As meteorologists warn an ‘El Nino’ event is likely to cause widespread snow events and ice storms from early December onwards, European Marine Services is calling for boat owners to prepare for winter weather.

‘El Nino’ occurs when the sea surface temperature in the Pacific Ocean is warmer than average, prompting floods in tropical areas and colder winters in the UK.

Heavy rain, flooding, winds, ice and snow can all cause problems for vessels: they could be swept away, blown off course, take on water, sink or suffer a hull breach.  And with nearly one in three of call-outs is due to a lack of general maintenance, we fear ‘neglected’ boats will be put at risk.

Some simple precautions, however, can reduce the likelihood of winter damage.  When a weather event does strike, it’s time to get into a routine of visiting the boat regularly and undertake the following;

• Check the batteries are fully charged, with a bilge pump in continuous operation even a fully charged battery will only last a few days.
• Check bilge pumps are fully operational and left on ‘automatic’ setting.
• If there’s no bilge pump or only a manual one is fitted, install an automatic bilge pump – and don’t be complacent; just because it automatically operates, it still needs checking (it relies on battery power so unless the boat’s shore powered, there isn’t an unlimited supply).
• Check drain holes and clear debris – keeping these clear will stop water running into the engine room.
• Check ropes and anchoring points, if the mooring’s at risk of flooding, run a rope to locations that can still be accessed even in a flood situation.
• In windy conditions, check ropes for chafing and ensure they are well positioned and adjusted to the conditions.
• Before moving a boat in ice consider the importance of your journey – it’s easy to believe you’re impregnable when surrounded by steel but even a couple of inches of ice can pierce a hull.
• Check river conditions, and again consider whether the journey is really necessary; river conditions can change quickly and easily catch you unaware. Get updates from the Environment Agency.
• Check the wind direction before manoeuvring. When coupled with difficult river conditions, the windage of a boat can be easily underestimated and your vessel will become uncontrollable.

“If your vessel’s caught in a situation, don’t attempt to recover it without assistance. Severe weather conditions increase the risk to boat owners and simple tasks can easily result in accidents and injury.”

Acknowledgement to Marine Industry News – [email protected].

For more information contact European Marine Services Ltd.  Marine Surveyors & Consultants 
EMS also undertake Boat Safety Inspections & Engine Inspections
Tel: 01603 327 123  

 www.europeanmarinesurveys.com

Sabre 27 yacht sitting on twin bilge keels ready for inspection, we had to navigate around the tidal pools of water

EMS undertake Insurance and Pre Purchase Surveys Any Where at Any Time and as per our motto we have recently undertaken a Survey for Insurance Purposes on a small sloop rigged yacht in Wells Harbour, North Norfolk

Very pleasant view of Wells harbour and the 1904 granary 

However, to reach the yacht which was beached on a sand bar across from the harbour wall, entailed wading across the river – fortunately on a bright and warm Autumn day and at low tide, and walking across sand / dunes to reach the vessel – being berthed on its own twin bilge keels at low tide.

On this Sabre 27  Sloop Rigged Yacht the following items required attention:

As surveyors (not sail-makers or riggers) we are unable to provide a written report or qualified opinion of standing / running rigging, sails, mast and spars, associated equipment, winches and fittings etc. We do however provide an opinion of all rigging / equipment seen at deck level

The gas installation was found to not conform to current regulations, consequently such as the stove recommended removal the unit being considered unsafe

A catalytic heater was fitted and these heaters are also not recommended

• Seacock Valves / Skin Fittings                     Require new J clips
• Fuel System                                                    Improve access to tank, filler & vent connections
• Batteries                                                          Battery isolation switch labels and new terminal connectors
• Fire & Safety                                                   Fire Extinguishers out of date 
• LPG System                                                    As above
• Rigging                                                            Replace running rigging

