue reading “Numerous lessons learned from US maritime casualties in 2017 as NTSB releases its annual report”

Recommendations on reducing yacht racing risks released

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The report team found that the risk clearly depends on the level of congestion.
The report team found that the risk clearly depends on the level of congestion.

A new Volvo Ocean Race (VOR)-commissioned report has examined ocean racing at night in areas of high vessel traffic density to establish possible steps to mitigate risk following the death of a fisherman during the race.

The independent Volvo High Traffic Density Report follows the collision between Vestas 11th Hour Racing and a fishing vessel this January, in the final stages of the leg into Hong Kong during the most recent edition of the race. The crews recounted that virtually all the vessels had some form of lighting and exhibited AIS. The fishing vessels were either stationary or travelling at slow speeds of 3-6 knots and they did not form an impenetrable barrier.

Recommendations made in the report included use of Continue reading “Recommendations on reducing yacht racing risks released”

Cley Harbour rejuvenated after many years of disuse

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Photo credit: Chris Taylor
Photo credit: Chris Taylor

Norfolk’s Cley Harbour has received its largest traditional working sailing vessel for more than 60 years, marking its return to activity after falling into disuse.

The Coastal Exploration Company owned 30ft open wooden gaff rigged whelk boat Salford came into the harbour to deliver a cargo of North Norfolk beer from Barsham Brewery to the Cley Windmill.

Simon Read, chairman of Cley Harbour committee said: “This is the largest traditional working sailing vessel to visit Cley in over 60 years and will be mark a key moment in the rejuvenation of Cley Harbour.”

The clinker-built traditional Norfolk fishing boat has remained in and around Norfolk’s waters since it was built in the 1950s and was recently in the filming of Continue reading “Cley Harbour rejuvenated after many years of disuse”

Workboat apprenticeship scheme tackles skills and crewing challenges

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Training providers including 54 North Maritime and Red Ensign are drawing up plans to run courses for the scheme
Training providers including 54 North Maritime and Red Ensign are drawing up plans to run courses for the scheme

The National Workboat Association (NWA) has finalised its Workboat Crewmember Apprenticeship standard as the industry faces growing skills and crewing challenges in the thriving workboat sector.

This scheme is aimed at addressing industry concerns about falling numbers of young people entering the industry at ground level, exasperated by experienced seafarers leaving the industry, often by retirement.

As well as tugs and ‘multicat’-type vessels the definition of workboat in this context includes: offshore wind personnel transfer vessels, survey craft and pilot vessels, all sectors experiencing growth involving increasingly sophisticated and technically demanding vessels but still requiring seamanship skills that have been around for generations. The new apprenticeship standard has now been finalised, paving the way for the scheme to be rolled out by training providers across England and Wales.

The Workboat Crewmember Standard and assessment has been Continue reading “Workboat apprenticeship scheme tackles skills and crewing challenges”

New dry dock initiative uses inflatable buoyancy

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For the next phase of construction; the installation of the upper decks to take place, the dry dock needed to be flooded and the hull then towed to the wet dock.
For the next phase of construction; the installation of the upper decks to take place, the dry dock needed to be flooded and the hull then towed to the wet dock.

Unique Group’s Buoyancy & Ballast division has recently facilitated a high-profile dry dock project in Romania, involving the supply and operation of 840t of Seaflex inflatable buoyancy.

The hull and lower decks of the Australian Antarctic Division’s (AAD) new icebreaker Nuyina were constructed in the dry dock at Damen’s Galati Shipyard.

“Our Buoyancy & Ballast division is truly unique within the market and we consistently bring added value to our clients, working in partnership,” said Chris Sparrow, global sales manager, Buoyancy & Ballast at Unique Group.

“We get right up to speed early on in a project during Continue reading “New dry dock initiative uses inflatable buoyancy”

Preventing coal cargo from self-heating

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The atmosphere in each cargo hold should be monitored, at least on a daily basis, for CO, hydrogen sulphide (H2 S), oxygen (O2) and flammable gas (LEL-methane).
The atmosphere in each cargo hold should be monitored, at least on a daily basis, for CO, hydrogen sulphide (H2 S), oxygen (O2) and flammable gas (LEL-methane).

London P&I Club has analysed the problems associated with the transportation of coal in bulk, such as self-heating and flammable gas (i.e. methane) release. Self-heating can lead to fires and the production of carbon monoxide (CO), whilst methane release can lead to an explosive atmosphere being generated in the hold.

Self-heating normally occurs in localised hot spots within a bulk cargo, and temperature measurements are unlikely to identify problems. However, when coal self-heats it produces CO, so measuring the concentration of CO is the most effective method to identify a self-heating cargo.

The atmosphere in each cargo hold should be monitored, at least on a daily basis, for CO, hydrogen sulphide (H2 S), oxygen (O2) and flammable gas (LEL-methane). If the holds are being ventilated, then ventilation should be stopped at least Continue reading “Preventing coal cargo from self-heating”

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