Wartsilla CBM – Live Condition Based Monitoring Of Ship Systems

Published: March 21st, 2010 by John | Category: Engines, Marine Technology

The days of anonymity at sea are long gone. With LRIT and satellite based AIS tracking the office has, for some time now, had access to the precise location of your ship… in real time. The next wave of innovation came with remote monitoring systems used for reasons as diverse as anti-piracy monitoring and live webcams from the bridge of cruise ships.

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Bridge Technology Poll – Most Wished For Gadget

Published: March 20th, 2010 by John | Category: Marine Technology, Uncategorized, poll

Two weeks ago, in cooperation with 59-56, we asked you to design the ship of your dreams in a feature called “Pimp My Ship“. Not suprising we had a few really good ideas posted to the forum. Considering the amount of time the average gCaptain reader spends standing nav watch I was also not surprised that most of you picked systems you would like installed on the bridge of your ship.

So while we wait for an intrepid engineer to start a forum post title “Pimp My Engine Control Room” (A thread I’m honestly looking forward to reading!)… the following are a few of the ideas mentioned. Your mission is to pick the 2 that you would most like installed on your vessel.

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Announcing – gCaptain Resume Services

Published: March 18th, 2010 by John | Category: Featured, gCaptain, jobs

Maritime Jobs Board

Since the initial launch of our Maritime Jobs Board gCaptain has helped countless mariners find jobs at sea. To my surprise one, Jeffrey an engineer and fellow Fort Schuyler alumni, recently used the job board to find a job aboard my ship! A ship, I myself found, via the maritime employment section of our forum.

Needless to say we have been very please with the results of the Jobs section but this has not come without a considerable amount of work for the gCaptain team. Further, the most time consuming task of managing the board has been processing the countless resumes submitted to us each day. The gCaptain team has so far made a valiant effort to match resumes with jobs but this task has pulled us from our focus of providing you with the world’s best maritime content.

This left us with two options. We could 1) filter all incoming email and send resumes a separate folder to organize when time allows OR 2) filter resumes by charging for the service of connecting candidates with companies. We have decided to go with option 2 so… Today, we are excited to announce the launch of the all new resume submittal service!

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Incident Photo (and video) of The Week – Collision at Port of Constanta

Published: March 18th, 2010 by Mike | Category: Incidents, Photo, Uncategorized, Video

This weeks incident photos and video is of the M/V CMA CGM Debussy pinning the tug Vadeni. The incident occurred on March 8th at the Port of Constanta, Romania. Cargo Law has some of the details:

73,157-gt French container M/V CMA CGM Debussy (IMO 9235907) struck the stern of Turkish cargo M/V Haci Fatma Sari (IMO 7600079) while maneuvering in the port of Constanta, Romania, and nearly sucked under the harbor tug Vadeni (IMO 7623423) which was caught between the vessels, causing considerable damage, on Mar. 8.

More on this incident, including additional photos and details, can be read on the forum HERE.

Thanks to gCaptain forum member “Coastwatch” for bringing this to our attention.

AIS SART – New Technology And The Sharing Critical Information

Published: March 18th, 2010 by John | Category: Communication, Featured, GMDSS

AIS SART by Jotron MarineElectronics

AIS has been a revolutionary product and, regardless of your opinion on its use, has changed the way mates handle heavy traffic situations. Jotron, makers of various SOLAS compliant marine safety electronics, is looking to bring this revolution to Search And Rescue operations with the introduction of an AIS enabled Search And Rescue Transponder (SART).

The device will work similar to traditional SARTs but, rather than show the position of a lifeboat on your 3cm radar, will transmit the exact GPS coordinates to all AIS enabled devices within VHF range.

We are excited not only by the product itself but the advancement of new ideas for sharing of data among the AIS network. gCaptain recently discussed the topic with the Coast Guard’s office for marine safety and is working with them to outline ideas to take AIS and data sharing from a point-to-point system to a web of collaborative sharing. Here is a basic summary of our question to marine safety:

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Solo Fisherman Caught in His Own Net! (Accident Investigation Report)

Published: March 18th, 2010 by Fred | Category: Fishing, Lifesaving Incidents, Uncategorized

The following is posted by Fred Fry:

Here is an investigation report covering an accident where a fisherman alone on his fishing vessel managed to get caught in his fishing gear and it took a navy boarding team to set him free.

