Most people today would agree that the iphone is almost becoming a necessity (at least this is what I felt when I by accident forgot it). My guess is that it´s no different being at sea. I was looking for some interesting apps. on the subject and came across this post on another blogg. The author has made a list of ten interesting apps for your iphone if you are a mariner!
Please find list here!
Today TradeWinds announced the winner of their yearly photo contest. This year the price went to Mr. Holger Laufer. Full story could be read at TradeWinds where you also can see the other contribution to the contest. I personally think that the contest it is good initiative and that definitely is worth spending a few minutes to see the other images as well.
Congratulations Mr. Laufer!
It was reported on December 6 in an article by SkyNews about Sir Richard Branson declaring a war against the shipping industry!
Through the independent venture, The Carbon War Room, he wants to see an efficiency rating on every ocean going vessel to help clean up the industry.
One of the weapons that Sir Branson are using is the recently opened site, the http://www.shippingefficiency.org, where they have cataloged and rated more 60 000 ships based on their efficiency index (developed by the IMO). The database serves to assist selection of the most environmental efficient transporter which to me seem like a very good initiative.
However, yesterday it was reported that the ICS (International Chamber of Shipping) strikes back saying that the index is not used in the right way and cannot be used for different ship classes. I published an article about that earlier today on shippipedia.
What surprises me is the fact that ICS is taking a defensive attitude rather welcoming the initiative. As matter of fact there are several companies in the industry supporting the Sir Branson´s initiative. I hope they open up for a cooperation!
If your about to upgrade your boat the HMS Invincible is for sale. It is an aircraft carrier that served in the Falklands War. She is all yours for about £ 5 Million, a real bargain!
HMS Invincible is for sale by tender. Laid down in 1973 at Vickers Shipbuilding, Barrow-in-Furness, she was completed in 1980. She is currently stable for tow, subject to buyer confirmation.
Displacement – Current 17000 Tonnes
Estimated metal weight – 10000 Tonnes
Estimated metal % – 95% mild steel
Length – OA 210m, W/L 193m
Draught – Fwd 5.2m, Mid 5.8m, Aft 5.8m
Beam – Extreme 35m, Ex-walkways 32m, W/L 27.53m
Height – 46m (estimated at current draught
Engines – Removed
Generators and Pumps – Generally unserviceable or not working
For fuller information, please see the General Particulars.
I know this post is not directly related to the maritime industry but I just had to post it anyway as it relates well the discussion on energy saving.
An aquarium in Japan is shocking visitors with its Christmas display using an eco-friendly electric eel to illuminate the lights on its holiday tree.
Each time the eel moves, two aluminum panels gather enough electricity (up to 800 watts) to light up the 2-meter (6 ft 6 in) tall tree, decked out in white, in glowing intermittent flashes.
The aquarium in Kamakura, just south of Tokyo, has featured the electric eel for five years to encourage ecological sensitivity.
This means that you “only” would need around 20 000 eels to power up decent sized ship. Realistic, don´t think so, but it is an interesting idea!
On November 15 Lloyd´s reported that Lloyd’s Register, Enterprises Shipping and Trading, Hyperion Power Generation and BMT, to examine the marine applications for small modular reactors (SMRs). It is clear that it would solve the emission problem in a heartbeat but is it realistic?
Already today nuclear power plants are being questioned as the consequences of a break-down is devastating. Another comment I came across in another forum is the fact that the investment could not be justified as well as the operating cost to maintain necessary safety on board.
However, there would some advantages too: 1. almost Zero emissions 2. the ship only need to refuel every fifth or maybe tenth year and 3. almost no limit of power that could be installed the ship.
Well, It certainly will be interesting to see some of the results of the report, but hey, what happened with the fuel cells?
JmBerggren
After the reports of the Korean crisis stock markets immediately where effected. The question is how it would it effect the development of the recovery from the world financial crisis if the Korean dispute escalates. Shipping is still struggling and it would certainly be a huge set back for the industry.
BBC reports as below:
“What is motivating North Korea?
Some analysts believe that provocative acts by North Korea are closely linked to the leadership transfer under way in the communist country. Kim Jong-il – who is believed to be in poor health – is thought to be in the process of handing over power to his designated successor, his son Kim Jong-un. In September North Korea’s ruling party held a rare congress in which the younger Kim was given two key roles.
Mark Fitzpatrick, of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said recent incidents such as the sinking of the Cheonan and the artillery firing at Yeonpyeong island were unlikely to be rogue actions by the North Korean military. Rather, he said, they would be portrayed by North Korea as victories and seen by Kim Jong-il as a way of bolstering the standing of his young son.”
Full story could be found at BBC News – Q&A: Inter-Korean crisis.
If you hold a Google Gmail account please be careful about the new phishing attack on Google accounts. If you received an email with the subject “Your Google Account” and that appears to be sent from the Google team containing the following information:
“Due to the congestion in our Gmail servers,there would be removal of all unused Gmail Accounts.You will have to confirm if your E-mail is still active by filling out your login info below after clicking the reply button, or your account will be suspended within 24 hours for security reasons.”
Delete immediately! Don´t fill in any information related to the links or site.
JmB
Taking the one step further in the debate by creating the official blog of http://www.shippipeida.com where current topics will be discussed. Still working on getting all settings right for the RSS and links to other networks. Hope that it will be up running smoothly soon.
Hope the our readers will take an active part in the discussions!
JmB
JimP, 
Kevin are discussing.
Kevin 11:35 on 11 December, 2010 Permalink |
So what happens when it falls into the hands of a pirate and then on to well known middle eastern terrorist networks – If you have fusion, you have the basis of an Atom Bomb.
JmB 11:59 on 11 December, 2010 Permalink |
Fully agree! Another aspect that for sure needs to be considered! You certainly don´t want a ship like that ending up in the wrong hands.
JmB
JimP 08:46 on 14 January, 2011 Permalink |
Kevin said: “If you have fusion, you have the basis of an Atom Bomb.”
His ignorance is showing – fusion reactors do not exist. Even if he said fission instead of fusion, he would still be as close to wrong as you can get while staying technically accurate. It’s like saying, “If you have charcoal, you have the basis of gunpowder.”
If you have a fission reactor, you have uranium, which is fissionable and therefore a requirement of a fission (atomic) bomb. But you also need it sufficiently enriched to produce an explosion – this is not available in ANY commercial reactor fuel. To enrich the uranium fuel from a commercial reactor to weapons grade enrichment, you first need to isolate the chemical uranium (QUITE the technical the task for Hyperion’s uranium nitride fuel – it would be much easier to start with uranium ore straight out of the ground) then you need LOTS more uranium from which to isolate the U235 to enrich your bomb material. All of this takes enormous resources in terms of money, technical expertise, and technical equipment. THEN you have an ingredient for a bomb that is not yet designed, engineered, or built – all of which takes MUCH higher levels of expertise and equipment.
There is a reason terrorists and even the so far non-nuclear nations have not built atomic bombs in the 50+ plus years the technology and materials have been known – its really REALLY hard to do.
Arguing against civilian nuclear power because uranium can be used for a bomb is either ignorance or intellectually dishonesty.