Small Craft News

NZ fishing vessel operators must install float free EPIRB distress beacons

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NZ fishing vessel operators must install float free EPIRB distress beacons - Photo Credit: MaritimeNZ
NZ fishing vessel operators must install float free EPIRB distress beacons – Photo Credit: MaritimeNZ

The New Zealand’s national regulatory, compliance and response agency for the safety, security and environmental protection of coastal and inland waterways, MaritimeNZ, has reminded operators of New Zealand that they must install float-free EPIRB distress beacons on commercial fishing vessels by 1 January 2019. The regulation applies to vessels between 7.5 meters and 24 meters operating outside enclosed waters.

Domonic Venz, Maritime NZ’s Assistant Compliance Manager for Southern Region, who has experience in commercial fishing, says, “Float-free EPIRBs really do increase your chances of survival because they call for help when you can’t. It’s easy to get one on your boat”.

He added in the Maritime NZ’s reminder Continue reading “NZ fishing vessel operators must install float free EPIRB distress beacons”

Poor maintenance caused fire on ‘Island Lady’

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Poor maintenance caused fire on 'Island Lady'
Poor maintenance caused fire on ‘Island Lady’

In a recent public meeting, the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that a poor maintenance caused fire maintenance program and lack of guidance for responding to engine high-temperature conditions were the key causes of the fire aboard the small passenger vessel ‘Island Lady’ in January 2018, carrying over 50 people, that occurred in the waters of the Pithlachascotee River, near Port Ritchey, Florida.

The incident

On 14 January 2018, the small passenger vessel Island Lady was near Port Richey, Florida, on a scheduled transit to a casino boat located Continue reading “Poor maintenance caused fire on ‘Island Lady’”

Ship surveying is being revolutionised by drone technology says ClassNK

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Ship surveying is being revolutionised by drone technology says ClassNK
Ship surveying is being revolutionised by drone technology says ClassNK

As part of an on-going focus on safety in enclosed spaces, ClassNK describes how it has carried out detailed drone tests to revolutionize ship surveying. In spring this year, ClassNK introduced guidelines on the use of drones in class surveys, covering procedures and technical considerations for safe operation, as well as requirements for drone service suppliers.

Although drones with multiple propellers on the same plane are currently the most widespread design, research is taking place into alternative arrangements with tilt rotors and propellers in a tetrahedral configuration. Meanwhile, significant progress has been seen in autonomous operations using higher precision positioning, and considerable advances in machine image recognition and processing.

Continue reading “Ship surveying is being revolutionised by drone technology says ClassNK”

Nautor will unveil its latest Swan at Düsseldorf

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Swan YachtFinnish producer of luxury yachts, Nautor, plans to unveil the latest in its Swan series at the Düsseldorf Boat Show 2019 in January. Also on show will be an improved Swan 54 with new engine throttle, redesigned anchor locker and enhanced access to the engine with one single larger panel on the port cabin.

The newest model, the Swan 65, is suitable for cruising with family and friends but equally capable of racing. Designed by Germán Frers, the mid-sized yacht enhances Nautor existing “performance bluewater” line of yachts, following the same design philosophy and parameters as her larger sister, the Swan 78.

The yacht can be managed with or without a professional skipper and also raced with a full competitive crew. Four are currently under construction with delivery scheduled in 2019. Continue reading “Nautor will unveil its latest Swan at Düsseldorf”

Markel and Pantaenius set to partner up

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Pantaenius and Markel’s partnership is the logical development when faced with today’s unstable yacht insurance market.
Pantaenius and Markel’s partnership is the logical development when faced with today’s unstable yacht insurance market.

It has been announced that Markel International is to partner with European yacht insurance provider Pantaenius.

Pantaenius has offices across Europe, USA and Australia and has been providing a range of yacht insurance and related protection for yacht owners for more than 50 years.

Markel’s yacht and superyacht team was established two years ago, with the appointment of senior underwriter Mike Wimbridge to head up the business. Mike will become part of Pantaenius, while remaining located in Markel’s London office.

Continue reading “Markel and Pantaenius set to partner up”

US Coast Guard reviews rigid hull inflatable vessels

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The US Coast Guard Marine Safety Center published an update to its technical note “Marine Safety Center Review of Rigid Hull Inflatable Vessels.”
The US Coast Guard Marine Safety Center published an update to its technical note “Marine Safety Center Review of Rigid Hull Inflatable Vessels.”

The US Coast Guard Marine Safety Center published an update to its technical note “Marine Safety Center Review of Rigid Hull Inflatable Vessels.” The document provides an alternative design standard equivalent to certain regulatory requirements found in 46 CFR Subchapters T and S for rigid hull inflatable and rigid hull foam collar small passenger vessels (RHIs).

The alternative design standard presented in the technical note provides consideration of the unique stability and structural characteristics of RHIs. These guidelines do not preclude the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI) from approving RHI structures and stability or applying alternative requirements or restrictions.

The major changes include adjustment Continue reading “US Coast Guard reviews rigid hull inflatable vessels”

CRT to create regional teams to improve customer service

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Richard Parry, CRT CEO (pictured right)
Richard Parry, CRT CEO (pictured right)

Canal & River Trust will move resource from its centrally based roles into its six regional customer-facing teams to improve customer service and engage with local communities.

