The Naval Architect
@navalarchitect.bsky.social
A Professional Chartered Engineer with decades of experience in ship design, construction, repair and conversion, having worked in the international maritime industry in Europe, USA, Japan and New Zealand.
As a P&I Club colleague said to me yesterday, “A fire on a Grimaldi car carrier? Surely not!!”
October 28, 2025 at 7:58 AM
As a P&I Club colleague said to me yesterday, “A fire on a Grimaldi car carrier? Surely not!!”
The unmistakable marque of a Vosper design which hails from the 1970s. A tribute to the Brazil Navy that NS BRASIL looks as good as new. Shame on the UK for presiding over the closure of its best shipyards. At Woolston today, trendy flats which employ no-one replaced a shipyard employing thousands.
October 13, 2025 at 7:10 PM
The unmistakable marque of a Vosper design which hails from the 1970s. A tribute to the Brazil Navy that NS BRASIL looks as good as new. Shame on the UK for presiding over the closure of its best shipyards. At Woolston today, trendy flats which employ no-one replaced a shipyard employing thousands.
The Recognised Organisation (RO) seems utterly oblivious to this information. eplan.irclass.org:8090/IRS_Ship_Inf...
eplan.irclass.org
October 10, 2025 at 11:28 AM
The Recognised Organisation (RO) seems utterly oblivious to this information. eplan.irclass.org:8090/IRS_Ship_Inf...
The Captain is ultimately responsible for ensuring the validity of all class and statutory certificates. Under any PSC inspection, failure to do so would lead to the ship being detained. This is where the role of the class society comes into focus…
October 3, 2025 at 4:30 PM
The Captain is ultimately responsible for ensuring the validity of all class and statutory certificates. Under any PSC inspection, failure to do so would lead to the ship being detained. This is where the role of the class society comes into focus…
There are so many significant ships designed by Knud E. Hansen - they are always distinctive - proof that naval architecture is an art as well as a noble branch of engineering.
October 3, 2025 at 4:25 PM
There are so many significant ships designed by Knud E. Hansen - they are always distinctive - proof that naval architecture is an art as well as a noble branch of engineering.
Not sure I agree - the ship is Chinese-owned with a Hong Kong manager and on bareboat charter to Clipper based in… er… Denmark! Respectable flag and class society with insurance through Swedish Club … am I missing something? www.swedishclub.com/vessel/94060...
CLIPPER TALENT - The Swedish Club
www.swedishclub.com
September 26, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Not sure I agree - the ship is Chinese-owned with a Hong Kong manager and on bareboat charter to Clipper based in… er… Denmark! Respectable flag and class society with insurance through Swedish Club … am I missing something? www.swedishclub.com/vessel/94060...
It’s a noble expression of faith by Hanwha. The main objectives will be to train/develop the human resource and to establish supply chains. Obviously there is an underlying political dimension focused on easing tariffs placed on S Korea. I wish Hanwha well- great for Philly- will watch with interest
July 23, 2025 at 7:54 AM
It’s a noble expression of faith by Hanwha. The main objectives will be to train/develop the human resource and to establish supply chains. Obviously there is an underlying political dimension focused on easing tariffs placed on S Korea. I wish Hanwha well- great for Philly- will watch with interest
It’s a lovely example in all respects!
July 22, 2025 at 4:26 AM
It’s a lovely example in all respects!
In addition to their inspection cycles, Class Societies are usually responsible for statutory surveys on behalf of the flag. So if there’s a flag change, Class must attend the vessel as per IMO Regs so as to issue new certs on behalf of the flag, or else the Society can pull Class due to Regs breach
July 21, 2025 at 10:51 PM
In addition to their inspection cycles, Class Societies are usually responsible for statutory surveys on behalf of the flag. So if there’s a flag change, Class must attend the vessel as per IMO Regs so as to issue new certs on behalf of the flag, or else the Society can pull Class due to Regs breach
MA JIN is another vessel still with ClassIR, a member of IACS. From what I hear, this class quango with its HQ in London is beginning to get very twitchy with unwanted attention from one or two of its members, like ClassIR. If you notice, almost none of the sketchy boats are with ABS or even CCS!
July 21, 2025 at 8:45 PM
MA JIN is another vessel still with ClassIR, a member of IACS. From what I hear, this class quango with its HQ in London is beginning to get very twitchy with unwanted attention from one or two of its members, like ClassIR. If you notice, almost none of the sketchy boats are with ABS or even CCS!
How a member of IACS- the International Association of Class Societies- specifically ClassIR- can class any false flag or unflagged ship- is beyond belief. These organisations need to be clobbered through sanctions too.
July 21, 2025 at 8:34 PM
How a member of IACS- the International Association of Class Societies- specifically ClassIR- can class any false flag or unflagged ship- is beyond belief. These organisations need to be clobbered through sanctions too.
What also doesn’t inspire confidence is that 2 weeks ago, according to Equasis, this aframax was disclassed by Italian class society (Rina), is now apparently without any class, nor any flag (Aruba false, doesn’t count!) and with new name AQUA LIVE (IMO 9282792).
July 21, 2025 at 8:28 PM
What also doesn’t inspire confidence is that 2 weeks ago, according to Equasis, this aframax was disclassed by Italian class society (Rina), is now apparently without any class, nor any flag (Aruba false, doesn’t count!) and with new name AQUA LIVE (IMO 9282792).
I would encourage you, Prof. Sal, to visit Dalian. Go and see Hengli shipyard - you’ll be made most welcome. Resurrected from the ashes of the former STX shipyard, Hengli Group has invested billions not only on new technologies but also on people skills and competency. Go see it then report back.
July 15, 2025 at 5:58 AM
I would encourage you, Prof. Sal, to visit Dalian. Go and see Hengli shipyard - you’ll be made most welcome. Resurrected from the ashes of the former STX shipyard, Hengli Group has invested billions not only on new technologies but also on people skills and competency. Go see it then report back.