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Modern-day ships are equipped with several modern equipment and safety measures to ensure a smooth and successful voyage. These new techniques have emerged and evolved from years and years of study, research and experimenting. One such system is the Automatic Identification System or AIS. This article discusses the meaning of this term, the purpose and uses of the system, its working, its limitations and the kind of role it plays on present-day vessels.
What is an Automatic Identification System?
An automatic identification system is a tracking system used by vessel traffic services. It displays the vessels lying in the proximity of another in order to avoid a collision. It uses transponders on ships. It is used for exchanging navigational information with the help of electrical signals.
What does AIS do?
As the term suggests, this system is automated and autonomous. AIS transponders are mandatory to be carried by all commercial vessels which have a gross tonnage of over 299 as well as all passenger vessels as per the International Maritime Organization since 2004.
AIS transponders consist of a global positioning system. The GPS collects the vessel position and location details. These details are automatically broadcasted via a transmitter at regular intervals of time. This information is received by base stations order vessels that are within range. These signals can be displayed on the computer all depicted on chart letters after processing. Some automatic identification systems also make the use of satellites for the same purpose.
Why is AIS used?
Automatic identification systems are quite often used as a surveillance tool especially in coastal areas where the authorities used to monitor the movement of ships through that area. The channels can also be used by the shore side authorities to convey information on tides and weather conditions to the incoming ships. Other information and instructions need to monitor ship containers in hazardous cargo for fishing vessels can also be provided with the help of AIS. It can also be used to find out about the availability of vessels in the proximity of an incident for SAR operations.
Another important use of the automatic identification system is the avoidance of collision. This is a part of providing navigational safety to the ships. Having an AIS is good for a ship as it allows to increase the situation awareness and decision making on the ship. It makes the crew of the ship aware of another vessel that may be in its vicinity. However, it is not advisable to solely rely on this system for avoidance of collision.
How does AIS work?
In the beginning, automatic identification systems were used terrestrially. In the system, the signal was sent from the boat to the land. It had a very small range of just about 20 miles and the signal began to get weaker as the boat moved further away.
Later on, satellite systems started getting adopted. Now the ships could send a signal to satellites and the satellites send them back to the land. This enables the authorities on land to know exactly where the ship is and at what time.
The automatic identification system consists of a transmitter, receivers and marine electronic communications link for sensor systems and display.
A GPS is normally used to derive the coordinates that are the position and timing of the vessel.
One channel is sufficient for communication. Still, the most station transmits and receive more than one radio channel so as to avoid interference and communication losses with ships.
Every 6 minutes, static information like name and call sign, length and beam, type of ship, location of antenna, MMSI no., IMO no. etc. are transmitted. dynamic information transmitted includes the position of the ship, the position time stamp and the course over ground. Other than this information transmitted at regular intervals of time includes the draught of the ship, destination, the type of cargo being transported, routine plan, etc.
The main purpose behind fitting AIS on ships is for their identification and navigational marks. In regions like the Panama Canal, the automatic identification system is also used to provide information about rain, wind and other weather conditions.
Though it was initially started as a method of controlling marine traffic and avoiding collisions, it is an undeniable fact that its capabilities are applicable to a wider spectrum. Nowadays these systems are used by port authorities, ship owners, managers, builders, ship agents, brokers, researchers, data analysts, charterers, hotel, and tour operators, search and rescue teams, operators, pilots, harbormasters, flag administrators, classification societies, passengers, sailors, vessel crew, coast guards, border patrol, marine enthusiasts, radio amateurs, environmental protection agents, etc.
AIS Types
Class A
Class A AIS is included for all SOLAS vessels of 300 gross tonnage and upwards engaged on international voyages, vessels of 500 gross tonnage and upwards not engaged on international voyages and passenger ships irrespective of size.
Class B
Class B AIS is intended for non-SOLAS vessels. These include domestic commercial vessels such as pleasure crafts. AIS Class B units provide less functionality than Class A units but they operate and communicate with AIS Class A units and other types of AIS units.
What Information is transmitted by an AIS?
An AIS can send 2 types of information – Dynamic or Static information.
