Marine News

Updated Port Marine Safety Code extends reach to UK Marinas

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Department of Transport - Updated Port Marine Safety Code extends reach to UK Marinas
Department of Transport – Updated Port Marine Safety Code extends reach to UK Marinas

In a significant move to strengthen maritime safety across the UK, the Department for Transport has issued an updated version of the Port Marine Safety Code (PMSC) with clear expectations that marinas and other non-statutory marine facilities bring their safety practices in line with the national framework as the Port Marine Safety Code extends reach to UK Marinas.

Originally introduced in 2000, the PMSC has long applied to statutory harbour authorities. However, the latest revision now explicitly includes all marine facilities, including privately operated marinas, piers, jetties, and terminals, even when located outside of traditional harbour jurisdictions. Continue reading “Updated Port Marine Safety Code extends reach to UK Marinas”

Transportation of electric vessels containing lithium batteries

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Boat on fire with the red words EV floating above it
Boat on fire with the red words EV floating above it

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has issued this safety advisory notice to inform the public and raise awareness of the risks involved in Transportation of electric vessels containing lithium batteries that may have been damaged due to submersion in waters during extreme weather events. When transported in commerce, EVs containing these damaged batteries may present particularly significant hazards to the public, including property damage, injury, and even death. Our intention with this notice is to prevent those things from happening. Continue reading “Transportation of electric vessels containing lithium batteries”

The opportunities and threats presented by report writing software

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By Geoff Waddington, HonFIIMS and IIMS Immediate Past President, Mike Schwarz, IIMS Chief Executive Officer with contributions from Craig Norton, President, InspectX

laptop, phone and notepad on a wooden bench

IIMS and its Professional Assessment Committee remain concerned at the quality of reports that it sees, both in general terms, but in particular when assessing a candidate’s suitability for an upgrade.

The emergence of new surveyors into the industry, coupled with their desire (along with more experienced practitioners) to utilise the latest report writing software is creating a concerning trend. In writing this article we want to remind surveyors no matter what method they use to prepare their surveys of the importance of accuracy and giving sufficient meaningful and detailed, factual information to the client. That is and always will be the role of a marine surveyor. To further illustrate this point, the authors have used some verbatim comments taken from legal teams who have been asked to comment and give opinions on surveyors’ report in courts and for insurance companies when assessing claims and considering potential litigation. For obvious reasons, the sources of these comments are not revealed. Continue reading “The opportunities and threats presented by report writing software”

Guidelines for developing an SMS for Ammonia-Fuelled Ships

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Maritime Forum Technologies LogoThe Nautical Institute is proud to support the Maritime Technologies Forum’s (MTF) initiative in developing the Guidelines for Developing and Implementing a Safety Management System for Ammonia-Fuelled Ships. This document is a critical first step in addressing safety gaps associated with the use of ammonia as a marine fuel, providing industry stakeholders with a structured approach to integrating safety measures within their Safety Management Systems (SMS). Continue reading “Guidelines for developing an SMS for Ammonia-Fuelled Ships”

New CCTV systems requirement for Indian-flagged vessels

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Indian Flag for Indian-flagged vesselsThe Indian Directorate General of Shipping has published a notice installing Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) systems on Indian-flagged vessels and foreign flag vessels visiting Indian ports.

Merchant Shipping Notice No 02 of 2025 sets out requirements that mandatory for Indian-flagged merchant vessels and foreign vessels trading in Indian Coasts under Specific Period License (SPL).

It is further recommended foreign-flagged vessels visiting Indian ports should be aware of this notice Continue reading “New CCTV systems requirement for Indian-flagged vessels”

EU assesses potential inclusion of small ships under EU MRV

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Ship HornsThe European Commission has published a report assessing the potential inclusion of small ships between 400 and 5000 gross tonnage under the scope of the EU regulation for the Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) of maritime greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The analysis identifies that over 5300 smaller vessels, which are emitting around 11 million tonnes of CO2 every year, are currently not covered by the legislation.

