Maritime Safety News Archives - Page 65 of 260 - SHIP IP LTD

Oslo Norway and Paris La Défense, 21st June, 2022 – Marlink, the smart network group, and leading classification society Bureau Veritas (BV) have signed an agreement to accelerate the delivery of cyber-secure digital tools and safety services in the maritime industry.

The agreement links Marlink’s smart hybrid connectivity with the remote digital and safety services provided by BV. Having identified crossovers in their mutual customer base, the partners will collaborate to enable maritime stakeholders to more easily adopt cyber-strengthened digital tools and applications using the Marlink network.

The partners have put in place a working group to support shipowners around improving the cyber-security of vessel data collection and facilitating compliance with regulation. This will support remote and digital operation modes on a journey to smarter, remote and, ultimately, autonomous ships with zero-emission.

Through their experience, Marlink and Bureau Veritas identified the need for dedicated channels of co-operation, recognising a common interest in removing the barriers to smarter, cleaner vessel operations. The two organisations will seize opportunities to work outside the silos that have held back the industry from accessing data that can lower operating costs, save fuel and drive compliance.

The partner program will be expanded over time, with a proactive approach towards new areas of collaboration bringing in new initiatives where possible, ultimately leading the industry into new eras around smart shipping, unmanned and autonomous vessels. As well as simplifying implementation of cyber security standards for shipyards, the agreement is ‘open source’, enabling third party application providers, start-ups and software developers to participate where appropriate.

“This is a partnership with real purpose whose foremost point is to take action to integrate digital tools and services that can bring value for shipowners and encourage and further develop cyber-secure, innovative Class operations,” said Matthieu de Tugny, President, Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore. “BV is dedicated to helping our clients understand and manage the challenges of decarbonization and adopt the digital tools that can support the transition.

“Shipowners face huge efficiency and compliance challenges over the next decade and these need to be considered now to create a future-proof path that can integrate core operational components onboard and ashore,” said Tore Morten Olsen, President, Maritime, Marlink. “Digitalisation is critical to improving voyage optimisation and vessel performance, achieving regulatory compliance and meeting ESG goals, but shipowners shouldn’t have to act as project managers – this partnership means they can streamline and simplify their digital journey based on Class guidelines and recommendations.”

Source: https://www.seanews.co.uk/maritime-events/bureau-veritas-and-marlink-improving-digital-connectivity-and-integration-for-class-operations/


In welcoming the IMO’s revised guidelines for inspections, the international freight transport insurer TT Club exhorts governments to report findings to IMO on 2021 inspections as well as to increase the volume of inspections carried out.

This would helpfully inform the international maritime regulator and support industry players who are striving to ensure safety and reduce dangerous incidents.

Revised Guidelines for the Implementation of the Inspection of Cargo Transport Units (CTUs) issued last month by the IMO are aimed at helping governments to implement a uniform and safe inspection programme.

The IMO Circular (MSC.1/Circ.1649) seeks to broaden the inspections undertaken and align fully with safety guidance developed during the last decade (previous guidelines date from 2012).

Specifically, governments are now requested to select from all cargo types, rather than simply declared dangerous goods, for inspection. Furthermore, the guidance takes account of the issuance of the CTU Code, revisions of container safety regulations and the need to minimise the movement of invasive pests. The Circular also notes the continuing low rate submission of inspection reports and encourages an increase in such inspections.

Peregrine Storrs-Fox, TT’s Risk Management Director, remarked: “With the string of container ship fire casualties and fatal incidents at storage facilities, most recently at Chittagong (Chattogram), in our minds, our current concerns are manifest.

“They constantly remind us of the importance of adequate safety procedures in packing, handling and transporting the array of cargoes that have the potential to cause catastrophic incidents.

“With only five of the 179 governments affiliated with IMO submitting reports on inspections at the last Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC) sub-committee meeting in September 2021, the industry urgently seeks more collaborative support from governments in combatting the potential circumstances and cargo packing practices that cause dangerous incidents.