1) Dynamic information refers to the data transmitted every 2-10 seconds depending on the vessel’s speed and course while underway or every 6 minutes if the vessel with Class A transponder is at anchor.
MMSI number: unique identification number with nine digits
AIS Navigational Status: “0=under way using engine”, “1=at anchor”, “2=not under command”, “5=moored”, “8=under way sailing”
Rate of Turn: right or left (0 – 720 degrees per minute)
Speed over Ground: from 0 to 102 knots (189 km/h) with 0.1-knot resolution (0.19 km/h)
Position: (latitude&longitude – up to 0.0001 minutes accuracy)
Course over Ground: relative to true north to 0.1°
Heading: 0 – 359 degrees
UTC seconds: the seconds’ field of the UTC time when these vessels’ data was generated
2) Static & Voyage related information is provided by the subject vessel’s crew and is transmitted every 6 minutes regardless of the vessel’s movement status
International Maritime Organisation number (IMO number): a unique code associated with the hull which remains the same throughout a ship’s lifetime even if it changes owners.
Call Sign: international radio call sign assigned by the vessel’s country’s licensing authorities
Name: Name of the vessel. It can have a maximum of 20 characters
Type: It consists of two digits. While the first digit indicates the vessel’s category and the second digit provides tells the type of cargo.
Dimensions: indicates the size of the vessel to the nearest meter
Location of the positioning system’s antenna on board the vessel: distance from bow, stern, port and starboard sides in meters
Type of positioning system: GPS, DGPS, Loran-C, GLONASS, etc.
Draught: 0.1 – 25.5 meters
Destination: upto 20 characters
ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival) at destination: UTC month/date hours:minutes
Where is AIS Used?
AIS used by a diverse set of professionals such as :
Port Authorities and Harbor Masters
Tug Operators and Pilots
Coast Guard and Border Patrol
Ship Owners, and Builders
Ship Agents, Brokers, and Charterers
Researchers and Data Analysts
Naval Search and Rescue teams
Flag administrators and Classification Societies
Vessel crews and family members
Hotels and Tour operators
Passengers or recreational sailors
Environmental Protection agents
Maritime Enthusiasts and Radio-amateurs
Limitations of AIS
AIS has proved to be an efficient and important part of modern ships. However much like any other implementation in the world, the AIS has its limitations.
First of all, the accuracy of the information which is received depends on the information transmitted and is only as good as the latter. Even today not all ships are equipped with an automatic information system. one should also be aware that an automatic information system can be switched off by any vessel at any time. Due to this, the ship might negate any information that it has previously received. Accuracy of the positions that is the latitude and longitude received by the GPS is also not certain. There is only so much that can be done about precision.
Finally, one must understand that the automatic information system is one of the best tools ever to be introduced in the marine industry. It forms an important part of the navigational equipment on board modern vessels. As useful as it is for navigation and accident prevention, it should be realized that the system is merely present for the purpose of assisting the crew of the ship and it cannot completely replace human beings or human resources.
Ships have been a part of human history since time immemorial. Over the centuries, humans have managed to design different types of ships for serving different purposes such as transport, rescue, fishing, leisure, etc. Even today, ships are an indispensable part of human life.
Thousands of ships set sail every day and several are under construction. All ships serve humans throughout their life while some meet an untimely and unfortunate end by capsizing. Sunken ships have led to losses of millions of lives and artifacts in history, some of which remain famous to date. This article lists some of the most amazing sunken ships in the world.
1) The HMHS Britannic
The HMHS Britannic
The HMHS Britannic was a sister ship of the infamous RMS Titanic. It was constructed by the same company i.e. the White Star Line after the sinking of Titanic. Keeping in mind the previous tragedy, the HMHS Britannic was built with more safety measures such as a greater number of lifeboats and a reinforced hull around the parts vulnerable to icebergs. It was much larger than the Titanic. It could have been a cruise ship but was requisitioned by the government as a hospital ship as the world war broke out. After about a year of service, it was brought down by the enemy fire. Luckily, most of its 1000 passengers survived. It is one of the most famous sunken ships in naval history.
