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Hull Inspection News

08 Sep 2023

Failure to Maintain Crane Barge Led to $6 Million Loss

The towing vessel Karen Koby (left) and crane barge Ambition (right) are pictured before the capsizing and sinking. (Credit: LA Carriers (left) and Rigid Constructors (right))

A barge owner’s lack of inspection and maintenance led to the capsizing and sinking of a crane barge last year in the Gulf of Mexico, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said.The crane barge Ambition was being towed when it capsized and sank on June 15, 2022, releasing an estimated 1,980 gallons of oil. No injuries were reported. The Ambition, owned by Rigid Constructors, and its crane were a total loss estimated at $6.3 million.Due to the height of the crane, the Ambition was being towed offshore in the Gulf of Mexico to reach its destination.

07 Jun 2023

Interim Report Describes Grounding After Failure of Rudder Angle Indicators

Source: ATSB

An interim report from an ongoing Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation has detailed the sequence of events of a loaded iron ore carrier’s grounding in a channel while departing Port Hedland, Western Australia in 2022.The interim report details factual information but contains no analysis or findings.In the early hours of April 9, Liberian-flagged bulk carrier Hagen Oldendorff departed its berth at Port Hedland, with a harbour pilot onboard. About 50 minutes after departure…

25 Apr 2022

Unsecured Openings Led to the Flooding and Sinking of Tugboat -NTSB

A raft adrift, Dec. 24, 2020, south of Yabucoa Harbor, Puerto Rico. Sector San Juan watchstanders received a mayday call from the 112-foot tugboat Proassist III crew stating they were taking on water with three people aboard approximately two miles south of Yabucoa Harbor, PR. (Photo: U.S. Coast Guard)

Unsecured openings in the deck of a towing vessel led to its flooding and sinking off the coast of Puerto Rico, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said Thursday.The agency's latest marine investigation report details the NTSB’s investigation into the December 24, 2020, flooding and sinking of the towing vessel Proassist III near Puerto Yabucoa, Puerto Rico. The towing vessel was transiting northbound off the coast of Puerto Rico when its stern compartments began flooding. The three crewmembers on board were unable to pump out the water and eventually abandoned the vessel.

18 Apr 2022

Ever Forward Refloated Near Baltimore

(Photo: Breanna Centeno / U.S. Coast Guard)

The containership Ever Forward has been refloated after more than a month aground in the Chesapeake Bay, near the Port of Baltimore. The Hong Kong-registered vessel was freed around 7 a.m. on Sunday after running aground on March 13 while en route from Baltimore to Norfolk, Va.Salvors removed a portion of the nearly 5,000 containers on board to reduce groundforce following two failed attempts to dredge around and tow out the 1,095-foot-long containership on March 29 and 30. The ship…

17 Mar 2022

Converted OSRV Added to Sandy Hook Pilots Fleet

Photo courtesy Sandy Hook Pilots

Sandy Hook Pilots Association welcomed its new Pilot Station Boat New York, a converted Oil Spill Response Vessel (OSRV), which, at 208 feet long, is the largest in the Sandy Hook Pilots fleet.While welcoming the its new addition, Sandy Hook Pilots retired its predecessor, also named New York, which has been a familiar sight in the Port of New York and New Jersey harbor for nearly 50 years.On February 3, the new P/B New York sailed to its new home, the Sandy Hook Pilot base in Staten Island…

11 Oct 2021

U-Ming Takes on Board Jotun’s Hull Skater

(Photo: Jotun)

U-Ming's next bulk carrier newbuild being built in China will feature an underwater hull cleaning robot.The Taiwan-headquartered shipping company has signed a commercial agreement with builder Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipyard (SWS) and Norway's Jotun for the Jotun Hull Skating Solutions (HSS) to be installed aboard one of U-Ming’s four liquefied natural gas (LNG) dual- fuel Tier III 190,000 dwt bulk carriers to be built by SWS in Shanghai to support the long term charter with mining giant Anglo American.

03 May 2021

Brazil: Petrobras Invites Bids for Ninth Buzios Field FPSO

For illustration only: FPSO P-77/ Image by André Ribeiro/ Agência Petrobras

Brazilian oil company Petrobras on Friday started the bidding process for the acquisition of a new FPSO for the Búzios field, in the Santos Basin pre-salt area, offshore Brazil.Called P-80, the FPSO will be the ninth unit to operate in the field, with the capacity to process 225 thousand barrels of oil and 12 million cubic meters of gas per day. Like FPSO Almirante Tamandaré, currently under construction, the P-80 will be the biggest oil production unit to operate in Brazil and one of the biggest in the world.