“It would be much appreciated if more national reports undertaken during 2021 can still be reported for consideration at the next CCC this September. However, TT calls for a viable sample of inspections in future based on the new guidelines. In this regard, TT would urge strongly that governments enter dialogue with industry to understand how the latter can work with enforcement agencies to improve safety.”

Source: https://securityjournaluk.com/imo-member-states-inspections/


Digitalisation is almost as close to the top of shipping industry priorities as its cousin decarbonisation. The two are inextricably linked, one the enabler of the other, or at least the means to improve performance until the new fuels the industry needs become available.

Digital tools offer the means to respond to multiple challenges: enabling owners to calculate and report fuel consumption, making voyages more efficient by providing supporting navigational data or connecting crew.

As we have observed before on these pages, the real challenge is the interface of digitalisation and people in ways that keep mariners focused on key tasks, improve human performance and support health and welfare.

The latest in a series of reports commissioned from consultant Thetius by communications provider Inmarsat asks three important questions of the shipping industry. First, what value should the maritime sector place on human factors when considering the digital transformation of the shipping industry?

Next, what role does human performance play in building a lean, competitive, digitalised, and profitable merchant shipping operation? And finally, how do human factors interrelate with digital processes, procedures, and technologies to create a ship that delivers the right outcomes for its owners and a safe and stimulating environment for its crew?

The importance of the maritime workforce to making the global economy work cannot be overstated and the trajectory of development in the shipping industry makes it clear that skilled, motivated, and well cared for seafarers will be pivotal to its ability to meet both its business and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) obligations.

Instead of allowing maritime professionals to become distrustful or even fearful of digital and emerging technologies, the report finds that the sector must recognise the continued importance of human capital and work hard to bring crews along on the journey.

Newer, better ways of working are possible it says, with digital tools and connectivity creating happier and more productive ships. Entirely new and exciting roles are emerging and growing rapidly, the report claims.

However, the fact that half of the seafarers questioned believe that there will be a 25% reduction in job opportunities within five years, suggests that more needs to be done to highlight how those roles will be evolved or replaced.

The challenge is made greater by the fact that seafarer happiness is at an all-time low. Societal and generational expectations and ambitions are changing, but life at sea has stagnated for many.

The report calls the addition of internet connectivity requirements to the MLC a paradigm shift, addressing as it does one of the key concerns of today’s maritime professionals. Our own analysis suggests it will be nothing like as simple as it sounds and whether the expected low barrier to connectivity is delivered in practice remains to be seen.

Excepting the obstacles, connectivity is now ubiquitous in developed nations and increasingly prevalent in developing ones – it will increase again when new satellite constellations come online.

Seafarers around the world should be able to look forward to keeping in touch with family and friends and accessing an array of platforms and digital services that have the potential to improve their lives at sea. This future may not be evenly distributed though.

The benefits of a digital fleet are clear. Though there is always a loss prevention expert ready to argue the opposite, a connected workforce should be happier and more motivated. At the business end, the opportunity to gather more data from the ship (without having to physically collect it themselves) provides crews with the visibility needed to build effective strategies for decarbonisation.

Though it should be obvious by now, remember too that digital transformation is not synonymous with autonomous or remote controlled ships. Digitalisation will instead offer an enrichment of seafaring job roles and humans will remain at the very centre of the digital era in shipping, the Thetius team believes.

Digital and connected tools can boost human performance and compliment human skills and by aligning digital tools with the needs of the seafarer, the process of technology-led improvements in decarbonisation and crew management will develop quicker and be more effective, it reckons.

When operators realise that the modern ship is a complex socio-technical system that requires the co-operation of human and machine, a bigger picture emerges. Liberated from routine and mundane tasks, humans can better focus on more complex decision making and make judgements with the help of better situational awareness.

For any of this to happen however, the industry must continue to attract talented and dedicated people. And we should add, the industry should recognise the need to empower those people into leadership roles with appropriate responsibility.

The digital transformation will provide new ways of delivering training and encourage retention through better working conditions, but will also require training new skills and expertise, the researchers conclude.

What is also clear from the survey is that more needs to be done to ensure that human factors are considered properly in the design of digital maritime systems and the seafaring workforce is invested in the digitisation process.

