Small Craft News

Canal & River Trust 2020/2021 Annual Report published

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Canal & River Trust 2020/2021 Annual Report published
Canal & River Trust 2020/2021 Annual Report published

The Canal & River Trust 2020/21 Annual Report and Accounts document a year dominated by Covid-19, from the pandemic’s operational and financial impact on the Trust, to the lifeline the waterways and towpaths provided throughout for millions of people across England and Wales. The Canal & River Trust 2020/2021 Annual Report also looks ahead to the 2021/22 Government Grant Review, and demonstrating the waterways’ benefit to the nation.

The Trust’s income was £215.4 million in 2020/21 (2019/20: £216.1m), reflecting the actions taken in recent years to ensure that its income, vital for looking after the ageing waterways infrastructure, is secure. Whilst overall spend on charitable activities decreased year-on-year by £10.8m to £183.3m, partly the result of provisions for Toddbrook Continue reading “Canal & River Trust 2020/2021 Annual Report published”

Fishing vessel pilot highlights new safety management project

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A fishing vessel on the water - Image used for illustration purposes only
Image used for illustration purposes only

Leading provider of grants and support to the maritime community, The Seafarers’ Charity, has received funding for a pilot project to develop safety management onboard fishing vessels to the standard of the Fishing Safety Management (FSM) Code. The new service, Fishing First Safety Management by SafetyFolder, aims to improve safety in the UK fishing fleet.

The Seafarers’ Charity’s chief executive, Catherine Spencer says: “I am delighted that funding has been secured for this pilot project as the addition of an auditable safety standard that will transform vessel safety in the fishing industry. The Seafarers’ Charity is improving the lives of seafarers every day and ensuring fishers can work and return home safely from voyages without experiencing harm or accidents isa big part of that.” Continue reading “Fishing vessel pilot highlights new safety management project”

National Safe Boating Week in Australia and New Zealand highlighted three key issues

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National Safe Boating Week - 2nd to the 8th October 2021The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has partnered with the Australian New Zealand Safe Education Boating Group (ANZSBEG) for National Safe Boating Week, which took place from the 2nd to the 8th of October. It represented an opportunity for governments, industry leaders, and casual and professional seafarers alike to highlight the importance of safe boating across Australia and New Zealand.

AMSA Acting Chief Executive Officer, Sachi Wimmer said “Boating is core to our way of life. Not only is it a great way to spend your free time and enjoy the outdoors, but we also have a lot of people on boats out on the water earning a living,” Continue reading “National Safe Boating Week in Australia and New Zealand highlighted three key issues”

Maritime New Zealand report highlights recreational boating accidents between 2015 and 2020

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Maritime New Zealand report highlights recreational boating accidents between 2015 and 2020
Maritime New Zealand report highlights recreational boating accidents between 2015 and 2020

Each year a number of people die in recreational boating accidents, an activity pursued for enjoyment, or for the benefit of friends or family. Each accident is tragic and has its own unique set of circumstances, but the common factors across these accidents can help highlight ways that similar deaths may be prevented in the future.

This report by Maritime New Zealand is intended to give an overview of fatal recreational boating accidents between the beginning of 2015 and the end of 2020, and to provide additional insight into a number of key characteristics and identified patterns. Continue reading “Maritime New Zealand report highlights recreational boating accidents between 2015 and 2020”

MAIB: Lack of boating experience was a factor when the Norma G boat capsized leading to fatality

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Lack of boating experience was a factor in the events leading to the Norma G fatal accident says MAIB report
Lack of boating experience was a factor in the events leading to the Norma G fatal accident says MAIB report

MAIB have issued a report on the incident involving Norma G. On 25 May 2020, a family were enjoying a day out on the water in the Camel Estuary, Cornwall, on their 5.4m motor cruiser Norma G. The boat was capsized by a large wave close to the Doom Bar. The owner’s 17-year-old daughter became trapped in the cabin when the boat capsized, and she was unable to escape before the cabin filled with water and she sadly drowned.

Safety issues:
– the owner’s daughter died as a result of drowning after being trapped in the cabin of Norma G when it was capsized.
– Norma G’s owner’s limited boating experience meant he did not fully appreciate the dangers of being so close to the Continue reading “MAIB: Lack of boating experience was a factor when the Norma G boat capsized leading to fatality”

Report analyzing the impacts of underwater noise in Europe published by EMSA

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Report analyzing the impacts of underwater noise in Europe published by EMSA
Report analyzing the impacts of underwater noise in Europe published by EMSA

The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) has commissioned a study to consolidate information on the subject of continuous Underwater radiated noise (URN) from shipping, in order to derive recommendations for a future multi-stakeholder strategy within Europe. The 103 page report is now available to read.

The study focussed on four main subject areas, with noise sources, environmental impact and policy providing the basis for the main goal, mitigation. The main source of URN from shipping is broadband propeller cavitation, radiating noise over a large frequency range. Machinery, primarily main propulsion engines, can also have an important contribution. Continue reading “Report analyzing the impacts of underwater noise in Europe published by EMSA”

New chapter for safe disposal of marine flares from the pleasure boat sector

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Marine flares and a pair of glovesThe Maritime and Coastguard Agency is to work with industry to develop local self-regulated schemes for the safe disposal of redundant pyrotechnics ( marine flares) from the pleasure vessel sector. It follows a consultation (which concluded on 15 March) with the industry, industry regulators and boat-owners to seek ways considered acceptable to all for the effective means of disposing of flares.

