Boating-licence and Boat Information

Boating-licence and Boat Information

New Large Super Yacht Networks

The German companies ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems and T-Systems have formed a partnership to develop a new generation of internal communications systems for large yacht.

The aim is reduced cost and faster installation times that also reduces cabling. They are naming this the 'Multi Service Network Board' or 'MSB', and systems will handle telephone, fax, Internet, radio, TV, audio and video on demand, fire detection. Systems will use fiber optic networks to transfer data around the boat and this will expand to integrate navigation systems data. Boating-licence and Boat Information

Volvo Ocean Race Electrical Fire

A tale of a fire on board ABN Amro two, and it could have been worse. They found the boat full of smoke and after initially suspecting a generator problem then located the source behind the Navigation Station. A short circuit had developed, and heating caused cable insulation to heat up and melt generating smoke. They cut away the wires and several others too, and they even found an instrument bracket glowing and had to severe more wires to make it all safe. It has affected some of their communications however. No reason or cause was given so not sure what lessons can be learned. It does make me wonder about the effectiveness of the protection of circuits, if circuits are properly fused this shouldnt happen. Boating-licence and Boat Information

Queen Mary 2 Problems

The Cunard flagship cruise liner Queen Mary 2 has possibly damaged one of the main propulsion pods after running aground as she departed Port Everglades on a 38-day cruise. These pods are electrical propulsion units. Happens to the best of them! Boating-licence and Boat Information

Another Yacht Fire

Possibly one person died today after a yacht caught fire and sank in Sydney, Australia. The 10-metre vessel was burnt to the waterline. Crime scene investigators are to examine the scene and boat recovery will take place. Boating-licence and Boat Information

Record Bottle

A plastic bottle with a message which thrown into the sea by a 4 year old girl in Morecambe Bay, in England. It was found just 6 months later and 9000 miles away by a 10 year old in Perth Australia. That is fast!

Rescued!

The British tall ship Stavros S Niarchos has rescued two American female rowers that were participating in the 2006 Trans-Atlantic Rowing Race. TOon Sunday 15 January 2006, at 1649 Hours GMT a 406 Mhz EPIRB activation alert was detected by the US Coastguard. Lesson – carry an Epirb and make sure it is properly registered. Boating-licence and Boat Information

ARC World Rally

World Cruising, who are the organisers of the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers, are now launching the 'World ARC', which is a circumnavigation that will take some 20 months. Scheduled departure point is Gran Canaria in November 2007 the across to the Caribbean, on to the Panama Canal, across the South Pacific and Australia, and then the option of back via South East Asia and through to the eastern Med, or alternatively via South Africa, Brazil, and the Caribbean and back to Europe. Choices! Choices! Boating-licence and Boat Information

DSC VHF Radio Recall from Silva

Silva have issued an urgent safety notice to recall an early batch of S10 fixed DSC VHF radios, which were sold between December 2003 and May 2004. This reason is that they were notified that an S10 unit had transmitted an erroneous GPS position to the coastguard during a rescue incident and as a precaution are recalling all. Well done Silva! The VHF units have the serial numbers 0300001 to 0401060 and the number is found at the top right of the upper casing surface of the casing. Silva will supply a brand new S10 to all affected owners.

Dead Battery!

A motorboat was rescued off the UK’s South Devon this week after drifting with a flat battery and no fuel.

Mobile Phone Rescues – Electrical and Communications Problems

The debate over use of mobiles for distress and not marine communications is sure to be fired up. This week off the UK in heavy rain and Force 5 conditions, four people and their 56ft ketch were rescued by the RNLI Fowey lifeboat. The yacht had lost the VHF radio and other electrical systems. The vessel was taking water fast and sinking. Again I talk much in books about redundant power supplies and reliability. Boating-licence and Boat Information Boating-licence and Boat Information