Small Craft News

EMSA plans to streamline Flag State Inspections

Posted on by News Hound

EMSA LogoThe European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) has announced it has developed and released the Flag State Inspection functionality in RuleCheck. The objective of this innovative functionality is to support the work of flag state inspectors performing periodic flag state inspections (not statutory).

RuleCheck facilitates the work of the PSCOs by filtering the applicable requirements of the international instruments and regional procedures for a specific ship according to its type, Continue reading “EMSA plans to streamline Flag State Inspections”

MSA law change: fines and prison time for reckless UK jet skiers

Posted on by News Hound
Reckless UK jet skiers to face prison and unlimited fines thanks to law change
Reckless UK jet skiers to face prison and unlimited fines thanks to law change

New legislation is being introduced to crack down on the dangerous misuse of watercraft such as jet skiers, with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) being granted more powers to prosecute perpetrators of accidents.

The new law comes into force on 31 March 2023 in time for the busy summer period and will enable watercraft users to be prosecuted and bound by the same laws that apply to ships in order to help to prevent accidents. This follows a boom in the watercraft industry during the pandemic with the number, size, power and availability of watercraft like jet skis increasing, and their use in UK waters rising significantly. Continue reading “MSA law change: fines and prison time for reckless UK jet skiers”

Announcing the Ian Nicolson Lecture: Your invitation to attend

Posted on by News Hound
Ian Nicholson pictured - Image credit: The Helensburgh Advertiser
Image credit: The Helensburgh Advertiser

One of the more interesting nonagenarians you are likely to meet is Ian Nicolson C.Eng. FRINA HonMIIMS, a marine surveyor based in Scotland, who is not your average ninety-plus-year-old. For one thing, he has been marine surveying for over 70 years – in itself a remarkable feat.

IIMS is delighted to be hosting the Ian Nicolson Lecture “Lessons learned from 78 years of marine surveying” live on Thursday 13th April between 10.30 and 12.30 (UK time). The lecture is open to anyone who wishes to attend. Continue reading “Announcing the Ian Nicolson Lecture: Your invitation to attend”

‘Recovery of Persons in Water, a Guide to Good Practice for Small Vessels’ published

Posted on by News Hound

Tug boats at dockThe British Tugowners Association has released its latest guidance to industry, Recovery of Persons in Water (PIW), a Guide to Good Practice for Small Vessels.

“The persons in water guide looks to debunk and demystify various myths and fallacies within the industry, spurring on open debate and discussion with the intent being to save lives,” said BTA chairman and Svitzer Head of Marine Standards Scott Baker.

The intent of the guide is not limited to tugs but applicable across the small boat sector, whether crewboats, pilot boats, workboats or tugs, many of which share similar characteristics and equipment. Continue reading “‘Recovery of Persons in Water, a Guide to Good Practice for Small Vessels’ published”

Safety & Loss Prevention Briefings Compendium published

Posted on by News Hound

Following the surprise runaway success of the first edition of the Safety & Loss Prevention Briefings Compendium, published in January 2022 by the International Institute of Marine Surveying (IIMS), and subsequently downloaded many thousands of times, Edition II has been launched covering the period January to October 2022. It is now available to download and read in pdf or eReader formats.

Edition II builds on the success of the launch publication and extends to 160 pages. The simple aim is to highlight the dangers of working in the maritime industry, the ensuing accidents and some of the prevention measures available to mitigate disasters at sea. The publication blends a mix of incident and accident reports with essential loss prevention advice generated over the year. One significant new feature is a calendar, featuring some of the many accidents that have occurred during 2022, catalogued month by month. Continue reading “Safety & Loss Prevention Briefings Compendium published”

Lack of personal flotation device led to skipper’s death

Posted on by News Hound
Colin Golder perished because he was not wearing a personal flotation device
Colin Golder perished because he was not wearing a personal flotation device

In a tragic accident, the failure by a skipper to wear a personal flotation device, harness and tether, caused his death when he was washed overboard during the 2022 Newport-Bermuda race in June 2022 is the finding from a review by US Sailing.

Colin Golder was racing the Centurion 42, Morgan of Marietta, when he went overboard on 19 June 200 miles off the US east coast. Despite the efforts of the crew, which rescued Colin in challenging seas, he died soon after, most likely from drowning.

