MarineBuzz.com

Today is the last day, to say goodbye to analog 121.5 and 243 MHz frequencies emergency beacons.

Starting from February 01, NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) satellites will only receive signals (digital) from the new 406 MHz frequency emergency beacons (ELTs for aviation use, EPIRBs for  maritime use and PLBs for personal use). The older emergency beacons, operating on the 121.5 and 243 MHz frequencies are now phased out and will no longer be detected by  SARSAT.

SARSAT(Search and Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking) system is operational since 1982 and was developed jointly by the United States, Canada, and France. In the United States, the SARSAT system was developed by NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration). Once the system was functional, its operation was handed over to NOAA.

NOAA’s polar-orbiting and geostationary satellites, along with Russia’s Cospas spacecraft, are part of the international Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking system, called COSPAS-SARSAT.

NOAA has provided advance notice of the switchover since 2000.

Here is a comparison, highlighting the advantages of 406 MHz frequency emergency beacons.

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Indian seafarers were not able to guess, why Indian response to save Indian seafarers from sea pirates is inadequate.

Now it is very clear as India has finally revealed the secret for being ineffective in tackling high-sea piracy and caring little for lives of Indians falling prey to pirates in international waters.

India has revealed that it was facing acute shortage of technical officers in the Directorate General of  Shipping (DGS) to probe the cases of casualty or accident involving Indian seafarers on a ship in the international waters.

Read the full news report from Thaindian dated January 29.  News report is reproduced below and the secret is highlighted in red:

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Sri Lanka Army on January 28 captured underwater vehicles of terrorists.

Some of the shocking and surprising features of the seizure are:

• location: at Udayarkattukulam area in Mullaittivu
• the largest underwater vehicle found is about 35 feet in length and armour plated
• three pedal-type suicide boats
• many more crafts under construction

It is further reported that the LTTE has been able to come this far in terrorism warfare because of the leeway given to the outfit by the international community.

Here are some photographs from Ministry of Defence, Sri Lanka

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Here is a graphical presentation,  showing how safe are the seafarers from sea pirates worldwide, during the years 2003 to 2008.

The graphs show the type of violence committed on seafarers:

• Taken Hostage: Highest in 2008 and lowest in 2004
• Kidnap/Ransom: Highest in 2004 and lowest in 2003
• Crew Threatened: Highest in 2003 and lowest in 2007
• Crew Assaulted: Highest in 2003 and lowest in 2006
• Crew Injured: Highest in 2003 and lowest in 2006
• Crew Killed: Highest in 2004 and lowest in 2005
• Crew Missing: Highest in 2003 and lowest in 2006,2007

Here are the pie charts for each year (2008 to 2003):

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Incidents of food poisoning in ships are not a surprise. Recently on January 08, at least 340 passengers of MSC Sinfonia, docked in Salvador, Bahia suffered severe vomiting and diarrhea. It was reported that an inspection found problems with the amount of chlorine in the ship’s drinking water and with the storage of some perishable food items, notably mayonnaise.

Ensuring food safety onboard is a team effort and here are some tips to avoid food poisoning in ships:

Storing

• Check goods before taking onboard
  • Source of supply: to be from approved vendors/brands
  • Check for expiry date
  • Do not accept damaged or open packages
  • Inspect frozen goods: to be in hard frozen state
  • Store frozen and chilled goods first
  • Do not store rotten vegetables and fruits
  • Follow FIFO (First In First Out) for using
  • Cold/Cool rooms: Check temperatures regularly and report problems if any
  • Cold/Cool rooms: Check indication lights are working and door seals on closure
  • Cold/Cool rooms: Check internal safety alarms, opening mechanisms operation
  • Use protective clothing to enter cold rooms and freezers
  • Carry goods safely

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Terrorist attacks in Mumbai on November 26, 2008 exposed that security system along the Indian coastline is weak. The coastal security is now being  reviewed to protect effectively India’s long coastline of about 7,500 km (about 5,700 km is along the mainland and 1800 km is around the islands). Also there are 12 major and 187 minor ports in this coastline to be protected.

The major and minor ports listed in Ministry of Shipping are compiled and given below:

Major Ports:

• West Coast

1. 1. Kandla (Gujarat)
   2. Mumbai (Maharashtra)
   3. Jawaharlal Nehru (Maharashtra)
   4. Marmugao (Goa)
   5. New Mangalore (Karnataka)
   6. Cochin (Kerala)

• East Coast

1. 1. Tuticorin (Tamil Nadu)
   2. Chennai (Tamil Nadu)
   3. Ennore (Tamil Nadu)
   4. Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh)
   5. Paradip (Orissa)
   6. Kolkata, Haldia (West Bengal)

Minor Ports:187

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The 76 year old Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has undergone successfully 12 hour bypass surgery for blocked heart arteries at New Delhi on January 24.

The nation prays for speedy recovery of the Prime Minister on Puri beach. Here is an amazing sand image of Indian Prime Minister on the beach of Puri brought out by Sunday Times, today.

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Alcatraz Cruises, providing ferry services to Alcatraz Island in San Francisco is already operating two environment friendly green vessels Alcatraz Clipper and Alcatraz Flyer.  Now one more greener vessel, Hornblower Hybrid has joined Alcatraz Cruises.