Wells Harbour – History

There has been a port at Wells for over 600 years. The harbour is protected by salt marshes behind a sand bar. Because it is a natural safe haven from the unpredictable North Sea weather the Port of Wells was one of England’s major harbours in Tudor times and a thriving, centre for shipping and maritime industry in the 18th and 19th centuries. Its greatest period of prosperity was probably from 1830 to 1860. The stone quay side was constructed in 1845 following an Act of Parliament the previous year. The coming of the railway in 1857 marked the beginning of decline though there was a resurgence from 1960 to 1989 when coasters bringing fertilizer and animal feed came in some numbers. The Granary with its distinctive gantry was built around 1904;^[3] it has now been turned into apartments. The gantry allowed grain to be transferred between the building and ships without disrupting road traffic. The railway closed in 1964 and in 1976, the Wells Harbour Railway was constructed to link the town with the beach

Wells salt marshes

For more information contact European Marine Services Ltd.  Marine Surveyors & Consultants 
EMS also undertake Boat Safety Inspections & Engine Inspections

www.europeanmarinesurveys.com
Tel: 01603 327 123

Over that past few years the Boat Safety Scheme Office in conjunction with the Hire Trade, BSS Examiners, Navigation Authorities and Hirer Representatives have been reviewing the existing Examination Checking Procedures (ECP’s) relating to UK Hire Boats. This year saw the implementation of the New 2017 (ECP’s) which took effect on the 1^st April.

A revised set of requirements and modernised checking procedures are now applied to hire craft. Hire craft in this case are any powered boats such as weekly and day hire vessels:

• Let or hired under an arrangement, whether or not on a pre-contract basis;
• The subject of a bare boat charter arrangement;
• The subject of any form of third-party managed shared-use arrangement (including timeshare or shared ownership).

The term ‘hire boat’ does not include:

• Privately owned or managed boats;
• Boats operating commercially with a skipper or crew, and which carry passengers;
• Shared-ownership boats managed jointly by the private owners;
• Workboats;
• Emergency service boats and rescue boats.
• Hotel boats,
• Boats let as residences or longer term accommodation

From 1 April 2017:

1A) The BSS Examination Checking Procedures for Privately Owned and Managed Vessels will apply to all hire boats.

All relevant private boat BSS checks are mandatory compliance for hire boats, whereas for privately-owned and managed boats the set of checks is a mix of requirements and advice checks.

For the avoidance of doubt, these are the checks for Hire Boats that are required compliance and that also appear in the private boat examination procedures as advice checks.

To view and download the public edition the BSS Examination Checking Procedures for Privately Owned and Managed Vessels BSS (version 3.0 April 2015) click here.

1 B) New and revised BSS checks also apply to hire boats in addition to the private boat ones mentioned above. These additional BSS Requirements for hire boats are made up of seven new checks and nine original requirements from Part 10 of the 2002 BSS Standards.

To view and download the list of additional BSS Requirements for hire boats click here.

Technical support for any hire boat operator seeking information to help move their fleet to full compliance is available by using the ‘contact-us‘ page on this site where questions, photos, diagrams and supporting documents can be uploaded to the BSS website or call 0333 202 1000.

Background information from the hirer safety review and resulting consultation leading to the new BSS Hire Boat Requirements for April 2017

The original September 2015 consultation paper (now closed) and details of the revisions – click here

A short summary of the changes proposed arising out of the consultation (Sept 2015) can be read here. (Feb 2016)

A summary of the impact for hire operators as a result of the adoption of the private boat checks for hire boats, click here as published for the 2015 consultation

A hard copy of the 2015 consultation document is available upon request.

All comments and the BSS responses in detail can be viewed here (Feb 2016).

The news release (Feb 16) announcing decision to implement the revised BSS hire boat requirements from April 2017 can be viewed here

For more information contact European Marine Services Ltd.  Marine Surveyors & Consultants                    

EMS also undertake BSS Inspections & Engine Oil Analysis Reports
Tel: 01603 327 123      www.europeanmarinesurveys.com

European Marine Services Ltd  inc. European Marine Surveys carry out insurance Damage Assessments and Loss Adjusting etc for most of the major Marine Insurance Companies – plus Marine Surveys for Insurance Purposes

       Norman 18 – Accidental Sinking

REMEMBER to check and service those fittings below the floors which are not obvious being ………….

