A gas leak aboard the destroyer USS Mustin injured two sailors in San Diego last week, according to the U.S. Navy.

USS Mustin is undergoing a depot maintenance availability at the BAE Systems yard in Barrio Logan. The scope includes hull work, reconditioning the engineering spaces, upgrading the ship’s command and control equipment, and refurbishing the living spaces. The $95 million work package began in May and is scheduled to continue through November 2023.

On Thursday morning at about 10 AM, a release of “hazardous fumes” was reported aboard the destroyer. San Diego Fire-Rescue responded to the scene, and two sailors were provided medical care. One of them was transported to a nearby hospital, according to local media. A Navy spokesperson did not provide further information about the nature of the leak or the extent of the injuries.

USS Mustin is the 39th vessel in the Arleigh Burke-class series and the second vessel named for the Mustins, a family with longstanding Navy ties. The warship is known best for a widely-circulated photo of her CO and XO on the bridge wing with China’s first-in-class carrier Liaoning under way in plain view.

Fatality aboard carrier USS Carl Vinson

On Sunday, a sailor was found unresponsive aboard the carrier USS Carl Vinson, which was moored at a pier in Coronado, San Diego. Fed Fire responded and pronounced the sailor dead at the scene, according to Navy Times.

There are “no indications of suicide or foul play,” the Navy said in a statement, and the service is investigating the circumstances of the death. The sailor has been identified as Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Darren Collins, 22.

“My deepest condolences go out to the Collins family in this time of tragic loss,” said Vinson CO Capt. P. Scott Miller in a statement. “As shipmates we grieve the untimely passing of a talented young man. We will continue to provide support to the Vinson crew and the Collins family.”

USS Vinson has had a challenging year. In January, an inbound F-35C fighter suffered a ramp strike and slid off the deck, injuring seven crewmembers. A salvage operation was launched to recover the plane’s sensitive wreckage.

Source: https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/two-injured-in-gas-leak-aboard-destroyer-uss-mustin

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

The agreement, which was signed on 23 June at this year’s Korea Ocean Expo in Incheon, Korea, will 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,” said YEON Kyujin, Head of Plan Approval Center at KR.

“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.

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

KIM Hyunjo, Director of the Marine Shipbuilding Research Center of SHI, said: “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.”

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://maritimefairtrade.org/korean-register-in-joint-research-commercialization-of-autonomous-navigation-systems/

Bergen, Norway, 28 June 2022 – Since its establishment in 2017, Norway-based G2 Ocean has become one of the world’s largest ship operators within the open hatch segment. With over 300 experienced employees supporting industries worldwide, the company covers 37 trade lanes and operates over 120 open hatch and conventional bulk carriers, transporting wood pulp and other forest products, aluminum, steel, granite, and industrial minerals.

Recently, G2 Ocean signed with StormGeo for weather routing and voyage performance services, installing the BonVoyage System (BVS) onboard and leveraging the s-Insight platform for on-the-spot weather insights and route optimization.

s-Insight is a cloud-based self-service web portal for commercial, technical, and environmental fleet performance management. It offers onboard and onshore validation of ship-to-shore data streams and provides G2 Ocean with a complete overview of its entire fleet, with up-to-date information on vessel location, weather conditions, speed, and fuel consumption. With s-Insight, G2 Ocean can make confident decisions on optimal voyage speed and estimated time of arrival (ETA).

“We’re very satisfied with StormGeo’s services. Through the s-Insight platform, we gain good insight into current and historical voyage routing and performance, which help us make better decisions,” says Trond Aga Haug, Fleet Performance Manager at G2 Ocean.

BVS, on the other hand, is the most used route optimization system in the industry, with installation on close to 6,000 vessels. It offers user-friendly route optimization, voyage planning, and reliable weather forecasting in one simple-to-install and intuitive application. BVS will help G2 Ocean optimize its routes, monitor weather conditions, and plan for optimal navigation.

“We have installed the BonVoyage System (BVS) onboard our vessels. This tool gives our crew high-quality and accurate weather maps at their fingertips – assisting the master and officers in making good routing decisions and safeguarding the vessel, crew, and cargo,” Haug continues.