A critical finding suggests that seafarers may be more ready for change than many imagine. Two in five crew members (40% of those surveyed) who work with digital technology at sea today point to shortcomings in systems design and lack of user friendliness. The figure suggests a group of users with frustrated expectations and a progressive mindset which owners seeking to retain maritime professionals would do well to consider.

Source: https://voyagerww.com/blogs/better-technology-for-safer-seafaring/


Yara and tech company Kongsberg have created the ship YARA Birkeland which is all set to become the world’s first crewless cargo ship with zero carbon footprint. Finally, the container shipping industry has taken the next giant leap- viz the introduction of autonomous cargo ships. Although the concept of a self-steering cargo ship might sound like a scene from a sci-fi movie, autonomous cargo vessels are no longer a distant vision. Today, we will provide you with a very interesting report on the first zero-emission and autonomous cargo vessel and its long-term implications for the container shipping industry.

A brief introduction to autonomous vessels for container shipping industry

Over the years, the container shipping industry has been pioneering new technologies to ensure a quick transition to green shipping. Any ship that can navigate without human intervention and with the help of artificial intelligence programmes is called an autonomous ship. These ships are all set to revolutionize the ocean freight sector by making sea freight shipping more profitable and agile.

Presently, autonomous vessels are divided into 4 major types:

  • Ships with multiple automated processes that still require the presence of humans on board
  • Remotely controlled ships that don’t require the presence of the full crew
  • Remotely controlled ships that can operate without a crew
  • Fully self-steering ships with an operating system capable of making decisions

There are several advantages to autonomous ships. Firstly, the primary benefit of these ships is the near elimination of all human errors. Additionally, the presence of fewer crew members will imply less onboard maintenance while shipping. Therefore, autonomous ships will greatly reduce the expenses of the container shipping sector. Most importantly, these ships will use sustainable fuels like hydrogen or even electricity. This in turn will reduce the environmental impact of the container shipping industry.

Yara Birkeland- the world’s first autonomous cargo ship

Yara Birkeland is the world’s first autonomous zero-emission cargo ship that runs on electricity. Kongsberg is the company that is providing all the key technologies such as sensors, batteries, propulsion control systems, etc. required for the seamless functioning of the battery-powered ship. The ship with a length of 80 m and weighing around 3,200 tonnes includes computers and sensors that allow for sailing without a crew via remote control. Most importantly, this self-steering ship is also environmentally sustainable as it produces zero-emission. It has a cargo capacity of 120 TEU and a battery capacity of 6.8 MWh. Commercial operation of this vessel will commence shortly.

How this ship will transform the container shipping industry

Last November, the Yara Birkeland embarked on its maiden voyage from Horten to Oslo. Once fully operational, this ship will replace truck haulage by 40,000 truck trips a year between Porsgrunn and Brevik. This will allow it to reduce the emission of 1,000 tonnes of CO2. The sensors of this vessel comprise of radar, infrared cams, and automotive integrated solution cameras. Together they provide the vessel with the ability to detect any obstacles in its way and bypass them. This is a great technology that can forever change the workings of cargo ships.

The Yara Birkeland also comes with automatic mooring arms that permit unmanned mooring and docking at the ports. To quote Jostein Braaten, the project leader of Yara Birkeland, “Yara is constantly seeking opportunities to improve not only the business but also safety and our environmental footprint. By introducing Yara Birkeland, Yara wants to show a dedication to improving the environmental impact from this transport of goods.”

The ship uses cloud technologies to offer the on-shore remote operation office with all the data related to voyage and operation. Moreover, this ship only requires remote takeover in the unlikely event of an error requiring human assistance. The Yara Birkeland is capable of loading and offloading the freight, navigating, and recharging its batteries without any human intervention.

The advantages of crewless operations

One of the major factors that allow Yara Birkeland to leave a mark on the industry is the total autonomy of the ship. The fact that it doesn’t require a single person on board comes with several advantages like lower staffing expenses and more space for cargo. Most importantly, crewless shipping improves the safety of shipping operations since most accidents in the container shipping industry occur due to human error.