Some of the interesting features of Hornblower Hybrid vessel are:

• is a recycled catamaran, originally built as a commercial diving vessel
• 90 percent of the vessel interior and machinery have been modified to make the vessel environment friendly
• uses combination of diesel power, solar and wind energy
• has advanced power management system to ensure optimum use of different power sources

Hornblower Hybrid Vessel Facts

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INDRA-2009 is expected to start on January 26. INDRA is a biennial Indo-Russian joint naval exercise to promote cooperation in enforcing maritime law and countering piracy, terrorism, and drug smuggling. INDRA-2009 is the fourth such exercise since 2003.

Some of the interesting features of INDRA-2009 are:

• Some of the participating Russian ships:
  • Russia’s Northern Fleet: Pyotr Veliky (BCGN 099) nuclear-powered missile cruiser, commissioned in 1996.
  • Russia’s Pacific Fleet: Admiral Vinogradov (DDG 572), an Udaloy class destroyer, commissioned in 1988 (took part in INDRA 2007 also).
  • Russian Boris Chilikin class fleet oiler: Boris Butoma, built in 1978.
  • Russian Dubna class oiler: Pechenga built in 1978 (also took part in INDRA 2005, 2007).
  • Rescue tugboat Fotiy Krylov
• From Indian Navy, a Delhi-class destroyer, a guided-missile frigate are expected to take part with other warships.
• The five day exercise is to be held in the Arabian Sea.
• The Russian warships will also make a port call at Goa.

After the exercises, the Russian warships will pay visits to several ports in Indonesia and China.

Here are some photographs:

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INS Shikra, Indian Navy’s first dedicated helicopter base was commissioned today, January 22 at Mumbai. This exclusive helicopter base is expected to enhance air support for protection and security of the national assets off Mumbai coast.

Some of the interesting features of INS Shikra are:

• Commissioned by the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) and Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC), Admiral Sureesh Mehta, PVSM AVSM VSM.
• Captain Philipose G Pynumootil is the first Commanding Officer of INS Shikra.
• The Air Station, which started operation in 1964 with a small Helicopter Maintenance Unit is now capable of  providing  maintenance and flying support to a diverse range of helicopters operating from naval ships at Mumbai like
  • Sea King
  • Kamov 28
  • Kamov 31
  • Chetak
• The station also provides Air Traffic Control services to all civil and military helicopters operating in South Mumbai.
• Shikra, after which the Air Station is named, is a small aggressive raptor with short broad wings and tall tail adapted for maneuverability, agility and speed. The crest of the air station depicts a bolt of lightning in the talons of a Shikra, symbolizing the strike power of the aircraft. The red and grey body depicts spirit of the men of “blood and steel” who man the unit and constantly strive for excellence.

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We generally think that cleaning drain pipes in ships are easy and safe. But it is not so.

Here is the proof from the Division for Investigation of Maritime Accidents, Danish Maritime Authority.

Date: November 04, 2008

Ship: Soroe Maersk, container ship with 25 crew

Location: at East China Sea when the vessel was bound for Yokohama

Accident in brief: Around 1300 hours when the 29 year old 4th Engineer of the ship was cleaning dirty water drain pipe of fuel oil separators, was injured due to scalding on his face, neck, arms, hands, thighs, forelegs, ankles and feet. After first aid from the ship, same day by evening the injured Engineer was medevaced to a hospital in Okinawa by the Japan Coast Guard helicopter.

Here are some interesting photographs from the report.

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UNOSAT map explains ‘Reported Incidents of Somali Pirate Attacks and Hijackings in the Gulf of Aden for 2008′ in 10 different categories with attractive signs.

They are:

1. Hijacking: where pirates have taken control of ships

2. Attempted but Failed Hijacking: where pirates have deployed weapons and attempted to board a vessel but failed

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Sea based terrorism is increasing and terrorists go to the extent of building their own boats for their missions. Here is the proof.

Sri Lanka Army has captured a sophisticated boat manufacturing facility of the LTTE on January 17. The location is south of Puthukkudiyiruppu and north of  Maruthampuvel (see map). It is further reported that the boat manufacturing facility is suspected to be funded by foreign NGOs.

The seized vessels from the boat manufacturing facility are:

• 2 fast attack boats
• 2 water jets
• 7 small boats used for suicide missions

Here are some photographs from MOD, Sri Lanka of the captures boats.

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UNOSAT has released the map of ‘Reported Incidents of Somali Pirate Attacks and Hijackings in the Gulf of Aden for 2008′. All piracy incident data for the map were obtained from open sources.

Here is the summary of pirate attacks off Somalia coast for the year 2008.

• Total number of reported incidents off Somali coast – 180
• Total reported pirate attacks off Somali coast – 115
  • Successful hijackings – 46
  • Attempted but failed hijackings – 69
• Suspicious approach incidents which did not result in an actual pirate attack – 65
• Attack Success Rate
  • January to July : 42%
  • August: 70%
  • September: 45% (chart shows as 48%)
  • October: 28%
  • November: 41% (chart shows as 42%)
  • December: 25%
• Overall hijacking Success Rate: 40%

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Are you looking for the Best Job in the World ?

Here it is. The State Government and Tourism Queensland are searching worldwide suitable candidates for the ‘Best Job in the World’ – a $150,000 six month contract based on the Great Barrier Reef island, Queensland, Australia.

Some of the interesting features of the ‘Best Job in the World’ are:

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