First glass fibre composites recycling centre in the UK set to open

First glass fibre composites recycling centre in the UK set to open
First glass fibre composites recycling centre in the UK set to open

The National Composites Centre is aiming to create the UK’s first glass fibre composites recycling and re-use facility of its kind. The organisation is supporting a new consortium that has been formed to address the growing challenge of decarbonisation and recycling of composite materials in the marine industry and beyond.

The Blue Composites Project is made up of the UK’s leading marine and maritime companies, composites specialists, academic institutions and local government organisations, led by Blue Parameters, a Guernsey based marine consultancy. Continue reading “First glass fibre composites recycling centre in the UK set to open”

Despite decreasing marine casualties the Irish authorities remain cautious

Irish authorities remain cautious despite decreasing marine casualties
Irish authorities remain cautious despite decreasing marine casualties

Marine casualties and fatalities in Irish waters have reduced in the past ten years, but investigators warn this could change if voluntary codes of conduct are ignored. The Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) reports that fatalities have been on a downward trend to zero in 2021 from a high of 13 in 2012. However, this may not remain the case as the number of serious incidents involving kayakers and canoeists continues to rise.

In 2020 the MCIB urged water sports clubs to ensure that all codes of practice, guidelines and recommendations were followed.  Continue reading “Despite decreasing marine casualties the Irish authorities remain cautious”

New laws to restrict the way ships release ballast water into UK seas

The new laws, put forward by the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA), is based on the international Ballast Water Management Convention
The new laws, put forward by the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA), is based on the international Ballast Water Management Convention

New laws have now come into force which will further protect United Kingdom coastlines by stopping international ships from discharging potentially harmful species into the sea by introduing new laws to restrict the way ships release ballast water into UK seas.

The Merchant Shipping (Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments) Regulations 2022 introduces legislation into UK law controlling the discharge of ships’ ballast water into UK waters. Ballast water can contain aquatic species that are harmful to native UK ones and the legislation will stop ships from potentially releasing them onto our coasts. Continue reading “New laws to restrict the way ships release ballast water into UK seas”

UK boat licence fees set to increase from 1 October 2022

Canal boats at dockIn light of soaring inflation, which is impacting the costs required to keep the waterways safe and navigable, the Canal & River Trust has annouced an inflationary rise of 4% in UK boat licence fees from 1 October 2022. This is in conjunction with cost saving measures that the Trust is taking and actions to increase income from other sources.

Whilst recognising that a second increase in fees this year is regrettable, the Trust is facing significant increases in a range of its costs – notably the prices of energy, fuel, materials and other construction costs which are rising by more than headline consumer inflation rates, Continue reading “UK boat licence fees set to increase from 1 October 2022”

Revised MCA documentation issued between 8 June and 15 July

The The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has revised various documentation issued between 8th of June and the 15th of July.

All M-Notices (MSNs, MGNs and MINs) can be found through the use of the search engine on the MCA website.

Issued 9 June 2022
SI 2022 No. 0629 – The Merchant Shipping (Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments) Order 2022 Continue reading “Revised MCA documentation issued between 8 June and 15 July”

OPSS issues product recall on life jacket sold via Amazon

Office for Product Safety & Standards issues product recall on life jacket sold via Amazon
Office for Product Safety & Standards issues product recall on life jacket sold via Amazon

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has issued a product recall for 11 models of life jacket sold via the Amazon online platform. The life jackets are being recalled from end users and the listings will be removed by the Amazon platform. Continue reading “OPSS issues product recall on life jacket sold via Amazon”

Red Ensign Group Conference looks at challenges of maritime

From left to right: Katy Ware, Sir John Lorimer and Cameron Mitchell
From left to right: Katy Ware, Sir John Lorimer and Cameron Mitchell

Dealing with the challenges of maritime and coastal state responsibilities are coming under the spotlight at the annual Red Ensign Group Conference. Challenges of the sector include recovery of maritime following the pandemic, environmental and coastal concerns, as well as commercial competition.