Although this technology is still in its initial phase, it will keep playing a significant role in the future of the maritime sector. It will also enhance the competitiveness of shipping for short-distance routes. In the future, autonomous ships will help to deal with the problems of traffic jams and the problem of driver shortages. As Mr Braaten explains, “We see that autonomy in maritime has really picked up the pace after the news of Yara Birkeland was released. It is no longer a question of “if” autonomy is coming, it is a matter of “when”. Autonomy is an enabler and a potential catalyst for the green shift in maritime. We are delighted to be leading this shift and see that by realizing this concept – others are following.”

Source: https://www.globalialogisticsnetwork.com/blog/2022/07/07/the-worlds-first-autonomous-cargo-ship-and-its-relevance-for-the-container-shipping-industry/


Classification society Korean Register (KR) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with ship management company Korea Leading Company of Ship Management (KLCSM) and shipbuilder Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) for joint research and commercialization of autonomous navigation systems for mid- to large-sized vessels.

KR
Courtesy of Korean Register

The agreement, which was signed on 23 June at this year’s Korea Ocean Expo in Incheon, seeks to accelerate the commercialization and international competitiveness of domestic autonomous ship equipment and technology by establishing an actual ship-based autonomous operating system that is jointly developed between domestic shipping companies, shipyards and KR.

The announcement comes as an increasing number of shipowners integrate artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things, Big Data and sensor systems into their vessels in order to assist vessel crews.

According to the MOU, SHI’s autonomous navigation system, known as the Samsung Autonomous Ship (SAS), will be applied to KLCSM’s fleet of operating ships to perform risk assessments, develop and certify cyber-security systems, and review the conformity of various agreements and standards for future domestic approval.

In addition, SHI will conduct a comprehensive collaboration for the commercialization of autonomous navigation systems through the certification of ship equipment and Marine Equipment Directive (MED) for Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) modules.

“KR will provide technical support for this project in order to further the development and operation autonomous navigation systems,” Yeon Kyujin, Head of Plan Approval Center at KR, said.

“With this latest joint cooperation, more autonomous navigation systems will be successfully applied to ships, which will further increase the efficiency of ship management,” Kwon Ohgil, Managing Director of KLCSM, explained.

“We also expect to improve vessel safety and improve the environment of ship operations amid a current shortage of sailors.”

“SHI is focusing its capabilities on the research and development for the commercialization of autonomous navigation technologies for ocean and coastal navigation, including conducting practical ship operations based on the maritime demonstration of our own SAS autonomous navigation system,” Kim Hyunjo, Director of the Marine Shipbuilding Research Center of SHI, added.

In addition to this MOU, KR has been building up its related classification certification performance and autonomous navigation ship technology by applying its rules, cyber-security certification and risk-based approval in accordance with its ‘Guidance for Autonomous Ships’ which was published in 2019.

Source: https://www.offshore-energy.biz/kr-klcsm-and-shi-team-up-on-autonomous-navigation-systems-for-ships/


A Russian missile has hit a tanker drifting in the Black Sea for more than four months.

The tanker was loaded with diesel, per the Interfax-Ukraine news agency. It cited Ukraine’s military that referred to the ship as an “ecological bomb.”

The Moldova-flagged tanker Millennial Spirit was struck twice as Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February.

It was initially hit by a missile fired from a warship several days after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Moldova reported that at the time, the ship had Russian crew members, and two of them were seriously injured.

Ukraine’s southern military command had reported that when the vessel was first struck in February, it was loaded with over 500 tonnes of diesel and that since then, it was drifting in the Black Sea waters with no crew.

The military mentioned in a statement that perhaps the remaining cargo is burning.

It reportedly called the vessel a “delayed-action” bomb and further blamed the fact that it was drifting without a crew on board on a Russian blockade of Ukraine’s ports. It added that a Russian Kh-31 air-to-surface missile struck the vessel.

Details of the attack could not be confirmed by Reuters independently.

Ukraine has said that Russia’s invasion has resulted in substantial ecological damage to the country and plans to seek compensation in the international courts.

