icebreakers

Finland releases instructions for winter navigation

The Finnish Transport Agency published instructions for winter navigation in collaboration with the industry, shipping companies, charterers, vessels, icebreakers, pilots and vessel traffic services.

Based on Finland’s maritime strategy 2014–2022, these instructions aim to ensure smooth, economically viable and internationally competitive Finnish foreign trade and domestic waterborne transport with short waiting times during the winter season.

During winter navigation ships are facing more risks...

https://safety4sea.com/finland-releases-instructions-for-winter-navigation/

Barge operators win key changes in ballast water regs

A vessel discharging ballast water. Photo: Maritime Environmental Resource Center.

After years of trying, the barge industry has finally won major changes in the way ballast water discharges from vessels are managed by the federal government and states.

Included in the “Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018” that passed the Senate and House in November is a provision that would end an overlapping patchwork of state and federal discharge regulations that has been costly and confusing to vessel owners. Operators argue that lack of a single, national standard has...

https://www.workboat.com/news/government/barge-operators-finally-win-changes-in-ballast-water-discharge-regulations/

Fire erupts on new Russian icebreaker at St. Petersburg

Two people were injured after a fire erupted onboard the new Russian diesel-electric icebreaker ‘Viktor Chernomyrdin’ which is currently under construction at Admiralty Shipyards, in St. Petersburg.

The fire was first reported at about 1900 hrs Tuesday, engulfing an area of 300 square meters, on the third and fourth of the ship’s decks, according to Russian news agency TASS.

The firefighting effort from the Crisis Management Center in St. Petersburg, involving a total of 110 people as well as 24...

https://safety4sea.com/fire-erupts-on-new-russian-icebreaker-at-st-petersburg/

Russia changes Northern Sea Route ice class requirements

Russia’s Ministry of Transport has declared changes concerning ice navigation criteria for the Northern Sea Route. These changes will apply from May 2019.

Currently, the typification of ice conditions is standard to seven crucial areas of the NSR. Typically, the averaged value of ice conditions concerning cohesive, thin ice within a large area does not allow vessels to navigate through that area. Yet, new zones with lower ice-class requirements are expected to optimize the placement of...

https://safety4sea.com/russia-changes-northern-sea-route-ice-class-requirements/

Ιcebreaker tested new in-built oil recovery system

IB Polaris, a Finnish icebreaker has conducted an oil spill response exercise in the Baltic sea in order to test a new oil recovery system. This in-built oil recovery system enables Polaris to collect 1015 m³ oil with a rate of 200 m³/h in harsh weather and ice conditions.

The vessel’s main task is fairway ice breaking on the Baltic Sea, which means assisting merchant vessels to and from Baltic Sea ports in wintertime. In addition, Polaris can perform oil spill response operations, emergency...

https://safety4sea.com/cebreaker-tested-new-in-built-oil-recovery-system/

Murmansk Shipping signs contract to transfer coal through Arctic

Murmansk Shipping Company (MSCO) signed a contract regarding a five-year transportation of coal along the Northern Sea Route. The contract was signed between Murmansk Shipping Company (MSCO) and Sibanthracite Overseas, a subsidiary of Russian coal company VostokCoal.

MSCO under this deal will be able to transit coal, produced in the Russian Arctic to Europe via the Northern Sea Route. Under this agreement, its vessels will transport large quantities of anthracite coal mined from Russia’s Taimyr...

https://safety4sea.com/murmansk-shipping-signs-contract-to-transfer-coal-through-arctic/

US report to Congress: Key issues related to changes in the Arctic

Record low extents of Arctic sea ice over the past decade has led to increased human activities in the Arctic, and has heightened interest in, and concerns about, the region’s future, while focusing scientific and policy attention on links to global climate change. As the US has substantial interests in the Arctic, by virtue of Alaska, it issued a report providing an overview of Arctic-related issues for Congress, referring to the potential consequences for weather, access to mineral and...

https://safety4sea.com/us-report-to-congress-key-issues-related-to-changes-in-the-arctic/

Icebreakers carry on, as new funding remains uncertain

Scientists and engineers deploy an ice tethered profiler on the Arctic ice Sept. 30, 2018, about 350 miles northeast of Barrow, Alaska, from the Coast Guard icebreaker Healy. NyxoLyno Cangemi/Coast Guard photo.

The Coast Guard completed science missions with one of its remaining icebreakers while repairing the other this summer, as uncertainty continues over when the government will start building the first new polar ship in decades.

The crew of the 420’ medium icebreaker Healy completed their second mission of their Arctic West Summer 2018 deployment Oct. 18, returning to their Seattle homeport after studying stratified ocean dynamics in the Arctic (SODA) for the Office of Naval Research.

The project,...

https://www.workboat.com/news/government/icebreakers-carry-on-as-new-funding-remains-uncertain/

Canada will use interim icebreakers for up to 20 years

The Canadian Coast Guard informed that three interim icebreakers that were recently bought, will be used for the next 15 to 20 years. The Coast guard revealed that during an interview with The Canadian Press, where it also said that it’s worried about the state of their aging fleet.

Canada bought the three used icebreakers for $610 million, in order to ease pressure on the coast guard’s icebreaking fleet. Currently, Canada’s coast guard vessels are on average more than 35 years old.

However,...

https://safety4sea.com/canada-will-use-interim-icebreakers-for-up-to-20-years/

Australia’s new Antarctic icebreaker successfully floated out

Australia’s Antarctic Supply Research Vessel (ASRV) RSV Nuyina was successfully floated at Damen Shipyards Galati. The procedure was achieved by raising the water level in the yard’s dry dock by six metres. The process took two days to complete.

The vessel was manoeuvred 250 metres to a quayside berth where the construction and outfitting process will take place. Damen is building the 160-metre long ASRV on behalf of the Australian Department of the Environment and Energy.

The ship has been...

https://safety4sea.com/australias-new-antarctic-icebreaker-successfully-floated-out/

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