The US Coast Guard issued a policy letter concerning sea strainers constructed of nonmetallic materials for use on small passenger vessels.
Sea strainers containing nonmetallic components have been installed on small passenger vessels for several decades without incident. However, the regulations were amended to require vital piping systems to be made of a ferrous material on board ”new” small passenger vessels.
US wind turbine manufacturer, Inergy, has given an enticing glimpse into the future of environmentally friendly superyachts, which will be powered by wind energy. Gemma One, measuring just over 30 metres, will be the flagship vessel for the new Gemma series of environmentally friendly superyachts developed by Inergy.
The Gemma One is a new generation clean vessel. It is a practical, safe, conservatively styled, amenity-rich and highly automated boat that can be 100% powered by renewable energy, offering nearly unlimited remote operation.
Continue reading “Futuristic wind energy powered superyacht being pioneered by Inergy”
The MAIB has issued a second safety warning after a mooring line failure on board LNG tanker Zarga resulted in serious injury to a deck officer.
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch is carrying out an investigation into the mooring line failure on board LNG tanker Zarga while alongside South Hook LNG terminal, Milford Haven on 2 March 2015, which resulted in serious injury to a deck officer.
Close fitting jacketed synthetic fibre ropes with low twist constructions are more prone to failure under normal operating conditions than other mooring rope constructions. This is especially the case where the diameter to diameter (D:d) ratio between a ship’s deck fittings and its mooring ropes, is less than that recommended by the rope’s manufacturer. The nature of the close fitting jacket precludes visual inspection of the rope’s core for signs of degradation. Operators of vessels using close-fitting jacketed synthetic fibre mooring ropes are strongly advised to contact the rope’s manufacturer/supplier to:
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Deep Ocean Engineering, Inc., based in the USA has revealed its newest addition to its family of underwater drones, the Phantom T5 ROV.
The applications for use of the Phantom T5 span a broad spectrum of industries, but include port security, vessel inspection, salvage and SAR.
“The Phantom T5 open-frame architecture makes mechanical integrations a breeze, while the dedicated expansion bulkhead connectors, used for both power and telemetry, are provided as standard. In addition, an optional tool skid allows the customer to ‘bolt on’ their sensors or tools by plugging into the expansion bulkhead connectors for nearly limitless, task-specific, expansion possibilities” said John Bergman, Deep Ocean Engineering, Vice President of Engineering.
Continue reading “Phantom T5 ROV deep sea drone makes its debut”
The report relates to the MAIB’s investigation of the collapse of a mezzanine deck on the Wightlink ferry St Helen, at Fishbourne ferry terminal, Isle of Wight, on 18 July 2014. The passengers and vehicles on board the cross Solent roll-on roll-off passenger ferry St Helen were in the process of disembarking at Fishbourne ferry terminal on the Isle of Wight when the vessel’s starboard forward mezzanine deck collapsed. The deck collapsed because one of its steel wire lifting ropes parted. The lifting rope parted because it had not been routinely lubricated and the mezzanine deck had not been properly maintained.
A crewman and 11 cars, with their seated passengers, were on the deck when it collapsed. The crewman suffered a minor head injury and was temporarily rendered unconscious; several passengers suffered minor impact related injuries. The mezzanine deck was structurally damaged and was later removed from the vessel.
On 14 March 2015, the barge Lasqueti Daughters with 17 people on board, departed Campbell River, British Columbia. Partway into the voyage, the sea conditions deteriorated. Water began shipping on board via the spaces between the bow ramp, the bulwarks, and the main deck, and then downflooded into the forward storage compartment. The Lasqueti Daughters flooded but remained afloat, was abandoned, and was eventually towed to shore and intentionally beached. There were no injuries. The vessel was declared a constructive total loss.
The investigation revealed that the vessel had not been inspected nor was it certified as required by the Canada Shipping Act, 2001 (CSA 2001) and its regulations.
A technical newsletter has been written and published by DNV GL to give an insight and to make recommendations on how to avoid safety risks due to severe corrosion of vessel’s steel structure by way of the box cooler. In the most severe cases that DNV GL has encountered, the bolted flange of the top plate of the cooling box was involved. This led to increased risk of collapse of the top plate.
Extent of damage
A box cooler eliminates the secondary cooling water circuit of sea water inside the engine room. The cooling effect is achieved by natural circulation of the surrounding sea water and is considered to be a cost-effective alternative.
Continue reading “DNV GL issues advice about combating corrosion due to box cooler”
The Swedish P&I Club has issued its Monthly Safety Scenario for February 2016 that relates to an accident caused by leaking hatch covers. As a result it recommends new measures proposed following accident caused by leaking hatch covers.
The vessel comprised loaded up wire coils. When loading was complete the crew taped across the transverse beams of all the cargo holds with Ram-Nek. During the vessel’s transit it sailed through heavy weather that lasted for about two days. During this time the vessel was pitching and rolling and the cargo hatches were covered in water.
Continue reading “New measures proposed following accident caused by leaking hatch covers”
Fairline Boats, which had seemed to be on the verge of disappearing just a few weeks ago, has been saved following the intervention by two Russian investors.
A new company, Fairline Acquisitions, funded by two UK based Russian investors with a background in the marine sector, is to take on the failed company’s order book and initially plans to recruit around 100 of the 380 staff who were made redundant before Christmas following the collapse. The new company plans to trade as Fairline Yachts.
The new business will be run by Russell Currie. He has been a Fairline dealer for the past 18 years.
Continue reading “Fairline Yachts established from failed Fairline Boats”
An agreement has been signed between Cavotec Group and Wärtsilä to jointly develop the world’s first combined induction wireless charging and automatic mooring concept.
Cavotec provides automated mooring systems for various types of vessels, as well as shore power and reel systems. Wärtsilä has developed a wireless charging system based on inductive power transfer. By combining the strengths and expertise of the two companies, an integrated wireless charging/mooring concept will be developed for use in Wärtsilä’s ship designs.
Continue reading “World’s first wireless charging and mooring concept developed”
The 175 million GT, ‘A’ rated North P&I Club has published a major new guide for the international shipping industry on how to reduce losses when carrying bulk cargoes by sea. The 280-page Bulk Cargoes: A Guide to Good Practice adds to North’s comprehensive portfolio of guidance provided about different cargo types and is the first to be made available in both print and e-book formats.
Bulk Cargoes explains the basic rules to be remembered on every occasion during loading, carriage and unloading of bulk cargoes. It describes where various regulations, recommendations and general guidance can be found, and discusses procedures, preparations and good seamanship practice for appropriate and safe carriage of cargoes in bulk. It also describes the problems and recommended procedures associated with particular types of bulk cargo and sets out the points to be remembered during passage planning and the voyage itself.
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An innovative project to optimise LNG ship hull forms is set to reduce emissions and save significant amounts of fuel for LNG vessel operators.
On the shores of the Amazônia Azul – or Blue Amazon, the part of the Atlantic off the coast of Brazil – the LNG ship of the future is being designed. The shape of an LNG ship’s hull and cargo tanks are critical for the vessel to sail with minimal resistance through water. This is important as fuel use is the biggest cost for ship operators, and reducing fuel use significantly lowers emissions.
Continue reading “Blue Amazon: Preparing the LNG ship of the future”
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