Small Craft News

Foxton Locks open its gates to the public

Posted on by News Hound
Step down into the drained Foxton Locks
Step down into the drained Foxton Locks

The Canal & River Trust (CRT) is inviting the public to step down into the drained Foxton Locks for a chance to see what it takes to keep the 200-year-old famous flight of locks working smoothly.

Over the next two months CRT is completing important works at Foxton, the longest and steepest ‘staircase’ of locks in the UK, including replacing a number of giant oak lock gates. The programme of works will see new lock gates lifted into seven of the site’s ten locks as well as repairs to historic brickwork and other parts of the lock structures. Continue reading “Foxton Locks open its gates to the public”

British Marine: UK marine sector growth outpaces national average

Posted on by News Hound
British Marine stats
British Marine stats

According to British Marine, the marine sector’s export growth has outpaced the national average (3.5% according to the Office for National Statistics), hitting the £1.5bn mark in 2018/19.

The Key Performance Indicators for the Leisure, Superyacht & Small Commercial Marine Industry Report show that new and used boat sales now account for 78% of the industry’s exports, while exports to Europe account for 74% of the total and now stand at a value of more than £1bn. Continue reading “British Marine: UK marine sector growth outpaces national average”

MOB recovery equipment and drills inspections to be witnessed by MCA surveyors following MAIB report

Posted on by News Hound
MCA surveyors to witness inspections of MOB recovery equipment and drills
MCA surveyors to witness inspections of MOB recovery equipment and drills

The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has published its report on the investigation into an accident where a tug’s chief engineer lost his life boarding his vessel. The MCA has instructed its surveyors to witness inspections of MOB recovery equipment and drills following the MAIB report.

The accident highlights the forever-present dangers seafarers including tug crews face in carrying out everyday tasks and the difficulties reacting to incidents despite the presence of well-prepared procedures and equipment.

The tug was carrying out typical shiphandling and standby duties at a UK Continue reading “MOB recovery equipment and drills inspections to be witnessed by MCA surveyors following MAIB report”

Pleasure craft safety equipment recommendations

Posted on by News Hound
Advisory safety equipment for pleasure craft
Advisory safety equipment for pleasure craft

For pleasure yachts of less than 13.7 meters in length there are no statutory requirements for safety equipment other than those required under SOLAS V. Safety equipment is an important part of preparing a boat. It is advisable that all pleasure craft skippers check that their vessel is properly equipped.

The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) recommends it is essential that you properly equip your boat prior to going on the water and that you ensure that the craft is Continue reading “Pleasure craft safety equipment recommendations”

OLAS Guardian App released by Exposure Lights

Posted on by News Hound
OLAS Guardian fitted inside a console. Photo © Exposure Lights
OLAS Guardian fitted inside a console. Photo © Exposure Lights

OLAS Guardian is a new wireless engine kill switch released by Exposure Lights. It acts as a virtual ‘kill cord’ by stopping an engine within two seconds of a person going overboard. For RIB and powerboat drivers OLAS Guardian means their boat will stop in an instant should the skipper, or a crew member, get separated from the boat.

OLAS Guardian works by wirelessly logging up to 15 crew members to an engine’s kill switch via small, wearable transmitters, the OLAS wrist Tags or OLAS Float-On light.

If the transmitter is submerged overboard, or is separated by distance, it instantly breaks the connection, cuts the engine and triggers an Continue reading “OLAS Guardian App released by Exposure Lights”

Aaron & Melissa II: Clogged bilge system and poor weather led to sinking

Posted on by News Hound
Aaron & Melissa II
Aaron & Melissa II

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released a Marine Accident Brief about flooding and sinking of the fishing vessel Aaron & Melissa II approximately 70 miles southeast of Portland, Maine, while transiting to fishing grounds during a storm with gale-force winds.

The Aaron & Melissa II sank about 0800 local time on November 14, 2018. All four crewmembers abandoned ship and entered an inflatable liferaft when attempts to dewater the vessel proved unsuccessful; they were later rescued by a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter. Petty Officer Michael Kelly, a rescue swimmer with the U.S. Coast Continue reading “Aaron & Melissa II: Clogged bilge system and poor weather led to sinking”

Towboat sinking blamed on ineffective hull maintenance says NTSB report

Posted on by News Hound
Towboat Miss Roslyn
Towboat Miss Roslyn

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released a Marine Accident Brief about the capsizing and sinking of the fleet towboat Miss Roslyn, citing the company’s lack of effective hull inspection and maintenance program.

