Coquina and tabby are “bullet-proof” building materials born of the sea. Nearly every child who’s played on the beach has built a simple sand castle by creating a turret with an upturned bucket of sand. Others, more elaborate (and typically built with help from an ambitious parent), boast multiple structures surrounded by moats and rivers that ebb and flow with…
US NAVAL STATION SAN DIEGO –Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center (SMWDC) and the Center for Surface Combat Systems (CSCS) hosted 10 students school on 20-September-2019 in CIAT, the Navy’s newest combat trainer, or the Combined integrated Air & Missile defense/anti-submarine Warfare Trainer, to increase operator lethality of Advanced Anti-Submarine Warfare Officers (ASWO). The students will Fleet-up aboard the…
A seven-meter (23-foot) long, wind-powered unmanned surface vehicle (USV) called a Saildrone has become the first unmanned system to circumnavigate Antarctica. The vehicle, known as SD 1020, was equipped with a suite of climate-grade sensors, and collected data in previously unchartered waters, enabling new key insights into ocean and climate processes. The 196-day mission was launched from Southport in Bluff,…
STADT is an awarded technology leader and has been in the power electronics business for more than 30 years. Through its extensive experience, focus on sustainable products and development of the patented STADT Lean Drive technology for electric propulsion of today, there have been major steps. Hallvard L. Slettevoll founded STADT in 1985 in a family barn in his hometown…
Without a doubt, the Maritime Industry in the Philippines is a vibrant cornerstone to the local economy and national workforce stability. To some extent, on an international level as well. One doesn’t have to look very far to understand how innovation with efficiency of operation and an ongoing focus to being environmentally sensitive is paramount in maintaining a balance of…
The technology group Wärtsilä will supply a broad scope of solutions that will support Hurtigruten, the world’s largest expedition cruise operator, in its push for greener and more sustainable shipping. Hurtigruten, considered one of the world’s most sustainable cruise operators, is converting an additional three vessels to become premium, hybrid-powered expedition cruise ships. The order with Wärtsilä was placed in…
IUMI – the International Union of Marine Insurance – presented its analysis of the latest marine insurance market trends at this week’s annual conference in Toronto, Canada. Marine underwriting premiums for 2018 were recorded at US$28.9 Billion which represents a single percentage point rise from 2017. With significant challenges facing the market, the modest increase is not significant to herald…
The latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report highlights the urgency of prioritizing timely, ambitious and coordinated action to address unprecedented and enduring changes in the ocean and cryosphere. The report reveals the benefits of ambitious and effective adaptation for sustainable development and, conversely, the escalating costs and risks of delayed action. The ocean and cryosphere –the frozen…
Amendments to an international treaty aimed at preventing the spread of potentially invasive species in ships’ ballast water entered into force on 13-October-2019. Ships regularly take on sea water in tanks to ensure their stability. Known as ballast water, this can contain many aquatic species, including in microscopic or larval form. These can become invasive and harmful if the ballast…
Sponges — simple aquatic animals with dense, yet porous, skeletons — are highly adapted to their environments. Sponges are found in a wide variety of colors, shapes, and sizes, and are often mistaken for plants. Scientists believe that their varied colorations may protect them from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. Sponges have been around for a very long time, with…
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The construction of military-grade bases in three artificial islands (Subi, Fiery Cross and Mischief Reefs), posting of troops with missile defense capability in four others (Cuarteron, Gaven, Hughes, and Johnson South Reefs), conduct of regular naval and coast guard patrols, and use of paramilitary fishing units in the South China Sea are clear indications that China’s maritime campaign has fully…
Reviewing some of my past email, I came across a June 23, 2011 query from a Philippine Marine reserve officer, Frank Suha, who has been living in the United States for many years: There is recent news that PCG is planning to buy brand-new high endurance cutters/vessels – this will be a big help in the West Philippine Sea issue….
A sensational find of two boat burials from the Viking Age have been discovered in Uppsala. One of the two graves was intact with remains of a man, a horse and a dog. ”This is a unique excavation, the last excavation of this grave type in Old Uppsala was almost 50 years ago,” says archaeologist Anton Seiler. The two boat…
The First Draft of the UN Law of the Sea “BBNJ” Agreement on Biodiversity in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction has been released for review 28-June-2019. The initial version of the new legally binding instrument on the conservation and sustainable use of marine life in areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) is available from U.N. at: https://www.un.org/bbnj/sites/www.un.org.bbnj/files/draft_text_a.conf_.232.2019.6_advanced_unedited_version_corr.pdf. The World Ocean Council (WOC)…
Illicit trade and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). From smuggling, counterfeiting and tax evasion, to the illegal sale or possession of goods, services, humans and wildlife, illicit trade is compromising the attainment of the UN SDGs in significant ways, crowding out legitimate economic activity, depriving governments of revenues for investment in vital public services, dislocating millions of legitimate jobs,…
The right of innocent passage refers to the right of foreign vessels to freely navigate in the territorial sea of another State without conducting activities that prejudice said State’s interests.1 2 It is akin to an easement or servitude whereby one has a right in relation to another’s property. Innocent passage through the territorial sea of a State over which…
The ReCAAP ISC has released its latest publication in 2019: “Guidance on Abduction of Crew in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and Waters off Eastern Sabah.” This Guidance focuses on the incidents of abduction of crew from ships for ransom in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and in the waters off Eastern Sabah. It provides the guidance and analysis based on the information collected…
The Philippine Coast Guard’s first Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) was formally launched in OCEA shipyard in France on July 17. PCG Commandant Admiral Elson E Hermogino, with the Deputy Chief of PCG Staff for Strategic Studies and Modernization, Captain Ferdinan B Picar, PCG Spokesperson Captain Armando A Balilo, and officials from Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA)…
Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) in collaboration with Accenture and CITI, and a joint venture with Transnational Diversified Group (TDG) developed MarcoPay for seafarers. Software, Big Data & IoT reports in Digital Ship: “NYK has formed a joint venture with Philippines-based TDG to launch electronic money platform MarCoPay for seafarers. MarCoPay is an electronic money platform designed mainly for seafarers hired…
Sustainable shipping for a sustainable planet has been selected as the World Maritime theme for 2020. This will provide an opportunity to raise awareness of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and showcase the work that the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and its Member States are undertaking to achieve the targets. The IMO Council, meeting for its 122nd session…
The French Naval Group has launched SNA Suffren, the first of 6 nuclear submarines for the French Navy. The black steel submarine was launched at a ceremony in the northern port of Cherbourg on 12-July-2019. SNA Suffren, the first of the Barracuda-class series, is a highly complex vessel that was built using a modular system. They are designed to replace…
As part of its ongoing commitment to sustainability, Damen Shipyards Group is having solar panels installed at a number of its Dutch yards. Collectively, the installations will provide approximately 11 MWh clean electricity per year. Damen Project manager, Gerard Kornet explains, “At Damen, we always take a long-term view. It’s part of our culture as a family company. We want…
Seabourn, the world’s finest ultra-luxury cruise line, is preparing to take travelers into the depths of the ocean for the first time by revealing the design and details for its custom submarines that will operate excursions for an additional charge from the line’s two upcoming ultra-luxury purpose-built expedition ships. Both Seabourn Venture and her yet-to-be-named sister ship will sail to…