Small Craft News

2020/1 flag state performance table published by International Chamber of Shipping

Posted on by News Hound
Latest flag state performance table published by ICS
Latest flag state performance table published by ICS

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has published the latest flag state performance table (2020/2021) which finds that many of the largest flag states, including the Marshall Islands, Hong Kong (China), Singapore as well as the Bahamas and Cyprus, continue to perform to an exceptionally high standard, with traditional flags and open registers performing equally well.

ICS Secretary General, Guy Platten, says: “The flag state performance table clearly indicates that distinctions between ‘traditional’ flags and open registers are no longer meaningful. Alongside several European registers, and flags such as Japan, we have seen many open registers amongst the very top performers”. Continue reading “2020/1 flag state performance table published by International Chamber of Shipping”

European Recreational Boating intensifies initiatives against ocean plastic pollution

Posted on by News Hound
European Recreational Boating intensifies initiatives against ocean plastic pollution
European Recreational Boating intensifies initiatives against ocean plastic pollution

European Boating Industry (EBI), the organisation that represents the recreational boating sector in Europe, announces its partnership with the NGO The SeaCleaners, created by the sailor and ecologist Yvan Bourgnon, with the aim of strengthening its actions to protect the marine environment and combat ocean plastic pollution.

The recreational boating industry relies on the health of our seas. That is why EBI is strongly committed to reducing marine pollution and raising awareness among boaters and the general public. The SeaCleaners is a natural partner to EBI, given its commitments to awareness-raising, biodiversity protection, plastic waste collection and scientific observation. Under the new partnership based on a Memorandum of Understanding, both organisations will promote common activities. Continue reading “European Recreational Boating intensifies initiatives against ocean plastic pollution”

Polar Yacht Guide published by World Sailing and the Royal Cruising Club Pilotage Foundation

Posted on by News Hound
Polar Yacht Guide is a joint collaboration between World Sailing and the Royal Cruising Club Pilotage Foundation
Polar Yacht Guide is a joint collaboration between World Sailing and the Royal Cruising Club Pilotage Foundation

The Polar Yacht Guide, designed to support the navigation and voyage planning for all polar waters, encourages safe and environmentally friendly navigation by pleasure yachts not engaged in trade, of less than or equal to 300 GT, in Arctic and Antarctic polar waters.

The Polar Yacht Guide sets out to offer advice and guidance unique to pleasure yachts and works in parallel with the Polar Code, published by the International Maritime Organisation for SOLAS ships.

The Polar Yacht Guide is presented in three parts:
PART A – Safety of navigation and voyage planning for Arctic and Antarctic polar waters Continue reading “Polar Yacht Guide published by World Sailing and the Royal Cruising Club Pilotage Foundation”

MAIB initial assessment after the explosion onboard Galwad-Y-Mor

Posted on by News Hound
Detail of shell plating damage to Galwad-Y-Mor showing coating loss and indentation between internal frames
Detail of shell plating damage to Galwad-Y-Mor showing coating loss and indentation between internal frames

A preliminary assessment of the explosion resulting in damage and abandonment of the potting fishing vessel Galwad-Y-Mor (BRD116) 22 nautical miles north of Cromer, Norfolk on 15 December 2020 has been released by the MAIB.

On 15 December 2020, the vessel was operating in potting fishing grounds east of the Wash. At about 1120, the crew was in the process of hauling in a string of crab pots; the skipper was in the wheelhouse with other crew members below decks working the pots. The hauler was being used to heave in the back rope, and the crew had let Continue reading “MAIB initial assessment after the explosion onboard Galwad-Y-Mor”

Remembering the novelty of face-to-face training

Posted on by News Hound
Remembering the novelty of face-to-face training
Remembering the novelty of face-to-face training

Do you recall those days when we used to get together in a room to do some face-to-face training and networking? It seems an age ago already with Zoom and Teams taking over as the was to train. So, imagine my angst when the planned 7 day practical course at the Boat Building Academy in Lyme Regis, which had been under development for more than a year, was placed in jeopardy by the pandemic. It was unclear if we could run the event safely until just a couple of weeks prior. But I am delighted to say we managed to get the course away with a reduced number of 6 students.