It is funny because the guy lived to tell about it. (He was seriously injured which is not funny.) That said, there are important safety lessons to be learned here and thankfully the entire report is only one page as copied below. So it is a simple matter of just taking five minutes to read it.

Division for Investigation of Maritime Accidents – Denmark

Occupational accident – MARIE – 9.12.2009

Summary

The accident occurred on 9 December 2009 at approx. 1230. The fishing skipper, who was alone on board, was about to heave the trawl after the first haul when he was caught by a bridle and pulled up onto the net roller. The fishing skipper was caught on the net roller in approx. 6 hours before he was relieved by the Navy and a rescue helicopter. The fishing skipper was seriously injured in the accident.

Analysis and conclusion

Immediate causes (6.1)

Unsafe acts

The fishing skipper was alone on board and was caught by a bridle and was trapped because he worked right at the net roller, while it was turning.

Unsafe surroundings

It is the assessment of The Division for Investigation of Maritime Accidents that control levers which are hindered in or do not automatically return to neutral position pose a significant safety risk when using net roller equipment.

Contributing causes (6.2)

Persons involved

The fishing skipper was aware that it was unsafe to stay in close vicinity of the net roller during operation.

Safety System

It is the assessment of The Division for Investigation of Maritime Accidents that it is totally irresponsible to operate the net roller, and then work with the lines, when you are alone on board. It is the assessment of The Division for Investigation of Maritime Accidents that the task by the net roller was conducted without any sort of safety precaution and that the risk was unacceptably high.

Safety Culture (6.3)

It is the assessment of The Division for Investigation of Maritime Accidents that the circumstances of the accident and the poor state of maintenance on board demonstrated that there has been insufficient attention to safety on board.

Recommendations

The Division for Investigation of Maritime Accidents recommend all owners of fishing vessels and fishing skippers, to pay special attention to proper maintenance of control handles, which must go to stop when released, so they will not pose a safety risk. – Danish Maritime Authority

There is no word on whether he had a knife with him nor if having one might have permitted him a way of escaping.

Cross-posted on my blog here.

Q & A: Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood on Marine Highways Program

Published: March 17th, 2010 by Mike | Category: Featured, Interviews, Maritime

By Wayne McCormick via AmericanMarineHighways.com

Update 03/16/2010

Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood was in San Diego on February 5th to speak at a Town Hall meeting with port leaders from around the country at the first ever “National Port Summit”.

After his speech I had a brief meeting with him to specifically discuss MarAd’s “Marine Highway Program” and was also able to share with him some of the initiatives and progress the AMH advocacy website has made since launching in February, 2009.

During our meeting we discussed the obvious benefits of Marine Highways such as the energy savings, pollution reduction, congestion mitigation and safety. I also pointed out how the benefits of ‘Marine Highways’ naturally meshed with the President’s top transportation priorities: improving transportation safety, investing for the future, and promoting livable communities, which he had just testified about a couple of days prior to our meeting. One thing that really grabbed his attention was some of the eye-popping stats I shared with him comparing the safety of using water versus its other modal counterparts. Although I’m sure he already knew the safety advantages, he commented that this information “needed to get out there”.

The Secretary was very gracious and accommodating and said I could follow up after our meeting with a few questions I had for him about his views on the future of “America’s Marine Highways”.

After a month with just a few minor obstacles to overcome, such as “Snowmaggedon”, a DOT furlough, etc., I’ve received his answers and they are listed below. (I only bring up the delay because one of the questions was regarding the TIGER Grants which were yet to be announced.)”

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Marine Air Bags – A Most Unusual (and effective?) Ship Launching Technique

Published: March 16th, 2010 by admin | Category: Interviews, Marine Technology, Shipyard

Air Bag vs Yokohama Fender

To educate everyone on the use of air bags as a cost effective technique used for ship launching, we reached out to Song Tao of Qingdao Evergreen Shipping Supplies Co.,Ltd. Let’s here what he has to say…

What were the first uses of air bags in the launching of ships?

The history of marine air bag ship launching dates back to 1981. Xiao Qinghe ship repair and building shipyard, located in Jinan city of Shangdong Province, launched a 60 DWT tank barge with air bag suspension on January 20, 1981. Seven air bags were employed in that project. One was 2 meters in diameter and 6 meters long and used for elevating. The remaining six air bags were 0.8 meters x 6 meters long and acted as the rollers. The initial intention of that trial launch was to develop a prompt, less landform limited ship launching method for warfare purposes.