19 Apr 2021

Bureau Veritas Uses AI to Detect Corrosion During Bulker Inspection

(Photo: Bureau Veritas)

Bureau Veritas (BV) said it deployed its artificial intelligence (AI) solution in real survey conditions for corrosion detection during a hull inspection of a water ballast tank on a bulk carrier by an aerial drone. The test was conducted in partnership with the RIT operator, MaDfly Marine Drone Services Ltd, in Dunkirk, France.During the hull inspection, the BV solution supported the surveyor during his general visual inspection and close-up survey of the hull by providing results on the video in real-time.

13 Nov 2020

KR Completes Hull Survey Using Aerial and Crawler Drones

(Photo: KR)

The Korean Register (KR) said it has completed its first hull inspection survey using both aerial and crawler drones for the intermediate survey of bulk carrier Pan Global.The survey, which was completed Tuesday with the assistance of POSSM Co, Korea’s largest ship management company, and HST Technology, who provided the remote inspection technology.KR’s surveyors have been using remote inspection technology such as drones for surveys since 2017. The equipment allows the surveyor to inspect the vessel without requiring direct access.

01 Apr 2020

Greensea’s New Ship Hull Crawler Tech Launches with VideoRay Defender ROV

Image: Greensea

Greensea introduces a new hull crawler that easily attaches a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) to a ship hull without magnetics, allowing the operator to “drive” the ROV and payloads over the hull. Initial hull crawlers are designed to work exclusively with the VideoRay Mission Specialist Defender ROV. The hull crawler represents a milestone in Greensea’s hull robotics program, which is advancing navigation and localization capabilities for a fully autonomous robotic hull inspection and proactive in-water cleaning solution. “VideoRay is a valued Greensea partner with a dynamic and powerful ROV.

13 Dec 2019

Most NY Waterway Ferries Back in Service

@ jjfarquitectos / Adobe Stock

The majority of NY Waterway ferries taken out of service for safety violations last month have returned to regular operations, the U.S. Coast Guard said.On November 24, the Coast Guard revealed that Sector New York marine inspectors determined that 23 of NY Waterway's 32 ferries had damage or discrepancies significant enough to warrant a suspension of service. Findings included inoperable fixed fire extinguishing systems and bilge alarms; expired lifesaving equipment; and structural damage affecting watertight integrity.As of December 12…

08 May 2019

Team Tankers to Use Selektope Hull Coatings

Bermudan tanker owner and operator Team Tankers International has committed four additional ships to using the the anti-barnacle active agent Selektope following fouling prevention performance during a 40-month trial of an antifouling coating containing the technology on an MR tanker in their fleet.The vertical sides of the46,067DWT chemical and products carrier Team Calypso were coated with Chugoku Marine Paints’ SEAFLO NEO CF-Premium antifouling coating that contains Selektope during its five-year drydocking at the Sembcorp shipyard, Singapore in 2015.During the last 40 months the MR tanker has been in active operation across a wide range of trade routes globally…

02 Jun 2017

Submersible, Magnetic Robot Performs Hull Inspections

Photo: Deep Trekker

Canadian company Deep Trekker has launched a new inspection vehicle at Nor-Shipping 2017: the Deep Trekker DT640 Utility Crawler, the first three-wheeled vehicle of its kind. Equipped with an HD camera, magnetic wheels and a multitude of application specific add-ons, the Utility Crawler can perform an array of tasks, making it versatile and easy to deploy at a moment’s notice, the manufacturer said. The Utility Crawler, designed and built by Deep Trekker, is submersible to 50 meters…

18 Jun 2015

Vietnamese Freighter Grounds off Albay Coral Reef

Coral reefs in the vicinity waters of Legazpi, Albay were damaged by a Vietnam-flagged cargo vessel which ran aground 900 yards off the entrance of Legazpi City Port last Monday, June 15. MV Ocean 03, with 4,532 gross tonnages and manned by 21 Vietnamese crew, reportedly ran aground and hit the marine environment at the area while maneuvering enroute to Albay Gulf. The incident was reported by Renan Del Mundo of Bantay Dagat-Legazpi to the personnel of Coast Guard Station (CGS) Albay which immediately deployed its men along with representatives from the Port State Control Division. At around three in the afternoon, MV Ocean 03 was pulled from its agrounding site and maneuvered northeast of Legazpi Port. Capt. Tran Dai Nghia confirmed that no oil spill was seen at the area.

20 Apr 2015

Hull Inspection Systems Delivered to the US Navy

EOD HULS MK19 Systems 4 and 5 vehicles (Photo courtesy of Bluefin Robotics)

Bluefin Robotics has delivered new vehicles to the U.S. Navy that aim to increase the Navy's capability to remotely search and investigate ship hulls, harbor sea floors and other underwater infrastructure for limpet mines, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and other objects of interest. The Navy accepted delivery of Bluefin Robotics’ ship hull inspection systems 4 and 5 under the “Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Hull Unmanned Underwater Vehicle Localization System” (EOD HULS) Program of Record, in February.