                                                                   ‘Out of Sight – Out of Mind’

This was a very unfortunate accident and was consequent of a ‘loose’ skin fitting’ in the bottom of the boat – feeding cooling water to the engine

In summary the raw water seacock involved fed the engine cooling and was therefore subject to some vibration. It would appear that over time the vibration resulted in the securing nuts etc working loose thus allowing limited ingress of water

Regretfully there was no 12v Auto bilge pump   –   Which is an Insurance Requirement

The Norman 18 was left overnight moored in some reeds due to engine failure and upon the return of the owner the next day he found the above –  see photo

This boat was the owner’s treasured possession and though the vessel was old, the owner nevertheless got a lot of pleasure just river cruising and watching the world pass by………..

History – Norman Cruisers of Shaw, Lancashire were a prolific designer of inland cruisers, building a total of 7000 craft. The company founded in the late 1950s went into GRP production in the mid 1960s, starting with the Norman 17.

The business ceased trading in December 1979 (The Winter of Discontent) and started again in 1980. New models were introduced 24, 27 and 22 wide beam but the moulding shop was destroyed in a fire in 1982. This destroyed most of the moulds and the business never recovered. Some moulds were re-built and when the business finally ceased, these were sold and marketed under other names. Also some designs were copied and made into hybrids.

In the 1970s around 65% of boats were exported. Principle markets (in order of Volume) were Holland, Germany, Norway, France, Sweden. Boats in Holland were imported by Internaut of Rotterdam and were sold under the name of “Inter”. Hence the 20 was the Inter620.

Norman Cruisers were in the top 3  largest pleasureboat builders in the UK. Westerley Yachts being the biggest.

For more information contact European Marine Services Ltd.  Marine Surveyors & Consultants                    

EMS also undertake BSS Inspections & Engine Oil Analysis Reports
Tel: 01603 327 123      www.europeanmarinesurveys.com

Each year boaters die or are made seriously ill from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Boats are built to keep water out, but this also makes them good containers for gases and fumes.

We at European Marine Services are constantly promoting & recommending in our Pre Purchase Surveys the installation / fitting of Carbon Monoxide Detectors on all boats with internal propulsion engines

Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that has no smell or taste. Breathing it in can make you unwell, and it can kill if you’re exposed to high levels.

Every year in the UK, more than 200 people go to hospital with suspected carbon monoxide poisoning, which leads to around 50 deaths.

After carbon monoxide is breathed in, it enters your bloodstream and mixes with haemoglobin (the part of red blood cells that carry oxygen around your body), to form carboxyhaemoglobin.

When this happens, the blood is no longer able to carry oxygen, and this lack of oxygen causes the body’s cells and tissue to fail and die.

The longer you inhale the gas, the worse your symptoms will be. You may lose balance, vision and memory and, eventually, you may lose consciousness. This can happen within two hours if there’s a lot of carbon monoxide in the air.

The Norfolk Broads

2016 has been a bad year for CO accidents with the two deaths on Wroxham Broad earlier in the summer. Which if a carbon monoxide detector had been installed – this fatal accident may well have been prevented.

NB: This accident was NOT the result of an installed LPG system, but consequent of engine exhaust fumes

Only this month we had another example of exhaust fumes (carbon monoxide) being released by the engine / exhaust hose installation within the living / accommodation space, which release was detected thankfully by a newly installed detector – Nobody was harmed

It is important to note that CO detectors are NOT currently part of the Boat Safety Scheme – Install CO alarm certified to BS EN 50291-2

CO build-up in the cabin can occur with one or a mix of these factors:

• with faulty, badly maintained, or misused appliances
• exhaust fumes from a boat’s engine or generator PLUS perished / faulty / blocked exhaust hosing
• escaped flue gases from solid fuel stoves
• blocked ventilation or short supply of air – fuels need the right amount of oxygen to burn safely

For more information contact European Marine Services Ltd.  Marine Surveyors & Consultants

EMS also undertake Boat Safety Inspections

Tel : 01603 327 123        www.europeanmarinesurveys.com

      EUROPEAN MARINE SERVICES Ltd        Big Welcome to William Kirby

European Marine Services Ltd / European Marine Surveys – Are delighted to welcome William Kirby as a new Marine Surveying Associate.

