If you're learning about it here, you've already missed the fourth annual Arctic Shipping conference, taking place this week in St. Petersburg: Cruise Calls Add Fuel to Energy-Based Arctic Shipping Challenges (MarineLink.com, March 28).
Among other presentations, Mr. Meilaender-Larsen will point to the problems raised by a shortage of crew trained for cold-weather operations:
DNV senior principal surveyor Morten Meilaender-Larsen will explain the technical and human factors in risk evaluation for cold climate operations.
Meilaender-Larsen will go on to highlight crew issues including an extreme shortage of ice- experienced personnel. Design and crew concerns over tankers, gas carriers and support vessels also apply to the fast expanding Arctic cruise sector, he warns: “These ships were not designed for ice and there is little relevant experience among their crews, so you have to ask questions about rescue and evacuation.”
and Richard Hall will talk about using satellites to navigate through or around sea ice:
A new aid to ice navigation will be described by Richard Hall, business development manager at Kongsberg Satellite Services of Norway.
The company’s Image Anywhere system provides real time access to high-resolution satellite images of ice conditions, enabling a ship to plot the safest and most economical route through or preferably around the ice. Launched last year, the system is currently in use with the Norwegian coastguard. “The aim is to improve safety and productivity in a hostile environment where human activity is increasing every year,” says Mr Hall. “EU trials in the Baltic in 2005 showed that such data offers potential time savings of 20%. And if a ship can avoid breaking ice, it will also save money by using less fuel and needing less hull maintenance.”
Do the environmentalists want to stop the advent of shipping in the arctic in its tracks?
If so, if this really truly is a must do objective, then will they consider geo engineering methods to refreeze the ice pack, hence block the shipping lanes, and save the polar bears while they're at it, within only several years?.... Silence. Just as I thought, all talk, no action.
Posted by: r4 ds | February 05, 2010 at 01:58 AM