Compliant Equipment News

DESS Aquaculture, a joint venture between Solstad Farstad and John Fredriksen’s Marine Harvest, has signed a contract to install Optimarin ballast water treatment (BWT) systems on its four newbuild 3,500m3 capacity wellboats.The agreement pushes the number of systems sold by Optimarin so far this year beyond the 50 mark, with recent orders also received from Besiktas Shipping, Eureka Shipping, Solvang, Koyo Kaiun and Ahrenkiel, among others.The four ships, two of which are due for delivery in 2019…

The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) Maritime Administrator has introduced a new requirement that all on-load release mechanisms used to launch dedicated rescue boats must comply with paragraph 4.4.7.6 of the Life-Saving Appliances (LSA) Code and evaluated in accordance with IMO circular MSC.1/Circ.1392, Lloyd's Register has advised. This is over and above the normal SOLAS requirements, which do not stipulate that boats used solely for rescue purposes fitted with on-load release mechanisms be re-evaluated against the latest LSA Code. All rescue boat on-load release mechanisms not complying with LSA Code paragraphs 4.4.7.6.4 to 4.4.7.6.6 must either be replaced with compliant equipment or modified to comply.

The shipping industry, despite those who might suggest otherwise, has a very respectable record of environmental improvement stretching back very many years. It responds to societal demands to clear up pollution, to eliminate harmful emissions and operate in a more sustainable manner. But in its response, it consistently points out that the need of a global industry is world-wide implementation of regulations and that the International Maritime Organization must be regarded as the vehicle for all regulatory change. BIMCO has pointed out time and time over the years that unilateral or regional regulations make the operation of ships in world-wide trading both expensive and impractical. Shipping will do all that is asked of it, so long as this is reasonable and international.

Early planning, engagement with competent partners will be the key to timely compliance. The May announcement that W&O Supply had been named as the exclusive distributor of Hyde Marine’s GUARDIAN Ballast Water Treatment Systems (BWT) in the U.S. and Canada may seem like routine news. After all, W&O Supply is one of the world’s largest marine suppliers and has many such agreements in place, covering a wide range of equipment. This agreement, however, comes in advance of Ballast Water Treatment deadlines looming large in the porthole. It also lays out the blueprint for owners and operators to move forward on the complicated process of achieving regulatory compliance with both Coast Guard and IMO mandates. Florida-based W&O will begin selling Hyde GUARDIAN BWTS effective immediately.

While much of the focus on Ballast Water Management issues is on the big ship, blue water fleet, there is a growing large need for BWMS on large modern offshore vessels, too. Hyde Marine has long been active in the worldwide effort to control the spread of aquatic invasive species in ballast water. Early on, Hyde supplied the first fully operational shipboard Ballast Water Treatment system. In 2003, after requirements were better defined, Hyde installed a state-of-the-art filtration and UV disinfection system aboard the Coral Princess.

Ballast water treatment equipment manufacturer Hyde Marine provides systems for all sizes and manners of vessels, but increasingly, the U.S.-based subsidiary of Calgon Carbon Company is being recognized for its work with offshore operators – here and abroad. Hyde Marine has long been active in the worldwide effort to control the spread of aquatic invasive species in ballast water. Early on, Hyde supplied the first fully operational shipboard Ballast Water Treatment system. In 2003, after requirements were better defined, Hyde installed a state-of-the-art filtration and UV disinfection system aboard the Coral Princess. This system was tested extensively on land-based installations and on board the Coral Princess in the fall of 2004.

The EU Hybrid Marine (HyMar) Project—a collaborative research project led by the International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA) and funded under the EU's Seventh Framework Research Program—won the “Ocean Going and Coastal Division Technology Award” at the Royal Thames Yacht Club’s Mansura Trophy Awards Ceremony on Thursday, March 21, 2013 at the Royal Thames Yacht Club. The primary aim of the HyMar project was to provide reliable and practical information about the effectiveness of marine hybrid propulsion in small craft.

The EU Hybrid Marine (HyMar) Project - a collaborative research project led by the International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA) funded under the EU's Seventh Framework Research Program - will receive an award at the Royal Thames Yacht Club’s Mansura Trophy Awards Ceremony on March 21, 2013 at the Royal Thames Yacht Club. The primary aim of the HyMar project was to provide reliable and practical information about the effectiveness of marine hybrid propulsion in small craft. Extensive, practical testing of many different design concepts over the last three years has led to the development of a range of innovative technologies.

Statutory alert: Design, testing and location of devices to prevent the passage of flame into cargo tanks in tankers. Applicabilty: Builders, owners and managers of tankers carrying IBC Code Chapter 17 and 18 products. New requirements for the design, testing and location of devices to prevent the passage of flame into cargo tanks in tankers will come into force on January 1, 2013. These apply to both new and existing tankers and will require that devices are tested to ensure…

Fupe Systems AS, a provider of satellite, radio, data, GSM and software engineering solutions, announced its agreement to support the SkyWave Mobile Communication Inc. Long Range Identification Tracking (LRIT) solution. Fupe was selected as one of test ASPs for Norway by the Norwegian Maritime Directorate. Fupe is also the test ASP for the Flag of Barbados and Sierra Leone. As a test ASP, Fupe is responsible for initial testing of ship terminals to verify their compliance with International Maritime Organization’s LRIT specifications. “By supporting the DMR-800LRIT satellite terminal, Fupe is giving ship owners greater choice in their selection of LRIT compliant equipment” said John-Harry Edvardsen, Data and Telecom Manager at Fupe. LRIT regulations came into force on January 1, 2008.