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The 15th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit is presently going on at Colombo, Sri Lanka from July 27 and is expected to finish on August 03. The eight-nation regional conference with the theme of “Partnership of Our People”, is focusing on the elimination of terrorism, poverty, energy crisis and climate change in the backdrop of regional cooperation. Indian Prime Minister would be attending the concluding session of the summit from August 01. Sri Lanka is spending approximately Rs 3 billion (One Indian rupee is equal to Rs 2.70 SLR) to host the summit including purchase of bullet-proof luxury cars to be used during the eight-day summit.

It is reported that Sri Lanka has taken tough security measures to ensure smooth functioning of the event. As LTTE has the capability to strike through Land, Sea and Air, it is reported that India has got the approval from Sri Lanka

• to patrol Sri Lankan territorial waters with three Indian Naval Ships including two frontline guided-missile destroyers during the summit to avoid terrorist attacks from the sea.
• to control the skies of Colombo by a special Indian Air Force team to prevent any possible air attack.
• to provide security to the Indian Prime Minister and his officials by bulletproof vehicles and trucks that will be brought to Colombo from India.

Also elite commandos of Special Protection group would be giving protection to Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh during his visit. It is further reported that more than 3,000 Indian security personnel would be engaged to provide security cover.

Interestingly LTTE declared a unilateral cease fire for 10 days during the SAARC summit but Sri Lanka rejected it.

Public opinion from India and Sri Lanka regarding the extra ordinary security arrangements to the extent of Indian Naval Ships patrolling Sri Lankan waters is available at The Times of India and Lanka Newspapers.

Update: August 01

After reaching Sri Lanka’s international airport, Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh boarded one of the three Indian Air Force’s Mi-17 choppers to reach a virtual curfew-bound Colombo, about 40 km away. Read more from Thaindian News and Rediff News.

Also Indian naval ships have been anchored off the Sri Lankan coast. Read more from Web India 123.

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Scientists explored the bottom of Lake Baikal, the world’s deepest fresh water lake on July 29 for the first time. This was possible with the help of two Russian Mir-1 and Mir-2 deep-sea vehicles. Russian environmental group ‘Green Patrol’ has confirmed that the exploration do not pose an environmental threat.

During the exploration, the scientists may also find 1600 tons of ‘ Kolchak’s Gold ‘ - the gold stolen by General Kolchak of the Russian Imperial Army during the 1918-1920 Civil War, which sank in the icy lake while transportation.

Here are some interesting features of Lake Baikal.

• Usually lakes disappear in 10 or 15 thousand years, gradually due to sediments. But Lake Baikal has no signs of ageing, as the lake’s shores expand by two centimeters a year.
• Lake Baikal’s estimated age is around 25-30 million years.
• Baikal lies between the Republic of Buryatia, Irkutsk and Chita Regions in Russia’s far east.
• Baikal is the deepest lake in the world, 1,637 metres deep at the lowest point and contains around 20% of the world’s fresh water.
• Listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.
• The water is seldom warmer than 15°C (59 °F).
• Baikal has around 100,000 Nerpa seals,the only seal found in fresh water lake. How these seals reached this lake is still a mystery.
• In 1977, Soviet scientists in a Pisces submersible reached a depth of 1,410 metres and examined the lake’s bed.

Here are some interesting features of the Lake Baikal exploration:

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Italy has signed a contract to build a ship to transport safely the toxic radioactive waste from the Russian nuclear submarines that are dismantled. The radioactive waste from the shipyards and naval bases during dismantling will be shipped to ports through this ship and then transferred, by railway, to treatment and stocking sites.

Some of the interesting features of the ship to be built are:

• to be designed and built by Fincantieri,Italian ship builder with 200 years of shipbuilding experience at their Liguria yards
• at a cost of 71.5 million Euros, to be financed by Italy’s Ministry for the Economic Development
• the multi-function ship will be
  • 84 metres long
  • 14 metres wide
  • with a full-load draft of 4.05 metres
  • 720 ton cargo capacity
  • 1,700 ton deadweight
  • cruising speed of 12 knots
• the ship will have two hermetic cargo holds capable of holding a total of 18 containers, 40 tons each
• the ship will have a revolving electro-hydraulic crane with a lifting capacity of 45 tons and a radius of 4–15 metres
• will be able to autonomously navigate for 60 days with a cruising range of 3,000 nautical miles
• the ship will be able to carry all types of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste
• to be delivered in 2011
• Rosatom, the Russian Body for Atomic Energy is the technical guarantor for the operation and Italy’s Ministry for the Economic Development will be the financial guarantor of the agreement
• to be built under the supervision of the Russian Naval Registry in accordance with all Russian and international safety standards
• the ship on delivery will be under the operational control of Atomflot, Russia
• the contract was signed on July 28 in Moscow

