Harbour Authorities News

The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has released its 2022 annual report which includes details of its investigation into pilot ladder safety.The MAIB canvassed 105 UK Competent Harbour Authorities, and this revealed that almost 700 marine pilots conducted over 96,000 transfers underway using a pilot ladder, during which there were over 400 incidents or accidents.Just over half of these were reported to the MAIB, the most serious of which resulted in the pilot suffering…

The Italian Coast Guard on Monday signed a contract for the design and construction of a new multi-role offshore unit (UAM) for missions ranging from sea rescue to maritime safety, from marine conservation to fish resources protection, as well as civil protection.The signing took place in Rome at the headquarters of the General Command of the Harbor Authorities - Coast Guard between the Commanding General, Adm. Inspector Nicola Carlone, and the CEO of Fincantieri, Giuseppe Bono…

Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems Association (EGCSA) has attacked Singapore's restrictions on open-loop versions of the systems as "disappointing" and "politically motivated."The scrubber manufacturing industry body said in a press release: "The recent announcement by the outgoing CEO of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) banning the discharge of process water from open loop scrubbers for vessels visiting Singapore came without prior notice or discussion with the IMO despite the fact that the Singapore MPA is a signatory to MARPOL Annex VI."The MPA provided neither scientific evidence for its decision nor was the industry invited to consultationit said.

BMT ARGOSS, (BMT) a subsidiary of BMT Group Ltd, has secured a new contract with Dutch-based engineering consultancy, Witteveen+Bos (W+B), to provide specialist knowledge for the new ‘stay overnight’ harbour near Giesbeek, along the IJssel branch of the river Rhine. The new harbour is part of Rijkswaterstaat’s (the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment) aim to develop a number of similar resting facilities for inland vessel crews on the river Rhine, the most important inland waterway in Western Europe.

The Government of Canada will invest $10.2 million in maintenance, repair, construction and dredging projects at small craft harbours in Nova Scotia, as part of a country-wide $63 investment in core fishing harbours. “Small craft harbours play a vital role in securing the prosperity of our coastal communities in Nova Scotia,” said the Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. “The investment announced today shows our Government’s commitment to providing safe and prosperous harbours. •    Reconstructing a portion of a wharf at Upper Whitehead, to be carried out over two years.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) celebrated the 30th anniversary of the founding of the World Maritime University (WMU),  based in Malmö, Sweden, with an event which included speeches from the current and former WMU Chancellors & the WMU President. WMU was established at the beginning of the 1980s, when IMO identified a shortage of well-qualified, highly-educated maritime experts, particularly in lesser developed nations. It was to address this gap that IMO…

The 2013 Marine Navigation Act introduces important changes to current legislation. The most important single change is the introduction of the ability of harbour authorities to take on harbour direction powers. This will allow harbours, in consultation with users, to manage traffic in the port area in a safe and efficient way. There are many harbours which still have not got these powers and so the new legislation will make a significant contribution to safety and to compliance with the Port Marine Safety Code. There are also changes to the pilotage regime, with the opportunity for a broader range of crew members to apply for Pilotage Exemption Certificates (PECs) as well as powers for ports to divest themselves of pilotage powers if they are no longer needed.

Aberdeen Harbour Board has awarded a £5.2m contract involving major improvements to the port entrance and for widening and deepening the navigation channel. Harbour Board chief executive, Colin Parker said: “As the centre of activity for the energy industry’s marine operations in North-west Europe, the importance of targeted investment and development has been a top priority and, with the energy industry evolving, we have worked hard to ensure we stay ahead of the game. ”Once…

Transas Marine (UK) Ltd. has recently gained a contract to supply a Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) system for Associated British Port’s (ABP) South Wales Ports - Cardiff, Barry, Newport, Swansea and Port Talbot. The contract was awarded by ABP South Wales after extensive market assessment and a comprehensive tendering procedure. The Transas VTS system meets ABP’s primary requirements and responsibilities as the Statutory Harbour Authority for its ports, which are the management of shipping, the safety of navigation for all harbour users and the protection of the marine environment. The new system will support ABP by providing the duty Marine Officer with navigational information such as vessel position, vessel movements, timings and speed.

The New Zealand Maritime Safety Authority (MSA) has promulgated a Proposed Rule that would, if implemented, replace the local pilotage licenses issued by local harbour authorities with a standard State license issued by the MSA on the basis of local assessments. Source: HK Law

On June 29, Transas Marine UK and Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) signed a contract for the supply, installation and commissioning of a VTMS system for the Port of Mombasa in Kenya. The VTMS system will be installed and officially handed to KPA in February 2008. The main operator control room will be located inside the Port of Mombasa’s brand new 70m high Port Control Tower, and additional equipment will be installed at Ras Serani Station, Likoni Sector Light, and KPA Headquarters. At the time of contract signing, the preliminary scope of supply includes two high performance coastal surveillance radars, CCTV, Automatic Identification System (AIS) Base Stations, VHF & HF Base Stations, and other ancillary equipment.