Small Craft News

Boat Safety Scheme certification charges set to rise as part of new four year business and investment plan

Posted on by News Hound
Boat Safety Scheme certification charges set to rise as part of new four year business and investment plan
Boat Safety Scheme certification charges set to rise as part of new four year business and investment plan

The Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) Management Committee has agreed a new four-year business plan to resource its work to 2022 and invest in improvements that will have an even longer-term benefit. The plan also includes the first price rise in certification charges for eight years.

BSS Examiners will pay a new price of £36 (excluding VAT) for each certification they issue to a boat, which is a £7 rise that they will likely choose to pass onto customers.

The new price will apply from 1 April 2018 and the Scheme intends holding it for at least the whole of the four-year business plan period, which is designed to coincide with the four-year lifespan of BSS Certification.

The new BSS business plan includes additional support to BSS Examiners, projects to improve the quality of examinations and enhancements to customer service.

The Scheme acknowledges that times are tough and boaters face other price increases associated with their Continue reading “Boat Safety Scheme certification charges set to rise as part of new four year business and investment plan”

Japan’s first certified LNG-fueled tugboat soon to be constructed

Posted on by News Hound
Japan's first certified LNG-fueled tugboat soon to be constructed
Japan’s first certified LNG-fueled tugboat soon to be constructed

Japanese carrier Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), the ninth largest container shipping company in the world, has signed a deal for the construction of what will be Japan’s first certified LNG-fueled tugboat.

The vessel is Japan’s first LNG-fueled tugboat with the LNG fuel tank mounted on the exposed deck at the stern of the ship and conforming to the IGF code, which regulates safety requirements for vessels that run on gas and low-flashpoint fuels.

This enhances convenience in bunkering, maintenance, and inspection.

The construction, carried out by with Kanagawa Dockyard Co starts in Continue reading “Japan’s first certified LNG-fueled tugboat soon to be constructed”

Maritime UK has established a Taskforce to increase the number of women within the UK maritime sector

Posted on by News Hound
Maritime UK has established a Taskforce increase the number of women within the UK maritime sector
Maritime UK has established a Taskforce increase the number of women within the UK maritime sector

The Taskforce brings together leaders from across the maritime sector to identify practical steps to increase the number of women in maritime, and crucially within senior roles across its shipping, ports, marine and business services industries.

Achieving a balanced workforce at all levels in the maritime sector will undoubtedly improve culture, behaviour, outcomes, profitability and productivity.

During London International Shipping Week, then Maritime Minister Rt Hon John Hayes MP called for industry to address gender imbalance in the sector. Government are represented on the Taskforce.

The Taskforce will make a series of recommendations and utilise Continue reading “Maritime UK has established a Taskforce to increase the number of women within the UK maritime sector”

Confusion surrounds antifouling paints which have not been banned in the UK

Posted on by News Hound
Confusion surrounds antifouling paints which have not been banned in the UK
Confusion surrounds antifouling paints which have not been banned in the UK

There is still confusion regarding the future availability of antifouling paints says the British Coatings Federation’s Marine Coatings Group.

The group has produced an explanatory note that it says is intended to provide clarity on the Biocidal Products Regulation, making it clear that antifoul paints – including copper-based antifoul – have not been banned.

“Antifouling paints containing co-biocides also known as ‘booster’ biocides have not been banned,” added Trevor Fielding, regulatory affairs manager at the BCF.

“The industry and the regulators are working hard to make the implementation of Continue reading “Confusion surrounds antifouling paints which have not been banned in the UK”

boot Düsseldorf sets new attendance records

Posted on by News Hound
The Show floor at Dusseldorf
Photo credit: Messe Düsseldorf/ctillmann

boot Düsseldorf has set new records with 247,000 visitors and 1,923 exhibitors across 16 exhibition halls.

Figures for the Beach World were up by 10% where visitors were able to try out a variety of activities alongside professional athletes representing different water sports.

“These figures are unique in the industry,” said Messe Düsseldorf CEO Werner Dornscheidt. “No other water sports trade fair reflects the entire world market in all its diversity as completely as boot.”

Large sailing yachts over 60ft long and sailing catamarans were Continue reading “boot Düsseldorf sets new attendance records”

Lifecord – a kill cord you will never forget – launched by Landau

Posted on by News Hound
Lifecord - a kill cord you will never forget - launched by Landau
Lifecord – a kill cord you will never forget – launched by Landau

Lifecord is a newly designed kill cord providing the certainty and reliability of a tethered connection between a boat’s engine ignition kill switch and pilot, ensuring the vessel’s engine stops should the pilot be inadvertently thrown from the helm. However, unlike the typical passive kill cords commonly seen, Lifecord is a ‘smart’ kill cord incorporating detection technology designed to trigger an audible and visual warning alarm should Lifecord be connected to the boat’s kill switch but not the pilot, similar to the seat belt warning in your car.

