Small Craft News

Sharp increase in complaints to the UK Waterways Ombudsman

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The UK Waterways Ombudsman has reported a sharp increase in complaints
The UK Waterways Ombudsman has reported a sharp increase in complaints

The UK Waterways Ombudsman and the Waterways Ombudsman Committee have seen a substantial rise in the number of complaints over the last 12 months. The UK Waterways Ombudsman scheme deals with complaints about the Canal & River Trust and the Avon Navigation Trust once its own complaints processes have been exhausted.

During the year 2020/21, the UK Waterways Ombudsman received 77 enquiries, up from 41 the previous year. Ten new investigations were opened and the number of complaints resolved was eight. As before there was a very diverse range of complaints, and again the majority were about boating issues with a lack of communication being a common cause of conflict. Continue reading “Sharp increase in complaints to the UK Waterways Ombudsman”

UK Maritime Safety Week 2021 is underway

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This year’s Maritime Safety Week 2021 from 5 to 9 July
This year’s Maritime Safety Week 2021 from 5 to 9 July

This year’s Maritime Safety Week 2021 from 5 to 9 July is an opportunity for all key organisations – including HM Coastguard, charities and port authorities – to share best safety practices and knowledge, and challenge each other to enhance their already rigorous standards.

With lockdown restrictions easing and more people than ever holidaying in the UK this year, keeping the public safe on our coast, lakes and waterways is paramount.

To mark the beginning of the fourth annual Maritime Safety Week, Maritime Minister Robert Courts visited the Port of London Authority (PLA) to see first-hand its maritime pilot training space and meet some of the pilots trained to board commercial vessels to ensure safe passage. The PLA manages 95 miles of the Thames and is the UK’s busiest waterway. Continue reading “UK Maritime Safety Week 2021 is underway”

Masts and rigging: should there be regulations in the leisure sector?

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Should regulations be introduced for masts and rigging in the leisure sector?
Should regulations be introduced for masts and rigging in the leisure sector?

That’s the opinion of marine consultant David Barrow who carries out surveys for MS Amlin and was director of Sparcraft for 20 years. “I’ve seen many bent and broken masts over the years. There’s no real regulation of masts and rigging in the leisure sector,” he said. “There’s no specific rule to change a boat’s rigging after ten years.”

And he pointed out that while superyachts are regulated under MCA regs and boats that have done a circumnavigation usually have a survey carried out, when it comes to other boats, owners often don’t see the need. If a boat had suffered a knock, this could affect the masts and rigging without the owner knowing. If a boat was inspected very few years, there would be more chances to look at the mast. “It’s not the insurers’ job to regulate the rigging business; the insurer’s job is to behave according to the results of their surveys,” David says. Continue reading “Masts and rigging: should there be regulations in the leisure sector?”

Inspection guidance for small passenger vessels issued by USCG

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Inspection guidance for small passenger vessels issued by USCG
Inspection guidance for small passenger vessels issued by USCG

The US Coast Guard (USCG) has issued inspection guidance for Officers in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI), Chiefs of Inspection Division (CID), and Marine Inspectors for the small passenger vessels (SPV) risk-based inspection program.

USCG continues to conduct statutory inspections on the SPV fleet in accordance with 46 U.S. Code § 3301; however, data analytics provide a new tool and modernized approach to the marine inspection program to prioritize marine inspection resources. Using various computational methods, machine learning-enabled software, and a database of deficiency and casualty information, the Coast Guard developed a model to categorize SPVs based on potential risk for an undesirable outcome.

The CVC-WI-028 “Small Passenger Vessel Risk Based Inspection Program” issued by the USCG Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance (CVC) on 14 June says:

Continue reading “Inspection guidance for small passenger vessels issued by USCG”

U.S. Coast Guard releases 2020 Boating Safety Statistics Report revealing a surge in fatalities during the pandemic

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2020 Recreational Boating Statistics
2020 Recreational Boating Statistics

The U.S. Coast Guard released its 2020 Recreational Boating Safety Statistics Report Wednesday, revealing that there were 767 boating fatalities nationwide in 2020, a 25.1 percent increase from 2019.

From 2019 to 2020, the total number of accidents increased 26.3 percent (4,168 to 5,265), and the number of non-fatal injured victims increased 24.7 percent (2,559 to 3,191). There is evidence that boating activity increased significantly during the pandemic, from reports of increased boat sales, insurance policies taken out, insurance claims, and calls for towing assistance. With the increased exposure (i.e., more boating hours), there was greater risk of deaths, injuries, and accidents. The Coast Guard is analyzing variables associated with boating activity to normalize this accident data. Continue reading “U.S. Coast Guard releases 2020 Boating Safety Statistics Report revealing a surge in fatalities during the pandemic”

Warning to inspect FRC lifeboat and workboat lifting frames

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Warning to inspect FRC lifeboat and workboat lifting frames
Warning to inspect FRC lifeboat and workboat lifting frames

IMCA has received information surrounding an incident in which a lifting frame became detached from a fast rescue craft (FRC) during operations.

The incident occurred when the FRC was attempting to come alongside a vessel in good weather with choppy seas. During recovery, the complete lifting frame detached from the boat. No one ended up in the water, but one member of the crew was pulled up with the lifting frame and fell down into the boat. The crew member sustained only minor injuries. An investigation and checkup of similar boats revealed cracks around the lifting frames.

