Connect with us

Environment

EMSA sniffer drone supports French authorities to monitor ship emissions on Mediterranean Sea coast

Deployed drone takes measurements from exhaust plumes of passing ships to verify compliance with EU and IMO rules capping the sulphur content of bunker fuels.

Admin

Published

on

press release web rpas06102022

The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) on Thursday (6 October) said it has responded to a request from French authorities to provide surveillance support for multiple tasks including the monitoring of emissions from passenger and commercial ships using the busy ports in the area of Marseille (Port of Marseille, Port of Fos).

The sniffer drone deployed takes measurements from the exhaust plumes of passing ships to help verify compliance with EU and IMO rules capping the sulphur content of marine fuels (Directive (EU) 2016/802 and MARPOL Annex VI), with a view to reducing harmful effects on human health and the environment. The operation follows recent successful trials and is expected to run until 23 December 2022.

The ship safety inspectors of the Interregional Directorate for the Mediterranean Sea (DIRM MED) in charge of dockside controls will be directly involved in the targeting of vessels in close contact with the pilots of the drone.

Each flight will be followed in real time through EMSA’s RPAS Data Centre and the measurements taken will trigger follow-up inspections via the THETIS-EU database for port state control where instances of non-compliance are suspected.

The particular model of RPAS in use is ideal for rapid mobilisation from different sites. The ATLAS 4 vertical take-off and landing quadcopter manufactured by ALTUS LSA and supplied by the ALTUS LSA-led consortium with ADAPTIT is under contract to EMSA and fully equipped with different payloads including cameras and emissions measurement sensors.

While emissions monitoring will be the primary task of the operation, the RPAS may also be deployed for other complementary tasks within a designated area. In this way, it can also serve the purposes of search and rescue, fisheries control, and marine pollution monitoring depending on the specific needs of the authorities at any given time.

ABOUT RPAS

Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) services are offered free of charge to all EU countries by EMSA. They have been developed to assist in maritime surveillance operations and ship emission monitoring and can operate in all seas surrounding the European Union. RPAS services can provide support to traditional coast guard functions, including search and rescue and pollution prevention and response. The services are offered to member countries as part of EMSA’s regional RPAS strategy, which allows multiple coast guard functions in several EU countries to be supported by one or more RPAS services.

rpas where we are flying in 20221003 for web

Related: EMSA drone starts shipping emissions surveillance operation in the Strait of Gibraltar
Related: EMSA and partner to start emissions monitoring campaign over Baltic Sea with drones
Related: France trials sniffer drone to tighten emissions control in the Pas-de-Calais SECA zone
Related: Danish Maritime Authority trials drones to monitor sulphur emissions from ships
Related: RPAS drones to monitor ship emissions for compliance in Danish waters
Related: “Snifferdron” to undergo three months of tests in Danish waters
Related: Danish Maritime Authority deploys ‘sniffer’ drone in Danish waters

 

Photo credit: European Maritime Safety Agency
Published: 11 October, 2022

Continue Reading

Legal

Four Dutch seafarers charged for alleged roles in causing Singapore oil spill

Four men on Netherlands-flagged dredger “Vox Maxima” were charged under Merchant Shipping Act 1995 on 6 November and will appear in court again on 4 December.

Admin

Published

on

By

Martin Klingsick / MarineTraffic

Singapore has brought charges against four crewmen who were working on Netherlands-flagged dredger Vox Maxima for their alleged role in causing the disastrous bunker spill into the republic’s sea, according to a report by The Straits Times on Wednesday (6 November).

Singapore-flagged bunker vessel Marine Honour was hit by Netherlands-flagged dredger Vox Maxima at Pasir Panjang Terminal on 14 June, which resulted in an oil spill in Singapore waters.

The dredger reportedly lost engine and steering control before crashing Marine Honour.

The four men, all Dutch nationals, – Merijn Heidema, 25; Martin Hans Sinke, 48; Richard Ouwehand, 49; and Eric Peijpers, 55 – allegedly failed to ensure that emergency steering was carried out when emergency power was supplied to the vessel’s steering gear pumps, resulting in the allision. 

They were each charged under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 on 6 November. 

Heidema and Peijpers, who were responsible for the engineering watch, were accused of failing to ensure a sufficient reserve of power was available for Vox Maxima’s steering gear when the engine room was put in a standby condition.

Their cases have been adjourned to 4 December.

Manifold Times previously reported Vox Maxima was found to have serious deficiencies relating to fire safety and life-saving equipment aboard. 

