From steam to diesel and now electricity: Finland’s oldest ferry has become the nation’s first all-electric passenger vessel after being fitted with Visedo power.
The City of Turku has seen the historic Föri ferry relaunched, complete with a new zero-emission electric drivetrain that will deliver greater efficiency, less noise and reduced operating costs.
The Föri initially entered service in 1904 after the City of Turku commissioned local shipyards Aktiebolaget Vulcan to build a city commuter ferry to take passengers across the Aura River to Åbo.
The Canal & River Trust kicks off ‘Boats in Bloom’ Awards. (Photo from Gardeners’ World Live 2016)
‘It’s blooming marvellous on the waterways’ is the theme by the Canal & River Trust about the green fingered boaters and waterside gardeners in the UK. The charity is launching its first-ever ‘Boats in Bloom’ awards to say thank you to the many people who bring the waterways in Britain to life with plants and flowers.
Starting in May, the Canal & River Trust will be presenting colourful certificates to anyone whose boat or waterside planting is putting a smile on the face of passers-by. The charity is also calling on people to share photos of blossoming boats and waterways to create an online gallery to inspire and delight others.
Ostseestaal is exploring solar powered, electric vessel technology
Ostseestaal, a Germany yard, has produced a tourist boat powered only by electric motors with the significant application of solar panels. From the experience of building and operating this first vessel the company has developed plans for a larger design with more than double the passenger capacity.
Ostseestaal is a subsidiary of the Dutch Centralstaal company with both focusing on accurately cut and processed steel and aluminium kits for ship and boat building. Both designs are based on hydro-dynamically efficient catamaran hulls with construction in aluminium. The smaller design that is currently in operation, the CIG FS 1850 is a low profile design for operating in areas where low bridges might restrict operations and it has seating for 35 plus 15 standing places and space for 15 cycles emphasising its dual role as a tourist vessel and a ferry. An alternative layout can accommodate 60 passengers and two wheelchairs.
Surveyors take note – overplating does not constitute a repair on a steel hull
Feature article written by Alan Broomfield MIIMS, who tackles the thorny subject of overplating on steel hulled vessels, in particular Dutch barges and Narrowboats.
It is common practice when in the field surveying steel vessels to find mild steel plates welded to the hull, a practice regularly carried out on leisure vessels as a permanent repair. If any defects are found on the shell of a metal boat during a survey, surveyors are all too quick to recommend that the area concerned be overplated. Marine surveyors who deal with steel vessels will find that very often – Dutch barges and canal boats in particular – are frequently heavily overplated and should remember at all times that such overplating does NOT constitute a repair. It merely hides the defect.
Synthetic rigging will replace wire and marine surveyors need to understand this disruptive new technology
Feature article written by Nick Parkyn
Synthetic rigging (also referred to as composite rigging) is disruptive technology that in time will replace stainless steel wire rigging. Since marine surveyors will increasingly come into contact with this type of rigging, they need to understand this new technology to enable them to carry out surveys on craft which use it.
Many new types of synthetic fibres have been discovered in recent years. Typically, they are initially used in aerospace applications and later become available for other application where high performance is required. Most of the high performance fibres are characterised by impressive tensile properties, which with the exception of carbon fibre significantly exceed their compressive strength. With yacht Continue reading “An introduction to synthetic rigging for marine surveyors”
An electric launch by Scruffie Marine takes to the water
Feature written by Derek Ellard of Scruffie Marine
Electric boats operate at a fraction of the cost of conventional fossil-fuel powered boats. They offer maximum torque through the whole rev range and ride in silence with no emissions. This means that marinas and waterways will be cleaner and quieter. No noise and no fumes from conventional engines to contend with. Are electric boats the thing of the future? Derek Ellard of Scruffie Marine, based in North Tamborine, Queensland, Australia thinks so and is involved in building them.
