Pleasure craft safety equipment recommendations

Advisory safety equipment for pleasure craft
Advisory safety equipment for pleasure craft

For pleasure yachts of less than 13.7 meters in length there are no statutory requirements for safety equipment other than those required under SOLAS V. Safety equipment is an important part of preparing a boat. It is advisable that all pleasure craft skippers check that their vessel is properly equipped.

The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) recommends it is essential that you properly equip your boat prior to going on the water and that you ensure that the craft is Continue reading “Pleasure craft safety equipment recommendations”

The Expected Life Span of Yacht Enclosures

A yacht leaving its enclosures
A yacht leaving its enclosures

What is the expected life span of  yacht enclosures? There are a lot of variances, and this article is prepared to give you the information needed to determine the life of a given yacht enclosures.

Soft Enclosures

The least expensive of boats will typically have roll vinyl curtains. These are made from a clear pvc material that typically comes 51” wide on a roll and can be .015, .020 or .030 in thickness. It is soft and the life span is very short and unremarkable.

Better boats may have pressed polished sheets. These are made using the roll vinyl Continue reading “The Expected Life Span of Yacht Enclosures”

US Navy develops corrosion Topside Drone detection system

Topside Drone
Topside Drone

The US Navy’s Office of Naval Research has recently worked with the operator of the retired WWII-era carrier USS Midway to test a drone-based corrosion detection system.

ONR’s fast-prototyping division, TechSolutions, has developed a sensor package and processing system called Topside Drone that can detect corrosion and anomalies on hull surfaces automatically, saving time in surveys. The technology will be used to inspect and detect material defects, corrosion, warping and other forms of deterioration.

In a manner broadly similar to technology under development by ABS, Topside Continue reading “US Navy develops corrosion Topside Drone detection system”

Lithium-ion batteries linked to fire in superyacht’s garage says new report

Lithium-ion batteries linked to fire of 'MY Kanga'
Lithium-ion batteries linked to fire of ‘MY Kanga’

Transport Malta’s Marine Safety Investigation Unit (MSIU) has published an investigation report on a garage fire onboard the supertyacht ‘MY Kanga’ while at anchor off Croatia, in September 2018. The investigation concluded that in all probability, the seat of the fire was the Lithium-ion batteries. Transport Malta recommended a review of the Commercial Yacht Code of 2015 on the storage of Li-ion batteries, as well as closed ventilation systems.

MY Kanga was at anchor in the coastal area of Dubrovnik, Croatia, on the morning of 7 September 2018. While the first officer was on the bridge, the fire panel gave off an alarm, indicating a fire in the garage. He immediately went down to inspect and was overwhelmed by the presence of heat and smoke in the garage. The main fire Continue reading “Lithium-ion batteries linked to fire in superyacht’s garage says new report”

UK marine industry figures by British Marine make gloomy reading

British Marine
British Marine

New figures published by British Marine, the trade association for the UK leisure, superyacht and small commercial marine industry, highlight the number of British marine businesses reporting an increase in revenue sinking to 22%, 10% less than November 2018. The new figures also show static profit margins for marine businesses, with just 6% of companies enjoying an increase in profits, 6% less than November 2018. Business confidence within the sector is at its lowest level since autumn 2016.

Domestically focused UK businesses, especially marine services, continue to experience flat markets with 7% of companies experiencing an increase in revenue over the last six months. The domestic market has previously benefited from Continue reading “UK marine industry figures by British Marine make gloomy reading”

Bankrupt Moonen Yachts acquired by Australian couple

Matthew and Louise Baxter - new owners of Moonen Yachts
Matthew and Louise Baxter – new owners of Moonen Yachts

Dutch superyacht builder Moonen Yachts is under new ownership. An Australian couple, Matthew and Louise Baxter are the new owners of the shipyard. Matthew, of Scottish origin, is a successful Australian businessman and entrepreneur, who in 1972 established the A M Group, a privately owned worldwide group of manufacturing companies of which he is executive chairman.
Louise and Matthew first discovered Moonen Yachts whilst sailing on Pittwater harbour in Sydney where they came across the Moonen yacht, Aurora (Moonen 84). This lead to their involvement with Moonen, a midsized Dutch pedigree shipyard with a dedicated and highly skilled team.

In Matthew’s words, “It is a privilege to own a yard like Moonen. The brand has an impeccable pedigree, the yachts are true Dutch quality and the team is young, reliable, talented, and very loyal to the company. These characteristics are fundamental for success. I realise that the yard has to re-energise, but we are well Continue reading “Bankrupt Moonen Yachts acquired by Australian couple”

The Boat Works to welcome superyachts to its new facility

Queensland harbour
Queensland harbour

Australian shipyard and marina facility The Boat Works has expanded, doubling in size to 54 acres (218,530 square metres). The yard will welcome the first superyachts to its new facility later on this year.

