Great Barrier
PSSA Interactive Display Launched at IMO
A new interactive display on Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas (PSSA) has been launched at IMO Headquarters and online at www.pssa.imo.org. A PSSA is an area that needs special protection through action by IMO because of its significance for recognized ecological or socio-economic or scientific reasons and which may be vulnerable to damage by international maritime activities. To date, IMO has designated 14 PSSAs. The new display and website include videos, pictures, maps, and graphic displays, telling the unique story of each of the 14 PSSAs, together with a special insight on IMO’s work on this topic, past, present and future. The display and website have been funded with the support of generous contributions from Australia, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, the Republic of Korea and Sweden. Speaking at the launch on Thursday, May 16, IMO Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu said the new display would serve as a continual reminder and a celebration of the substantial contribution that has been made to environmental protection through IMO’s PSSA scheme. “It is my great hope that this ground-breaking display that we are going to formally inaugurate this evening will serve as a continual reminder and a celebration of the substantial contribution that has been made to environmental protection through IMO’s PSSA scheme”, Mr. Sekimizu said
Ocean Emperor Drifts toward Great Barrier Reef
As of July 27, 11.45 a.m., the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is coordinating a maritime casualty response in the Coral Sea for the fully loaded bulk coal carrier Ocean Emperor, in liaison with Maritime Safety Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. The Ocean Emperor is currently situated approximately 130 kilometres east of Cooktown off the outer Great Barrier Reef, and is drifting slowly westwards towards the reef
Australian Reef Pilots Win Safety Award
Australian Reef Pilots (ARP) and its technology suppliers have won an international award for technology which improves safety and efficiency for shipping on the Great Barrier Reef. In a combined submission with VoyageBank and SevenCs, ARP was awarded the IHS Safety at Sea 2013 Award (Systems Category) for the unique VoyageBank pilot system. The custom navigation program combines tablets, cloud computing, electronic charting and an onshore safety management system to better protect one of
Bulk Carrier, Fishing Trawler Collide Off of Australia
Australian Search and Rescue is coordinating an air and sea search for the 55-year-old captain of a fishing trawler involved in a collision with a 70,000 tonne bulk carrier at about 12.10am this morning north-east of Townsville. Two Queensland Rescue helicopters and up to eight vessels including a Townsville Water Police launch and Australian Volunteer Coast Guard boat, are searching for the missing man. The collision occurred at a position 35 nautical miles (64kms) north east of Townsville
Australians Change Disposal Rules
The Australian Maritime Safety Agency (AMSA) issued a Marine Notice
Latest on 'Rena' Salvage
Salvors report steel cutting on board the 'Rena' continued with very good progress made during the current stable weather window. Salvage (Resolve Marine) • An additional 70 tonnes has been removed from the forward section using the Bell 214 helicopter. • This brings the total steel weight removed to approximately 200 tonnes. • The focus for the coming week
WDT Security Barriers, Buoys Installed at Army Reserve
Wave Dispersion Technologies (WDT) announced the recent delivery and installation of four Marine Security Sign Buoys and two hundred and eighty linear feet of WhisprWave Small Craft Intrusion Barrier (SCIB) for the US Army Reserve Facility at Mare Island, Vallejo, CA. The facility, located on the western edge of San Francisco Bay in Northern California previously received a similar sized barrier in 2004. This installation follows several recent port security contracts received by WDT including
Taylor Pledges Hearing on Navy Boat Barriers
U.S. Congressman Gene Taylor, Chairman of the Seapower and Expeditionary Forces Subcommittee, informed the United States Navy that he will hold a hearing to investigate alleged problems and potential wrongdoing in the procurement of Navy boat barriers. "Today's front-page Washington Post story suggesting widespread waste, disregard of federal procurement rules and possible wrongdoing in the Navy's purchase of ship force protection barriers presents a shocking picture of abuse," said Taylor
New Shipboard Insulation Expected to Save Time and Money
From Naval Sea Systems Command Public Affairs Systems Command's (NAVSEA's) Engineering for Reduced Maintenance (ERM) team outlined Sept. 29 a new thermal barrier materials initiative designed to reduce maintenance expenses, improve shipboard quality of life and reduce shipboard weight. ERM is part of NAVSEA's Naval Systems Engineering Directorate team which seeks to streamline costly and time-consuming maintenance procedures in the fleet.