The partnership with G2 Ocean is a testament to StormGeo’s strengths and long-time experience with routing bulk carriers.

“StormGeo is very excited to have G2 Ocean onboard and provide actionable decision support with our advanced tools and route analysis experts. We have deep experience in routing bulk carriers and offer a future-proof solution that not only provides weather routing and fleet performance services but also lays the foundation for an environmentally compliant operation. We look forward to being G2 Ocean’s partner in the digital future of shipping,” says Rolf Reksten, VP of Route Advisory Services at StormGeo.

Both s-Insight and BVS are part of StormGeo’s s-Suite, a complete one-stop solution for ship owners, operators, and charterers to optimize time, fuel, and vessel performance while ensuring navigational and environmental compliance.

Source: https://www.seanews.co.uk/maritime-events/stormgeo-services-help-g2-ocean-future-proof-its-operations/

Blue Visby solution can reduce shipping emissions by around 15% by eradicating the practice of “Sail Fast, then Wait” through an innovative contractual framework, supported by cutting-edge digital technology
Helsinki, Finland – 07 July 2022- NAPA, a leading digital technology provider for the maritime industry, has become one of the founding and coordinating members of the Blue Visby Consortium, which is aimed at helping the shipping industry eliminate the wasteful practice of “Sail Fast, then Wait” (SFTW) through a collaborative platform.

Combining an innovative contractual framework and state-of-the-art digital technology, the Blue Visby Solution optimizes arrivals, enabling vessels to reduce their speed – and emissions – without impacting their commercial performance.

By tackling SFTW, which sees ships sailing at speed across oceans only to wait at anchorage outside ports, the Blue Visby Solution will help reduce emissions for maritime journeys by 15% on average. If applied globally, the solution has the potential to reduce the carbon footprint of the global shipping fleet by more than 60 million tonnes of CO2 per year – which is larger than the total emissions of an entire country like Norway.

NAPA joins the Blue Visby Consortium as a technology provider, contributing its digital and voyage expertise to help optimize and stagger arrival times for groups of vessels traveling to the same port. Taking into consideration parameters such as the performance and characteristics of each vessel, port congestion at destination, and weather conditions, the Blue Visby algorithm provides an optimal target arrival time for each vessel, while keeping their order of arrival as if they had sailed independently without the solution. This enables vessels to slow down, cutting their fuel consumption and emissions, but still “keep their place in the queue” and arrive one after the other, which reduces unnecessary waiting times outside ports.

Crucially, the Blue Visby Solution includes an innovative contractual framework to address the problem of so-called “split incentives”. It introduces a sharing mechanism that enables stakeholders on each voyage (shipowners, charterers and cargo interests) to share the costs and benefits of the implementation of the Blue Visby Solution, including fuel savings, the costs of a lengthier journey, and the financial value of emissions reductions where applicable. This contractual architecture is designed to be compatible with the standard terms of maritime contracts and does not require any new legislation or regulations.

Based on extensive analysis of 2019 shipping data from 150,000 voyages by 13,000 cargo ships in the 150 most visited ports, NAPA estimates that the Blue Visby Solution will enable vessels to reduce their speed by about 1 knot on average, which is well within the operational parameters of the existing commercial fleet. Speed could be reduced on 87% of the voyages, leading to shorter idle times and an average emissions savings potential of 16%.

Pekka Pakkanen, Executive Vice President at NAPA Shipping Solutions, said: “We are proud to see NAPA’s proven expertise on digital technology power this major project, which will help ships sails more efficiently, reduce waiting times at anchorage, and deliver immediate and tangible emissions reductions. At NAPA, we are committed to breaking the barriers for more energy-efficient and sustainable operations, and we are excited to contribute to this unique solution, which brings most of the benefits of “just-in-time” arrivals, without most of the problems. Blue Visby complements voyage planning and weather routing software by providing a target arrival time, and enables users to optimize routes and speed to save fuel without worrying about losing a competitive advantage. And the best part of it is that all this can be done now and with very small upfront investment, as Blue Visby requires no additional on-board systems.”