How has the technology advanced since then?

Over the past twenty years, the airbag ship launching system has made advancements in not only the air bag, but also the ship launching/landing technology. The first generation air bags used a rubber dipped canvas as a reinforcement layer to form the air chamber trunk. Two cone-shaped molds were then used to make the ends and everything was stuck together.

With today’s air bags, the whole-enlacing-technology used for manufacturing is done together. Rubber dipped synthetic-tyre-cords are used as the reinforcement layers with the trunk and two cone-shaped ends made at the same time. Everything is enlaced together, so the whole air bag doesn’t have any joints. Due to the development of rubber chemistry, the performance of the rubber employed in the latest air bags is highly enhanced and about 15 times of the first generation bag with the same specifications.

Regarding the launching/landing technology, it has also developed. In the beginning, only small and flat bottom ships located on a fabricated slope could be launched with air bags. Now this technology is more flexible and less limited by the ship and landform. Now any type of ship with a DWT below 55,000 and in a place with enough launching space can be launched using air bags. The launching slope even can be aclinic. It has really developed into a cutting edge technology for launching ships, and especially useful for some marine emergencies.

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A Less Lethal Approach to Piracy Defense

Published: March 16th, 2010 by admin | Category: Maritime Security Incidents

No reader of this blog needs to be told that the risk from Piracy is real and growing. We have seen it change from something that only happens in movies to the cold reality of US Navy SEALs shooting three Pirates dead and millions of dollars in ransom paid out. If you are a ship owner you have seen your costs escalate steadily when traveling through high-risk areas. Though the numbers might vary, a doubling of cost over the past two years is not out of the question.

The response to this threat has been documented here on gCaptain repeatedly and, pending developments, the consensus concerning the appropriate response appears to be one that is restrained. Enter the “Less Lethal” suppliers. These companies provide munitions for crowd control as well as the weapons that project them.

A relatively recent entrant to this arena is Bates & Dittus LLC, a company based in Connecticut, USA. B&D manufactures a line of launchers that have found acceptance both with police and SWAT teams as well as companies that provide High Seas Security.

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Maritime Monday 205

Published: March 14th, 2010 by Monkey Fist | Category: Featured, Maritime Monday

image68 Maritime Monday 205 You can find last week’s edition here

image69 Maritime Monday 205 Deep Water Writing has been Girl Watching in Singapore Harbor – “This boat would circle us every evening as curious Singaporeans looked on from their tacky dinner cruise experience. A steel hull with fake cannon ports and a dirty exhaust stained transom, this motorized replica of a Junk never inspired me to buy a ticket.

“The dinner cruise sets out from Marina South Pier with the skyline of Singapore behind. The three towers to the right are currently under construction to become Asia’s most spectacular entertainment destination, Marina Bay Sands. The tops of the three buildings are to be joined by a ship like structure complete with rooftop gardens. While it would be free for you or I to have a go at the roulette tables here in a year’s time it will cost each Singaporean $100 to enter.” See Ship Spotting on Deep Water Writing »

image70 Maritime Monday 205 Wake Turbulence – Chasing the Queen Mary 2 in San Francisco Harbor See full size »

image71 Maritime Monday 205 Abandoned cruise ship SS Aquarama, formally known as the SS Marine Star, was a World War II troop ship for the United States Navy. In 1952, it was converted into the largest passenger ship ever to operate in the Great Lakes – See full size – MaritimeDigital Archive

image72 Maritime Monday 205 Calliope of the America Queen. Photo by Peter Knego 2007 See: Paddlewheel Blog AMERICAN QUEEN: Cincinnati to Pittsburgh »More photos: Maritime Monday 205 A , Maritime Monday 205 image75 Maritime Monday 205

Abu Dhabi Ship Building Opens Talks with STX

South Korea’s STX Offshore and Shipbuilding, the world’s fourth-largest marine builder, plan to open talks this year with Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB) to help it break into the regional market for offshore support vessels.

The budding alliance between STX and ADSB, based in Musaffah, is part of a wave of new connections between UAE and South Korean companies after the US$20.4 billion (Dh74.92bn) nuclear plant contract that Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation awarded to Korea Electric Power Company (KEPCO) in December.