Mandatory Equipment News

Norwegian suppliers Framo, Maritime Partner, Norbit Aptomar, and NorLense have come together to create the OSRV (Oil Spill Recovery Vessel) Group to offer a complete oil spill response solution. “Our aim is to be a one-stop-shop where we pool our efforts and act as a total systems supplier of safe, highly functional, and well-tested technology. The emergency response equipment has undergone thorough testing and quality assurance drawing on 40 years of oil spill response experience,” says Jørgen Brandt Theodorsen, Area Manager, Oil & Gas Pumping Systems, at Framo.

Magic Pipes, 15 PPM alarms, crew familiarization, improper entries in the oil record book, oil record book not maintained: these are all terms used by various Port State Control (PSC) officers worldwide when referencing the oily water separator. When PSC so decides, it also has the option of making one of these an ISM deficiency, adding another black mark against a vessel. Nevertheless, even with such an important piece of equipment and the records documenting its proper use, both are often neglected.

Radio Holland, a global NavCom and service company in the maritime industry, said it has concluded  a maintenance and remote monitoring agreement with The China Navigation Company (CNCo) for 35 vessels. Radio Holland already provides CNCo’s newbuild, multipurpose vessels and bulk carriers with NavCom packages, and the latest agreement now covers the maintenance of this equipment on board 35 vessels. This further cooperation follows a remote monitoring pilot project. Radio Holland will now introduce remote monitoring throughout CNCo’s fleet.

Safety and survival technologies company ACR Electronics is introducing several new products at Posidonia 2016 taking place in Athens, Greece from June 6-10. ACR Electronics’ new GlobalFIX V4 EPIRB is a new professional grade design EPIRB, offering the latest in marine electronic lifesaving technology and featuring high-efficiency electronics for reliable performance which owners and operators in the commercial shipping and offshore industries can trust to ensure the safety of their crew.

An important addition to any commercial vessel’s survival gear kit, the Pathfinder PRO SART is introduced by ACR Electronics, Inc. at this year’s OTC. The new search and rescue transponder expands the broad range of commercial maritime survival products offered by ACR, global leader in safety and survival technology. The Pathfinder PRO is a fully-approved SART that complies with IMO SOLAS regulations and is suitable for all commercial vessels that are mandated to carry a SART, including vessels that must conform to GMDSS and those carrying more than one life raft. Greatly enhancing search and rescue efforts, the manually-activated ACR device can be used on ships, lifeboats and life rafts.

The U.S. Coast Guard’s Towing Vessel National Center of Expertise (NCOE) recently conducted an analysis of all deficiencies recorded by CG field personnel while Examining “uninspected towing vessels” (UTV) under the Towing Vessel Bridging Program and through other activities. The purpose of this analysis was to provide information and visibility on the most common UTV deficiencies list to share with UTV owner/operators in order to assist them in identifying and correcting common problems. In May of this year, they issued a comprehensive list that workboat operators – no matter what sector in which they operate – will find enormously helpful.

The TK Foundation has announced the approval of eight grants totalling nearly $2 million. The TK Foundation is a strong funding vehicle for maritime programs and youth development. Its maritime grant-making program is proactive, inviting maritime organizations to submit requests for funding in specific areas of interest to the Foundation. In keeping with its focus on supporting non-profit organizations and programs that improve the maritime realm, The TK Foundation has granted eight awards. The World Maritime University (WMU) is a centre of excellence for maritime education and research, operating under the auspices of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

17 MARCH, 2011, OSLO, NORWAY: OceanSaver today announced plans to launch revolutionary next generation ballast water management technology. OceanSaver’s Mark II ballast water treatment system is a specifically tailored version of its type-approved Mark I model, but with the most ‘energy demanding’ features of the original removed. The Mark II model introduces better performing filtration technology for the customer. Sales and Marketing Director Tor Atle Eiken said; “we are sharpening the already proven OceanSaver technology with our new Mark II ballast water treatment system…

The National Transportation Safety Board determined that the probable cause of a fire aboard a New York City commuter ferry was the operator’s inadequate inspection and maintenance of the vessel’s electrical system. Contributing to the extent of the damage were the absence of fixed fire detection and suppression systems and the crew’s lack of knowledge of proper marine firefighting techniques. The fire occurred on the evening of November 17, 2000, as the commuter ferry Port Imperial Manhattan, with three crewmembers and eight passengers aboard, was en route from Manhattan to Weehawken, NJ. Beginning in the engine room, the fire soon burned out of control, causing the vessel to lose power and forcing passengers and crew to abandon the interior spaces.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined that the probable cause of a fire aboard a New York City commuter ferry was the operator's inadequate inspection and maintenance of the vessel's electrical system. Contributing to the extent of the damage were the absence of fixed fire detection and suppression systems and the crew's lack of knowledge of proper marine firefighting techniques. The fire occurred on the evening of November 17, 2000, as the commuter ferry Port Imperial Manhattan, with three crewmembers and eight passengers aboard, was en route from Manhattan to Weehawken, NJ. Beginning in the engine room, the fire soon burned out of control, causing the vessel to lose power and forcing passengers and crew to abandon the interior spaces.

The U.S. maritime world is rapidly changing direction as security becomes an ever larger and more important issue to the federal government. We have seen the Department of Homeland Security created, the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 become law, and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) establish new standards. The new international requirements will go into effect in July 2004, and will apply to US vessels in international trade, foreign vessels that call on US ports and US facilities that engage in international trade. In many respects they mirror MSTA '02. The USCG has made it very clear that these international…

The U.S. maritime world is rapidly changing direction as security becomes an ever larger and more important issue to the federal government. We have seen the Department of Homeland Security created, the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 become law, and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) establish new standards. The new international requirements will go into effect in July 2004, and will apply to US vessels in international trade, foreign vessels that call on US ports and US facilities that engage in international trade. In many respects they mirror MSTA '02. The USCG has made it very clear that these international…