New Type 83 Destroyer, Seafarers Exemption, The future is Clean, Green & Marine, what’s it like to be a female fisherman & so much more

New Type 83 Destroyer, Seafarers Exemption, The future is Clean, Green & Marine, what’s it like to be a female fisherman & so much more

UK Announces New Type 83 Destro

The Defence Command Paper, titled ‘Defence in a Competitive Age’, confirms that the UK will develop a new destroyer type, the Type 83.

The white paper states:

“The concept and assessment phase for our new Type 83 destroyer which will begin to replace our Type 45 destroyers in the late 2030s.”

The Type 45 Destroyer replacement is just an early concept at this stage but a variant of the Type 26 Frigate has been officially being considered for the job.

It is understood that the Ministry of Defence have an aspiration is to achieve continuous shipbuilding with the Type 26 programme in Glasgow beyond the current planned number of eight vessels.

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New Launch! Blue Prime – Exclusive Online Networking Group We can’t always meet in person, but we can always form a virtual connection, which is almost as good, and you don’t need to iron a shirt. To that aim, National Maritime have created a brand-new Facebook Group, where our Blue Prime members can interact with each other; post ideas, news, collaborations, new innovations, questions and concerns. This forum will support business and develop relationships that will make progress happen. We need input from our SMEs to inform the SME Maritime Working Group about the key issues that affect the sector, in order to progress concerns and offer solutions at a governmental level. We want to create a fertile ground for business to grow; it’s all done here.  READ MORE

Seafarers Rebrand Maritime funding body Seafarers UK has rebranded as The Seafarers’ Charity in a move to better reflect its international work. Chief executive Catherine Spencer said: ‘We’re proud of the grant funding we provide nationally within the United Kingdom, and the support we have long provided to international seafarers, particularly in the Commonwealth. The Seafarers’ Charity reflects our global outlook.’  READ MORE

The Official UK Quality Mark for Maritime SMEs – Use It and Watch Your Business Grow!  Our UK Quality Mark is helping to unite the UK maritime sector. Signify to your customers that you stand for UK excellence by displaying the ‘Source, Service or Produce’ quality mark. “Stamping ‘Made in UK’ on products could boost exports by £3.5bn”. A global survey of consumers showed marketing UK exports as ‘Made in Britain’, could grow export receipts by £3.5bn. With further trade deals on the horizon, British exporters have the opportunity to add value to their businesses, through boosting exports to nations where British products are desirable, according to research by Barclays Corporate Banking. In a global survey of 10,000 people respondents were asked how much extra they’d be willing to pay if products such as food and drink, clothing and cars bore a Union Jack kite mark.  READ MORE

Seafarers Exempt  Seafarers of all nationalities will be exempt from the UK’s COVID travel restrictions, including mandatory hotel quarantines. The UK Department for Transport announced on March 15 that seafarers will be exempt from the Red List and Acute List country restrictions—the UK’s COVID travel restrictions— effective from 0400 on March 19. The rule change will allow seafarers to join ships, take shore leave and return home if they have been in Red List or Acute List countries, removing the usual need to spend 10 days in hotel quarantine or take a COVID test.  READ MORE

UK based MCA certified Recruitment & Placement Agency  We provide bespoke recruitment and crew management services to the global maritime industry covering all aspects of your crewing requirements. We are committed to providing quality professional personnel; all our seafarers meet the highest industry standards, which enables us to deliver outstanding crewing services, putting the quality of our service and the safety of our people at the heart of everything we do. We can support you from the initial planning stage from recruitment and selection, right the way through to onboarding, placement, and the ongoing training of crew offering a full robust crew management service taking the headache away. Our well-established partnerships with our selected training providers enable us to deliver maritime education and practical training, providing up to date equipment and expert training to the highest industry standards compliant with all STCW training.  READ MORE

Business Services : London Holds Its Own in Maritime Arbitration Despite Pandemic London is retaining its role as the world’s leading centre for maritime arbitration and dispute resolution whilst adapting to the new requirements of the pandemic, according to Bruce Harris, president of the London Maritime Arbitration Association (LMAA). Last year’s number of cases started by LMAA members was also the highest for five years, showing that London’s role as maritime arbitration capital so far has not been affected by the pandemic, although here Harris sounded a warning note.  READ MORE

Logistical Nightmare! The Ever Given grounding will have a big impact not just on the physical shipping and ports business, but on the whole maritime white-collar services sector as well, according to sources in marine insurance and ship finance. Like everyone else, professionals in these areas are still watching how developments roll out in real time. But the likely payout is already being assessed as likely to hit nine-figure dollars. Hull and machinery and cargo claims could be mercifully limited. The ship itself, as far as is known, is not badly damaged, and again as far as is known, the cargo is largely unscathed. The big-ticket exposure will be for liability, especially if the Suez Canal Authority decides to impose penalties on operator Evergreen or decides to seek compensation for its loss of revenue.  READ MORE

Engineering : Wave Power! Several UK universities are taking part in eight new projects to develop and test new wave energy technologies. The research is supported by a £7.5m investment by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). These projects will build on the UK’s role in marine wave energy to overcome challenges to devices that capture the energy generated by waves and convert it into a renewable source of electricity. Wider deployment of wave energy converters (WECs) is hampered by challenges such as their ability to survive in extreme weather conditions and their efficiency. The eight projects will adopt innovative new approaches to overcoming these challenges, including taking inspiration from the fins of marine animals to design flexible WECs that can operate under extreme conditions. READ MORE

The Future is ‘Clean Green Marine’  Hydrogen-powered vessels and e-charge points at ports could soon become a common sight on our seas and in our coastal towns, thanks to a £20 million competition launched to make innovative green maritime ideas a reality. The fund will be used to support the development of prototype vessels and port infrastructure that could then be rolled out widely – propelling the sector towards net zero as the UK prepares to host the COP26 climate change summit in November. The Government is encouraging scientists and academics to collaborate with UK shipping, ports and shipbuilders to enter ambitious proposals into the competition, driving economic growth, revitalising coastal communities, creating thousands of jobs, and positioning the country as a leader in the field. The trials will enable companies to test the new technologies, with a view to them being developed commercially if proven to be successful, helping us build back greener from the pandemic. READ MORE