Workboats

CWind launches world’s first hybrid surface effect ship CWind Pioneer

Posted on by News Hound
CWind Pioneer. Image courtesy of CWind
CWind Pioneer. Image courtesy of CWind

CWind Pioneer is the world’s first hybrid powered Surface Effect Ship (SES) and has been delivered by CWind, a leading provider of project services, CTVs and GWO-accredited training courses to the offshore wind industry.

Named the CWind Pioneer to demonstrate its position at the forefront of crew transfer vessel innovation, the vessel was developed in response to an industry-wide push to develop and deploy innovative technologies that reduce CO2 emissions, while cost-effectively servicing windfarms located further offshore. The CWind Pioneer achieves this through a hybrid diesel and battery electric power system which enables the vessel to operate purely on battery power while in harbour or at standby in the windfarm, resulting in a decrease in fuel burn and CO2.

Continue reading “CWind launches world’s first hybrid surface effect ship CWind Pioneer”

Engine failure caused fire on another towing vessel says NTSB report

Posted on by News Hound
Engine failure causes fire on another towing vessel says NTSB report
Engine failure causes fire on another towing vessel says NTSB report

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released an investigation report on the engine room fire aboard the towing vessel City of Cleveland on the Lower Mississippi River in February 2020. The investigation has identified that catastrophic engine failure caused fire along with crankcase breach of the port main engine.

On 26 February 2020, the towing vessel City of Cleveland was pushing 18 dry cargo barges (15 loaded and 3 empty) upbound on the Lower Mississippi River, approximately 15 miles south of Natchez, Mississippi, when the vessel experienced a main engine failure followed by an engine room fire. All nine crew members safely evacuated to the barges and were rescued by nearby Good Samaritan vessels, which worked to extinguish the fire. The City of Cleveland was later towed to the operator’s facility in Rosedale, Mississippi. There was no pollution or injuries. Damage to the vessel was estimated at $2 million.

Probable cause

Continue reading “Engine failure caused fire on another towing vessel says NTSB report”

Catastrophic engine failure aboard Susan Lynn led to fire and explosion reveals report

Posted on by News Hound
Catastrophic engine failure aboard Susan Lynn led to fire and explosion
Catastrophic engine failure aboard Susan Lynn led to fire and explosion

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has published its investigation report on the fire and explosion which occured onboard the towing vessel Susan Lynn off Lousiana in October 2019. The investigation has identified a catastrophic engine failure as the key cause of the accident.

On 8 October 2019, at about 0600 local time, the Susan Lynn was docked and in layup status at Tom’s Marine & Salvage yard on the Barataria Waterway in Lafitte, Louisiana, when a fire started in the engine room. The vessel’s watchman could not contain the fire and evacuated the vessel. Local firefighters extinguished the fire. No pollution or injuries were reported. Damage to the vessel was estimated at $1,350,000.

Probable cause

The NTSB determines that the probable cause of the fire onboard the Susan Lynn was a catastrophic engine failure resulting in an oil reservoir breach and an ensuing fire Continue reading “Catastrophic engine failure aboard Susan Lynn led to fire and explosion reveals report”

Physical surveys: Keep ‘boots on deck’ for better inspections, surveys and crew morale says Idwal

Posted on by News Hound
Importance of physical surveys - Idwal Chief Executive Officer Nick Owens (pictured)
Importance of physical surveys – Idwal Chief Executive Officer Nick Owens (pictured)

The pandemic has demonstrated the value of remote working but the industry must recognise the importance of physical connection to the ship. Idwal, a provider of ship inspection services, is calling on the industry to recognise the positive contribution that physical surveys make to vessel quality and crew morale.

Idwal provides blended remote and in-person vessel surveys on behalf of shipowners, banks, owners, brokers and charterers and believes that over-reliance on remote inspection technology creates risks for operators and worsens conditions for already over-stretched crews.