US Sailing’s review and subsequent report of the incident attribute his death primarily Continue reading “Lack of personal flotation device led to skipper’s death”

CRT publishes Boater Report 2022

Posted on by News Hound
The Boater Report 2022 has been released by the CRT
The Boater Report 2022 has been released by the CRT

The Canal & River Trust has published its Boater Report 2022 into how it generates its income and how that money is invested on behalf of its licence holders. Income for the year remained broadly stable and the Trust was able to increase the amount spent on core maintenance and repair works

The Boater Report 2022 highlights examples of the work the Trust carries out to keep the waterways safe and open for navigation, including 451 planned repairs and 52 arising and emergency repairs. Over the year the Trust replaced 132 lock gates, dredged 37km and removed almost 125,500 tonnes of silt. Continue reading “CRT publishes Boater Report 2022”

Former Discovery Yachts director ordered to make £1m payout

Posted on by News Hound
Former Discovery Yachts director ordered to make £1m payout
Former Discovery Yachts director ordered to make £1m payout

An ex director of Discovery Yachts Group will have to pay over a million pounds in compensation to a couple who sued the company over their leaking boat. Both Discovery Yachts Group and Discovery Yachts Ltd, are in liquidation – but Discovery Group’s ex-director Sean Langdon, 58, will now have to pay £1.12m compensation in person after losing a lawsuit.

Andrew France and his wife Maria bought the 58-foot Discovery sailing yacht ‘Elusive’ for £1.5 million in January 2017.
They sued both Southampton based boat brokers Continue reading “Former Discovery Yachts director ordered to make £1m payout”

New Workboat 3 code from the MCA is open for consultation

Posted on by News Hound
New proposed Workboat 3 code from the Maritime & Coast Guard Agency is open for consultation
New proposed Workboat 3 code from the Maritime & Coast Guard Agency is open for consultation

Rules governing workboats, pilot boats and remotely operated vessels have been revised and remade to support innovation in industry. The revised Merchant Shipping (Workboats, Pilot Boats and Remotely Operated Unmanned Vessels) Regulations 2022 and accompanying Workboat 3 Code is now going out for consultation across the marine industry. Continue reading “New Workboat 3 code from the MCA is open for consultation”

Fishing vessel fire investigation highlights importance of PLBs

Posted on by News Hound
Blue Dragon fire investigation report released by the NTSB
Blue Dragon fire investigation report released by the NTSB

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has published its investigation report for its investigation into the fire aboard the fishing vessel Blue Dragon on the November 10, 2021. No injuries or fatalities were reported, but the fire resulted in more than $500,000 in damages to the vessel.

The Blue Dragon was underway in the North Pacific Ocean conducting longline fishing operations when the vessel caught fire. The six crewmembers and a National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) observer unsuccessfully attempted to fight the fire and were forced to abandon ship to be rescued by a Good Samaritan vessel. The Blue Dragon was later towed to San Pedro, California. Continue reading “Fishing vessel fire investigation highlights importance of PLBs”

MCA consultation on requirements for fixed aerosol fire extinguishing systems in small vessel machinery spaces

Posted on by News Hound
The Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) has opened a public consultation seeking views and opinions for MGN 657 (M+F) Requirements for Aerosol fire extinguishing systems for use in Small Vessel Machinery
The Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) has opened a public consultation seeking views and opinions for MGN 657 (M+F) Requirements for Aerosol fire extinguishing systems for use in Small Vessel Machinery

The Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) has opened a public consultation seeking views and opinions for MGN 657 (M+F) Requirements for aerosol fire extinguishing systems for use in small vessel machinery. The draft MGN publishes the test requirements for future approvals of these systems and requires that tests are witnessed by an Approved Body appointed by the MCA. Continue reading “MCA consultation on requirements for fixed aerosol fire extinguishing systems in small vessel machinery spaces”

River cruise ship evacuated after suspected battery explosion

Posted on by News Hound
Suspected battery explosion causes evacuation of river cruise ship
Suspected battery explosion causes evacuation of river cruise ship

Dutch officials are investigating an explosion aboard a river cruise ship docked in Amsterdam as a likely malfunction of the vessel’s battery power system. The newly launched Viking Gymir, which was introduced by Viking for river cruises on the Rhine in 2022, features a new hybrid propulsion system that was developed in place of solely diesel propulsion on Viking’s other Longships.

According to reports from the Amsterdam fire brigade, they were summoned to the vessel Monday, July 25 around 6:30 p.m. after reports of an explosion in the engine room followed by a small fire. Continue reading “River cruise ship evacuated after suspected battery explosion”

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