Tag: navigation

To ensure the continuing safety and promote the efficiency of inland waterway transport To ensure the continuing safety and promote the efficiency of inland waterway transport, Germanischer Lloyd (GL) has released an update to the GL Rules for Inland Navigation Vessels (INV). The update to the rules came into effect on 1 November 2011 and consists of rules for: classification and surveys; hull design and construction; machinery, systems and electricity; and additional requirements for notations.A major impetus behind the update is to ensure that vessels comply with the latest regulations of the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Inland Waterways (ADN).Along with updates to Section 3 of the Rules "Transport of Dangerous Goods", covering classification of dangerous goods, equipment and systems for tankers and tank level monitoring and alarm systems, a new subsection has been introduced dealing with the provisions of ADN regarding the alternative design of cargo tanks.Section 2 "Class Designation" introduces several new type notations for inland navigation vessels, including: "Hotel Ship", "Excursion Boat", "Restaurant Ship", "Barge" and "Pushed Barge". The first three of these new service notations were introduced to enable international clients to obtain classification for different kinds of passenger ships on ...

Fire fighting demonstration on the Kapitan Chadaev icebreaker took place FSUE "Rosmorport" has held an expanded meeting concerning the issues of navigation safety, accident risks prevention and reduction. With deputy General director of FSUE "Rosmorport" for navigation safety V.Y. Vanyukov in head, representatives of 14 enterprise's brnaches and a Captain of the seaport of Arkhangelsk took part in the meeting.The meeting concurred with the Kapitan Kuznetsov bulk carrier resque operation and the meeting participants were able to see the work FSUE "Rosmorport" Arkhangelsk branch in emergency. The Dikson icebreaker, being in daily readiness, set up for the rescue operation less then 4 hours after order reception and abided all the tasks assigned during the operation.A general fire fighting demonstration on the Kapitan Chadaev icebreaker took placeinthe meeting program network. Also, participants visited Admiral Makarov State Maritime Academy Regional Continuing Professional Education Center.Source: FSUE Rosmorport

Concentration on safe navigation Some years ago, there was a notable incident which occurred when a supply ship Master conning his ship out of harbour in thick fog, was so distracted by two separate telephone calls which he was trying to deal with simultaneously that he failed to pick up a third, rather more vital message from the port VTS, that was telling him he was heading straight for a concrete breakwater. And there was the famous case of the cruise ship collision which occurred when her watchkeeping officer subordinated his lookout duties to complete the garbage form which needed to be ready at the next port of arrival. Another memorable case involving bureaucratic procedures was that of the port arrival checklist on a ferry, the final few items left blank as by then, the ferry had crashed into the quay.There have been a number of strandings which have been contributed to by the inattention of the watchkeeper who was on a mobile telephone at the crucial moment. Communications and brilliant technology can sometimes be a serious distraction to people, who in a less technological age would have been keeping a good visual lookout, with less risk of their attention ...

EfficienSea - a Flagship Project in the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region EfficienSea is a Flagship Project in the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, a maritime safety project lead by the Danish Maritime Authority.The main aim of e-Navigation is to ensure safety and security at sea and protection of the marine environment. If we succeed, we will be able to meet the challenges ever increasing maritime transport without increasing the overall risk and consequential costs to society.E-Navigation Read more on www.efficiensea.org

When Perseverance sailed through the Bering Strait this morning it marked the end of NSR ever When the oil-tanker "Perseverance" sailed through the Bering Strait this morning it marked the end of the longest Northern Sea Route season ever.Sailing season along the entire Arctic coast of Siberia became one month longer than the 2010 season. Shipping companies take advantage of the shrinking ice cap as global warming speeds up.The Belgium owned "Perseverance" opened the sailing season when it left Murmansk on June 29th and sailed the Northern Sea Route (NSR) towards China. The tanker also became the vessel to end this year's season, when it today sailed into the Pacific Ocean loaded with 60.000 tons of stable gas condensate for Russia's private oil company NOVATEK, reports OilCapital.ru.The tanker was escorted by a nuclear powered icebreaker from Murmansk. Eight times more oilDuring the five months sailing season this year, nine large tankers with a total of 600.000 tons of gas condensate from NOVATEK have sailed the Northern Sea Route. That is more than eight times more oil than during the 2010 season.In addition, several other tankers have sailed the route, includingvessels from Sovkomflot and Murmansk Shipping Company. In August, the first ...