William will be undertaking Pre Purchase Surveys on vessels of less than 50’ and focusing principally on GRP.

Moving from Bedfordshire at the age of 16, William followed his passion for boats & joined his parents in their new family venture of Freshwater Cruisers based in Brundall. Norfolk

Broadening his horizons, in 1999, William trained at Berkshire College to become a Boat Safety Scheme Examiner. He is also qualified as a Gas Safe Engineer carrying out LPG soundness testing, servicing & installations.

The small hire fleet soon developed into a larger scale business incorporating Marine Engineering, Boat Maintenance & General Repairs. This built up a good customer base & reputation for quality workmanship across the Norfolk Broads.

In 2014, some 21 years later it was time for his parents to retire, thus launching the beginning of William setting up on his own as Freshwater Marine focusing on Boat Safety Scheme Inspections & utilising his long established name within the Marine Industry to go forward.

In his spare time he volunteers with The Raptor Trust, rescuing & rehabilitating wild injured birds of prey as well as having his own Hawks which he flies during the winter months. He also enjoys attending motorsport events throughout the summer.

Qualifications:

•  IIMS Diploma in Yacht & Small Craft Surveying.    Qualified in 2004/05.
•  Gas Safe Registered. Previously CORGI Registered.
•  Boat Safety Scheme Examiner since 1999.
•  Member of the Association of Boat Safety Examiners (ABSE)
•  Full PI Insurance Cover with EMS Ltd

For more information contact European Marine Services Ltd.  Marine Surveyors & Consultants

Tel : 01603 327 123        www.europeanmarinesurveys.com

Delta RIB  5.5m

Acting as Marine Insurance Loss Adjusters, European Marine Services was recently instructed to inspect and report as follows:

• Casualty details including views on what caused the damage.
• Review the estimates for repairs to the third party vessel and advise whether you consider the work fair, reasonable and casualty related.
• Provide us with your reserve estimate.
• Witness details, where applicable.
• Subrogation* details, where applicable  ( * Insurer’s right to pursue a third party)
• Photographs of the damage.

The accident happened at speed and resulted in extensive damage to the GRP hull plus rupturing the inflatable tube (sponson) with the RIB being close to sinking.  Fortunately no one was hurt

View of extensive damage to GRP hull

What is important is not the results of our investigation / inspection or how the accident happened which remains confidential, but that the insurance company required the following documentation as part of its claim consideration from the insured parties

• Warranted all vessels classed and certified
• Warranted all vessels are fit to encounter the ordinary peril of seas, rivers, lakes or navigable waters, properly crewed, equipped, fuelled, provisioned and with all equipment in proper working order. Seaworthiness applies not only to the physical conditions  of the hull but to all its parts, equipment and gear.
• Were the crew fully qualified up to RYA Level 2 power boating, VHF AND Sea Survival courses.

The above clauses (extracts) being part of the Insured Marine Policy Terms & Conditions  ie. the small print

This being important to boat owners whom have the misfortunate to make a claim in the event of an accident

Therefore make sure that as an owner / operator / user of small high speed craft that you are fully aware of the Insurance T&Cs,        

If not you may possibly find that you have no cover

Acting in the capacity of an Expert Witness (CPR 35 compliant) we recently inspected a Sealine S38 for inherent structural hull defects

The background to this being as follows:

Sealine’s are generally considered to be lightly built and several models suffer from stress cracking / flexing of the hull.

The Sealine S38 suffered from an exceptionally weak hull GRP layup making it prone to vertical and longitudinal stress cracking – this being due to a miscalculation of the original layup specification by their design department *

The principal area of fault lying between the bow thruster tube and the forward engine bulkhead

Back in 2005 / 2006 Sealine agreed that additional strengthening work was required on the hull of the Sealine S38.  This however was carried out on a boat-by-boat basis, and as we understand it no general recall notice was issued and Sealine only took action when customers complained.

Consequently there are many Sealine S38’s still in the market place which have not been strengthened

As Sealine are no longer in business in their original form – warranty / claims are no longer valid.

