Tag: UK MCA

UK MCA issued a Code of Practice for Intended Pleasure Vessels to be introduced on 1 January 2019 and to provide a framework for what is wanted by the Pleasure Vessel sector. Members of the boating community are urged to ‘have their say’ on the new Code, through a public consultation.

The owner of a small fishing vessel has been fined a total of £15,628 after being prosecuted by the HM Coastguard for operating an unsafe vessel and failing to comply with the small fishing vessel code of practice. The vessel had been subject to a pre-arranged inspection by the UK MCA at Boston and had a catalogue of deficiencies related to emergency procedures and lifesaving equipment.

There is a lot talk about ‘human element’ in the maritime industry; the human element, which lies at the heart of shipping, is blamed for the majority of the accidents. In this regard, the industry has taken significant steps to address human factor issues and UK MCA’s Deadly Dozen is one of them.

The UK MCA issued a Ballast Water Management document answering key queries with respect to ballast received from interested stakeholders. The UK has not yet ratified the BWM Convention but is currently drafting the legislation that will allow accession to the Convention to take place.

Eleven foreign-flagged ships were under detention in UK ports during June 2018, after failing PSC inspection, according to UK MCA. Namely, during June, there were seven new detentions, while four vessels remained under detention from previous months. A total of four vessels remained under detention at the end of June.

The UK P&I Club has reported several recent incidents involving crew at mooring stations, most of which have resulted in life-changing or even fatal injuries. Industry advice with respect to identifying and marking snap-back zones came under review in 2015, when a deck officer was seriously injured during a mooring operation.

The Captain of a Russian oil tanker was fined a total of £25761.99 at Hull Magistrates Court on 14 June, after breaching the International Safety Management Code. The prosecution was brought by the UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency. Vitaliy Trofimov, Captain of the Russian tanker, pleaded guilty to non-compliance of safety requirements.

Seven foreign-flagged ships were under detention in UK ports during May 2018, after failing PSC inspection, according to UK MCA. Namely, during May, there were four new detentions, while three vessels remained under detention from previous months. A total of four vessels remained under detention at the end of May.

The UK MCA issued an updated marine guidance note on alcohol limits for seafarers onboard UK vessels worldwide and for vessels operating in UK waters, under STCW. The new limit for blood is 0.05% or 50 milligram in 100 milliliters and the new limit for breath is 0.25 milligrams per liter of 25 micrograms in 100 milliliters.

An estimated 23,760 UK seafarers were active at sea in 2017, with overall numbers being broadly stable in recent years, according to recently released figures by UK MCA. In 2017, a total of 88,000 seafarers of all nationalities were estimated to be active at sea working for companies within membership of the UK Chamber of Shipping, and a fifth of these were UK nationals.