A major new boating show ‘Club Marine Perth International Boat Show’ has been announced for Western Australia to be held at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre and nearby Elizabeth Quay over four days of the Queen’s Birthday long weekend from 22-25 September, 2017.
The new show, the Club Marine Perth International Boat Show, is an initiative of the Boating Industry Association of Western Australia (BIAWA) and will be managed by Premiere Events, the organisers of the Mandurah Boat Show and related outdoor shows. It will be sponsored by Club Marine Insurance with support from the City of Perth, Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, and the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority.
Dress appropriately when antifouling and use the right PPE equipment
Everyone using antifoul should wear the right personal equipment – that’s the message from the British Coatings Federation, (BCF), which along with the RYA and British Marine, has launched a new DIY Safe Antifouling Initiative.
The objective of this initiative is to inform and educate boat owners regarding the hazards associated with antifouling their boats and follows on from an online survey carried out on the DIY use of antifouling paints in the UK.
The survey showed the majority of respondents wore protective clothing but also highlighted areas where improvements could be made, such as providing better guidance and information on how to minimise the risk of skin contact with antifoul paint.
The recently formed IIMS Large Yacht & Small Craft Working Group is pleased to announce another training event and has been fortunate to secure an opportunity to visit the Dutch superyacht builder, Royal Huisman yard at Vollenhove in the Netherlands.
Royal Huisman has built some of the most iconic, striking and stylish craft to set to sea in recent years. They boast a facility of 30,000 square metres, which houses the modern equipment and infrastructure required for large custom yacht building and refitting. This state-of-the-art facility, set in Holland’s internationally renowned concentration of specialist maritime businesses, includes many advanced design and engineering software programmes for rapid communication with clients and the design team on systems design, engineering and construction processes. Naval architects and designers have access to the people with the experience, expertise and specialist skills that will enable them to realise their vision in the most intricate detail. IIMS has been granted permission to bring a group to the facility and this is a unique opportunity to have a look into their exciting and dynamic world at close quarters.
The factors leading to the sinking of Inuk II in Greenland have been released in a report by the DMAIB
On August 14, 2016, the tour boat, Inuk II, sank in the bay of Ilulissat, Greenland. The 23 passengers were safely evacuated, wet and cold, onto another tour boat. However, the accident highlighted issues with the design and emergency procedures of such vessels.
The accident investigation conducted by the Danish Maritime Accident Investigation Board determined that the incident occurred because a hose connecting the aft deck drain to the discharge pipe was removed and then not mounted again. On the day of the accident, Inuk II was transporting the maximum number of passengers which increased the draught to such an extent that the hull discharge pipe was submerged. Inuk II gradually lost all buoyancy as water flowed into the steering gear/storage compartment and subsequently into the engine room.
What is believed to be the world’s first electric powered trawler is being developed by Trondheim Trawlers
With an eye on extended voyages and rough weather, the Trondheim 40 Trawler is being billed as the world’s first electric powered trawler and will be able to go into shallow and icy waters such as Alaska or the Norwegian fjords. The trawler is 40-foot long and has a steel hull and is powered by two Torqeedo electric motors.
This innovative design should come as no surprise to those who know of the work and reputation of Russian designer, Max Zhivov.
“The main idea of our project Trondheim Trawler is a revision of classic trawler design and usage of innovative electric technologies,” explained Zhivov, who believes this is the first electric powered trawler.
UK Canal and River Trust publishes its Heritage Report
The Canal and River Trust has released its 2015/2016 heritage report focusing on the actions it is taking to preserve its areas’ historic significance for the future.
In the heritage report it’s reported that at the end of 2015/16 there were 24 individual assets on the national and local Heritage at Risk (HaR) registers, as well as 31 conservation area HaRs through which its waterways pass.
“It’s heartening to see that the passion, expertise and hard work of our employees and volunteers is having a positive effect on the heritage in our care,” said Richard Parry, chief executive at the Canal & River Trust.