The changes will be made as part of the trust’s waterways and well being strategy and will see operational management roles adapted to meet the requirements of the new regions.

Richard Parry, CEO, commented: “The Canal & River Trust has been repositioning as a charity for the waterways and well being, with a new structure that has seen us move from ten waterways to six larger regions, with some activities previously managed centrally now devolved to these regional teams, and a reduction in senior manager numbers overall.

Continue reading “CRT to create regional teams to improve customer service”

Recommendations on reducing yacht racing risks released

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The report team found that the risk clearly depends on the level of congestion.
The report team found that the risk clearly depends on the level of congestion.

A new Volvo Ocean Race (VOR)-commissioned report has examined ocean racing at night in areas of high vessel traffic density to establish possible steps to mitigate risk following the death of a fisherman during the race.

The independent Volvo High Traffic Density Report follows the collision between Vestas 11th Hour Racing and a fishing vessel this January, in the final stages of the leg into Hong Kong during the most recent edition of the race. The crews recounted that virtually all the vessels had some form of lighting and exhibited AIS. The fishing vessels were either stationary or travelling at slow speeds of 3-6 knots and they did not form an impenetrable barrier.

Recommendations made in the report included use of Continue reading “Recommendations on reducing yacht racing risks released”

Bavaria Yachts is relying on 100 percent Made in Giebelstadt

Posted on by News Hound
Bavaria Yachts logo
Bavaria Yachts logo

The future development of Bavaria is taking clear shape: The yacht builder, respected worldwide for its good price/performance ratio, will once again build its boats one hundred percent in Germany. Bearing the seal of quality “Made in Giebelstadt”, both sailing and motor yachts will be manufactured and handed over to customers in Franconia. The R55 motor yacht, previously produced in Croatia, will for the first time be hand-built at the company’s headquarters in the first half of 2019. The moulds and tools are currently being transported from Croatia to Germany and installed in Giebelstadt.

“We want our outstandingly well trained and committed employees to develop and build all our yachts primarily under own management. The workforce identifies strongly with Bavaria Yachts; it is the key feature of our company,” explains Managing Director Erik Appel, who has been Chief Operating Officer of Bavaria Yachts since December 2017. “This is why we intend to further increase our permanent staff and simultaneously reduce the proportion of temporary workers. This will help considerably to bring down Continue reading “Bavaria Yachts is relying on 100 percent Made in Giebelstadt”

Prepare and make way for the world’s largest ship, the Havfarm

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On the drawing board is a ship known as Havfarm (“Ocean Farm”), 430 metres in length and 54 metres wide, it will lay at anchor, fixed to the seafloor using the offshore industry’s technological solutions.
On the drawing board is a ship known as Havfarm (“Ocean Farm”), 430 metres in length and 54 metres wide, it will lay at anchor, fixed to the seafloor using the offshore industry’s technological solutions.

In conjunction with Nordlaks, NSK Ship Design has designed an aquaculture ship that could be the beginning of a sustainable revolution in the fish farming industry, named the Havfarm.

There is an air of excitement at NSK Ship Design, because they have been quietly working away since June 2015 on a special project for Nordlaks – a project that can be classified as no less than sensational for the fish farming industry.

On the drawing board is a ship known as Havfarm (“Ocean Farm”), 430 metres in length and 54 metres wide, it will lay at anchor, fixed to the seafloor using the offshore industry’s technological solutions. Norway is a world leader in Continue reading “Prepare and make way for the world’s largest ship, the Havfarm”

Complaints received by the Canal & River Trust are on the up

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Of the other complaints, there was one about the routing of HS2, as well as others in some way related to land or property.
Of the other complaints, there was one about the routing of HS2, as well as others in some way related to land or property.

252 complaints were received by the Canal & River Trust in 2017/18, according to the latest Waterways Ombudsman report.

The report show that the number of complaints is above the average of 225 over the past five years. During the year the Ombudsman received 35 enquiries about the Trust, down on 39 last year. Fifteen new investigations were opened, which was one more than the previous year and the number of completed investigations was 14, three lower than the previous year.

Of the 14 investigations completed, one was upheld, while in a further four investigations the complaint was either upheld in part, or elements of it were upheld. Goodwill awards were proposed in three cases, although in one case the complainant did not accept it.

Wide-ranging complaints

There was a very diverse range of complaints. The majority were about Continue reading “Complaints received by the Canal & River Trust are on the up”

Sunseeker is set to move into metal boat production

Posted on by News Hound
The new 49m tri-deck yacht will have an interior that can be styled to each owner’s taste.
The new 49m tri-deck yacht will have an interior that can be styled to each owner’s taste.

Sunseeker International is set to partner with Dutch based ICON Yachts to produce aluminium boats and other metal boat production.

The first boat, due for launch in 2021, will be a 49m yacht and will capitalise on the demand the boatbuilder is seeing for larger vessels.

“We know there is demand there for larger Sunseeker yachts as the 155 Yacht proved,” said Sunseeker International sales director, Sean Robertson. “The decision to stop building that model was a commercial one based on space and capacity and certainly not due to lack of demand, so we knew we needed to rethink our approach to this size of vessel and have spent considerable time looking at various opportunities.”

He added: “A move into metal also means there is no Continue reading “Sunseeker is set to move into metal boat production”

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