It is anticipated that the new superyacht yard, with private investment of over $100m, will generate thousands of jobs in the marine and service industries.

Tony Longhurst, The Boat Works owner, commented, “We are committed to maintaining the health of our waterways, to operating sustainably and with minimal impact on the environment.

“The innovations we have implemented throughout the existing facility and Continue reading “The Boat Works to welcome superyachts to its new facility”

Sunseeker appoints Andrea Frabetti as new CEO

Andrea Frabetti
Andrea Frabetti

Andrea Frabetti has taken over as Sunseeker International CEO following the resignation of Christian Marti.

Andrea Frabetti, formerly chief technical officer at Sunseeker, will work with chief financial officer Mike McMillan and chief operations officer Michael Straughan to form a new strategic committee focusing on developing a strategic framework for the business.

The committee will continue to work with the current executive management team of Adrian Powell, Sean Robertson, Barbara Baker (as interim HR director) and Sian Dodds on return from maternity leave, to formalise a more ‘product-facing organisation structure and a robust global distribution network’. Continue reading “Sunseeker appoints Andrea Frabetti as new CEO”

Wärtsilä moves towards remote guidance for vessel repair and maintenance

Wärtsilä’s remote guidance service also proved successful during a demonstration in the TT-Lines office
Wärtsilä’s remote guidance service also proved successful during a demonstration in the TT-Lines office

Wärtsilä has successfully tested its remote guidance service, so claiming to have created ‘an entirely new dimension in vessel repair and maintenance operations’.

Through real-time communication using voice-controlled Augmented Reality (AR) wearables and remote guidance software, ship crew members, field service engineers and shipyard personnel can communicate with shore-based experts anywhere in the world.

The tests were carried out onboard the Huckleberry Finn, a RoRo ferry operated by TT-Lines, while sailing between Trelleborg, Sweden and Travemünde, Germany.

Simulated remote guidance service situations were carried out on the ship’s navigation equipment on the bridge and on the shaft line seals and bearings in the engine room.

Continue reading “Wärtsilä moves towards remote guidance for vessel repair and maintenance”

IMO Sub-Committee finalises draft amendments to ventilation requirements for survival craft

During the meeting of the IMO Sub-Committee, a correspondence group was established.
During the meeting of the IMO Sub-Committee, a correspondence group was established.

The IMO Sub-Committee on Ship Systems and Equipment held its 6th Session from 4 to 8 March 2019. The meeting focused on improvements in ventilation conditions of survival craft that will be achieved by finalising draft amendments to the LSA Code on ventilation requirements for survival craft and draft amendments to the ‘Revised recommendation on testing of life-saving appliances’.

Mainly, the Sub-Committee discussed the draft amendments to the LSA Code, relating to ventilation requirements of totally enclosed lifeboats.

In the meantime, the meeting made progress in developing draft amendments to the revised recommendation on testing of life-saving appliances regarding the ventilation of survival craft, aiming to ensure a habitable environment is maintained in such survival craft.

Continue reading “IMO Sub-Committee finalises draft amendments to ventilation requirements for survival craft”

Hakvoort launches explorer yacht Scout its largest to date

Known as Project Brio during the build, the highly-anticipated project will cruise as SCOUT upon delivery to her experienced owners in Spring 2019.
Known as Project Brio during the build, the highly-anticipated project will cruise as SCOUT upon delivery to her experienced owners in Spring 2019.

Hakvoort Shipyard in Monnickdam, Holland, has successfully launched the yard’s largest project to date. The 63.72-metre explorer yacht SCOUT was designed by renowned British design studio and H2 Yacht Design.

Known as Project Brio during the build, the highly-anticipated project will cruise as SCOUT upon delivery to her experienced owners in Spring 2019.

Measuring 63.72-metres with a beam of 11.6 metres and a draft of 3.25 metres, SCOUT emerged from the Hakvoort shed in Monnickendam in North Holland on 1st December before being towed to Amsterdam for final completion. Amongst the works that will be completed in the Dutch capital is the installation of her mast, crow’s nest, radars, stabilizers and propellers.

Previously known as YN249, M/Y Scout saw a change Continue reading “Hakvoort launches explorer yacht Scout its largest to date”

Ship surveying is being revolutionised by drone technology says ClassNK

Last September, ClassNK designated ‘survey technology innovation’ as one of four focus areas listed in its new R&D Roadmap, with drones identified as a key technology.
Last September, ClassNK designated ‘survey technology innovation’ as one of four focus areas listed in its new R&D Roadmap, with drones identified as a key technology.

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”

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