An estimate as to the cost of rectification can be anything between £15,000 – £25,000 depending upon who carries out the work

* Acknowledgement:  Paul Homer, Homer Marine Ltd

For more information contact European Marine Services Ltd – Marine Surveyors & Consultants Tel :  01603 327 123        www.europeanmarinesurveys.com

European Marine Services recently carried out a pre purchase survey of a very nice and well maintained Aquafibre 28  

The significant difference about this boat is that despite being some 25+ years old and permanently moored on inland waterways there was no evidence of any hull deterioration or osmosis.

The lack of osmosis being primarily due to the early application of a professionally applied copper coating – no antifouling applied over.

View of Aquafibre 28                                                  Copper coating

Most of the well known range of Aquafibre GRP hull & superstructure mouldings (25′ – 55′) were built / fitted out by other boatyards around the UK, as Aquafibre were primarily a GRP boat moulding company based at Rackheath nr Norwich Norfolk and not boatbuilders.  Broom Boats being a major builder of boats moulded by Aquafibre.  Aquafibre ceased manufacturing in 2009

Back to this Aquafibre 28 …..

This design has the individual twin sliding large sunroofs over the forward driving position and saloon, making for a very nice relaxation area for socialising and watching the world pass by.

Decent sliding sunroof                                               Corroded extended skeg assembly / rudder

The significant problem was that there was no access in this particular boat to the bilge spaces and hull sides for internal examination, being due to screwed floors, furniture / panelling / soft side linings etc and the distinct absence (again) of access hatches and removable panels.

Relatively minor problems included the non operation of the auto bilge pump float switch and a corroded mild steel extended skeg assembly and rudder blade – no zinc anodes being fitted

For more information contact European Marine Services Ltd – Marine Surveyors & Consultants Tel :  01603 327 123        www.europeanmarinesurveys.com

Bounty 27 – Osmosis & Gel Coat Delamination                                       

The Bounty 27 c1970 was lifted ashore for the purpose of a pre purchase survey. As with most GRP vessels of this vintage the hull and superstructure had been painted white while the bottom was badly fouled with organic growth (having not been pressure washed). In other words nothing out of the ‘ordinary’ for a surveyor to inspect.

Similar Bounty 27 boats………….

However, serious GRP hull ‘problem’ areas started to become apparent

When inspecting the bottom, some osmotic blisters were visible intermittently on port side but the interesting bit was found on the starboard bow. Where the osmotic blisters were much more  concentrated and over time have merged to form a much larger blister.

Gel coat delaminating                                        Gel coat removed from sample area

This resulted in lifting and detaching the gel-coat from the substrate.

The gel-coat being under pressure has cracked, allowing water to get into the substrate. This process is known as wicking.

Wicking happens when the substrate is unprotected either by gel-coat or adequate paint. The strands in the fiberglass mat act as a straw and suck moisture into the substrate and consequently weaken the structure. Those single strand becoming saturated with water will turn white and be visible and easy to spot in the substrate.

Moisture (whicking) taken up in substrate           Blister burst by applied thump pressure only

In the above left hand photo we see the white strand of the mat indicating wicking is taking place as well as gel-coat crack and delamination.

In the above right hand photo the area of visible gel-coat delamination equals to approximately 1 square foot. However when carrying out a ‘tap test’, the area of trouble was much greater and extensive. Note the wet patch which is a burst osmotic blister with ‘blister juice’ – this was burst using thumb only

Above left hand photo shows numerous osmotic blisters which will most probably merge in the future into a single large blister with probable delamination.  The right hand photo shows ‘other’ damaged areas.

The gel coat delamination is from a buyer’s point of view a major concern as it can be expensive to put right and has to be addressed. However the boat can be repaired and probably will be structurally stronger following the repairs.

But the question is always the same, at what financial cost ?  In my opinion this should be repaired  since the rest of the boat is in much better structural condition, and there is still a lot of life and future enjoyment left in this boat

For more information contact European Marine Services Ltd – Marine Surveyors & Consultants Tel :  01603 327 123        www.europeanmarinesurveys.com