2) MV Rozi
MV Rozi
MV Rozi or Tugboat Rozi is a ship that was deliberately sunk after being decommissioned, as an artificial reef in Malta. Divers are allowed to go scuba diving in the area. In fact, it has become one of the most popular scuba diving destinations in Malta. The ship has been under the ownership of Captain Morgan Cruises since 1992.
3) Giannis D
Giannis D
Giannis D was a cargo ship built in Japan in 1969. In 1983, the ship was on a voyage from Yugoslavia to Yemen. The ship drifted west of the set course in the Straits of Gubal and capsized that night and broke into half. Today, it is used as a diving site.
4) Frigate 356
Frigate 356
The ship was one of the last of the Soviet combat vessels built towards the end of the cold war during the early 1980s. The use of this vessel was discontinued following the fall of the Soviet Union. It is more than 300 feet long and currently can be found at the bottom of the waters of Cayman Bay. The marvel here is that the shape has not corroded or oxidized even when it sank more than 20 years ago because it was mostly made out of aluminum.
This was a vessel built-in 1867 in Ontario. It sank at the big tub harbor in 1885. It could not be repaired at it had suffered serious damage. However, the coal that it was shipping was retrieved. The hull of the ship is still intact and rests in the water at the depth of 20 feet a few yards away from Big Tub Harbor.
6) RMS Lusitania
RMS Lusitania
The RMS Lusitania was a British ship that was used to transport war munitions during the first world war under the group that it wouldn’t be attacked by the Germans as it was a non-military ship. It was briefly the largest ship in the world. It was sunk by a German U-boat in 1915. The wreck of the ship can be found near the lighthouse at Kinsale.
7) USS Arizona
USS Arizona
When we talk about sunken ships, how can we forgot this mighty warrior? USS Arizona is one of the most famous wartime casualties in the world. It came into service in 1916 and was struck in 1942. It sank during the attack on Pearl Harbour. It is one of the most famous shipwrecks in the world. Memorial to pay tribute to the Navy men who gave the lives for the country has been built on top of this wreck. It is one of the sunken ships in Pearl Harbor.
8) P29
P29 Maltese Patrol Boat
P29 was a petrol boat from Malta. It was resold to the country after being abandoned by the Volksmarine before the reunification of Germany. This is another example of a boat that was sunk for the purpose of recreational diving. It was scuttled in 2007.
9) Whydah Gally
Whydah Gally
This was a pirate ship that belonged to ‘Black Sam’ Bellamy. He was one of the most successful pirates in history. The amount of treasures that he collected in his life from ships would be was nearly 120 million dollars today. He and his ship met an end when his ship was struck by a huge storm and sank resulting in the death of most of his crew and himself. Most office Treasure also sank with the ship. The wreck was discovered 260 years later and much of the treasure has been recovered.
Another pirate ship, Queen Anne’s Revenge was one of the most fearsome ships to ever sail the seas. It was used as a flagship by the infamous pirate, Edward Teach, commonly known as Blackbeard. He used the ship for less than a year in 1717. The wreck of the ship was discovered in 1996. However, it took a long time for it to be identified as Queen Anne’s Revenge. Thousands of valuable items and artifacts were recovered.
11) USS Utah
USS Utah
The USS Utah is yet another example of a second world war causality. It also sank during the attack on Pearl Harbour in 1941. It was commissioned in 1911. The wreck of the ship remain in the Pearl Harbour. A memorial dedicated to the men who were killed in the attack has been placed at the wreck.
12) HMS Prince Albert
HMS Prince Albert
This ship was once used to do transport people from Nicaragua to Roatan. After it was decommissioned, it was purchased by a local resort owner. It was deliberately sunk to be turned into a popular recreational diving area.
Emergencies are not uncommon in the marine world, especially during a voyage. It is even more difficult to transport oil as oil tankers may be vulnerable to challenges like leakage, fire emergencies or threats from pirates.
Each and every person involved in the operation of a ship is trained to act in an emergency situation. There are some necessary precautions and safety measures that can help a ship’s management to ensure a risk-free and smooth sail.
How To Make Cargo Operation On Oil Tankers Safer?
Following are some of those safety measures which can make the cargo handling operations safe.
