Hard Problems Demand Soft(ware) Solutions
Make no mistake, the commercial maritime industry will always revolve around heavy duty machinery and mega-machines designed to weather some of the toughest operating conditions on earth. But in recent years a proliferation of Software Solutions has evolved to help the machines operate more efficiently and cost effectively. MR editors report on latest developments in maritime specific Software Solutions. Kværner Verdal AS selected AVEVA Bocad Steel and AVEVA Bocad Offshore for use at its design and fabrication yard in Verdal…
Preventing Loss of Propulsion After Fuel Switch to Low Sulfur Distillate Fuel
The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) ANNEX VI Regulation 14 requires ships with Marine Compression-Ignition Engines at or Above 30 Liters per Cylinder use fuel with sulfur content less than 0.1%, after 01 January 2015 within the Baltic Sea area – as defined in Annex I of MARPOL, North Sea area – as defined in Annex V of MARPOL; within 200 miles of the North American area and when operating in the United States Caribbean Sea area – as defined in Appendix VII of Annex VI of MARPOL.
UK Detains 6 Foreign Flagged Ships in October
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) announced that six foreign flagged ships were under detention in UK ports during October 2014 after failing Port State Control (PSC) inspection. During October, there were three new detentions of foreign flagged vessels in a UK port. Three vessels remained under detention from previous months, and four vessels were released during October. A total of two vessels remain under detention at the end of October.
'Rena' Grounding Owners Fined
Daina Shipping fined $300,000 in NZ Court for discharge of harmful substances following grounding of the ship Oct. 2011. “The guilty plea by the owners has led to this case being resolved in a timely fashion and that is to be welcomed,” MNZ Director Keith Manch said. “The completion of this prosecution marks another step in the response to the grounding of the Rena. Daina Shipping Co. was charged under sections 338(1B) and 15B of the Resource Management Act 199, for being the owner of a ship from which harmful substances and/or contaminants were discharged into the coastal marine area.
Salvors Refloat Grounded Vessels in Scheldt
Salvage and towage companies Multraship and URS have successfully refloated two grounded vessels in the past week in the River Scheldt. On April 10, the Swedish-flag RoRo car carrier Grande Argentina ran aground off Terneuzen. The vessel, operated by Grimaldi Lines, was enroute from Antwerp when it suffered a complete black-out, ironically within view of Multraship’s headquarters in Terneuzen. Having swung hard to starboard, the vessel grounded on a sandbank. Working together, salvage teams from Multraship and URS mobilised a total of nine tugs and salvage craft to refloat the vessel in a quick and efficient operation. The salvors then escorted the vessel to Flushing, where an inspection revealed no structural damage, and the Grande Argentina was cleared to proceed with its voyage.