08 Apr 2015

2015: An Action Year for Subchapter M

Jennifer Carpenter

For all of the predictions and prognostications that have been made over the last ten years, one thing is objectively true: the publication of Subchapter M – the U.S. Coast Guard’s long-awaited towing vessel inspection rule – is closer than it’s ever been. Yes, the road to Subchapter M has been long, but the end is in sight (really). As we approach our destination, both the Coast Guard and the tugboat, towboat, and barge industry have work to do to ensure that the way is well paved.

16 Jan 2015

Salvors Adjusting Hoegh Osaka’s Ballast System

Car carrier vessel Hoegh Osaka ran aground Saturday, January 3 after departing from Southampton for Bremerhaven, Germany. (Photo: MAIB)

Hoegh Osaka was held secure by tugs as winds in the Solent reached 60 knots last night, the U.K. Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) reported.   MCA said salvors are working to adjust the ballast system aboard the car carrier vessel and hope to begin pumping water from the car decks within the next 24 hours.   Salvors hope good weather over the next few days will allow for a reduction of the vessel’s list.   If weather permits, divers will perform a hull inspection today.

09 Jan 2015

Update: Hoegh Osaka Remains at Anchor

Car carrier vessel Hoegh Osaka has been held by an anchor on the Alpha Anchorage overnight as weather conditions on scene have eased and the salvors boarded the vessel at 8:30 a.m. to prepare for the removal of water from the vessel, the U.K. Maritime and Coastguard Agency reported. The lengthy operation is expected to get underway today and continue during daylight hours over the weekend.   The vessel’s list will be constantly monitored while operations to remove the water inside are performed.   Divers have been forced to wait to carry out a further hull inspection due to weather conditions on-scene. According to MCA, divers are standing-by and will dive as soon as conditions permit.    No evidence of pollution has been reported.

08 Jan 2015

Hoegh Osaka Update: Salvage Work Resumes

Hoegh Osaka (Photo: MAIB)

Authorities hope to continue the salvage operations of car carrier vessel Hoegh Osaka which ran aground shortly after its departure from the Port of Southampton January 3. According to the U.K. Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), Hoegh Osaka is currently stable at the anchorage after unexpectedly self-floating yesterday. Three tugs kept the vessel in place overnight despite some high winds in the early hours. Salvors estimate that up to 3,000 tons of water remains on the vessel and hope to begin pumping the water off today when the weather improves.

22 Dec 2014

US Fleet to Pump $75m into Great Lakes Shipyards

Photo: Fraser Shipyards, Inc.

U.S.-flag Great Lakes vessel operators plan to spend $75 million this winter to ready the fleet for the 2015 shipping season, the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA) reported. One vessel is already in drydock undergoing the out-of-water hull inspection required by U.S. law every five years. The remainder of the fleet will arrive at their winter berths in early to mid-January. The $75 million to be spent this winter comes on top of the nearly $6 million required in April and May to…

09 Sep 2014

Need a Lift?

Not every ship repair facility has a drydock or marine railway. But thanks to a Sturgeon Bay, Wis.-based company, shipbuilders and repair yards from small to large can get a real lift. Marine Travelift builds boat hoists, self-propelled transporters, and marine forklifts, with more than 3,500 units delivered worldwide, and can be found at waterfronts all around the world. “Our boat hoists range from 15 ton all the way up to 1,000 ton capacity,” said Jason Johnson, North American sales manager. “Marine Travellift has been involved with shipyards since the 1980s.

29 May 2014

Response to Disabled Freighter Ongoing

U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy of Robert Fratangelo

Incident responders from the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and representatives from the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation continue to oversee the salvage and investigation of the disabled freighter that ran aground after losing steering Tuesday while transiting the St. Lawrence Seaway in the vicinity of Wellesley Island, New York. The motor vessel Federal Kivalina is currently anchored upriver, about one-third of a mile from the Thousand Island Bridge. There are no reported injuries to the crew and no reported pollution at this time.

29 May 2014

Disabled Freighter in St. Lawrence Seaway: Update

After losing steering Tuesday and emergency anchoring it has now been established that the 'Federal Kivalina', a 656-foot Hong Kong-flagged vessel is aground. The freighter is currently anchored upriver, about one-third of a mile from the Thousand Island Bridge. Vessel traffic has been suspended. There are no reported injuries to the crew and no reported pollution at this time. Incident responders from the Coast Guard, in partnership with the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, are overseeing the salvage and investigation. A dive team conducted an underwater hull survey Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning and determined the vessel was aground but stable. A contracted salvage team is en route to the scene.