PowerCell Sweden AB has received the first marine order for two S3 prototype stacks

Per Wassen, CEO of Powercell Sweden AB
Per Wassen, CEO of Powercell Sweden AB

The leading fuel cell company PowerCell Sweden AB (publ) has received the first marine order for two PowerCell S3 prototype stacks, which Swiss Hydrogen will install on a ship powered by photovoltaics.

“The marine industry is a very interesting area, in which our capacity to deliver electricity without emissions is extremely important. This order comprises two PowerCell S3 prototypes. The order is of strategic importance, but has a limited effect on the result. We are responsible for the fuel cells and Swiss Hydrogen will manufacture the system and conduct adjustments to certify it for the marine environment. The advantage is that our fuel cell stacks are modular and in this way we can get in a few hundred horsepower where it is required in marine applications”, said Per Wassén, CEO, PowerCell Sweden AB.

Continue reading “PowerCell Sweden AB has received the first marine order for two S3 prototype stacks”

IIMS Small Craft Working Group 2016 ‘super’ training day report

Conference Delegates sat in a room
Conference Delegates sat in a room

Over 30 yacht and small craft surveyors converged on Boathouse No.4 at the iconic Portsmouth Historic Dockyard for the 2016 ‘super’ training day on Monday 24 October and were joined by half a dozen more who came to the event remotely using video conferencing.

Chairman of yacht and small craft surveying, John Excell, welcomed guests to the day and particularly thanked Cygnus Instruments Ltd and Matrix Insurance Ltd for their generous sponsorship support of the day.

Continue reading “IIMS Small Craft Working Group 2016 ‘super’ training day report”

IIMS India Branch Silver Jubilee Conference report

India Delegates at the conference
India Delegates at the conference

An unusually wet October day in the bustling city of Mumbai, India experienced an unusually large gathering of the representatives from Marine Surveying Companies, P&I Clubs, Correspondents, Vessel Owners, Agents and Equipment Manufacturers for the Silver Jubilee Conference. It was the 5th of October 2016 at the Majestic Ballroom of ‘The Lalit’ Hotel near the new swanky T2 terminal of Mumbai’s International Airport.

Continue reading “IIMS India Branch Silver Jubilee Conference report”

Joop Ellenbroek, IIMS member, passes away after a lengthy battle with illness

The death of IIMS member, Joop Ellenbroek, following a long illness has been announced
The death of IIMS member, Joop Ellenbroek, following a long illness has been announced

It is with deep sadness and regret that we announce the passing away of IIMS member and CCS founder Mr Johannes Wilhelmus ‘Joop’ Ellenbroek. Although Joop passed away on September 9 after a lengthy illness, news has only just reached the IIMS office of his death.

Joop was well known within the coatings, chemicals and superyacht industry and much respected by all he worked with. After many years of working for paint manufacturers, he began his career in the superyacht industry in 1994 when he founded CCS (Coating Consultants for Superyachts), which due to his efforts is now one of the most well-known and respected coating surveying companies in the world.

Continue reading “Joop Ellenbroek, IIMS member, passes away after a lengthy battle with illness”

Essential advice on how to avoid claims arising from the transportation of steel cargo

Avoiding claims from the transportation of steel cargo is the subject of a new guidance publication by The American P&I Club
Avoiding claims from the transportation of steel cargo is the subject of a new guidance publication by The American P&I Club

The handling, stowage and transportation of steel cargo has been an ongoing focus of P&I loss prevention activity. The American P&I Club has published its latest publication: Transport Guidance for Steel Cargoes, which is a detailed guide (downloadable in pdf format below) running to some 100 pages with a view to offering a comprehensive overview of how to avoid claims arising from the carriage of these cargoes from a variety of related perspectives.

The frequency and costs of steel cargo related claims experienced by the American Club between 2000 and 2015 have been substantial. During this period, steel cargo claims have accounted for an astonishing US$ 15.4 million in financial losses to the Association.

Continue reading “Essential advice on how to avoid claims arising from the transportation of steel cargo”

New case study by American P&I Club reminds that lubricating oil maintenance is critical

New case study by American P&I Club reminds that lubricating oil maintenance is critical
New case study by American P&I Club reminds that lubricating oil maintenance is critical

If there is one standout cause for failures of main and auxiliary engines, it is through inadequate monitoring and maintenance of the condition of lubricating oil – literally the life-blood of any engine. The American P&I Club has issued a new case study taking into account best practices in the prevention of shipboard machinery failures.

The case study incident:
The medium speed main engine of a bulk carrier suffered a turbocharger failure whilst on transatlantic passage to New York. The engine had then labored for several days with a non-functional turbocharger creating very poor combustion and black exhaust smoke. Whilst in port and undergoing turbocharger repairs the attending surveyor recommended that lubricating oil samples be taken from the main engine for analysis. It wasn’t done, and several days later during another loaded passage, the main bearings and then the crankshaft failed leading to towage, large general average costs and extensive disputes over seaworthiness.

Continue reading “New case study by American P&I Club reminds that lubricating oil maintenance is critical”

Critical skill gaps revealed by British boat builders

Boat builder apprentices
Boat builder apprentices

Despite recruitment across Britain’s marine industry increasing by 2.7% in 2014/15, and with a further increase of 2% predicted for 2015/16, new statistics released today at the Southampton Boat Show have revealed that 30% of companies have identified critical skill gaps that are holding their businesses back.

The majority of the workforce growth has reportedly come from the boat manufacturing (20%), equipment supply chain (20%), and boat distribution and retail (15%) sectors, with the industry’s 4,500 businesses now employing 31,600 people.

