The Naval Architect

I believe it was Caligula who proposed making his horse the proconsul of Rome (… in the spirit of “You couldn’t make this up”…!!)

Aside from the politics, I continue to be impressed that these veteran steam-driven converted oil tankers are still in service!! Anyone still having an active “steam ticket” will surely agree! A tribute to NASSCO, Foster Wheeler and GE!

The other interesting facet is the growing involvement of Russian Maritime Register of Shipping. Admittedly I’ve only looked at a sample size of 3, but in each case, proper class transfer and change of flag procedures took place, as though RMRS were still an IACS member! Everything by the book!

One wonders how a naval asset of this unique type was allowed to deteriorate to such a poor state of repair? Someone is accountable and should be named and shamed.

I remember when Olau Line introduced this ship and the lead sister OLAU HOLLANDIA in 1981 between Sheerness (UK) and Vlissingen (NL). Their continued service in Asia is a testament to the quality of their design and build. The hull is Ice Class 1A Super which I’m sure has extended the life!

Thank you for taking time to visit the UK - we watched your interviews, listened to your words of wisdom and appreciated your messages of hope. Keep well and stay safe, with our best wishes to you and your wife and family.

Oh no, Heathrow closed again? Which Terminal this time? I wish they’d be more specific!

A phenomenal work of investigative analysis. Very thought-provoking.

Thank you for your dedication and altruism ✅

Very interesting. Here is a ship for which a proper transfer of class took place in Nov from Indian to Russian Register. All requisite class/statutory surveys were done incl Intermediate/Docking Surveys. Yes, the flag is “last resort” but as a former IACS member, Russian Reg has gone “by the book!”

Most likely a technical detention for some aspect of fire safety or load line deficiency. Modern ship owned by Japanese company Nisshin which is a reputable operator.

Final suggestion for now - the Icelandic fishing fleet includes some world class vessels, mostly designed in-country by Skipasyn which has a very good website
skipasyn.is

For stern trawlers and other specialist fishing vessels, look at Knud E Hansen naval architects www.knudehansen.com/wp-content/u...

40.00m Trawlers - Macduff Ship Design Macduff Ship Design Recent Project - 40.00m Trawlers

Take a look at some of the naval architecture web sites, such as Macduff in Scotland which reproduce some of their General Arrangements
www.macduffshipdesign.com/project/40m-...

During its most recent PSC inspection at Rotterdam last year, Dutch authorities DETAINED the ship for 2-weeks, having found 25 deficiencies including various fire safety issues as well as inoperative engine room alarms. All information is in the public domain. #Singapore flag will investigate.

Frustrating. For representative guidance, I’ve attached a link which explains CoF procedures as applied by Barbados, a more flexible flag state but still requiring physical attendance for any ship like NORA. Many shadow fleet ships are flouting these regulations barbadosmaritime.org/wp-content/u...

Given that the ship was falsely flagged with Comoros & prior to that falsely flagged with Aruba & prior to that sailing for approx 3 months with no flag at all, there is NO BASIS to apply IMO Change of Flag procedures which require physical surveyor attendance for Initial Surveys! ARREST THAT SHIP!!

France releases suspected Russian shadow fleet tanker after multimillion-euro penalty French authorities have released a tanker they suspect is part of Russia's sanctioned shadow fleet. French officials say the tanker paid a penalty worth several million euros.

GRINCH (IMO 9288851) - a flagless stateless and classless tanker - fined by French authorities. apnews.com/article/russ...

AI’s electricity demand is fuelling inflation, crimping consumer spending and slowing economic growth [FREE TO READ] Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?

I’d be interested to hear your take on the energy economics related to data centres, as reported in the FT (see link)
www.ft.com/content/a644...

She grew up in Sunderland!

You needn’t ever worry about running short of news in this industry, Sal!! Actually, even ONE quiet week would be quite nice!!

I pity the crew, presumably waiting to take on a cargo via STS at sea. Tankers like these would usually be scrapped prior to 5th Special Survey but for this bottom tier of opportunistic owner. Maybe it’s been abandoned? There’s more of this happening right now.

UPDATE: Lossen bij APM II gaat mis: containers Bangkok Express vallen op bunkerschip K Lotus Bij het lossen van het containerschip Bangkok Express is het vrijdagavond misgegaan op APM Terminals Maasvlakte II in Rotterdam. Tijdens overslagwerkzaamheden kwamen meerdere lege containers los, die ...

Alarming container stack collapse on top of LNG bunkering tanker K. LOTUS (IMO 9901362, Panama flag, KR/LR class) from Hapag-Lloyd megamax BANGKOK EXPRESS (IMO 9943889, German flag, DNV class) at APM Maasvlakte II terminal, Rotterdam. No injuries, inquiry underway www.schuttevaer.nl/nieuws/actue...

Reminds me of a beautifully-choreographed Laurel and Hardy scene in which their jalopy dismantles itself in spectacular fashion and to a level of completeness which must surely have resulted in the vehicle being fit only for the cannibalisation of spares!

The shadowy world of abandoned oil tankers A growing number of tankers and other commercial vessels are being ditched by their owners.

#BBC article on rise in numbers of abandoned #tankers and #seafarers worldwide

#Shadowfleet
#FoC #FlagOfConvinience
#ITF #InternationalTransportworkersFederation
#IMO #InternationalMaritimeOrganisation

www.bbc.com/news/article...

Jailed. Here is the official Court judgement of the sentencing of the captain of the container ship SOLONG which rammed the tanker STENA IMMACULATE last March, killing crew member Mark Angelo Pernia. www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/u...

NKK class society details of 2,732 TEU container ship MSC GIADA III (IMO 9232773, Liberia flag) which suffered an engine room explosion and fire according to recent reports in the media. The ship was in the Gulf of Finland sailing to St Petersburg www.classnk.or.jp/register/reg...

Sea captain found guilty of killing crew member in North Sea collision with US oil tanker Mark Angelo Pernia, 38, was killed in the incident last year. He never met his second child, born two months after his death.

Guilty. All ship systems on SOLONG were operating normally within specification but key navigational safety systems were deliberately deactivated. It defies rational explanation and only the Captain knows what motivated him to act so recklessly news.sky.com/story/solong... as

'What do you want from me?' Captain in fatal ship collision asks prosecutor Russian national Vladimir Motin, 59, had been on sole watch duty last March when the Solong crashed into the Stena Immaculate near the Humber Estuary.

Captain of the container ship SOLONG which collided with the anchored tanker STENA IMMACULATE asks trial prosecutor “What do you want from me?”
news.sky.com/story/what-d...

The Royal Institute of Navigation publishes impact assessment report on the deliberate interference (ie spoofing, jamming, blocking, overwhelming) of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) which are nowadays so embedded in maritime safety systems rin.org.uk/page/RIN_Mar...