Lifecord’s uniquely designed Key and Clasp connector is comfortable to wear and can be operated easily even while wearing gloves. It also offers a secondary method of pilot connection using Continue reading “Lifecord – a kill cord you will never forget – launched by Landau”

Poor firefighting system lead to PeeJay V sinking

Posted on by News Hound
The PeeJay V. Image courtesy of TAIC
The PeeJay V. Image courtesy of TAIC

In January 2016, the passenger vessel PeeJay V caught fire and sank. The reason was due to an ineffective main firefighting system and crew who did not fully understand how it should work. New Zealand’s TAIC has published its report on the incident highlighting that for a CO2 firefighting system to be useful, the space must be airtight and everyone involved should be fully trained and know how the system works.

The incident

On 18 January 2016, the tourist boat was on an all-day excursion from Whakatane to White Island with 53 passengers and seven crew on board. It was near the end of the journey, approaching Whakatane Harbour entrance when fire broke out in the engine room. The crew released the fixed CO2 fire extinguisher into the engine room, which suppressed the fire for a short time. However, Continue reading “Poor firefighting system lead to PeeJay V sinking”

First electrically powered inland container vessel is on the horizon

Posted on by News Hound
First electrically powered inland cntainer vessel is on the horizon
First electrically powered inland cntainer vessel is on the horizon

Dutch electrical firm Werkina, Lloyd’s Register, Asto Shipyard and inland barge operator Port-Liner are working on Europe’s first electrically powered inland container vessel. The first five small ships in the series will be completed this year, and six larger vessels are in the works.

The novel barges will use containerized battery packs for power, which can either be recharged or exchanged at the terminal, allowing for rapid turn times. The smaller barge will carry 24 TEU and use one battery pack, and the larger model will carry 224 TEU with four battery packs.

Werkina says that Continue reading “First electrically powered inland container vessel is on the horizon”

California’s ports are now subject to new biofouling regulations

Posted on by News Hound
California's ports are now subject to new biofouling regulations
California’s ports are now subject to new biofouling regulations

Gard, a leading P&I insurer, has reminded shipowners and other involved parties that they should take care to comply with the requirements of California’s Marine Invasive Species Program (MISP). These regulations extend beyond IMO and US Coast Guard requirements for ballast water to address the risks posed by hull biofouling, which can also carry invasives.

According to the new regulations, after each newbuild’s delivery or after each existing vessel’s next regularly scheduled dry docking, the operator must implement a vessel-specific Biofouling Management Plan and Biofouling Record Book consistent with the best practices found in the IMO Biofouling Guidelines. These two documents must be Continue reading “California’s ports are now subject to new biofouling regulations”

Accident prevention can be aided by proper maintenance is the subject of a USCG safety alert

Posted on by News Hound
Image courtesy USCG
Image courtesy USCG

USCG has released a Safety Alert using the example of a commercial airboat incident which lost steering and hit a tree, resulting in a few serious injuries. The Safety Alert aims to remind operators and marine surveyors of the importance of recognising risks and ensuring proper maintenance and repairs.

Throughout maritime history, inadequate or improper maintenance and repairs, combined with the failure to recognize potential risks as a result of those maintenance and repair efforts, have caused numerous marine casualties involving substantial injuries, fatalities, environmental damage and economic costs to the involved parties.

The causal factors behind the decisions to perform inadequate or improper maintenance and repairs are, often, Continue reading “Accident prevention can be aided by proper maintenance is the subject of a USCG safety alert”

New regulations from the Danish Maritime Authority for operating personal watercraft come into force

Posted on by News Hound
New regulations from the Danish Maritime Authority for operating personal watercraft come into force
New regulations from the Danish Maritime Authority for operating personal watercraft come into force

Following the launch of new regulations from the Danish Maritime Authority, effective from 1 January 2018, operators of personal watercraft must complete a theoretical as well as a practical test.

As part of the Danish Government’s efforts to enhance the safety of those using the sea for recreational purposes, the Danish Maritime Authority will now require operators of personal watercraft and the like to hold a special personal watercraft license.

Everyone who wants to operate a personal watercraft must Continue reading “New regulations from the Danish Maritime Authority for operating personal watercraft come into force”

MAIB issues safety alert on safety harness tethers on sailing yachts

Posted on by News Hound
Figure 1: Tether hook under deck cleat
Figure 1: Tether hook under deck cleat

Background

The sailing yacht CV30 was taking part in the third leg of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race having left Cape Town on 31 October 2017 bound for Fremantle, Western Australia. At about 1414 local time on 18 November 2017, the yacht was in position 42°30.3’S, 087°36.3’E, approximately 1500nm from Fremantle, when a crew member, Simon Speirs, fell overboard. He was attached to the yacht by his safety harness tethers. The hook at the end of the tether that was clipped to a jack-line, deformed and released resulting in him becoming separated from the yacht. Simon Speirs was recovered unconscious onto the yacht but sadly could not be resuscitated.

Continue reading “MAIB issues safety alert on safety harness tethers on sailing yachts”

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