The MCA supported a proposal for an industry-led, self-regulated disposal service that complies with existing legislation. It was also felt this was an opportunity for small regional businesses to tailor a disposal service that meets local needs, enabling an effective geographical spread of options available to boat-owners. Continue reading “New chapter for safe disposal of marine flares from the pleasure boat sector”

Recycled dead boats – an environmental threat in pictures

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Scuppered dreams and recycled dead boats - an environmental threat in pictures
Scuppered dreams and recycled dead boats – an environmental threat in pictures

As long ago as 1999, the US based naval architect, Eric Sponberg, raised the alarm within the recreational boating community with his outspoken article entitled ‘Recycled Dead Boats.’ To quote his actual words, he said: “The industry has ‘shot itself in the foot’ by building boats out of such a durable and almost indestructible material as fibreglass (GRP.)”

Almost a quarter of a century later, the Centre for Aquatic Environments at Brighton University in the UK has picked up the baton and recently produced a video that vividly emphasises the same ongoing challenge. The film features academic research information, and real-life contributions from various stakeholders around the world, clearly making the point; that not enough has been done to address the threats to the environment, or to the future sustainability of boating. Continue reading “Recycled dead boats – an environmental threat in pictures”

US Coast Guard vessel deficiency reports to be posted monthly

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Ensign Patricia Carrow, a Coast Guard vessel inspector, examines a passenger vessel. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Andrea Anderson)
Ensign Patricia Carrow, a Coast Guard vessel inspector, examines a passenger vessel. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Andrea Anderson)

The Coast Guard will begin posting monthly data vessel deficiency reports on domestic and foreign vessels on the Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance (CG-CVC) website in an Excel file format. Access to data such as common vessel deficiencies or marine casualty occurrences can inform vessel owners and operators of current trends on similar vessels. Armed with this information, vessel owners and operators may proactively take action to identify potential deficiencies on board their vessel and improve safety.

For years, the Port State Information Exchange (PSIX) XML data service has provided a means for the public to access large quantities of Coast Guard vessel deficiency and marine casualty data. However, XML data service requires a level of programming knowledge that can make it difficult for the average user to access the information. Continue reading “US Coast Guard vessel deficiency reports to be posted monthly”

Green boating ETB partnership secures new funding to electrify the UK Norfolk Broads

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Ra - solar powered boat part of the ETB partnership
Ra – solar powered boat part of the ETB partnership

The ETB partnership, comprising researchers and Norfolk Broads businesses, has been announced as a winner of the Clean Maritime Competition, alongside 55 other projects to investigate how to decarbonise the maritime sector. As part of a range of measures to tackle climate change, the UK Government is planning to phase out the production of new fossil-fuel powered vessels by 2050. This funding will enable the ‘Electrifying The Broads’ – ETB partnership group to research how the transition to cleaner fuels and propulsion could take place in the Broads.

To date, electric motors are only widely used on small outboard vessels, electric day-boats and sailing yachts. The ‘cruiser’ fleet of private and hire boats is almost entirely fossil-fuel powered, and there are currently no environmentally-friendly options for hire vessels that Continue reading “Green boating ETB partnership secures new funding to electrify the UK Norfolk Broads”

Canal & River Trust wages battle to overcome invasive weeds in the Lancaster Canal

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Canal & River Trust wages battle to overcome invasive weeds in the Lancaster Canal
Canal & River Trust wages battle to overcome invasive weeds in the Lancaster Canal

Throughout the summer and early autumn, a combination of warm weather, sunshine and extra nitrates from agricultural run-off create perfect growing conditions for duckweed, water fern, common reeds and Canadian waterweed. These fast-growing plants are spread by passing boats, canoeists, paddle boarders, anglers’ nets and walkers’ muddy boots and, left undisturbed, can form a thick green carpet on the water. This can then cause problems for boat engines, and its solid appearance makes it a potential danger for children and animals. Hotspots for the invasive weeds are low flow areas around the Lancaster Canal, Garstang, Cabus Nook, north Preston, Radcliffe Wharf and Woodplumpton.

Continue reading “Canal & River Trust wages battle to overcome invasive weeds in the Lancaster Canal”

New US bill proposes reforming liability for maritime accident compensation

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A fireman in front of a burning boat - Photo credit: Ventura County Fire Dept
Photo credit: Ventura County Fire Dept

A bill has been introduced before the US Congress designed to reform the 170-year-old regulation that limits maritime accident compensation. The effort is being led by California’s Congressman Salud Carbajal and Senator Dianne Feinstein and has been written to be retroactive to cover the 2019 fire aboard the dive boat Conception, which killed 34 people off the California coast.

The Carbajal-Feinstein bill updates an 1851 law that can prevent maritime accident victims and their families from receiving compensation from those responsible for the accident. Under the terms of the Limitation of Liability Act of 1851, boat owners can limit their liability tothe value of the vessel after the accident. The sponsors of the new bill said according to the current legislation the owner of the Conception dive boat may not be held financially liable for any losses incurred as a result of the fire – including loss of life – because the boat had no value after it was destroyed. The Conception was declared a total loss after the 2019 fire. Continue reading “New US bill proposes reforming liability for maritime accident compensation”

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