Shipping

Engine retrofit market continues to prepare but not fully commit

Posted on by News Hound
Engine retrofit market continues to prepare but not fully commit
Engine retrofit market continues to prepare but not fully commit

The future of engine retrofits will depend heavily on regulatory developments says Lloyd’s Register in its latest Engine Retrofit Report.

LR added the longer conventionally fuelled vessels remain in service, the greater the pressure will be to retrofit them later to meet emissions targets, potentially compressing demand into a narrower and more costly timeframe.

The 2026 update shows that 2025 delivered limited growth in announced retrofit projects, but significant progress in capability. Continue reading “Engine retrofit market continues to prepare but not fully commit”

DNV shares insights into post-fire ship hull structure and material assessment

Posted on by News Hound
DNV shares insights into post-fire ship hull structure and material assessment
DNV shares insights into post-fire ship hull structure and material assessment

Fire incidents on ships rank among the most frequent accidents, and in recent years, fire incidents have specially increased among container and ro-ro cargo/passenger ships.

And DNV has supported many cases of post-fire structural and material assessments.

The incidents have ranged from isolated small-scale fires in cargo holds to major fires damaging the complete ship. Continue reading “DNV shares insights into post-fire ship hull structure and material assessment”

Key considerations for the carriage of cement

Posted on by News Hound
Key considerations for the carriage of cement. Photo credit: Britannia P&I Club
Key considerations for the carriage of cement. Photo credit: Britannia P&I Club

The volume of seaborne cement trade continues to grow, with the most recent annual figure estimated to be over 145 million tonnes, however, the carriage of cement on conventional bulk carriers presents significant operational challenges, Britannia P&I Club explains.

According to Britannia P&I Club, bulk cement is typically carried on dedicated cement carriers or standard bulk carriers. On dedicated carriers, cement is loaded from shore silos through a pneumatic system and discharged via a closed self-unloading system, where compressed air fluidizes the cargo and a vacuum pipeline transfers it to shore—effectively minimizing dust and preventing hardening. In comparison, loading cement on conventional bulk carriers, whether in bulk or in bags, remains a much more challenging operation. Continue reading “Key considerations for the carriage of cement”

Update on MGN 675 (M+F) guidance for control and management of ships’ ballast water and sediments regulations

Posted on by News Hound
Update on MGN 675 (M+F) guidance for control and management of ships’ ballast water and sediments regulations
Update on MGN 675 (M+F) guidance for control and management of ships’ ballast water and sediments regulations

The UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency has published an update to MGN 675 (M+F) Amendment 2 The merchant shipping (control and management of ships’ ballast water and sediments) regulations 2022.

This notice provides important information on the UK’s implementation of the international convention for the control and management of ships’ ballast water and sediments 2004, which aims to address the spread of invasive non-native species by ballast water and sediments. Continue reading “Update on MGN 675 (M+F) guidance for control and management of ships’ ballast water and sediments regulations”

New ISO standard for in-water hull cleaning published

Posted on by News Hound
New ISO standard for in-water hull cleaning published
New ISO standard for in-water hull cleaning published

A new standard on in-water cleaning of vessel hulls has been launched.

Preventing and removing biofouling on hulls of ships limits the introduction and spread of invasive aquatic species (IAS). This in turn threatens coastal environments by disrupting ecological systems, which can also negatively affect fisheries, aquaculture and tourism. Biofouling is also estimated to increase a ship’s fuel consumption by on average 9 % – this added fuel consumption costs the shipping industry billions of USD. Therefore, improving biofouling management across the global shipping fleet will have considerable benefits, both from an environmental and economic standpoint. Continue reading “New ISO standard for in-water hull cleaning published”

Key tips for transferring of plastic pellet in containers

Posted on by News Hound
Key tips for transferring plastic pellet in containers
Key tips for transferring plastic pellet in containers

Steamship Mutual P&I Club has provided guidance on the risks associated with transferring of plastic pellet in containers and provides practical measures to prevent spillage and protect the marine environment.

Understanding the risks of plastic pellets

According to the Club, in recent years, several high- profile incidents have occurred, such as the Trans Carrier in 2020 and the XPress Pearl in 2021, where containers have fallen overboard and resulted in the release of plastic pellets into seas and oceans with subsequent harm to the marine environment.