For more information,

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An ancient Greek trading ship which was in seabed for the last 2500 years off Gela coast, Sicily was salvaged on July 28. It is believed that the ship carrying goods from the Greek colony in Gela, back to Greece in around 500 BC sank some 800 metres off the Gela coast due to rough weather.

Some of the interesting features of the salvage operations are:

• Coastguard and experts from the Caltanissetta culture department took part in salvage operations.
• the salvaged Greek ship is 21 metres long with a beam of 6.5 metres.
• the salvaged ship will be able to reveal Greek naval construction techniques; thanks to the amazing find of still-intact hemp ropes used to ’sew’ together the pine planks in its hull - a technique described in Homer’s Iliad.
• preparations to salvage the ship started in 1988, when two scuba divers located the ship.
• ship’s bow and an array of amphorae, drinking cups, oil lamps and woven baskets from the ship were retrieved in 2003.
• the rest of the vessel was salvaged using a boat equipped with a crane to lift loads up to 200 tonnes.
• The parts of the ship will be preserved in tanks full of the protective chemical polyethylene glycol and would be transported to Mary Rose Archaeological Services, Portsmouth, U.K for conservation and reconstruction.
• The culture department plans to build a sea museum in Gela with the ship as the key exhibit.

For more information and pictures read Life in Italy.

Here is a related post:

• Russia to follow China to raise 18th century ship from seabed

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Here is a website by the Florida maritime and personal injury attorneys - Howard S. Grossman, P.A.,to attend claims involving seamen, harbor workers, dock workers, cruise ship employees, stevedores and other maritime employees.

They process the following claims:

• Cruise ship passenger injury claims
• Cruise ship employee injury claims
• Jones Act
• Longshore & Harbor Workers Act claims
• Death on the High Seas Act claims
• Off-shore oil and gas workers’ injury claims
• Commercial fishermen’s claims
• Boating accident claims
• Other maritime injuries

For more details, log on to Admiralty and Maritime.

Here is a related post:

• Marine Arbitration Association (MAA) Established in USA

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Two warships from Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF) with 76 cadets from Al-Fahd Naval College will be on goodwill visit to India for the first time this week. The purpose of this visit is to foster deeper understanding, develop mutual trust and identify fresh avenues of cooperation in defense relations.

The interesting features of the visit are:

• The visit by RSNF ships is a result of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium organized by India in February this year.
• The warships will be on visit to Mumbai from July 29 -31.
• The visiting ships are:
  • ‘ Al-Dammam ‘ a modified French La Fayette-class stealth frigate
  • ‘ Al-Yanbu ‘ a modified American-built Endurance-class destroyer
• The RSNF with Head Quarters at Riyadh is having Western Fleet operating from Jeddah and Eastern Fleet operating from Jubail.
• The RSNF has the responsibility to defend a coast line of 2640 km and has more than 12,000 officers, including 1,300 Marines.
• The fleet includes French-built frigates, US-built corvettes and British-built Sandown class mine hunters.
• During the visit,the Saudi Arabian officers and cadets are likely to visit some of the warships like Talwar-class stealth frigates, Rajput-class guided-missile destroyers and other defense establishments of Indian Navy.

Here is an interesting interview on ‘ Modernizing the Naval Fleet ‘ with RSNF Commander Prince Fahd Bin Abdullah, conducted by the Editorial Manager General S. Abou Ismail of Al Defaiya Magazine.

More information regarding the visit is here at Arab News and The Times of India.

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Here is the story of ‘ Benten - The Goddess of the Sea ‘ (above photo) of Japan for this weekend. This month, on July 02 during the lowest tide of the year, the people of Shiraishi Island, Japan celebrated Benten Festival. The festival is to thank the ‘ Goddess of the Sea - Benten ‘. The Benten island where the goddess of the sea resides, is closer to Shiraishi Island. Only on the lowest tide of the year one can reach Benten island by walk. Shiraishi Island can be reached in 40 minutes through ferry from the Port of Kasaoka (here is the location map).