Mikko Kuosa, Chief Executive Officer at NAPA, said: “Given the urgency of the climate crisis, the world needs solutions that will make a difference today. From our experience at NAPA, we see the benefits of digital solutions, which are already unlocking tangible fuel and emissions savings through voyage optimization and weather routing. However, solving one of the biggest operational efficiency issues in maritime – “the Sail Fast, then Wait” phenomenon – is not something that a tech company alone can do. Today, we are proud to collaborate with fellow industry pioneers on this groundbreaking solution, which is committed to remaining neutral, independent, inclusive and transparent to reduce emissions for the benefit of the entire industry.”

The Blue Visby Consoritum is coordinated jointly by NAPA and maritime law experts from the international law firm Stephenson Harwood LLP. Haris Zografakis, Partner at Stephenson Harwood LLP, said:  “It has been fantastic to work with NAPA on this project. Not only are their systems and software best-in-class, but also their people combine deep maritime knowledge, a vision for the future of the industry, and the dedication to build that future. And in a time-honoured Finnish fashion, they do so calmly, quietly, methodically and with supreme professionalism”.

The Blue Visby Consortium presently includes 11 other maritime leaders from the shipping industry, government, classification societies, consultancies, financing, and environmental organizations: Anglo-American, Carbon Trust, ClassNK, CMB, Drewry, Ocean Conservancy, Lloyd’s, the UK Hydrographic Office, the University of Manchester, Tankers International, and Vertis.

Source: https://www.seanews.co.uk/maritime-events/new-collaboration-focuses-on-sea-fast-then-wait-to-reduce-shippings-emissions-with-napas-digital-expertise/

Thursday, July 7 – Birmingham, UK: MIS Marine, the maritime industry’s leading Marine Assurance technology company, has launched its new entry-level product, Mainstay Core. In addition to providing consolidated vetting data that enables faster and more efficient decision-making, Mainstay Core provides a comprehensive snapshot view of sanction data to support compliance for ship charterers, and minimise the risks for ports and terminals.

Previously only available as a premium subscription platform, MIS Marine has broadened accessibility to its Mainstay product suite with a comprehensive entry-level option at a time when the maritime industry is facing more than 2,000 sanctions due to the Ukraine crisis.

Through standardised but configurable risk policies, Mainstay Core provides full access to Marine Assurance data sources, enabling effective and simple screening processes and streamlined third party communication. With an intuitive Review screen, one-click decision making and colour coded document status indicators, vetting operations are streamlined and time efficient – helping charterers, ports and terminals to make the right decision, faster.

Providing a complete data view, responsive compliance tracking and ultimately streamlining vetting operations, Mainstay Core underpins vetting processes for tankers, barges and offshore vessels and their related companies, providing berth-to-berth assurance of an entire journey, contract, or project.

Dominic McKnight Hardy, Managing Director at MIS Marine, said: “Today, Marine Assurance is more than vetting. It’s about understanding your complete risk profile. Those risks come in many forms, from compliance and regulatory failings to indirect business with a sanctioned entity. Through its sanctioned data tracking, Mainstay Core automatically alerts you to any sanctions and compliance threats, helping you stay informed of every detail that could affect a vessel’s suitability and jeopardise your reputation.”

Mainstay Core collects and presents multiple sources of up-to-date industry data – OCIMF (SIRE, BIRE and OVID), IHS, USCG, AIS Tracking and sanctions.

Since 2009, MIS Marine has developed advanced Marine Assurance solutions to support the drive for better standards and ensure compliance with regulatory targets is achieved across the maritime industry. The company also developed and delivers the cutting-edge solution Mainstay Pro – which formed the foundation for Mainstay Core – that includes more advanced features and in-depth capabilities to support Marine Assurance operations.

Source: https://www.seanews.co.uk/maritime-events/launch-of-cutting-age-mainstay-core-product/

The Global Maritime Safety market exhibits comprehensive information that is a valuable source of insightful data for business strategists during the decade 2020-2030. On the basis of historical data, Maritime Safety market report provides key segments and their sub-segments, revenue and demand & supply data. Considering technological breakthroughs of the market Maritime Safety industry is likely to appear as a commendable platform for emerging Maritime Safety market investors.

