Feature Focus – Page 3 – Professional Mariner

West coast floating offshore wind, pluses and minuses

As the offshore wind industry begins to blossom in the U.S., companies are eager to be part of the action even though questions still linger about the viability of meeting the federal government’s ambitious green energy goals. The “single most important factor” to future development of the technology is government support, according to the Global Wind Energy Council. The Biden-Harris…

Appraising New “Green” Propulsion Systems

The race to reach a decarbonized, “net zero” maritime industry by 2050 is, in some ways, similar to the advent of containerships some 70-plus years ago. In the 1960s and 1970s, freight carriers, terminal operators, shoreside labor, engineers, and other interested parties tried out different container sizes, construction materials, and configurations before the familiar 40-foot and 20-foot steel container became…

NOAA mariners set sail for science

No matter the flag, language, or sea conditions, the work of a professional mariner is universal and somewhat standardized in terms of experience from the deck to the bridge to the engine room. But aboard the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s research vessels, a mariner can be assured of participating in a variety of missions, all carried out in the…

Maritime safety gear, training balance on innovative technology

Anything can happen on the water and for commercial maritime vessels safety is a top priority, so it pays to be prepared. Technology has worked its way into other aspects of the maritime industry – autonomous navigation or digitalized fleet planning, for example – but it can also improve ship safety through modernized equipment and up-to-date training for mariners.…

New maritime safety report addresses ‘a changing industry landscape’

A new safety report from DNV and Lloyd’s List Intelligence highlights the need to cultivate improved safety standards in the maritime industry against the backdrop of fundamental industrial shifts such as decarbonization and digitalization. The latest safety report by DNV and Lloyd’s List Intelligence – Maritime Safety Trends 2012–2022: Advancing a Culture of Safety in a Changing Industry Landscape –…

Old ideas revived to ‘green’ the vessels of today and tomorrow

One of the true oddities of 20th Century maritime shipping was the NS Savannah, a 596-foot combination cargo/passenger vessel launched in 1959 at the New York Shipbuilding yard in Camden, NJ and the first nuclear powered merchant ship ever built. Laid down as part of the Eisenhower Administration’s Atoms for Peace Initiative, the unique vessel was built at a cost…

Greening ships design by design

Designing environmentally friendly ships and converting existing vessels requires a major multidisciplinary approach, involving the extensive expertise of naval architects, designers, engineers, vessel operators, equipment suppliers, and other stakeholders. It seems everything is on the table when it comes to green ship design, including fuel efficiency, emissions reduction, and the use of sustainable materials. The common thread is the goal…

Personal communication challenges and solutions for mariners

Social isolation is a huge problem for mariners, especially those traversing the open seas. The voyage between China and the U.S. West Coast, for example, can take upwards of 18 days. That’s a long time to be out of touch with family, friends, and any entertainment. The recent Seafarers Happiness Index (SHI) published by the Mission to Seafarers reports that…

Maritime AI: A call to collaborate, integrate, facilitate

How far can artificial intelligence, machine learning and advanced automation take the maritime industry? It could be very far indeed, but it’s relatively early days and somewhat complicated, involving many moving parts. AI and its contemporary technologies are about planning and collaboration for the maritime trade, and tackling pressing environmental, sustainability, and governance (ESG) challenges. It is the wave…