I spent a day with the students – social distancing and other sensible pandemic measures were in place naturally. As I write, the course has just one more day to run, including the multiple choice testing for students to undergo. Over the week, students have had the chance to get their hands dirty learning skills in the workshops about vessel structure as well as undertaking some practical activities with GRP. Continue reading “Remembering the novelty of face-to-face training”

Report into fatal accident on board Sunbeam published by MAIB

Posted on by Rosie Burton
Report into fatal accident on board Sunbeam published by MAIB
Report into fatal accident on board Sunbeam published by MAIB

MAIB has released a report on the fatal accident on board the trawler Sunbeam. On 14 August 2018, a second engineer on board was asphyxiated and died in one of the vessel’s refrigerated saltwater tanks. The report found that entering Sunbeam‘s tanks without safety precautions had become ‘normalised’ by the crew and had been done ‘without consequence’ over a period of many years.

Sunbeam was in Fraserburgh getting ready for a refit and the refrigerated saltwater tanks had been emptied of water in preparation for cleaning. Entry into the tanks, which were enclosed spaces, was routine business for the crew, both when operating the tanks at sea and during maintenance in harbour.

The second engineer was found collapsed inside a refrigerated saltwater tank. The available evidence, says MAIB, strongly indicates that he’d entered the tank to sweep away residual water. When he was found, three of his crew mates went into the Continue reading “Report into fatal accident on board Sunbeam published by MAIB”

River Canal Rescue calls for ‘sticky fuel’ samples

Posted on by News Hound
River Canal Rescue calls for ‘sticky fuel’ samples
River Canal Rescue calls for ‘sticky fuel’ samples

After a spate of incidents in which River Canal Rescue (RCR) has seen up to 100 cases of ‘sticky fuel’ this year, MD Stephanie Horton is asking for similar fuel samples to be sent to her. RCR says it is the UK’s largest national 24/7, 365 days-a-year breakdown/emergency assistance service provider for inland waterway boaters. As such, with around 4,000 call outs each year, it says it can usually gauge when an issue is arising. Now with regions affected from York to London and Bristol to Lancaster, Horton says it’s time to act and work out what the cause of the sticky fuel is. She’s calling for samples – and locations – so she can try to identify common factors like treatments being used.

The situation came to light when River Canal Rescue had two identical jobs. Fuel injectors were diagnosed as needing an overhaul, yet their replacements stopped working within a week. The injection pumps were found to have failed even though the diesel was clear and bright. Continue reading “River Canal Rescue calls for ‘sticky fuel’ samples”

MAIB report published about capsize and full inversion of self-righting keelboat RS Venture Connect

Posted on by Rosie Burton
Report on capsize and full inversion of RS Venture Connect
Report on capsize and full inversion of RS Venture Connect

MAIB has published a report about the capsize and full inversion of self-righting keelboat RS Venture Connect. On 12 June 2019, Blackwell Sailing’s self-righting RS Venture Connect keelboat sail number 307 (RSVC 307) suffered a capsize and full inversion while sailing on Windermere, England. The boat was crewed by an experienced disabled sailor at the helm and a local sailing instructor who was acting as crewman.

Having been knocked down by gusty winds, RSVC 307 initially lay on its starboard side with its two crew still in their seats. The boat’s liftable keel then slid back into the hull, following which the boat inverted completely, trapping the disabled helmsman under the hull. The crewman was able to swim clear, but with the keel retracted he was unable to right RSVC 307 unaided.