1) Close Accommodation Openings
The accommodation area of a ship is the living space which contains all the cabins for the ship’s crew, meeting rooms, lockers, mushrooms, provision stores, recreational rooms, etc. During a cargo operation, it should be ensured that all the openings to this area are closed. This helps to prevent cargo vapors from ingressing or entering. This measure needs to be taken for the sake of safety despite the discomfort that the crew might face because of the temperature and humidity.
2) Keep Vents Open
All cargo tank vents and high-velocity vent valves should be operational during the handling process. All P/V valves must also be checked during ballast watches for safe and proper operation.
3) Closing Sighting and Ullage Ports
An ullage tank is a tank that is almost full. On an oil tanker, all ullage ports must be closed securely and not opened until there is a requirement. No sampling, sound or auditing of tanks must be in progress while connecting or disconnecting the burning cable to the ship.
4) Shut Down Ballast Tanks
All segregated ballast tanks should be closed. Cargo leaks from the cargo tanks into permanent ballast tanks this can create a serious pollution problem. Ingress of water from the ballast tanks into the cargo spaces should also be checked on a daily basis.
5) Short Natural Ventilation
If need be, any kind of ventilation must be shut off or isolated from the direction of the cargo vapor flow.
6) Shut Tank Lids
No tank lids on the entire vessel should be left open. It should be ensured that all cargo tank hatches, ports or access openings are closed tightly. In this manner, the escape of oil and other hydrocarbon vapors can be prevented.
7) Strainer Cover, Drain Plug and Inspection Plates
A strainer is a simple device that is installed to hold large foreign objects from causing damage or blockage. It should be ensured that the strainer cover, inspection plate and drain plug located in the pump room are in proper positions.
8) Check Pump Room
A pump room is that area of the ship which contains the largest concentration of pipelines. The pump room of a ship should be positively checked at regular intervals of time especially during cargo handling.
9) Gas Freeing Operation
During a gas freeing operation or tank washing, it should be ensured that all the washing covers are removed. At all the other times, they should be closed. Only the people who are directly involved in the operations should be allowed on the main deck. Also, everybody involved in the operation should be dressed appropriately and observe anti-static precautions.
10) Checking High-Pressure Alarm
During the loading operation, the high-pressure alarm of the cargo tanks should be checked properly.
11) Shut AC If Required
Sometimes the air conditioning systems’ intake air could draw cargo vapors. In such a case, the AC system should be stopped. Hence, the accommodation area will find its ports shut.
12) Cargo Hoses and Flange Connections
A cargo hose is used to ship to shore products like chemicals. A flange is a rim that is installed for increasing the strength of another object. Cargo hoses in flanges should always be checked thoroughly before use. All the courses should also be handled properly. They should be lifted and not dragged on the deck. Cargo hoses in flanges should also be supported at various points in order to avoid twisting. They must also be adjusted according to the draught of the shape of the cargo operation proceeds.
In the same manner, all flanges must also be properly tightened using bolts. One should always be careful while removing a flange from any section of the pipeline in order to ensure that it does not contain oil at pressure and is made up of approved metal like steel.
13) Check Limit of Elevation
A metal cargo arm is designed in such a way that it can operate under various elevations arising because of the tidal effects. The limit of elevation of metal cargo arms must also be examined properly. This involves a comparison with the ship’s data. The cargo operation can only be improved in all the criteria for this are met.
14) Isolate Window AC Unit
If the time comes, any kind of window AC unit present on the ship needs to be shut down or isolated.
15) Check Gland Condition of Pumps
It should be ensured that the gland conditions of all the cargo pumps situated in the pump room are thoroughly checked and examined.
16) Check Alarms and Trips
It is to be ensured that all alarms and trips are working properly before any cargo operation begins.
17) Handling the Arm
The metal arm is acquitted with a parking lock. This parking lock should not be tampered with or removed unless and until the metal arm is empty. If it is opened before, it can lead to an oil spill. Also, if the arm has any ice on it, it must be removed immediately before opening the lock or else it could cause an imbalance.
18) Mooring Ropes
One should always keep an eye on the mooring ropes with which the arm is connected for operation. They should always be monitored, and the operation should be stopped immediately if there is excessive drifting.