Last year saw a sharp rise in enquiries to deliver ‘internal inspection’ campaigns for owners and managers, suggesting owners wish to keep a closer eye on their vessels’ condition while their own people can’t travel. But the impact on crews of more remote inspections is increasing and the results are not always positive. Continue reading “Physical surveys: Keep ‘boots on deck’ for better inspections, surveys and crew morale says Idwal”

Transport Malta reveals pump room fatality caused by n-Butane intoxication

Posted on by News Hound
Transport Malta reveals pump room fatality caused by n-Butane intoxication
Transport Malta reveals pump room fatality caused by n-Butane intoxication

Transport Malta has published its investigation report on a crew fatality in the pump room of the crude oil tanker MT Valtamed, while at Ceyhan OPL Anchorage, Turkey, in February 2020. The autopsy found that the pump man died by n-Butane intoxication. The investigation believes that the presence of H2S in the bilge space may have also contributed, by either causing panic or unconsciousness.

Whilst Valtamed was at anchor awaiting berthing instructions, pre-arrival tests of the high-level alarms of the vessel’s cargo tanks, and the forepeak store and pump room bilges were being conducted by the crew members.After testing the atmosphere of the vessel’s pump room, the pumpman proceeded to the bottom platform to test the space’s bilge alarms.

Although the port side bilge alarm was successfully tested, the chief officer noted that starboard side bilge alarm had not activated within Continue reading “Transport Malta reveals pump room fatality caused by n-Butane intoxication”

Historic steam-driven tug set to return to service

Posted on by News Hound
Historic steam-driven tug set to return to service. Photo credit: Thorndon Bearings
Historic steam-driven tug set to return to service. Photo credit: Thorndon Bearings

One of the world’s oldest tugboats, the 117-year-old, steam-driven tug Daniel Adamson, is set to return to service offering short cruises along the River Weaver, a tributary of the Mersey River in England, after the completion of a project to install new propeller shaft bearings.

The 1903-built steamship, rescued from scrap merchants 15 years ago, was fully restored in 2016 at Birkenhead’s Cammell Laird yard, the original builder of the vessel. Thordon Bearings’ SXL water lubricated propeller shaft bearings were installed last year after competitor bearings failed.

Thordon SXL water lubricated bearings were supplied in April of 2020, but due to the COVID-19 crisis, the project was delayed until Continue reading “Historic steam-driven tug set to return to service”

2020/1 flag state performance table published by International Chamber of Shipping

Posted on by News Hound
Latest flag state performance table published by ICS
Latest flag state performance table published by ICS

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has published the latest flag state performance table (2020/2021) which finds that many of the largest flag states, including the Marshall Islands, Hong Kong (China), Singapore as well as the Bahamas and Cyprus, continue to perform to an exceptionally high standard, with traditional flags and open registers performing equally well.

ICS Secretary General, Guy Platten, says: “The flag state performance table clearly indicates that distinctions between ‘traditional’ flags and open registers are no longer meaningful. Alongside several European registers, and flags such as Japan, we have seen many open registers amongst the very top performers”. Continue reading “2020/1 flag state performance table published by International Chamber of Shipping”

New joint initiatives to develop the decarbonization potential of solid oxide fuel cells

Posted on by News Hound
Initiatives to develop the decarbonization potential of solid oxide fuel cells
Initiatives to develop the decarbonization potential of solid oxide fuel cells

Alfa Laval, DTU Energy, Haldor Topsoe, Svitzer and the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping are entering into a joint project to accelerate the development of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology. Funded by a grant from Danish EUDP (Energy Technology Development and Demonstration Program), the partners will pursue a high-efficiency solution with the scalability to support marine industry decarbonization.

The project, SOFC4Maritime, will target optimal utilization of future green fuels via application of SOFCs for power production on marine vessels. When based on fuels such as ammonia, hydrogen or bio-methane, SOFCs hold great promise as a replacement for today’s fossil fuels. Such alternatives are needed in the maritime industry, which must transition to greener power over just a few decades.