NAUTIS Full Mission Bridge Simulator VSTEP is proud to announce that its NAUTIS Full Mission Bridge Simulator has received the Class A certification from Det Norske Veritas AS (DNV). The NAUTIS simulators are now qualified to operate as fully-certified maritime training simulators with any maritime training school worldwide. With the certification, VSTEP joins a handful of simulator manufactures worldwide that hold the highest level of DNV certification.After a thorough certification process and last week's onsite audit by DNV's Head of Simulator Certification Capt. Aksel David Nordholm and his team, a full DNV statement of compliance to the STCW requirements was issued for the NAUTIS Bridge Operation Simulator, with class notation for Integrated Simulator Systems, Tug and High Speed Craft.NAUTIS is a new generation of affordable advanced maritime training solutions for the military and civilian maritime industry. The NAUTIS range of advanced maritime training simulators offers an affordable and effective alternative for training maritime officers and crews. With a full range of simulators, from desktop trainer to full mission bridge simulator, NAUTIS has a cost-effective training solution fulfilling the training requirements of nautical colleges, naval academies, maritime training centres and individual ship owners.Following the certification audit DNV's Capt. Nordholm remarked: "VSTEP's ...

rRquirements for testing the correct data exchange MSC 88 adopted amendments to SOLAS regulation V/18 regarding the annual testing of the automatic identification system (AIS) in 2010. As a result, a new regulation (SOLAS V/18.9) was introduced by MSC 308 (88) and adopted on 3 December 2010.SOLAS Chapter V regulation 18.9 "The automatic identification system (AIS) shall be subjected to an annual test. The test shall be conducted by an approved surveyor or an approved testing or servicing facility. The test shall verify the correct programming of the ship static information, correct data exchange with connected sensors as well as verifying the radio performance by radio frequency measurement and on-air test using, e.g., a Vessel Traffic Service (VTS). A copy of the test report shall be retained on board the ship."The date on which the annual testing of AIS enters into force is 1 July 2012, and the tests may be carried out in connection with the ship's annual safety radio (CRC) or safety equipment (CEC) survey.Approval of AIS service suppliers The new regulation implies special requirements for surveyors since testing the correct data exchange with connected sensors and on-air radio tests requires both special AIS test equipment and specific ...

Vessel management, navigation and safety applications Globecomm Systems of the USA says that Global Seatrade, a unit of the Hartman Marine Group, has awarded it a contract for unified maritime communications.Services will be provided by Mach6, a unit of Globecomm Maritime, using its global se@FLEX VSAT platform, which provides automatic roaming between Ku-band satellite beams on a global basis at a flat rate.Global Seatrade provides transport for cargo, such as offshore wind turbines, that require specialised handling onboard the company's heavy-lift vessels. Growing demand for its services led Global Seatrade to seek a unified communications platform to provide reliable broadband connectivity for its fleet.The package includes prioritisation of mission-critical traffic, ensuring that vessel management, navigation and safety applications get priority over crew welfare communications. VOIP is available over broadband, which provides voice calls at significantly lower costs.Se@FLEX is claimed to offer global coverage, seamless service and full transparency of costs and service levels. Se@FLEX is a VSAT-based service, with a Committed Information Rate (CIR) guarantee. Automatic switching technology maintains the VSAT link as vessels move between satellite beams. The same technology detects loss of VSAT availability and auto-switches service to L-band backup on demand.Source: The Motorship

Enhancing night navigation capability at Port Qasim Global marine terminal operator DP World announced that its facility at Qasim International Container Terminal (QICT), Pakistan's gateway to the world, has expanded its capability to allow it to handle today's modern, large vessels around the clock.New buoys, beacons and lights in the approach channels and turning basins to DP World Karachi's twin terminals at QICT enhances night navigation capability for vessels of up to 295 metres overall length (LOA), 33-metre beam and a draft of 12 metres, providing container vessels calling at QICT with safe and reliable navigation 24 hours a day.Anil Singh, SVP & MD, DP World, Subcontinent said:"Enhancing night navigation capability at Port Qasim is a welcome development for DP World's customers at our QICT gateway facility. Port Qasim plays an important role in connecting Pakistan's vast hinterland to its international sea routes. Making it accessible 24 hours a day contributes directly to the local community and Pakistan's economy in general. We congratulate the management of DP World Karachi for successfully working together on this achievement."Changez Niazi, Chief Executive Officer DP World Karachi, said: "We thank the Port Qasim Authority for its support for facilitating night navigation for 295m vessels ...

Mitsui OSK Line to install Bridge Navigational Watch and Alarm systems on board UK company Martek Marine says that Mitsui OSK Line has made a firm commitment to install Martek BNWAS (bridge navigational watch and alarm systems) on board its ships ahead of regulatory requirements.During drydocking of 17 MOL vessels so far this year, Martek Navgard BNWAS equipment was installed. Martek quoted MOL as saying it was likely that all of its existing vessels would be fitted with BNWAS before the end of 2011.Under the terms of the revised SOLAS regulations new passenger vessels and cargo ships greater than 150gt have had to implement BNWAS since July 2011. However, existing passenger ships and cargo vessels greater than 3,000gt can wait until July 2012 before BNWAS becomes mandatory, while existing cargo ships of between 500gt and 3,000gt can wait until July 2013, and those between 150 and 500gt until July 2014.Alan Stewart, MOL Tankship Management (Europe) deputy general manager explained that the carrier had already witnessed an increasing frequency of comments by SIRE inspectors regarding whether or not a BNWAS was fitted. He said that MOL had decided on a course of "being proactive and not waiting until the last minute, ...