19) Earthing
This is one of the most important precautions to be taken. Pipeline flow may electrostatically charge the static accumulator oil. Hence, pipeline bonding is mandatory so that electrostatic charge accumulation can be prevented. So, the pipelines should be bonded to each other and to the structure of the ship. The structure of a ship is finally naturally earthed to the sea through the hull.
20) Check Emergency Release
Emergency releases should be checked in advance and the draining arrangements should be ready so that as much oil as possible can be drained out if there is a situation of an oil spill.
21) Lighting
During night time, it must be ensured that the cargo station and pump rooms are provided with sufficient light.
22) Weather
The master of the ship and the terminal in charge should always keep an eye on the weather conditions at sea at all times. In case of rough weather like lightning or storms, the ship cargo operation should immediately be stopped.
23) Keep Equipment Ready
All sorts of safety equipment such as oil spill fighting equipment, firefighting equipment as well as personal protective equipment, gas detection equipment, etc. must be ready at all times to ensure maximum safety.
24) Crew
Finally, the crew of the ship should be well aware of their duties and must be well trained about how to react during an emergency situation at regular intervals of time.
Oil spill is the release of oil into the environment. Spilling of crude oil or any oil distilled product ( like gasoline, kerosene, diesel fuels, Stoddard solvent, hydraulic oils, lubricating oils) pollute the surface of the land, air and water environment
Oil spill is a kind of environmental pollution. Oil spill affects marine life for a decade after they occur. The effects are worse if it happens near the coastal communities. Birds, Fishes and other mammals all are affected. The oil penetrates into the structure of birds and the fur of mammals, reducing its insulating ability and making them more vulnerable to temperature fluctuations and much less buoyant in the water. Seas mammals, birds and fishes die if they ingest or inhale the oil. They may suffer deformities like stunted growth, fin abnormalities, fertility problems, etc.
Oil spills also have a negative impact on the local industries. The fishing, shipping and tourism industries often suffer economic losses.
Major Oil Spills
Here is the list of some of the major oil spills in the history of the maritime world.
Gulf War Of Oil Spill
F-14A VF-114 over burning Kuwaiti oil well 1991
The Gulf War of Oil Spill was one of the largest oil spills in history. It occurred because of the Gulf War. It was not an accident but a deliberate spilling. In 1991, retreating Iraqi forces intentionally released more than 240 million gallons of oil into the Persian Gulf. They did so in order to prevent US forces from landing on the Kuwait beach.
The resulting oil slick ravaged the marine ecosystem of the area. Thousands of seabirds and other endangered species died. A major health hazard on the people was pressed after the spill. The slick reached a minimum size of 101 miles by 42 miles and was 5 inches thick in some areas.
Booms and skimmers were used in order to keep the oil away from the desalination plants, which provided drinking water to residents in the area.
Deepwater Horizon oil spill is also known as the Gulf of Mexico oil spill or BP oil spill. This oil spill occurred at the Macondo Prospect on April 20, 2010. The BP oil spill is considered the largest marine oil spill in the history of the petroleum industry and estimated to be 8% to 31% larger in volume than the previously largest, the Ixtoc I oil spill. This accident led to the release of 4.9 million barrels of oil into the sea.
The accident was caused by the explosion at the oil rig. The oil continuously leaked for 85 days until it was plugged. 11 workers died in this accident.
Almost 10 million pounds of oily residue was removed from Louisiana shorelines. It killed vegetation and caused erosion. The oil disaster affected the cellular function of the killfish. A US district court found BP responsible for the spill due to negligence. They had several fines and civil settlements totaling 60 billion dollars. It is still to date one of the most infamous oil spills in the US.
Ixtoc I Oil Spill
Ixtoc I oil spill accident led to the release of 140 million gallons of crude oil into the Bay of Campeche. Ixtoc I was an oil well bring which was being drilled in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico by a government-owned country Pemex in 1979. On June 3, the circulation of the drilling mud failed, causing an oil spill, explosion, and fire that led to the destruction and sinking of the rig.
The spilled oil covered the area of 1100 square miles. It caused severe damage to marine life. To slow down the flow of the oil, mud and sheet balls were dropped into the well. Later the spilled oil was contained using skimming equipment and bonus.