Environmental threats from the invasion highlighted by Ukraine also include the pollution of its water basins.

References: Reuters, US News, BSF QH


Press Release: All radio traffic on the emergency channel that reaches Sweden is now transcribed by artificial intelligence (AI) and shown to the operators at the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Gothenburg within a second. Keywords, such as “Mayday”, “SOS”, “help” and “sinking”, are clearly marked and cannot be missed.

 

The Swedish Maritime Administration, together with the Swedish companies Tenfifty AB and Maranics AB, has conducted a research and innovation project during the past two years. Earlier this
year, a full-scale test was launched of an emergency call detection system that uses the very latest AI technology. The system will be in operational use until the autumn when an evaluation will be made.

 

It was Tobias Nicander, rescue leader at the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre, who already in 2009 came up with the idea of ​​getting help with listening to the emergency channel. Calls can sometimes be difficult to interpret because the signals are weak and the messages are incoherent. In addition, there is always the risk that the operator is already working on an alarm when a new case arises. There is thus a small risk of missing a call, but by transcribing all calls, the risk is reduced. The technology did not exist when Tobias got the idea, but 10 years later, technology has caught up.

 

“Not only do we get the calls texted, we have also defined keywords that should be clearly marked and should remain on our screens until we say that we have seen them. We also receive
documentation of what has been said on the channel, which can be helpful in improving the process in the future. It serves, for example, as a perfect base for education”, says Tobias Nicander.

 

Already on the first day, the system drew the operators’ attention to two “Mayday” calls: one in Germany and one in Denmark. This shows that the AI ​​solution can interpret even weak signals and that the operators really get the help they want, to be able to make even better assessments in the future. In addition, it shows that the reach of the Swedish coastal radio network is good enough. The solution will not replace the operators. It is developed with the goal of relieving and supporting the operators in their daily work.

Source: https://fathom.world/artificial-intelligence-helps-search-and-rescue/


The Korean Register (KR) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with KLCSM and Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) to research and approve the application of autonomous navigation systems for medium to large vessels.

The agreement will accelerate the commercialisation and international competitiveness of domestic autonomous ship equipment and technology, establishing a truly autonomous ship-based operating system.

According to the MOU, SHI’s autonomous navigation system, known as Samsung Autonomous Ship (SAS), will be applied to KLCSM’s fleet of operational vessels.

“KR will provide technical support for this project in order to further the development and operation autonomous navigation systems,” said YEON Kyujin, Head of Plan Approval Center at KR.

Through the system, it will be possible to carry out risk assessments, develop and certify cyber security systems and review the compliance of various agreements and standards for future domestic approval.

“With this latest joint cooperation, more autonomous navigation systems will be successfully applied to ships, which will further increase the efficiency of ship management,” said KWON Ohgil, Managing Director of KLCSM, adding, “We also expect to improve vessel safety and improve the environment of ship operations amid a current shortage of sailors.”

Moreover, SHI will carry out a comprehensive collaboration for the commercialisation of autonomous navigation systems through the certification of ship equipment and the Marine Equipment Directive (MED) for Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) modules.

KIM Hyunjo, Director of the Marine Shipbuilding Research Center of SHI, said that “SHI is focusing its capabilities on the research and development for the commercialization of autonomous navigation technologies for ocean and coastal navigation, including conducting practical ship operations based on the maritime demonstration of our own SAS autonomous navigation system.”

Source: Container News


The U.S. Coast Guard is investing in increased reach in the South Pacific, where it is often the most visible U.S. government presence in far-flung island nations. Its new fast response cutters – small but seaworthy long-range patrol vessels – have been a key asset for this effort, and several are permanently forward-deployed at Guam and Honolulu. Their relatively high 28-knot speed and their 2,500-nm range are valuable for extended reach in the wide expanse of the Pacific Ocean.

One of these FRCs – the Honolulu-based USCGC Oliver Berry – recently deployed to the Republic of Kiribati to help fend off the worst effects of a drought. The Berry headed to the remote island of Kirimati (Christmas Island) after the republic declared an emergency over the local shortage of drinking water.