Some of the interesting features of ‘ Benten - The Sea Goddess ‘ are:

• Benten is the only female goddess out of the ‘ Seven Lucky Gods ‘ of Japan.
• Benten is also known as Benzaiten, Daibenzaiten, Myouonten, Bionten in Japan.
• Benten is in fact is linked to Indian mythology, to the river Saraswati.
• Benten is also the goddess of music, learning, eloquence, wealth, longevity, and protection from natural disasters.
• This is the reason why many Japanese temples and shrines dedicated to Benten, including those at Itsukushima, Enoshima and Chikubushima are located near water.
• Benten has eight arms with hands that hold a bow, arrow, sword, axe, spear, long pestle, iron wheel, and silk rope.

Here are the Seven Lucky Gods of Japan.

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Accidents in shipyards are increasing. Because of work pressure to complete the repairs faster, it seems safe working procedures are being compromised. Explosion took place in Friendship Gas tanker on July 24 docked at Perama dockyards 20 kilometers west of Athens.

Some of the disturbing features of the accident are:

• Friendship Gas is Panamanian-flagged vessel undergoing repairs at Perama dockyard
• blast occurred in the vessel’s engine room during repair work, believed to be welding
• seven workers and the ship’s Filipino First mate died on board
• four were injured and are being treated
• a three-day strike by dock workers to protest against the poor safety standards is going on from July 25
• two members of the repair crew have been arrested on suspicion of not following safety standards
• took more than four hours to contain the fire by three fire engines, a firefighting vessel and three tugs

Here is a photograph of the tanker

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World’s fastest submarine, the Russian nuclear powered K-222 is being dismantled. K-222 had a nuclear reactor accident on September 30,1980. Thereafter by 1988, she was placed in reserve at Belomorsk Naval Base in Severodvinsk.

Some of the interesting features of K-222 are:

• Called as Project 661 (Anchar), known in the West by its NATO Papa class
• Also designated as K-222 (former K-162) submarine
• Commissioned on December 31,1969
• Maximum speed of 25 knots at surface
• Submerged speed of 44 knots
• Endurance of 70 days
• Displacement: 5190 tons surfaced / 7000 tons dived
• Builders: Sevmashpredpriyatiye, Severodvinsk, Russia
• Maximum diving depth of 400 metres and crush depth of 550 metres
• Dimensions:106.92 m x 11.50 m x 8.20 m
• Complement:82
• Hull: Titanium alloy due to which nicknamed as ‘Golden Fish’

K-222 will be dismantled at Sevmash, the only facility capable of handling the titanium hull. Programme for Decommissioning of Multipurpose Nuclear Submarines in the North-West of Russia is available here.

Video clips of K-222 are available here and here.

More information is here at Russia Today.

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The Royal Navy will be hosting ‘Meet Your Navy’ during this week. Over 400 personnel will man the event and more than 15,000 visitors are expected each day. Some of the interesting features of the event are:

• to be held at Portsmouth, Naval Base where the first dock was constructed in 1194
• from July 25 - 27
• from 1000 hours to 1800 hours
• the past, present and the future Royal Navy would be on display
• some of the displays are by:
  • Royal Marines
  • Field Gun
  • Marie Curie Zip Wire
  • RN Dive Team
  • RN Physical training
  • Royal Marines Band
  • Royal Marines Museum
  • Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)
  • Coastguard
  • Red Arrows
  • Royal Navy Aircraft
• you can know about the following Naval ships
  • Mine Warfare, Diving, Fishery Protection And Patrol Boat Squadrons
  • Type 22, 23 Frigates
  • Type 42 Destroyers
  • Aircraft carriers
  • Assault ships
  • Patrol vessels

Click the image below for more details about the event.

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This is in continuation of Danish Fort Dansborg of 17th Century at Tharangambadi Coast - Part 1.

In the vicinity of the Fort Dansborg, there are churches, ‘The Bungalow on the Beach’ hotel, schools and other old structures including a neglected Hindu temple. It is surprising to note that the temple on the beach is totally neglected.

Minimum two hours are required to go around the Fort and the museum. The museum is in the upper level of the Fort. Here are the photographs of some of the exhibits in the museum in Fort Dansborg.

Here is the Tamil King Raghunatha Nayak who gave permission to set up Danish Fort.

