UK News

Climate Adaptation Report published by the UK Canal & River Trust

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Recently published, a new report produced by the Canal & River Trust aims to show how vital the UK’s waterway network can be as the Government tries to tackle climate change. The 30-page Climate Adaptation Report spells out how important canals and waterways are and how they can be part of action against problems such as storms, flooding and drought, which have badly affected areas of the UK.

It highlights how the 2000 miles of canals and waterways, and 84 reservoirs, across England and Wales have adapted from their original roles and can now become a vital infrastructure as the country deals with climate change threats.

The Climate Adaptation Report also claims the charity will need an extra £15 million a year to combat global warming. Continue reading “Climate Adaptation Report published by the UK Canal & River Trust”

Ocean Business announces exhibitor list for 2025 show

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As the countdown begins to Ocean Business 2025, more details can be revealed about the line-up of exhibitors at the global technology and science exhibition for marine industries.

More than 350 world leading manufacturers and service providers shaping the future of ocean science and technology have booked space at the sold-out show, which runs from April 8-10 at the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton.

The three-day event is open to all visitors for free by registering online at www.oceanbusiness.com. Continue reading “Ocean Business announces exhibitor list for 2025 show”

Domestic Passenger Vessels: Information on risk assessment to support application for exemption from damage stability requirements

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Domestic Passenger Vessels: Information on risk assessment to support application for exemption from damage stability requirements
Domestic Passenger Vessels: Information on risk assessment to support application for exemption from damage stability requirements

The UK Merchant Shipping (Safety Standards for Passenger Ships on Domestic Voyages) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2022, introduces requirements for older vessels to meet new damage stability requirements. The vessels affected most by these new requirements are those vessels certified as Class V and operating on Tidal Category C waters.

It was recognised from feedback during the consultation that there was a need for the Government to provide some flexibility to operators who could demonstrate that the risks to their domestic passenger vessels were owing to their particular area of operation. For example, owning to a small volume of traffic operating in the area the risk of collision was reduced. Continue reading “Domestic Passenger Vessels: Information on risk assessment to support application for exemption from damage stability requirements”

£100k fine handed to operator for vessel modification resulting in two deaths

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£100k fine handed to operator for vessel modification
£100k fine handed to operator for vessel modification

A Brixham, UK based fishing vessel operator has been ordered by a court to pay more than £100,000 after a vessel modification caused it to capsize, leading to the deaths of two people onboard. Joanna C had a major refit in 2019, including the addition of a whaleback, extension of the wheelhouse and raised bulwarks being added. That fatal incident happened in 2020 when the vessel’s gear snagged on the seabed. Its lack of stability meant it could not recover, causing the boat to sink rapidly. Only one crewmember of three survived. Continue reading “£100k fine handed to operator for vessel modification resulting in two deaths”

25th edition of Seawork a great success

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A stunning 25th edition of Seawork has led to record rebookings for 2025
A stunning 25th edition of Seawork has led to record rebookings for 2025

A stunning 25th edition of Seawork has led to record rebookings for 2025 as exhibitors look to repeat the success of this year’s event. Re-bookings are currently sitting at well over 30%, just a week after Seawork 2024 closed its doors.

Audience numbers showed a steady increase on previous editions with 7584 visitors from 45 countries. Improved registration, using the Seawork App and more scanner/printers available to issue badges, streamlined the whole process for all attendees. Continue reading “25th edition of Seawork a great success”

Canal & River Trust responds to awful annual boaters’ survey findings

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CRT responds to awful annual boaters' survey findings
CRT responds to awful annual boaters’ survey findings

The UK Canal & River Trust (CRT) says it will be doing all it can to make improvements following the publication of its annual boaters’ survey, which has revealed a decrease in overall boater satisfaction from 54 per cent to 46 per cent from a year ago.

The organisation says it is greatly concerned to see the fall in boater satisfaction, and that the fall continues a downward trend since 2017.