The complete value chain and downstream and upstream essentials are scrutinized in this report. Essential trends like globalization, growth progress boost fragmentation regulation & ecological concerns. This Market report covers technical data, manufacturing plants analysis, and raw material sources analysis of Maritime Safety Industry as well as explains which product has the highest penetration, their profit margins, and R & D status. The report makes future projections based on the analysis of the subdivision of the market which includes the global market size by product category, end-user application, and various regions.

Source: https://traveladventurecinema.com/news/502/us-maritime-safety-market-2022-comprehensive-strategic-report-with-leonardo-finmeccanica-northrop-grumman-corporation-bae-systems-plc-harris-corporation/

At 12h55, Friday, 24 June, NSRI Wilderness duty crew were alerted to reports of a truck that left the roadway at a low lying bridge on the Karatara River, Karatara Road, Karatara, inland of Sedgefield, with the truck reportedly trapped in rapid flowing water.
WC Government Health EMS ambulance and rescue squad, Knysna Fire and Rescue Services, SA Police Services, Traffic Services and the Police Dive Unit were responding.
At 13h02 our NSRI duty crew were activated following a request for swift water rescue assistance after it was confirmed that a truck with a male driver onboard was in the vehicle which was trapped in the river.
NSRI swift water rescue swimmers responded directly towards the scene and our NSRI rescue vehicle, towing our sea rescue craft Oscars Rescuer, responded.
While NSRI were responding towards the scene we were notified that an EMS rescue squad, with swift water rescue technicians, and Police divers had reached the vehicle, in rapidly flowing water, and they were extracting the driver from the vehicle.
On NSRI arriving on the scene the EMS swift water rescue technicians and Police divers were bringing the casualty to safety.
NSRI commend all emergency services involved for the successful rescue operation.
The driver of the truck was not injured.

SWART RIVER:

On Saturday, 25 June, at 16h17, NSRI Wilderness duty crew were activated following reports from an employee of Kaaimans River Adventures of 3 men trapped near to a waterfall on the Swart River, Wilderness.
It appears that a football team from Cape Town had paddled upstream on the Swart River, from the confluence of the Kaaimans River, on a number of paddle craft and rowing boats. All but one of the craft had returned to their accommodation where the men were staying on the river, but the last craft, with 4 of the male soccer players onboard, had capsized at the waterfall.
Only 1 of the 4 men was wearing a life-jacket. We believe that 2 of the men were able to swim to shore, but one man needed to be rescued by the man who was wearing the life-jacket. He was able to swim his friend across the river to the opposite bank, but they were all trapped on the shore, surrounded by steep cliff faces, and all 4 were suffering hypothermia. Fearing an attempt for all 4 men to try to swim down the river may lead to further injury, one of the four men volunteered to use the life jacket and attempt to swim a distance of nearly  500 meters, in the freezing water temperatures, to seek help. The man was able to cross the river and he found Kaaimans River Adventures, further downstream, where he raised the alarm.

The kayaking instructor of Kaaimans River Adventures launched a craft and while he paddled to go to the help of the 3 remaining men, his colleague called NSRI Wilderness.

We launched the NSRI rescue craft Ann Stratford Rescuer and planned to enter the Kaaimans river from the mouth to respond upstream while our NSRI rescue vehicle towed the NSRI rescue craft Oscars Rescuer to be launched further up the river.
On arrival on the scene we found that the kayaking instructor of Kaaimans River Adventures had rescued the 3 men to safety and NSRI medics treated all 4 for hypothermia and they required no further assistance.

NSRI appeal to paddlers, boaters and sailors to always wear a properly fitting life-jacket when your craft is underway.

NSRI commend the staff of Kaaimans River Adventures for raising the alarm and the swift response in successfully rescuing the 3 remaining casualties.

Source: https://www.seanews.co.uk/people/recent-accidents-at-karatara-and-swart-river/