While the carriage of plastic pellets in shipping containers is a secure means of shipment, the environmental concern arises when these containers are lost overboard. Once plastic pellets are released, their physical properties of being small and light allow them to travel extensive distances from the initial release location. Continue reading “Key tips for transferring of plastic pellet in containers”

Dangerous goods quick reference guides

Posted on by News Hound
Dangerous goods quick reference guides
Dangerous goods quick reference guides

IIMS is indebted to TT Club and their team for producing an information and easy to read series of handy dangerous goods quick reference guides, which we are delighted to publish and share.

Dangerous goods quick reference guide – Class 1: Explosive substances and articles

Class 1 dangerous goods include explosive substances and articles that pose risks such as property damage, cargo damage, injury, environmental harm, insurance invalidation, and potential criminal prosecution. Continue reading “Dangerous goods quick reference guides”

The dry dock danger zone: Why a shipyard safety plan must be bulletproof

Posted on by News Hound
The dry dock danger zone: Why a shipyard safety plan must be bulletproof
The dry dock danger zone: Why a shipyard safety plan must be bulletproof

Shipyards are singular industrial environments, combining the hazards of heavy construction, manufacturing, and complex marine operations into one sprawling, high- stakes location. For any vessel owner, operator, or contractor, the yard represents a necessary but incredibly risky location. The complex nature of repair, maintenance, and construction, often conducted under tight deadlines, elevates the potential for catastrophic accidents.

A shipyard is a constantly evolving workspace. One moment, a section of the hull is being pre-fabricated in a clean workshop; the next, it is being hoisted by cranes over active work zones to be welded into place many meters above the dry dock floor. This dynamic, multi-hazard environment necessitates a safety culture that is not merely compliant, but proactively rigorous. Continue reading “The dry dock danger zone: Why a shipyard safety plan must be bulletproof”

Container ship fires and ports of refuge for the big ship era

Posted on by News Hound
Container ship fires and ports of refuge for the big ship era
Container ship fires and ports of refuge for the big ship era

In this article, Tom explores the growing challenge of securing a port of refuge for container ships affected by onboard fires, highlighting the legal, operational and environmental complexities that arise in managing these incidents.

The increasing frequency and severity of fires aboard container ships is a pressing concern for the maritime industry. Recent incidents have highlighted the dangers these fires pose, not only to vessels and their crews, but also to cargo and the surrounding environment. In many cases, the consequences have been catastrophic, with some ships lost entirely and others facing substantial legal and financial repercussions. Continue reading “Container ship fires and ports of refuge for the big ship era”

The Grain code has been revised

Posted on by News Hound

The revision of the International Grain Code was adopted at the IMO Maritime Safety Committee in 2024 and came into effect on 1 January 2026. The main purpose of the amendment is to formally incorporate into the code the cargo handling method of “specially suitable compartment, partly filled in way of the hatch opening, with ends untrimmed”. This article highlights the key changes and discusses potential practical and legal implications.

The International Code for the Safe Carriage of Grain in Bulk provides specific requirements for the loading conditions according to the following classification:

  • filled compartments (trimmed)
  • filled compartments (untrimmed)
  • partly filled compartments.

Continue reading “The Grain code has been revised”

Black Sea MoU publishes preliminary results of the CIC on ballast water management

Posted on by News Hound
Black Sea MoU publishes preliminary results of the CIC on ballast water management
Black Sea MoU publishes preliminary results of the CIC on ballast water management

The Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control in the Black Sea Region has released the preliminary results of a Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) which focused on Ballast Water Management.

The campaign, carried out from 1 September to 30 November 2025, involved the member Authorities of the BS MoU that have ratified the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004 (BWM Convention). Continue reading “Black Sea MoU publishes preliminary results of the CIC on ballast water management”

Transport Malta concludes investigation into death of bulker/cargo surveyor

Posted on by News Hound
Transport Malta concludes investigation into death of bulker/cargo surveyor
Transport Malta concludes investigation into death of bulker/cargo surveyor

The Marine Safety Investigation Unit of Transport Malta has published a report into the death of a bulker/cargo surveyor after they were trapped during the hatch cover closing process.

What happened

On 24 January 2025, Ocean Century was preparing to load steel Hapo products General at Wharf, Gwangyang, South Korea. The vessel had arrived during the previous evening.  Cargo holds were cleaned, and residual cargo collected in drums. Continue reading “Transport Malta concludes investigation into death of bulker/cargo surveyor”

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
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance