Plastics

New Zealand: A Leader in Boat Design and Production

With its diverse marine environments, from protected harbors to rugged ocean waters, New Zealand has made an exceptional impact on the global market. By focusing on the design and build of recreational products, New Zealand marine companies emphasize the use of materials that can withstand a diverse range of conditions, have a long lifespan, and can be used year-round. The kiwi boatbuilding expertise and equipment hardware capabilities have grown out of a thriving and ever-expanding recreational marine culture.

The Benefits of Sustainable Marine Lumber

Today’s marinas are held to a higher standard of environmental stewardship than in the past. No longer are they just responsible for the environmental impacts of their day-to-day operations, but also of their infrastructure and how it affects both the oceans, waterways and their delicate marine ecosystems. For these reasons, many marinas are being far more selective as to construction materials being specified for their expansion and/or restoration projects.One material that is rising to the top for its eco-friendly and performance attributes is sustainable marine lumber.

Explorer Profile: Sven Lindblad

Profiled in the March 2019 cruise edition of Maritime Reporter & Engineering News is Sven Lindblad, intrepid explorer and wildlife photographer Sven Lindblad blazed the trail for environmentally sensitive travelers to Antarctica on Lindblad Expedition’s fleet of cruise ships with National Geographic.You can tell a lot about a man by whom his heroes are, whether famous athletes, virtuoso musicians, brave warriors or movie stars. As we age, we choose our heroes by their moral compass…

Dan Lenard crosses Atlantic on the world’s greenest sailboat.

Like another Italian explorer who set sail from Spain to discover a new world, Christopher Columbus, renowned superyacht designer Dan Lenard is making the same journey. However, Lenard is creating a whole, new world as he personally tries to change the marine industry, embarking upon a solo, transatlantic crossing using no hydrocarbons or electronics in his prototype sailboat, Vela 33.Without any technology - no GPS, no compass, no autopilot, no fuel, no engine, no battery and no generator -  Lenard will navigate the Atlantic solely by sight, stars and sun.

Cruise Shipping: 'Green Cruising' with Hurtigruten

Hurtigruten orders third hybrid-powered expedition cruise shipGrowth in the global cruise sector continues, as Hurtigruten, the world’s largest expedition cruise operator, signed an MOU with shipbuilder Kleven Verft AS for the construction of a third hybrid-powered expedition cruise ship. Tom Mulligan, Maritime Reporter’s Science & Technology writer, reports from Norway.“We are thrilled to introduce yet another revolutionary hybrid-powered expedition ship,” enthused Hurtigruten’s CEO, Daniel Skjeldam.

Sea Knees Helps Boat Operators Stand Pain-free

Shock mitigation device absorbs impact brought about by rough seasJohn Haas spent most weekends for the past two decades living on the open water. Eventually, the continual pounding took a toll on his health, and he developed a herniated disk that required him to temporarily discontinue his favorite pastime. He even needed surgery and extensive rehabilitation to get back to normal health.“When the disk was coming out, it felt like a tongue sticking into my spinal cord,’’ said Haas, a resident of Stuart, Fla. “I didn’t have any feeling in my right leg. First it was pain, and then went numb.

Caffari named Bluewater Global Brand Ambassador

Bluewater will partner with record-breaking yachtswoman Dee Caffari, as the company's Global Brand Ambassador. The collaboration means that Dee Caffari will work closely with Bluewater to further raise awareness around the ocean plastic pollution issue, how that is linked to drinking water quality and how Bluewater’s existing solutions help solve these problems.“Dee Caffari is one of the greatest living sportswomen in history, who I deeply respect for her achievements both on and off the water," said Anders Jacobson, Bluewater President and CSO.

Keeping Plastics Out of the Ocean: New AMELS Drinking Water Systems

Inspired by yacht owners and crews and to coincide with World Environment Day, AMELS announced that it is designing drinking water purification systems into all new AMELS Limited Editions yacht projects. These systems can tackle the global plastic waste problem, while providing pleasant-tasting and safe drinking water. The new drinking water system is a great way to reduce the plastic footprint of yacht ownership.The AMELS yard has now designed remineralization and purification systems into its new Limited Editions yachts, to give crews and guests access to carbonated or chilled water – made by the yacht itself – wherever in the world they are.

GAC UK Unveils Sustainability Steps at Volvo Ocean Race

Shipping and logistics services provider GAC UK  announced progress in its efforts to reduce plastic and other waste. As the yachts competing in the Volvo Ocean Race set off on Leg 10 from Cardiff yesterday, Managing Director Herman Jorgensen unveiled practical steps already taken to reduce the company’s impact on the environment. GAC is the official logistics provider for the round-the-world sailing race due to finish in The Hague later this month. Jorgensen had been inspired by the Volvo Ocean Race’s first Ocean Summit in Alicante…

Microplastic in the Oceans

The Volvo Ocean Race is providing an exceptional opportunity to test oceans for micro-plastics in remote and coastal areas and shed light on the scale and global distribution of micro-plastics marine pollution. The Race's latest scientific data, collected by team ‘Turn the Tide on Plastic’, identified 75 particles of micro-plastics per cubic metre in waters near Hong Kong and 87 particles of micro-plastics per cubic metre along the coast near Melbourne. The highest levels of micro-plastic so far have been found in European waters where the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean meet with a peak of 307 particles of micro-plastics per cubic metre.

All-women Yacht Crew Conducts Scientific Sampling on the Thames

A team of women sailing around Britain to sample the U.K.’s waters for micro plastic and chemicals, arrived on the Thames August 30 to kick off local awareness-raising activities with a discussion panel made up of crew members, a scientist and young environmental activists. Panellists spoke about the state of the marine environment, how eXXpedition was formed and their current Round Britain scientific surveying and awareness-raising outreach activities. Emily Penn, eXXpedition Co-founder and Ocean Advocate…

Cast Polyurethane for High Impact, High Wear Applications

Although ship and boat building design engineers have traditionally specified parts made of rubber, plastic or steel when durability is required, many are considering cast polyurethanes as a new alternative for demanding, high-wear, abrasion and impact applications. Cast polyurethanes, also broadly referred to as urethanes, are tough, elastic materials that combine many of the performance advantages of high-tech plastics, metals and ceramics along with the resiliency and flexibility of rubber parts and are ideal for ship/boat building components.

Young American Sailors Call for Action on Marine Pollution

Leading offshore sailors Charlie Enright and Mark Towill are sounding the alarm about the danger posed by marine debris and pollution, after recent research from the Ocean Conservancy estimated a staggering eight million tons of plastic trash is entering the ocean every year. The duo spent much of last year in the most remote waters of the globe during the 2014-15 Volvo Ocean Race - and observed an eye-opening amount of debris littering the ocean all over the planet. Enright, 32…

Polymer Drain Plugs vs. Nylon and Bronze

Custom and OEM boat builders understand the importance of details, even down to the drain plug. A quality fitting—especially one that is used so often with trailered boats—reflects highly on the brand. Vesconite is a high-performance polymer that makes the ideal material for this important, but often overlooked, component. Unlike soft, injection molded nylon that absorbs water and will often deform when removing the plug, internally lubricated Vesconite is hydrophobic, so it doesn't swell.

CMI Acquires SLP Vinyl Sheet Pile Business

Crane Materials International (CMI) announced the acquisition of Shoreline Plastics (SLP) vinyl sheet pile business including all related assets and intellectual property. CMI is a global company headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., with manufacturing facilities in Georgia and Florida. The company manufactures and fabricates high-quality vinyl, fiber-reinforced polymer and aluminum sheet piling, aluminum pedestrian bridges and marine docks. SLP, a vinyl sheet pile business based in Jacksonville, Fla., produces PVC pipe and other extruded PVC materials.