The boat was righted by the Windermere Lake Wardens working with the crew of the sailing centre’s safety boat, and the helmsman was Continue reading “MAIB report published about capsize and full inversion of self-righting keelboat RS Venture Connect”

IIMS releases two free compilations from Matrix Insurance Services

Posted on by News Hound
Matrix Insurance ad that says 'Fifty shades of insurance'
Matrix Insurance ad that says ‘Fifty shades of insurance’

Over the years, Karen Brain, Managing Director of Matrix Insurance Services Ltd, has spoken at various IIMS events, conferences and small craft seminars, both in person and online. Her input has been invaluable, her depth of knowledge is significant and is always much appreciated by surveyors.

Karen has also written extensively for the Report Magazine in recent years on the subject of both insurance for marine surveyors and aspects of law and contracts.

For the first time, IIMS has produced two compilations, each presented as 28 page pdfs that brings the contents together in two easy to read documents.

Continue reading “IIMS releases two free compilations from Matrix Insurance Services”

The importance of having mooring plan and the liability for marinas

Posted on by News Hound
Destroyed Marina - Image credit: Phillip Stephen Masterson
Destroyed Marina – Image credit: Phillip Stephen Masterson

On Friday 2 March 2018, Storm Emma hit Holyhead Marina in Anglesey, Wales with near-hurricane force winds. In the aftermath of the storm 89 vessels (including yachts, leisure crafts, houseboats and commercial vessels) were lost, in addition to multiple pieces of machinery and a RNLI mooring pen, showing the liability of marinas. The destruction of the marina also caused significant pollution with 3,000 litres of oil and 40 tonnes of polystyrene debris being recovered along the Anglesey coastline.

The claims brought by the various parties amounted to approximately £5,000,000. In turn, Holyhead Marina attempted to limit their liability to SDR 500,000 (approximately £550,000) under Section 191 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 (“the Act”), which allows the owners of any dock or canal to limit their liability under certain conditions.

Continue reading “The importance of having mooring plan and the liability for marinas”

World’s first battery-powered luxury boat using Williams Advanced Engineering tech

Posted on by News Hound
World’s first battery-powered luxury boat
World’s first battery-powered luxury boat

Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE) is working with fellow Oxfordshire-based firm, OXIS Energy Ltd, on the production of ‘cleaner, greener energy’, designed for an all-new 40ft electric battery-powered luxury boat.

The craft, from Yachts de Luxe (YdL) of Singapore and designed by Jean Jacques Coste, will be the world’s first ever battery-powered luxury boat to be powered by Lithium Sulfur (Li-S) cell and battery systems technology. The objective is to achieve a range between 70 and 100 nautical miles at cruising speed – setting new standards for range in electric boats.

WAE will be responsible for the state-of-the-art 400 kWh battery system, which comprises ultra-light, high-power/high-energy density Li-S cells – provided by OXIS Energy Ltd – and the battery management system (BMS). The design and manufacture of the cell modules, the BMS and its installation will be carried out by WAE at its dedicated battery facility in Grove. Continue reading “World’s first battery-powered luxury boat using Williams Advanced Engineering tech”

Shipowners creating a series of four podcasts about preventing yacht electrical fires

Posted on by News Hound
Shipowners creating a series of four podcasts about preventing yacht fires
Shipowners creating a series of four podcasts about preventing yacht fires

Since 2014 the Club has experienced 17 yacht fire claims. Of these claims, it was established that 10 were directly a result of an electrical fault, and 1 indirectly. These claims have the potential to demand a high quantum, with one such claim currently sitting at just under US$ 3 million. It is not just the financial implications of these incidents as yachts suffering from fire or smoke damage deprive their owner use of their asset. This Podcast mini-series has been created to generate awareness surrounding the causes of yacht electrical fires and provide guidance from industry experts on how these incidents may be avoided.

The guests and speakers each have different specialisms within the yacht industry, such as flag State, underwriting, and surveying, offering a variety of different perspectives and opinions to the discussions. Shipowners hopes that you find these podcasts informative and encourage further circulation of these materials to assist the common goal of mitigating incidents of this nature. Continue reading “Shipowners creating a series of four podcasts about preventing yacht electrical fires”

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