“Including these ships could increase the amount of emissions covered by the legislation by around 9%, while expanding the number of regulated ships by around 42%,” the Commission stated. Continue reading “EU assesses potential inclusion of small ships under EU MRV”

Structural and stowage issues of CTUs in Australian ports

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Image caption: Collapsed container floor (Source: AMSA)
Image caption: Collapsed container floor (Source: AMSA)

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has issued a safety alert, which aims to raise awareness of structural and stowage issues for shipping containers and other CTUs in Australian ports. This is in response to an increase in improperly stowed CTUs and structural issues identified during inspection. Two recent incidents involved improperly packed CTUs which led to catastrophic structural failures. These incidents highlight the critical need for ship and container owners, shippers and packers to understand their regulatory obligations and put effective controls in place. Continue reading “Structural and stowage issues of CTUs in Australian ports”

Lack of green fuels in engine retrofits says new study

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Lack of green fuels in engine retrofits says new study
Lack of green fuels in engine retrofits says new study

Lloyd’s Register (LR) has issued an update to its Retrofit Research Programme, with the latest report focusing on the developments in Engine retrofits for alternative fuels and the lack of green fuels in engine retrofits.

While the maritime industry has seen positive developments, such as increased methanol fuel conversions and shipyard engine retrofits capabilities since 2023, the adoption of alternative fuels faces a significant hurdle. Continue reading “Lack of green fuels in engine retrofits says new study”

What caught my eye: March 2025

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Norway set to introduce zero-emission requirements for World Heritage fjords

This is the first of three stories I have chosen to highlight this month, all of which originate from Norway.

For some years, Norway has been at the forefront of driving the decarbonisation agenda and this can be seen in many of their groundbreaking products.

But in many ways perhaps this story is the most striking and boldest illustration so far. I learned that the Norwegian government has Continue reading “What caught my eye: March 2025”

New report data highlights dangers of maritime cyber threats

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The lifecycle dilemmaOnly 1 in 6 shipowners fully understand what a cyber-secure vessel should look like upon delivery, highlighting a critical gap in the industry’s approach to maritime cybersecurity. The report, jointly published by Thetius, CyberOwl, a DNV company and HFW, explores key stakeholder challenges and approaches to managing cybersecurity and cyber threats across the lifecycle of a vessel.

The Lifecycle Dilemma: Navigating Cybersecurity Risks Across Designing, Constructing and Operating a Vessel delves into the shifting risks and disconnected approaches in cybersecurity across each stage from initial design Continue reading “New report data highlights dangers of maritime cyber threats”

IMO Sub-Committee on Ship Systems and Equipment (SSE11)

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Maritime life-saving equipment and ship’s fire safety systems have been the focus of the eleventh session of the IMO’s Sub-Committee on Ship Systems and Equipment.

The Nautical Institute provided a summary of the meeting saying one topic under consideration related to dealing with electric vehicle (EV) fires in Ro-Ro passenger ships.

It was noted that EVs have a lower fire rate of just 25 fires per 100,000 vehicles sold, compared to 1,530 fires per 100,000 sold for petrol cars. Continue reading “IMO Sub-Committee on Ship Systems and Equipment (SSE11)”

Maritime Labour Convention inspections MGN 600 for coded vessels updated by MCA

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Maritime Labour Convention inspections MGN 600 for coded vessels updated by MCA
Maritime Labour Convention inspections MGN 600 for coded vessels updated by MCA

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has published MGN 600 (M) Amendment 3, which updates the inspection requirements for coded vessels under the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC).

The updated guidance clarifies inspection procedures for vessels under 500GT, ensuring they meet the MLC’s core principles, including appropriate crew accommodation, fair working conditions, regulated rest hours, and comprehensive health and safety measures. These changes aim to align the standards for coded vessels more closely with international maritime regulations, strengthening compliance across the sector. Specifically there is an added annexe which provides an inspection report form. Continue reading “Maritime Labour Convention inspections MGN 600 for coded vessels updated by MCA”

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