Atlantic Empress
Atlantic Empress Oil Spill
SS Atlantic Empress was a large crude oil carrier built in Denmark and launched in 1974. Just five years later, in 1979, it collided with the Aegean Captain 18 miles off the coast Tobago. It was on its way to Texas while the other oil transport was en route to Aruba. It was owned by the South Gulf Shipping Company of Greece. The collision and fire claimed the lives of 26 of the Empress’s crew members.
Atlantic Empress burnt for two weeks before it sank after it was towed to shore. About 88.3 million gallons of crude oil were spilled into the sea. It was the largest ship-source spill ever recorded. No oil came ashore and no indications of any environmental damage were observed.
Atlantic Empress was the largest ship ever sunk. There wasn’t much cleanup needed because of the climate conditions.
Nowruz Field Platform
This massive oil spill accident took place on February 10, 1983. This oil spill was caused by a tanker ramming into a rig. 1500 barrels of crude oil leaked per day but as it was in the middle of the war zone so the oil spill could not be capped. The platform was attacked by the Iraqi helicopters and the slick caught fire. The rig was eventually plugged in September 1983.
Overall, 80 million gallons of oil spilled. Eleven people lost their lives during the capping. Skimmers and pumps of Norpol (a Norwegian company) were used for the cleanup process.
ABT Summer
ABT Summer Oil Spill
ABT Summer oil spill was loaded with approximately 1.9 million ballers of oil when it exploded just 800 miles off the coast of Angola, Africa. Tanker blew up at random causing the entire ship to start sinking. The cause of the explosion is still unknown. Out of 32 crew members, one died in this accident and 4 members went missing. They were never found and were declared dead.
ABT Summer oil tanker was an Iranian crude oil ship that was built in South Korea. 51-81 million gallons of oil spilled in this accident. The environmental impact was very less compared to what was expected. There was not much to clean up after the oil spill. The tanker burned for three days before sinking. Surprisingly, the oil was broken up by high seas. Along the coast, the action was taken to clean up the spill. It took a large number of workers and machinery to clean it up.
Castillo De Bellver
Castillo De Bellver Oil Spill: Source: CEDRE, ITOPF, CTX – Image: Castillo de Bellver in flames off the coast of South Africa
Castillo De Bellver oil spill started on August 6, 1983. This crude container ship caught fire about 70 miles north-west of Cape Town, South Africa. The tanker was carrying crude oil through an environmentally sensitive area. It was carrying 250,000 tonnes of light crude oil. The vessel was abandoned and broke apart after drifting offshore. Luckily, no human life was lost in this accident. A total volume of 145,000-170,000 tonnes of oil entered the sea.
Although the accident took placed in the area having rich flora and fauna, the environmental damage was less. There was little damage to the local fish market. “Black rain” of oil droplets fell immediately to the east of the spill during the first 24 hours on wheat-growing and sheep-grazing fields, but no long term damage was recorded.
Amoco Cadiz
Amoco Cadiz Oil Spill
Amoco Cadiz oil spill took place on March 16, 1978. It was a very large crude carrier (VLCC) owned by Amoco Transport Corp. On its last journey, the ship was heading for Lyme Bay in the United Kingdom when its rudder and hydraulic system were damaged. Several attempts were made by the German and French tug boats to pull the ship to open waters. But the ship hit a rock and began to leak. The stormy weather resulted in the complete breakdown of the ship. The ship ran aground on shallow rocks off the coast of Brittany.
Amoco Cadiz contained 1,604,500 Barrels of light crude oil. The US NOAA estimates that the total oil spill amounted to 220,800 metric tons of oil. It was listed as the world’s fifth-biggest oil tanker accident. The oil penetrated up to the depth of 20 inches in the sands of affected beaches. The Amoco Cadiz incident resulted in the largest loss of marine life ever recorded after an oil spill of that time.
Taylor Energy
Taylor Energy was an American oil company. Taylor oil spill is an ongoing spill located in the Gulf of Mexico, around 11 miles off the coast of the U.S. state of Louisiana. The spill started in 2004 because of the destruction of a Taylor Energy oil platform during Hurricane Ivan. It was noticed after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill took place.