By electrochemically converting fuel into electricity, SOFCs can potentially produce power with higher efficiency than internal combustion engines running on the same fuel – without creating polluting emissions or particulates. Ammonia-based SOFCs are especially attractive, since ammonia can be produced in large scale using Continue reading “New joint initiatives to develop the decarbonization potential of solid oxide fuel cells”

Cargo snagging during lifting operations safety alert issued

Posted on by News Hound
Cargo snagging during lifting operations safety alert issued
Cargo snagging during lifting operations safety alert issued

The Marine Safety Forum has issued a safety alert in which it describes a case of cargo snagging during lifting operations. The incident has highlighted the need for improvement in deck space management and planning.

A vessel was engaged in deck cargo operations at an offshore location. A number of lifts had been successfully discharged and backloaded which led to limited space on deck. The crane operator advised the next lift would be the 25ft basket on the starboard side which was duly connected to the crane hook. The vessel deck crew moved to a safe place and confirmed to the crane operator that he was clear to hoist.

As the crane operator began to lift the basket off the deck, the vessel bridge team noticed a corner of the basket had Continue reading “Cargo snagging during lifting operations safety alert issued”

MAIB initial assessment after the explosion onboard Galwad-Y-Mor

Posted on by News Hound
Detail of shell plating damage to Galwad-Y-Mor showing coating loss and indentation between internal frames
Detail of shell plating damage to Galwad-Y-Mor showing coating loss and indentation between internal frames

A preliminary assessment of the explosion resulting in damage and abandonment of the potting fishing vessel Galwad-Y-Mor (BRD116) 22 nautical miles north of Cromer, Norfolk on 15 December 2020 has been released by the MAIB.

On 15 December 2020, the vessel was operating in potting fishing grounds east of the Wash. At about 1120, the crew was in the process of hauling in a string of crab pots; the skipper was in the wheelhouse with other crew members below decks working the pots. The hauler was being used to heave in the back rope, and the crew had let Continue reading “MAIB initial assessment after the explosion onboard Galwad-Y-Mor”

Report into fatal accident on board Sunbeam published by MAIB

Posted on by Rosie Burton
Report into fatal accident on board Sunbeam published by MAIB
Report into fatal accident on board Sunbeam published by MAIB

MAIB has released a report on the fatal accident on board the trawler Sunbeam. On 14 August 2018, a second engineer on board was asphyxiated and died in one of the vessel’s refrigerated saltwater tanks. The report found that entering Sunbeam‘s tanks without safety precautions had become ‘normalised’ by the crew and had been done ‘without consequence’ over a period of many years.

Sunbeam was in Fraserburgh getting ready for a refit and the refrigerated saltwater tanks had been emptied of water in preparation for cleaning. Entry into the tanks, which were enclosed spaces, was routine business for the crew, both when operating the tanks at sea and during maintenance in harbour.

The second engineer was found collapsed inside a refrigerated saltwater tank. The available evidence, says MAIB, strongly indicates that he’d entered the tank to sweep away residual water. When he was found, three of his crew mates went into the Continue reading “Report into fatal accident on board Sunbeam published by MAIB”

Four key safety issues identified after fatal Conception fire

Posted on by News Hound
The aftermath of conception fire
The aftermath of conception fire

Following months of complex and forensic investigation, the National Transport Safety Board (NTSB) has published its official report on the fire onboard the small passenger vessel Conception in September 2019 off California, which killed 34 people. It has highlighted poor oversight by the company and USCG regulatory issues as key areas of concern which were revealed in a recent preliminary report. There is a long list of recommendations for the USCG to adhere to following this most harrowing accident.

About 0314 on 2 September 2019, the USCG received a distress call from the Conception, a 75-foot-long small passenger vessel, anchored in Platts Harbor on the north side of Santa Cruz Island, California, reporting fire. When Continue reading “Four key safety issues identified after fatal Conception fire”

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