Photo image: ClassNK. Damaged rubber washer wastage and damage of securing device crutch
Port State Control inspectors have been frequently identifying deficiencies during inspections related to the securing devices of cargo hold hatch covers and hatch coamings, according to a recent warning issued by classification society, ClassNK.
Such deficiencies included seizing, damage or missing cleats, as well as damage or wastage of cleat crutches (saddles) and so on.
Auxiliary engine damage is mostly caused by human error says Swedish Club
The majority of all auxiliary engine damage takes place immediately after maintenance work according to an investigation by The Swedish Club. A key finding in their investigation is that 55% of casualties occur within only 10% of the time between overhaul corresponding to the first 1,000 hours or so of operation after overhaul. In most cases, the damage occurs only a few hours after start up, the Club noted.
New regulations from the Danish Maritime Authority for operating personal watercraft come into force
Following the launch of new regulations from the Danish Maritime Authority, effective from 1 January 2018, operators of personal watercraft must complete a theoretical as well as a practical test.
As part of the Danish Government’s efforts to enhance the safety of those using the sea for recreational purposes, the Danish Maritime Authority will now require operators of personal watercraft and the like to hold a special personal watercraft license.
The sailing yacht CV30 was taking part in the third leg of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race having left Cape Town on 31 October 2017 bound for Fremantle, Western Australia. At about 1414 local time on 18 November 2017, the yacht was in position 42°30.3’S, 087°36.3’E, approximately 1500nm from Fremantle, when a crew member, Simon Speirs, fell overboard. He was attached to the yacht by his safety harness tethers. The hook at the end of the tether that was clipped to a jack-line, deformed and released resulting in him becoming separated from the yacht. Simon Speirs was recovered unconscious onto the yacht but sadly could not be resuscitated.
Belgium’s DEME Group’s green dredging vessel Spartacus
Belgium’s DEME Group has welcomed 2018 with a keel laying ceremony for Spartacus at the Royal IHC shipyard in Krimpen aan den Ijssel in the Netherlands. This new cutter suction dredger is set to be the most powerful such vessel of its type in the world.
With a total installed power of 44,180kW the vessel will be able to cut harder soils at speeds previously impossible. This will allow certain works to be undertaken by the cutter dredger rather than reliance upon the use of dynamite for blasting.
A preliminary investigation into the capsize of the pilot boat L242 has determined that the craft did not collide with the vessel it was approaching at the time of the accident. Instead, a combination of swells, the wake from the nearby ship and powerful currents led to the capsize of the boat and the death of two individuals on board. Based on information gathered so far, investigators believe that the boat was pushed over to 90 degrees by the combination of these forces. It remained at this angle temporarily, then fully capsized.
At 1700 hours on December 8, the Swedish Maritime Rescue Center Helsinki received notification that a pilot boat had capsized east of Helsinki. The Finnish Border Guard dispatched boat units from Suomenlinna and Porvoo, along with helicopters from Helsinki and the patrol vessel Turva. The responders attempted to parbuckle the pilot boat, but it sank during the righting evolution. After the sinking, divers searched the interior and found the bodies of the boat’s two crewmembers. Continue reading “Wake and currents the cause of L242 pilot boat capsize”
The UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency has published a Marine Guidance Note – MGN 578 – about the use of equipment while undertaking work on commercial yachts, small commercial vessels and loadline vessels.
The aim of Marine Guidance Note MGN 578 is to provide guidance on the use of “rail and trolley” and similar systems while conducting overside work on yachts and other vessels. The key points are the following:
Following falling into administration Burgess Marine assets have been partly sold off to Southampton Marine Services (SMS) saving some jobs at the company with maybe more to follow in the future.
The business and assets at three of the company’s trading locations – in Lowestoft, Avonmouth & Poole, have been transferred to SMS along with all of their works in progress, resulting in 45 jobs being saved.
But the administrator confirmed that at this time 106 employees have still been made redundant.
Seawork International 2018 will celebrate its 21st edition as the ‘go to’ meeting place for the European commercial marine sector.
Seawork 2018 sees an increased focus on vessel construction and maintenance, new award categories for the European Commercial Marine Awards (ECMAs) and a new Vessel Operations Conference; embracing the new MCA Codes of Practice, Cost Saving through Operational Efficiencies and Techniques, and the Future of Hybrid Drives.
Best Project of the Year is a new ECMA award category for challenges in marine civils or vessel operations. Judged by a panel of industry experts, the ECMAs recognise excellence and achievement across the commercial marine sector.
Image: Offshore supply vessel Viking Princess. Only accredited AVIs will be formally recognised to carry out eCMID inspections from 1 January 2018.
Marine Surveying Academy, the IIMS subsidiary that manages and runs the eCMID accreditation scheme, has been informed of some important changes regarding the recognition of reports that come into force next year. If you are involved in conducting eCMID inspections, this will affect you.
From 1 January 2018, IMCA will only recognise formal inspection reports conducted using its eCMID database, meaning that reports not uploaded into the database will no longer be considered by IMCA to be authorised vessel inspection reports. The whole eCMID system is now based on the principles described in the ISO 19011 – Guidance for auditing management systems – standard and is aligned with other comparable industry guidance on safety management system assurance.
Deep Trekker ™ means underwater hull integrity inspections can be made remotely
Deep Trekker ™ has added to its fleet of portable, robust underwater drone robots; the DT640 Utility Crawler is designed to perform a multitude of underwater tasks.
This is a brand new inspection and service robot and is said to be the first three-wheeled vehicle of its kind. Its modular construction allows for the unit to be equipped with multiple operative attachments making the DT640 more than just an inspection vehicle. The Utility Crawler can be outfitted with magnetic wheels, pressure washer, vacuum, thickness gauge and a dozer.
Following a rigorous testing process, verified by Bureau Veritas, the world’s first Class approved 3D printed ship’s propeller, the WAAMpeller, has been unveiled at Damen Shipyard Group’s headquarters in the Netherlands.
The five-company partnership started pooling their collective resources and knowledge to develop the world’s first 3D printed ship’s propeller seven months ago. Promarin provided the design of the triple-blade propeller. The Port of Rotterdam’s RAMLAB (Rotterdam Additive Manufacturing LAB) carried out fabrication using Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) techniques, supported by Autodesk’s expertise in software, robotics and additive manufacturing.