Satellite imagery shows slicks varying in size, sometimes ranging up to 30 miles in length. These slicks have the potential to impact public marine resources including plankton, fish, birds, mammals, and turtles. As of 2018, it was estimated that 300 to 700 barrels of oil spills in the ocean every day. Taylor Energy has spent as much as $435 million or more decommissioning the site. They contend that nothing can be done to contain the spill.
MT Haven
MT Haven was a VLCC, hired by Troodos Shipping. In 1991, the ship exploded, caught fire and sank off the coast of Genoa, Italy. It became one of the largest shipwrecks in the world. Also, it was one of the worst oil pollution incidents in the Mediterranean Sea. The tanker was carrying 144,000 tons of crude oil.
The reason for the explosion was poor maintenance of the ship. Six crew members lost their lives in this accident. About 45 million gallons of oil spilled for 12 years. The oil spill caused severe damage to the marine life of the sea. Booms and skimmers were employed by a private company that recovered approximately 35,700 barrels of oil.
Odyssey Oil Spill
Odyssey was a Liberian tanker that sunk into the ship because of the explosion. This accident happened on November 10, 1988, 700 miles off Nova Scotia. The tanker suddenly exploded and broke into two, catching fire. The explosion occurred because of the storm. The spilled oil caught the flames and burned, so no oil reached the coastal area.
27 crew members went recorded missing and were assumed dead. About 43 million gallons of crude Brent oil spilled into the sea. There was no cleanup required as most of the oil had burnt away. The impact on marine life was also less. Only the fishes, birds were affected.
Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
Exxon Valdez oil spill was a massive oil spill that occurred on March 24, 1989, in Prince William Sound, an inlet in the Gulf of Alaska, the U.S.
The ship was carrying 53 gallons of crude oil when it struck Bligh Reef. The impact of the collision tore the hull of the ship and 11 million gallons of oil was spilled.
It was the worst oil spill in the history of the U.S. until the Deepwater Horizon oil spill that occurred in 2010. The oil slick covered 1300 miles of the coastline and killed hundreds of seabirds, otters, seals, and whales. Exxon paid about 2 billion dollars for the cleanup and 1.8 billion dollars for habitat restoration and personal damages related to the spill.
Kolva River Spill
Kolva River is a river that is surrounded by the cities in Russia such as Perm and Usinsk, Russia. They are in the Komi Republic. Kolva River oil spill took place on August 6, 1983. The cause of this oil spill was poor maintenance of the pipeline. Oil pooled around the rupture site for eight months. It was contained by the dam, but the dam ruptured letting the oil spill into the river.
About 2 million barrels of oil spilled into the river. Nobody died but the people of the village Kolva report digestive and respiratory organ issues along with the infectious disease. It is considered one of the major oil spills in Russia.
These were the major oil spills that took place in the maritime time world over time. These all resulted in the loss of marine life, loss of human life and economic loss.
A maritime crime is defined as any criminal activity carried out at sea. These criminal activities can be directed at vessels, could violate international laws or coastal state’s sovereignty or simply be the use of sea vessels for illegal activities.
Maritime crimes are a major setback for the marine industry as almost 80% of the goods are moved by ships. They can also pose serious threats to vessels, the goods being carried by the vessels and most importantly, the lives of crew members and in some cases, passengers. This article discusses some of the various activities which are termed as crimes in the marine industry.
1) Drug trafficking
Drug trafficking or illegal drug trade involves cultivating, manufacturing, distributing and selling drugs illegally. This is one of the most common maritime crimes as most illegal drugs are transported via sea.
2) Human trafficking
Human trafficking is one of the most common and most serious crimes in the maritime world. It is illegal to travel to another country without permission from the authorities. Sometimes people can get illegally and forcefully transported to another country for practices like slavery, though this was more common in the 19th and 20th centuries.
3) Illegal carrying of weapons and artillery
It is illegal to transport weapons and artillery on ships without authorization due to the sensitivity of such goods. Engaging in this activity is a punishable offense as it endangers the lives of people on the ship as well as those around it.
4) Piracy
Piracy or maritime piracy is an act of robbery or violence by attackers on a ship with the intention of plundering the ship for valuable items and properties. The people engaging in acts of piracy are called pirates. Though now declining steadily, piracy has been frowned upon since the beginning of time and is still one of the most notorious crimes that can be committed at sea.