Marine Barrier Installed at USCG ISC, Alameda
Wave Dispersion Technologies, Inc. has completed installation of the WhisprWave Small Craft Intrusion Barrier (SCIB) at U.S. Coast Guard Integrated Service Command at Alameda, CA. The patented floating marine barrier encloses a security zone of 2400 feet and incorporates two swinging gates of 725 feet and 825 feet to allow for movement of US Coast Guard Cutters into and out of the exclusion zone. The swinging gates pivot from WhisprWave's "Pivot Buoys" that are restricted to a specified
ABB to Play Role in Protecting Venice
ABB’s Symphony Plus control system to help protect Venice from high water flooding at the long Venetian Lagoon Malamocco inlet. Every four years or so, text messages, church bells and sirens alert the Venetians to what they call an "Aqua Alta" or the imminent arrival of an
Incat, MEC Start Building Great Barrier Reef Patrol Vessel
Incat Crowther and Marine Engineering Consultants (MEC) announced commencement on the construction of a 24-meter long-range Catamaran Patrol Vessel to work in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area (GBRWHA). The GBRWHA is jointly managed by Queensland’s Department of National Parks
World Shipping Accident 'Hotspots' Revealed
A report released by WWF points to ship accident-prone areas: the South China Sea & East Indies, east Mediterranean & Black Sea, and the busy shipping lanes around the British Isles, North Sea and Bay of Biscay. The busy shipping lanes around the British Isles
Low Flashpoint Maritime Fuels: DNV First Up with Rules
DNV say that on 1, July 2013 they will release rules for using low flashpoint fuels such as methanol for bunker fuel. Interest for methanol as ship fuel is growing in response to the need to reduce NOx and SOx emissions. However, with a flashpoint of just 12°C, it poses safety challenges
Shipping Faces Half Trillion Dollar Environment Costs
Speaking to delegates at the opening of the Nor-Shipping event in Oslo, the Chairman of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), Masamichi Morooka, said that impending new legislation to protect the environment potentially presented an additional industry-wide cost of more than half a
DNV Urges Increased Safety Focus in Shipping
Increased focus on ship safety is DNV’s main priority when identifying critical issues in shipping. An extended focus on risk-based rules, safety barriers and identifying high-risk areas are means to enhance safer shipping. “Together with GL
IEA Pushes for Renewables and Nuclear Power
In a review of Finnish energy policies launched, the International Energy Agency praised Finland for its commitment to a sustainable energy future. With its energy-intensive industries and its cold climate, Finland’s energy consumption per capita is the highest in the IEA
Washington Coast Guard Crew Deploys to South Korea
Through chilling winds and choppy seas, five-man crews aboard small, gray security boats worked tirelessly for 10 days patrolling the waters around a massive 348-foot petroleum vessel near the coast of Pohang, South Korea. Boat crews from Port Security Unit (PSU) 313 worked night and day to
DNV Calls for Better Safety Barrier Management
To avoid major accidents, safety barriers are critical to stop accident pathways before they become serious, and they need to be treated accordingly. This has to be reflected in operations and ideally in regulations. If not, safety barriers which often address rare events might lose the everyday
Great Lakes June 2013 Symposium
Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association is to present a public program featuring a range of important issues concerning the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes Symposium is a first-of-its- kind public program focusing on timely legal issues impacting the Great Lakes
Belize Court Stymies Offshore Drilling Plans
Belize's Supreme Court declared offshore drilling contracts issued by the Government of Belize (in 2004 and 2007) null and void. The ruling, handed down by Justice Oswell Legall , was in response to a case brought by Oceana, COLA, and the Belize Coalition to Save Our Natural Heritage
Hyundai Heavy Unveils LNG Cargo Containment System
Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) announced it has developed a high performance Hyundai Membrane LNG Cargo Containment System. The shipbuilding giant’s new membrane type containment system for liquefied natural gas received Design Approval from classification societies including ABS
Navy Patent SNARE Propeller Entangler
The small naval arresting rope entangler, or SNARE, helps stop boats from evading military & law enforcement inspections by entangling the craft's propellers. SNARE was designed by a team of engineers from NSWC Carderock, NSWC Dahlgren and the U.S. Coast Guard Research and Development Center
U.S. Navy Contracts Update
The U.S. Department of Defense announced Navy contract update: The Navy is modifying the total amount of a previously awarded contract to Huntington Ingalls Inc, Newport News, Va., (N00024-09-C-2116) by $407,408,093 in order to extend construction preparation efforts and provide the ability to
China Focus for Swedish Club Academy
The Swedish Club Academy focuses on China during a five-day Maritime Resource Management road show at the end of March. MRM training aims at establishing safe operational cultures where teamwork and effective communication are key components