In a statement, CRT says, “The trust is committed to doing whatever we can within our means to provide all of our boating customers with the experience and service they expect. This disappointing result confirms that we need to re-double our efforts to improve this. Continue reading “Canal & River Trust responds to awful annual boaters’ survey findings”

Replace harmful zinc anodes with aluminium as standard is the advice

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Photo credit: The Fitout Pontoon
Photo credit: The Fitout Pontoon

Zinc anodes are causing environmental damage is the message from the Clean Harbours Partnership (CHP), which is a UK-based organisation dedicated to raising awareness of harbour pollution. It has urged boaters, major boat manufacturers and other interested parties to replace or to recommend replacing zinc anodes with aluminium as standard to reduce and prevent further environmental damage. CHP has been studying the release of metals, particularly copper and zinc, by recreational vessels into the marine environment. CHP highlights that, in 2020, the Institute of Marine Sciences at Portsmouth University in the UK calculated that approximately 900 tonnes of zinc is released into UK coastal and inland waters by recreational vessels in an average year. Continue reading “Replace harmful zinc anodes with aluminium as standard is the advice”

UK Boat Safety Scheme governance changes announced

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UK Boat Safety Scheme governance changes announced
UK Boat Safety Scheme governance changes announced

The Canal & River Trust, Environment Agency, Broads Authority, and the Association of Inland Navigation Authorities have announced some governance changes to the Boat Safety (BSS) Scheme which will see it become a not-for-profit company. As a company limited by guarantee, Boat Safety Scheme Limited has been incorporated to take on the work of the existing Scheme from 1 April 2024.

The Scheme’s structure remains unchanged, with all income returned into the running costs and continuing the safety improvements brought about by the Scheme since its inception in 1995. Continue reading “UK Boat Safety Scheme governance changes announced”

Flyability announces UT probe payload in partnership with Cygnus

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live A-scan UT payload is designed for spot thickness measurements
live A-scan UT payload is designed for spot thickness measurements

Flyability, the market leader in confined space drones, announced today a new ultrasonic thickness measurement (UTM) payload for its flagship drone the Elios 3. This payload was developed in partnership with Cygnus Instruments, a global leader in ultrasonic testing (UT) technology to create a product that supports certified UT inspectors.

The new live A-scan UT payload is designed for spot thickness measurements of steel in ship hulls, inside tanks, and between pipe ranks amongst many other applications. With UT critical to many inspection processes, this new payload presents a safer means of accessing thickness measurement locations Continue reading “Flyability announces UT probe payload in partnership with Cygnus”

Towpaths for Everyone is a new policy document from the Canal & River Trust

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Towpaths for Everyone is a new policy document
Towpaths for Everyone is a new policy document

With the UK’s canals attracting record numbers of visitors and more people using towpaths than ever before, a policy document entitled Towpaths for Everyone has been published by the Canal & River Trust (CRT) setting out how these vital, historic and typically narrow routes can be sustainably used, managed, and made more accessible for the benefit of all.

Towpaths for Everyone

Alongside the canals’ core use for boating and angling, Towpaths for Everyone outlines the key role that the 2,000-miles of towpaths play in public life, Continue reading “Towpaths for Everyone is a new policy document from the Canal & River Trust”

IIMS President raises concerns about the growing tick box culture of marine survey reporting

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Marine survey reporting techniques are under the spotlight
Marine survey reporting techniques are under the spotlight

Tick box marine survey reporting is becoming far more common than it used to be. That is the view of Peter Broad, President of the International Institute of Marine Surveying (IIMS). But are tick box marine survey reports fit for purpose, or are they lazy reporting?

There are Advantages and limitations

Advantages:

1. Standardisation: They provide a standardised framework for conducting inspections, ensuring that essential aspects of a vessel are systematically checked. Continue reading “IIMS President raises concerns about the growing tick box culture of marine survey reporting”

ICOMIA launches essential new Paint Colour Guide: Yacht Coating Technical Guidelines

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New from ICOMIA - the Paint Colour Guide: Yacht Coating Technical Guidelines
New from ICOMIA – the Paint Colour Guide: Yacht Coating Technical Guidelines

The International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA) has produced a Paint Colour Guide: Yacht Coating Technical Guidelines as a result of their work with leading yacht coating manufacturers including Akzo Nobel, Hempel, Boero, CMP Chugoku and specialist coating consultants the Safinah Group.

The guide has been produced by ICOMIA members, for their members and the wider marine sector, in conjunction with industry technical experts including yacht paint surveyors, inspectors, chemists and formulators. It aims to provide clear, objective industry guidance on the use of paint colours and yacht coatings.

The days of yachts being painted only with the typical blue hulls and white superstructures are long gone. Continue reading “ICOMIA launches essential new Paint Colour Guide: Yacht Coating Technical Guidelines”

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