Kiritimati – the world’s biggest coral atoll – is located about 1,200 miles to the south of Hawaii. It is the largest island in Kiribati, and it has a population of about 7,000 people. The low-lying atoll has relatively limited groundwater resources, and a severe drought over the past six months has endangered its water supply. The government of Kiribati issued a nationwide disaster declaration in June due to the growing hazard, and the Coast Guard joined other international partners to mount a response.

Over two days, the crew of the Berry carried out offloads of potable drinking water, working with representatives of the aid organization UNICEF. They maintained strict COVID-19 precautions to protect the island’s inhabitants. In addition, they carried out a law-enforcement patrol of a part of the Kiribati EEZ, contributing to the USCG’s regional maritime-security partnership effort.

Courtesy USCG

“Our crew is excited and humbled for the opportunity to support the people of Kiribati,” said Lt. Micah Howell, commanding officer of the Berry. “Thanks to the coordination efforts of the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, and the Kiribati Government, we are able to provide safe drinking water to the Island of Kiritimati at a time when it is needed most.”

Source: https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/u-s-coast-guard-brings-water-to-drought-stricken-pacific-island


ENOVA innovation award will enable bold vision for two emissions-free container vessels to connect Norway and the Netherlands by 2025

SeaShuttle, the ambitious project to build two hydrogen-powered, remotely controlled and autonomous-ready containerships for delivery by 2025 has secured NOK150 million (€15M) in funding from Norwegian state enterprise ENOVA.

The bold scheme, led by multimodal transport and logistics group Samskip and marine robotics specialist Ocean Infinity, envisages two SeaShuttle ships operating emissions-free between Oslo Fjord and Rotterdam, with each powered by a 3.2MW hydrogen fuel cell.

ENOVA, which operates under Norway’s Ministry of Climate and Environment, promotes a shift towards more environmentally friendly energy consumption and production, as well as technologies based on sustainable energy.

Originally announced at Nor-Shipping 2022, Oslo, in April, the Samskip-Ocean Infinity partnership covers both the construction and operation of the ships, in a collaboration seeking to push forward towards zero-emission, efficient and safe, multimodal logistics.

“Samskip is very proud to take the lead role in pioneering the SeaShuttle initiative, as part of its ‘making green logistics easy’ strategy,” said Are Gråthen, CEO, Samskip Norway. “Securing this funding provides a platform to make emissions-free container shipping a reality. Together, Samskip and Ocean Infinity will also accelerate their plans to advance autonomous ship technologies, and remote operation of ships and cargo handling equipment. These ships are the first part of an exciting collaboration with Ocean Infinity.”

In line with commitments given at COP26 Clydebank Declaration, SeaShuttle would create what amounted to one of Europe’s first zero-emission ‘green corridors’, Gråthen added.

Christoffer Jorgenvag, CCO, Ocean Infinity, commented: “Ocean Infinity’s enabling technologies can facilitate green corridors but also the broader decarbonisation and transformation of maritime operations. The emphasis today is on the SeaShuttle vessels, which are just part of Ocean Infinity’s overall strategy of unlocking innovation to deliver truly sustainable maritime operations. We would like to thank Enova for their support for our vision which represents a firm endorsement of our ground-breaking approach and allows us to proceed at full speed in bringing this project to life.”

The funding means the partners can move forward to contract two new 500TEU ships installed with a main propulsion solution that can be adapted to run on hydrogen fuel.?Diesel electric propulsion plant will be on board as back up, although Gråthen emphasized: “We have faith that green hydrogen will be affordable and available in Norway”.

Kari-Pekka Laaksonen, Group CEO, Samskip commented: “For Samskip, sustainability is one of the fundamentals of doing business. The SeaShuttle project is a substantial step in Samskip’s journey towards zero emission logistics. Its combination of fuel, technology and operational best practice is expected to make emissions-free shortsea shipping cost competitive with existing solutions.
Source: https://www.maritime-executive.com/corporate/samskip-ocean-infinity-secure-hydrogen-fuelled-container-ship-funds


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