The statistics revealed that technical skills are perceived to be the biggest “obstacle to recruitment” in the British marine industry’s, with 74% of businesses citing a lack of technical training, such as manufacturing and engineering as a barrier, compared to the UK-wide average of 41%: “For an industry where one in two jobs are boat building and repair and equipment manufacturing (34% and 13% respectively) the need to plug the skills gap is becoming more important for future growth.”

Continue reading “Critical skill gaps revealed by British boat builders”

McMurdo launches the first four frequency EPIRB

McMurdo launches the first four frequency EPIRB
McMurdo launches the first four frequency EPIRB

McMurdo has launched the first four frequency EPIRB’s that aim to accelerate the search and rescue process by combining multiple frequencies into a single EPIRB product.

Apparently, the McMurdo SmartFind and Kannad SafePro EPIRBs will be the world’s first distress beacons that can support each of the four frequencies used in the search and rescue process – 406MHz and 121.5MHz for beacon transmission, GNSS for location positioning, and AIS for localised connectivity.

This multiple-frequency capability should help ensure faster detection, superior positioning accuracy, greater signal reliability and, ultimately, accelerated rescue of people or vessels in distress.

Continue reading “McMurdo launches the first four frequency EPIRB”

Report on the IIMS 2016 Annual General Meeting

Capt Bertrand Apperry hands the President's medal over to Adam Brancher at the AGM. Photo by Kirk Schwarz - www.kirkschwarz.co.uk
Capt Bertrand Apperry hands the President’s medal over to Adam Brancher at the AGM. Photo by Kirk Schwarz – www.kirkschwarz.co.uk

The 2016 Annual General Meeting of the International Institute of Marine Surveying took place at Herringham Hall, Regent’s University on Wednesday 31 August at 14.45. The meeting was called to order and opened by President, Capt Bertrand Apperry.

Acceptance of the minutes of the 2015 Annual General Meeting were proposed by Capt Khalil Khan and seconded by Capt Syed Humail.

The President gave his verbal report to those in attendance, his final one before stepping down. He said:
“It has given me great pleasure to have been your President for the last two years. It is special that my presidency has coincided with the Institute’s twenty fifth anniversary in 2016. Since our formation in 1991, the organisation has grown steadily and we have reached this significant milestone in good shape.

Continue reading “Report on the IIMS 2016 Annual General Meeting”

MAIB issues its report into the Arco Avon engine room fire

Photograph of Arco Avon at anchor
Photograph of Arco Avon at anchor

This reports the MAIB’s investigation into a fire in the engine room of the dredger Arco Avon while the vessel was loading a sand cargo approximately 12 miles off Great Yarmouth, UK. The fire claimed the life of the vessel’s third engineer, who was attempting to repair a failed fuel pipe when fuel, under pressure in the pipe, ignited.

Statement from the Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents
The sad death of an experienced officer serving on a UK registered ship serves as a salient reminder of the risks that crews can be exposed to when policies and procedures designed to mitigate such risks are not followed, and recognised safe systems of work are allowed to lapse. Robust risk assessments and safe systems of work are important barriers that prevent marine accidents. Everyone, from the individual seafarer to the senior company executive ashore, needs to develop shared company safety cultures that make the use of risk assessments and safe systems of work an unquestioned part of life when working on board UK registered vessels.

Continue reading “MAIB issues its report into the Arco Avon engine room fire”

Winners of the IIMS Silver Jubilee Awards for Excellence announced

Sir Alan Massey, MCA CEO, (right), is thanked by IIMS CEO, Mike Schwarz, for presenting the IIMS Silver Jubilee Awards
Sir Alan Massey, MCA CEO, (right), is thanked by IIMS CEO, Mike Schwarz, for presenting the IIMS Silver Jubilee Awards

Following a search lasting six months to discover and recognise excellence in marine surveying, the IIMS Silver Jubilee Awards for Excellence were announced on 31 August 2016 at Regent’s University in central London as part of the Institute’s 25th anniversary celebrations.

Presentations of the crystal trophies were made by Sir Alan Massey during a splendid luncheon and ceremony. Sir Alan, who is Chief Executive Officer of the UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency, also addressed around 100 delegates at the end of the ceremony when he gave a short key note speech.

Continue reading “Winners of the IIMS Silver Jubilee Awards for Excellence announced”

Pods versus water lubricated props – greater comparative studies required says Thordon Bearings

Giant Ship Propellors
Giant Ship Propellors

Thordon Bearings has called on the marine industry to investigate the characteristics of both conventional seawater-lubricated propeller shaft systems and podded propulsion arrangements in order to provide shipowners with a better understanding of the two very different propulsion configurations.

In a recently published White Paper, the Canadian manufacturer of the COMPAC seawater-lubricated propeller shaft bearing system believes there is a great opportunity for independent comparative data so that cruiseship operators, in particular, can make more informed procurement decisions.

Highlighting the development of both systems, the 24 page paper asks if the water-lubricated propeller shaft is more efficient than podded propulsion, encouraging readers to assess a number of different factors before selecting their optimum propulsion solution.

Continue reading “Pods versus water lubricated props – greater comparative studies required says Thordon Bearings”

Instagram Posts from the IIMS @iimsmarine

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

Show details Hide details
Performance & Marketing Cookies

This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages. This also helps us optimise our marketing campaigns. User data sent to Google Analytics may be used for ad personalization and measurement of our ad campaigns. Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.

Show details Hide details