On October 9, 2018, at 1630 local time, the Miss Roslyn was traveling downbound at mile 142 on the Lower Mississippi River near Reserve, Louisiana, when she began to flood and list to starboard. The three crewmembers abandoned the towboat onto a moored fleet barge and a Good Samaritan vessel. The Miss Roslyn capsized and sank on her starboard side. Continue reading “Towboat sinking blamed on ineffective hull maintenance says NTSB report”

Canal & River Trust issues a strategy update

Posted on by News Hound
Canal & River Trust issues a strategy
Canal & River Trust issues a strategy

The Canal & River Trust has released its latest annual update detailing progress over the past year against its strategic action plan.

In October 2015 the Canal & River Trust published its water resources strategy, ‘Putting the Water into Waterways’, setting long term aspirations for the next five years as well as looking ahead to 2050 to understand longer-term pressures and challenges regarding water supply and use.

Drought conditions have persisted in 2019 with restrictions being re-imposed on Continue reading “Canal & River Trust issues a strategy update”

Inland Waterways value to the UK highlighted in report

Posted on by News Hound
UK Inland Waterways
UK Inland Waterways

The value of inland waterways across the UK has been highlighted in a new report by the Inland Waterways Association.

The review brings together previously written reports and studies to evidence the many benefits that a waterway can bring to an area with the aim of influencing planners and policy makers.

“As budgets are stretched and funding is being cut, it is all the more important to have clear information at your fingertips when speaking to members of the local council or developers who are looking to impact on inland waterways,” explained Continue reading “Inland Waterways value to the UK highlighted in report”

EMSA annual overview of marine casualties and incidents 2019 published

Posted on by News Hound
EMSA publish report for 2019
EMSA publish report for 2019

The EMSA (European Maritime Safety Agency) has released its annual overview of marine casualties and incidents 2019. It shows a steady situation, but highlights that fishing vessels remain the category of ship with the highest number of ships lost over the 2011-2018 period.

With 3,174 occurrences reported in 2018, the total number of occurrences recorded in the EMSA EMCIP (European Marine Casualty Information Platform) database has grown to over 23000 representing an average of 3,239 marine casualties or incidents per year over the past five years.

The number of very serious casualties had continuously decreased since 2014; Continue reading “EMSA annual overview of marine casualties and incidents 2019 published”

The Expected Life Span of Yacht Enclosures

Posted on by News Hound
A yacht leaving its enclosures
A yacht leaving its enclosures

What is the expected life span of  yacht enclosures? There are a lot of variances, and this article is prepared to give you the information needed to determine the life of a given yacht enclosures.

Soft Enclosures

The least expensive of boats will typically have roll vinyl curtains. These are made from a clear pvc material that typically comes 51” wide on a roll and can be .015, .020 or .030 in thickness. It is soft and the life span is very short and unremarkable.

Better boats may have pressed polished sheets. These are made using the roll vinyl Continue reading “The Expected Life Span of Yacht Enclosures”

ABYC and TCMSS announce one set of marine safety standards

Posted on by News Hound
Transport Canada logo and ABYC
Transport Canada logo and ABYC

Transport Canada Marine Safety and Security (TCMSS) has published a policy on the acceptance of the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) standards as an approved alternative method for small vessel compliance in Canada. The policy is effective as of October 30, 2019.

“Having one set of standards throughout North America is a huge benefit for engineering, manufacturing, and trade for the marine industry,” said Craig Scholten, ABYC Technical VP. “Being able to design, certify, and produce product to one standard will streamline and simplify everyone’s efforts.”

TCMSS will accept the equivalent standards published by ABYC with some Canadian modifications. The policy affects pleasure craft less than 24 meters and other craft of not more than 15 gross tonnage constructed, manufactured or rebuilt in, or imported into Canada. Continue reading “ABYC and TCMSS announce one set of marine safety standards”

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