Tax evasion is an illegal act of deliberately avoiding the paying of taxes. This is a very common crime in the maritime world. Many ship owners and companies try to avoid paying taxes by presenting false documents and incorrectly representing cargo material. The crime of tax evasion is one of the hardest to catch and prove and is currently on the rise.
6) Illegal fishing or sailing
Sailing or fishing in unauthorized areas at sea is considered a crime. Any ship present in an unauthorized spot for any kind of purpose is subject to punishment by law.
7) Unauthorized Entry
It is illegal for any ship to enter the marine boundaries of a country without seeking permission from the government of that nation. This is a punishable offense in all countries.
8) Smuggling of Exotic Plants and Animals
Smuggling of exotic plants and animals for wildlife smuggling is illegal for any ship without authorization. This is because wildlife smuggling involves the isolation of plants and animals. When they arrived at the destination, they may not be able to adapt to the new place. Animals may also cause infectious diseases in people.
9) Oceanic Pollution
Polluting ocean water by discharging sewage or oil in it is a punishable offense. Many countries have implemented strict policies against this. A discharge of oil in ocean waters greatly affects the coastal areas of the region.
Despite strict law enforcement, maritime crimes are still very common owing to the vastness of the world’s seas and oceans. There are no concrete boundaries to waters. It is very difficult to make people not engage in maritime crimes.
Some ways of improving the maritime security of the world could be the use of satellite tracking, more cooperation between countries, more efficient monitoring of ships and ports, etc.
Finally, it should be realized that the main reason why people engage in criminal activities is because of deprivation of resources. It is high time that all the countries of the world who operated with each other in order to solve global problems like hunger poverty, illiteracy, terrorism unemployment through proper education and equal distribution of wealth and resources, population control, etc. and bring world peace.
A lightship or a light vessel is a ship that can also operate as a lighthouse. These types of ships are used in waters that are too deep and where lighthouses cannot be constructed. Lightships play an important role in assisting other ships to navigate through waters.
A lighthouse is a structure, usually a tower or a building, which is used specifically to emit bright lights and assist maritime vessels and pilots for maritime navigational purposes during the dark.
Lightships were used more in olden times as compared to today. Nowadays due to the advancement and development of construction and architecture lightships are slowly going out of use.
The concept of a lightship has been in existence since Roman times. However, the first known modern light vessel was the scene of the Nore sandbank in England which was placed in 1734.
In the 19th century, the idea of a lightship moves towards the west. The United States of America started employing these ships in the country. This is where most of the technological advancement was made on the ship which included the redesigning and modification of the anchoring system to ensure stability during harsh climates.
In the beginning, oil and kerosene lamps were used on lightships. Later on, lights with refractive lenses were adopted.
Towards the 20th century, some light vessels were also equipped with warning bells which warned the people of danger in case of poor visibility or the presence of another vessel in the proximity. These bells could be heard at a radius of a distance of 24 kilometers from the ship.
Mooring
To keep the vessel fixed and its position fluke anchors were used. They are used even today. However, they were not sufficient to keep the ship stationary in rough seas. Now mushroom anchors that can weigh up to 4000 kgs are employed in these ships.
The hulls of lightships were previously built with wood. Now with technological advancement, wood has been replaced by damage resistant, non-corrosive, stronger and more durable material like iron or steel.
Appearance
Lightvessels at a time served another important purpose. The bodies of these ships were color-coded and easily identifiable. This helped the sailors in the oceans to confirm their location in the ocean during day time. Lightships used to operate for more than 12 hours a day, from sunset to sunrise.
These ships have been in use for more than a century and a half. They were used most towards the end of the 19th century before lighthouse towers started growing in number. This began to reduce the number of lightships.
Even today, they are declining in number and use. Currently, very few mobile lighthouses exist across the world. Due to more developed advanced navigation systems and satellite communication lightships are not required by many.
Still, we cannot overlook the kind of purpose that these ships have served in their time of operation. We should also keep in mind the kind of scientific minds possessed by people at that time who thought about the concept and actually made it into a reality.