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Danish Fort Dansborg at Tharangambadi in India is a live example to demonstrate use of sea lanes for world trade during the 17th century. Tharangambadi at Tamil Nadu coast is also popularly known as Trankebar or Tranquebar in Danish. Tharangambadi a busy port of 17th century is no more a port now and only fishing activity is now going on.

Some of the interesting features of Fort Dansborg are:

• The Fort Dansborg was built by Ove Gjedde, Commander of the Royal Danish Navy in 1620 when he was 26 years old.
• The Fort was built on the orders from Danish King Chrisitan IV of Denmark and Norway.
• A treaty was signed on November 20, 1620 between the King Raghunatha Nayak of Thanjavur and the King of Denmark, by which the Danes were given permission to build a Fort at Tarangambadi (Tranquebar) for trading.
• The Fort faces Bay of Bengal and the sea is just 200 metres from the Fort.
• The Fort has two levels:
  • the lower level was used to accommodate soldiers and horses, to store material used for trading and was also used as prison.
  • the upper level was used as residence for the governor and priests.
• Now a museum is at the upper level to exhibit Danish era at Tharangambadi.
• Visitor timings - 1000 hrs to 1745 hrs except Friday.
• Located at Tharangambadi - easily accessible by road. Nearest Railway station is Mayiladuthurai at 40 km. Nearest airport is Chennai/Trichy.
• Accommodation: is available at The Bungalow on the Beach, just 300 metres from the Fort.

Here are some photographs of Fort Dansborg.

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This weekend alert is about Dry Drowning. Drowning is immersion in water or fluid that cuts off air supply to lungs in the body. Due to lack of oxygen in the body, drowning causes death. This drowning can also be called as wet drowning.

Here is something different. Death can be due to Dry Drowning also.

What is Dry Drowning ?

• causes death due to lack of oxygen but not immediate death like drowning
• death caused due to a delayed effect of a small quantity of water inside the lungs
• this can happen even after 1 hour to 24 hours after coming out of swimming pool
• about 15 percent of drowning victims have experienced dry drowning
• persons suffering from asthma may also be at risk of dry drowning
• water boarding can also cause dry drowning
• prolonged breathing in any gas other than oxygen that does not cause death on its own (like working in confined spaces where there is lack of oxygen)

Symptoms of Dry Drowning:

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Mexican Navy for the first time has intercepted a cocaine carrying home made submarine. The submarine was caught on July 16 about 322 km off the southern state of Oaxaca.

Some of the interesting features of the operation are:

• First seizure by Mexican Navy with the help of US intelligence.
• Six tonnes of cocaine was found inside the submarine.
• 10 metre long submarine is of fibre glass hull and is having a Global Positioning System (GPS), a compass.
• As free board for the submarine is less, it is difficult for detection by ships Radar.
• The submarine was detected by a helicopter.
• Mexican Navy took two days to tow the submarine to Port of Salina Cruz.

Here is a video clip of the submarine seized by Mexican Navy.

Read more from BBC News and New Zealand Herald.

Bravo Zulu to Mexican Navy.

Update: July 20

Some more information about the home made submarines for cocaine smuggling:

• costs about $1 million (£500,000)
• submarines are usually painted to blend in with the colour of the sea water to avoid visual detection
• capable of carrying more than 10 tons of cocaine
• can be operated by remote control from hundreds of miles away.

For more information and photographs read  Telegraph.

Here are some related posts:

• Columbian Marines capture home made submarines intended for drug smuggling
• Star attraction of Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show: ‘DryDive’ home made submarine

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The Indo-US Nuclear Deal has triggered a ‘ No Confidence Motion ‘ to take place in parliament on July 21-22 against the Indian Government. There is a disturbing news report which reveals that many political parties are demanding the following to support the government on Indo-US nuclear deal.

• a party that demands a separate state
• a party that wants to settle scores on corporate loyalty
• a party that wants to protect it’s state’s fishermen
• a party that wants nationalisation of mining activity
• a grand old man wants to occupy the Prime Ministerial chair

This is how world’s largest democracy functions.

It is being highlighted that the deal is necessary to ensure energy security. Just look at this pie chart below which shows the primary energy sources in India.

Image Source: Planning Commission of India, 2006

From the pie chart it can be seen that only 2 percent of the energy comes from Nuclear power. The hidden agenda of the Indo-US deal is available at Rediff News from Minhaz Merchant.

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