A total of 13 deficiencies were flagged during the 15 June inspection of the dredger. Three out of the 13 warranted detention of the vessel which indicated serious deficiencies that required repairs before it could be permitted to leave the port. 

Related: Thirteen deficiencies flagged during inspection for dredger involved in Singapore oil spill
Related: Singapore oil spill: Minister refutes claim that contractor was slow in preventing further spillage
Related: MPA: Claims exceeding liability of “Marine Honour” owner will be made against international fund
Related: MPA: Owner of bunker tanker involved in Singapore oil spill is liable for pollution damage
Related: Malaysia to look into demands of Johor fisherman affected by oil spill from Singapore
Related: Singapore oil spill: Clean-up enters next phase of cleaning rock bunds
Related: MPA: Clean-up ops continue following oil spill in Singapore, affected beaches closed
Related: Singapore: Oil spill cleanup after allision between dredger “Vox Maxima” and bunker tanker “Marine Honour”

 

Photo credit: Martin Klingsick / MarineTraffic
Published: 7 November, 2024

Continue Reading

Biofuel

Chimbusco Pan Nation completes first B24 bio bunker fuel delivery in Singapore

CPN supplied 1,000 metric tonnes of ISCC-EU Certified B24 marine biofuel for “YM WITNESS”, a containership of Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp on 16 October.

Admin

Published

on

By

Chimbusco Pan Nation completes first B24 bio bunker fuel delivery in Singapore

Hong Kong-based marine fuel oil supplier Chimbusco Pan Nation Petro-Chemical (CPN) on Wednesday (6 November) completed the supply of 1,000 metric tonnes of ISCC-EU Certified B24 marine biofuel for YM WITNESS, a containership of Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp on 16 October. 

“This also embarks on CPN’s new journey to arrange supplying marine biofuel in Singapore,” the firm said in a social media post. 

B24 marine biofuel is a blend of 24% B100 biodiesel and Marine Fuel Oil, which significantly reduces carbon emissions and lowers its carbon footprint. Such product aligns with global efforts to combat climate change and reduces environmental impact. 

“CPN is committed to be the frontrunner in the transition towards more sustainable marine fuel options. This biofuel delivery reinforces CPN’s commitment to realizing eco-friendly port energy solutions and global decarbonisation goals,” it added. 

 

Photo credit: Chimbusco Pan Nation Petro-Chemical
Published: 7 November, 2024

Continue Reading

LNG Bunkering

Titan completes LNG bunkering operation in Port of Zeebrugge

Titan supplied newly built PCTC “Peony Leader” using bunkering vessel “Optimus”, marking the PCTC’s maiden LNG bunkering operation.

Admin

Published

on

By

Titan completes LNG bunkering operation in Port of Zeebrugge

LNG bunker fuel supplier Titan on Wednesday (6 November) said it has completed a LNG bunkering operation in the Port of Zeebrugge. 

Titan supplied the newly built Peony Leader Pure Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC) using Optimus – one of its LNG bunkering vessels (LBV).

“This was the maiden voyage for the Peony Leader, as well as the first time it bunkered LNG while in service. The Optimus’ crew closely supported throughout the process, providing guidance and information to the seafarers onboard the vehicle carrier,” it said in a social media post. 

“Our commercial team also visited CSP Zeebrugge to meet the new client, Chimbusco. With a greatly increasing number of PCTC newbuilds being LNG dual-fuelled, we look forward to many more successful LNG bunkering operations with Chimbusco and other shipowners in this segment.”

 

Photo credit: Titan
Published: 7 November, 2024

Continue Reading
Advertisement
  • RE 05 Lighthouse GIF
  • v4Helmsman Gif Banner 01
  • EMF banner 400x330 slogan
  • Consort advertisement v2
  • SBF2
  • Aderco advert 400x330 1

OUR INDUSTRY PARTNERS

  • SEAOIL 3+5 GIF
  • 102Meth Logo GIF copy
  • Triton Bunkering advertisement v2
  • Singfar advertisement final
  • HL 2022 adv v1


  • Mokara Final
  • Auramarine 01
  • Synergy Asia Bunkering logo MT
  • CNC Logo Rev Manifold Times
  • Victory Logo
  • PSP Marine logo
  • Kenoil
  • Uni Fuels oct 2024 ad
  • E Marine logo
  • Energe Logo
  • 400x330 v2 copy
  • VPS 2021 advertisement
  • Headway Manifold
  • Advert Shipping Manifold resized1

Trending