Continue reading “Warning to inspect FRC lifeboat and workboat lifting frames”

500 miles of UK inland waterways uncovered

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500 miles of UK inland waterways uncovered
500 miles of UK inland waterways uncovered

New research from the Inland Waterways Association (IWA) has revealed a total of 7,000 miles of waterways in Great Britain; 5,000 of the miles identified are navigable today, with the other 2,000 miles either derelict or under restoration.

An additional 500 miles have been uncovered which come, in the main, from including more significant branches of the Grand Union Canal in the London area and further research in Scotland. IWA’s Waterways Directory is a waterways resource that details all the inland waterways ever brought into navigation and has been updated with detailed research by IWA experts and local volunteers. The research informs the charity’s local campaigning and sprung out of the need to know who was responsible for what waterway. The directory lists Continue reading “500 miles of UK inland waterways uncovered”

Regulation falls under the spotlight as technical experts gather for Red Ensign Group Technical Forum

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Regulation falls under the spotlight as technical experts gather for Red Ensign Group Technical Forum
Regulation falls under the spotlight as technical experts gather for Red Ensign Group Technical Forum

Maritime experts from across the Red Ensign Group are gathering online on 16 and 17 June in what is expected to be the last meeting before it receives its mandatory audit. The Red Ensign Group Technical Forum will meet to discuss technical regulation and how it affects the work of the British Shipping Registers.

Representatives from Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey and the United Kingdom are attending the event.

With the International Maritime Organization’s Member State mandatory audit of the REG members expected before the end of this year, much of the event will focus on the work being done by the REG to be ready for it and to ensure that the result of the audit shows the REG’s continued leadership on maritime matters. Continue reading “Regulation falls under the spotlight as technical experts gather for Red Ensign Group Technical Forum”

MCA to carry out unannounced inspections of fishing vessels

Posted on by News Hound
MCA to carry out unannounced inspections of fishing vessels
MCA to carry out unannounced inspections of fishing vessels

Surveyors from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency are to carry out unannounced inspections of fishing vessels across the UK. The unannounced inspections are being carried out as part of ongoing work around fishing vessel safety in an industry recognised to be one of the most dangerous in the world.

Since November 2020, there have been eight deaths –that’s more than ten per cent of the total for the previous ten years. Between 2011 to 2020, the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), reported 60 fatalities from UK fishing vessels. The MCA says it has worked solidly with the fishing industry, reinforcing the messages about the requirements of legislation around standards of safety for crew and for vessels. Surveyors regularly carry out surveys and inspections of fishing vessels and detain those that do not meet the requirement of the law, until those deficiencies are corrected. Continue reading “MCA to carry out unannounced inspections of fishing vessels”

AMSA to consider Conception fire NTSB findings when reviewing commercial vessel regulatory requirements

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Photo credit: Ventura County Fire Department - AMSA to consider Conception fire NTSB findings when reviewing commercial vessel regulatory requirements
Photo credit: Ventura County Fire Department – AMSA to consider Conception fire NTSB findings when reviewing commercial vessel regulatory requirements

Following the NTSB investigation into the fatal fire and loss of the passenger vessel Conception off California in September 2019, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has identified key points of concern for Australian vessels. As a consequence they have said it will consider the NTSB report in full when reviewing the current domestic commercial vessel regulatory requirements, including the standards for fire safety and accommodation.

The US-flagged passenger vessel Conception was at anchor off Santa Cruz Island, California, when a fire broke out in the early morning hours of 2 September 2019. Five crew members were asleep in the crew berthing area on the upper deck. One crew member and all 33 passengers were asleep in the bunkroom below. Continue reading “AMSA to consider Conception fire NTSB findings when reviewing commercial vessel regulatory requirements”

Greek customs acknowledge UK yachts to retain EU VAT status

Posted on by News Hound
Greek Flag
Greek Flag

Following a complaint formally made to the European Union (EU) by the Cruising Association (CA) on the post Brexit VAT Status of UK yachts in Greece after returning from outside EU waters, the latest announcement received from the Greek Customs authority acknowledges the rights of UK yachts to return to Greek waters and retain their EU VAT Status.

Greek customs authorities have announced on 3rd June 2021 that, following a request to the EU Commission for clarity on this matter, they have followed EU advice and will allow UK yachts returning from non-EU Countries to regain their Union Goods Status, provided they return within three years under the same ownership, with no changes to the vessel. Continue reading “Greek customs acknowledge UK yachts to retain EU VAT status”

MAIB’s Annual Report 2020 published

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MAIB's Annual Report 2020 published
MAIB’s Annual Report 2020 published

“I am pleased to introduce MAIB’s annual report 2020. It was another busy and successful year for the Branch improving safety at sea by our sustained output of safety investigation reports, safety digests, and safety bulletins despite lock-down conditions affecting work for much of the year. The Branch raised 1,217 reports of marine accidents and incidents and commenced 19 investigations in 2020,” said Capt Andrew Moll in his opening statement.

In 2020, the MAIB published two investigation reports into the collapse of container stacks on large container ships, both of which were transiting the North Pacific Ocean in heavy weather at the time. Such accidents are challenging to investigate due to the multiple inter-related factors involved and that critical evidence could be lost overboard during the accident. There have been more accidents involving Continue reading “MAIB’s Annual Report 2020 published”

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