The conference which oversees and upholds maritime safety standards across the thirteen British Shipping Registers is meeting in the Isle of Man to discuss best practice and to look at ways of improving the performance of the British Registers internationally. It is the first time the conference has met in person since the global pandemic took a hold in 2020. Continue reading “Red Ensign Group Conference looks at challenges of maritime”

MCA Consultation on updates to fire protection regulations

MCA Logo
MCA Logo

Plans to update UK law around rules governing the fire safety and protection of vessels as well as fire protection regulations are going out to public consultation as part of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s commitment to ensuring seafarer safety.

The new regulations will implement updated international rules on fire protection, fire detection and fire extinction. This includes provision for improvements made to structural fire protection, escape from fire and operational requirements.

There are already stringent rules around protecting seafarers in the event of fire on board vessels and these amendments to the international regulations are in addition to those. Continue reading “MCA Consultation on updates to fire protection regulations”

Reflections and highlights from UK Maritime Safety Week

Broken rope ladder
Broken rope ladder

This year’s Maritime Safety Week commenced on 4 July. Over the course of the week, a series of blogs reiterating safety messages to the industry were published by the MAIB. A few of the highlights are published below.

Andrew Moll OBE
Opening Maritime Safety Week, Chief Inspector of Marine Accidents, Andrew Moll OBE, said:
“Today marks the start of Maritime Safety Week 2022, an important moment when the marine industry comes together to focus on how we can collectively continue to improve safety across the sector. As the MAIB has done in previous years, this week we plan to highlight a number of key areas of ongoing concern and reiterate the safety messages that the industry must note. Continue reading “Reflections and highlights from UK Maritime Safety Week”

UK boating numbers on canals and rivers increase

numbers on canals and rivers increase
numbers on canals and rivers increase

The UK Canals and Rivers Trust national boat count shows an increase in boaters using the canals across England and Wales over the last three years. The last full annual boat count took place in 2019, with the pandemic affecting the counts scheduled for 2020 and 2021. The count reveals that the number of boaters rose by 3.3 per cent across England and Wales and there was also a licence compliance rate of 94.1 per cent.

Over the course of the last three years the survey shows a slight drop in the percentage of licensed boats, down from 96.5 per cent in 2019 to 94.1 per cent this year, together with an increase in boats taking a licence without a home mooring Continue reading “UK boating numbers on canals and rivers increase”

Sinking of Nicola Faith with 3 fatalities report published

Nicola Faith fishing vessel
Nicola Faith fishing vessel

On 27 January 2021, the whelk potter Nicola Faith capsized and sank 1.9 miles north of Rhos-on-Sea, North Wales with the loss of its three crew members. The vessel had been extensively modified during its life which had significantly reduced its margin of positive stability. On the day of the accident the Nicola Faith had been loaded with catch and retrieved strings of pots to the point of instability, which resulted in the capsize and subsequently sinking of the vessel. Nicola Faith had not been fitted with a mandatory emergency beacon to alert to the capsize, and it was not reported as overdue until 1000 the next day. Following its salvage by the MAIB, a thorough inspection of the vessel was carried out to determine possible modes of capsize Continue reading “Sinking of Nicola Faith with 3 fatalities report published”

MAIB issues report into fatal sinking of Joanna C

The Joanna C at sea
The Joanna C at sea

Early in the morning on 21 November 2020, the scallop dredger Joanna C capsized south of Newhaven, England; only one of the three crew survived. Joanna C’s crew was hauling the gear when they noticed that the starboard dredge bar had become snagged on a line of whelk pots. The snag caused a heel to starboard from which the vessel could not recover, and it capsized rapidly.

The MAIB’s investigation found that through-life modifications, culminating in extensive alterations in 2019, had reduced Joanna C’s previously good stability to a state where it had very low reserves of positive stability and increased vulnerability to capsize. The detrimental effect of the modifications was unknown to the crew and regulator alike because, Continue reading “MAIB issues report into fatal sinking of Joanna C”

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