Tag: IMarEST

Industry Associations

Developing A Career Path For New Generation Of Marine Scientists

Ship security alert system Pole Star Space Applications has released an upgrade to its ship security alert system (SSAS) featuring new hardware from SkyWave Mobile Communications that allows longer messages and faster transmission.The new Pole Star DSAS has been engineered to build on the quality of service provided by earlier transceivers, many of which are still in service from first installation. In contrast to the legacy units which relied on Inmarsat D+/IsatM2M connectivity that restricted message packets to a handful of bytes in size, the new SkyWave IsatData Pro takes advantage of Inmarsat's I4 satellite constellation. While the short message packets were and continue to be perfectly adequate for SSAS purposes, they did inhibit the development of more sophisticated asset tracking applications.Pole Star worked with hardware manufacturer SkyWave to develop a DSAS unit which exceeded the previous models' levels of performance and reliability. IEC testing and fresh classification society Type Approval has been completed to ensure that the equipment meets regulatory approvals.The DSAS redesign process required Pole Star to produce a unit that could be retrofitted with the minimum of disruption, working to the same physical footprint as previous models, with no requirement for re-cabling or other structural modifications. As ...

A tribute to the engineering staff Sea travel is one of the safest forms of travel both for people and cargo; however recent events off the coast of Italy remind us only too well that the unexpected can happen. Ironically the Costa Concordia incident happened just three months short of the anniversary on 15 April of the centenary of the sinking of one of the most famous ships of all - RMS Titanic.To mark the centenary, a new a 16-page fully illustrated commemorative booklet has been published as a tribute to the engineering staff, all of whom lost their lives on that fateful night working in the depths of the ship to supply power for lighting during the evacuation and to enable radio distress signals to be sent until just three minutes before Titanic finally sank beneath the waves.The legacy of the sinking of Titanic comes in many different forms according to the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) - this booklet published by the Guild of Benevolence, the only charity in the world with a direct connection to the Titanic is just one of those legacies, and it spells out the others along with illustrations of the ...

In London, on Thursday 23 - Friday 24 February 2012 The introduction of non-native species via the discharge of ship's ballast water is one of the main threats to marine biodiversity, with alien species often capable of out-competing native species - effective ballast water management (BWM) and the dissemination of good practice are thus essential throughout the marine community, which is why the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) is the host of a BWM Special Interest Group, the Ballast Water Expert Group (BWEG).'Friends of BWEG' include the International Maritime Organization's GloBallast Partnerships Project, which is supporting the inaugural IMarEST Ballast Water Technology Conference, with its theme 'Impending Convention Requirements and Challenges'.Being held in London on Thursday 23 - Friday 24 February 2012 the highly topical conference is chaired by Tom Mackey- Senior Consultant, Hyde Marine and Co-Chairman, IMarEST Ballast Water Expert Group, with keynote addresses by his co-Chair, Dr David Wright, University of Maryland - 'The challenge of achieving compliance - is it physically possible?'; and Chris Wiley, Chairman IMO BW Working Group - 'Overview of the IMO Ballast Water Management Convention'.February's event will build on the highly successful 2nd IMO-GloBallast and IMarEST Shipbuilders' Forum on the ...

Ships should be aware of this danger and ensure that the arc flash hazard is managed Electrical systems have been used successfully for over 150 years in ships and typically the main hazard from electricity is believed to arise from electrocution. However, with the rising demand for power on ships leading to the subsequent installation of electrical power systems with high fault current levels, there is an increased potential for arc flash accidents to occur.Arc flash is an electrical discharge or a short circuit through ionised air (plasma) caused by isolation or insulation integrity failure - and also the subject of 'Marine Arc Flash', a new conference being organised by the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) to be held in central London on Tuesday 8 November 2011."The aim of this new conference is simple," explains IMarEST's Interim Chief Executive, Fiona Morris. "We want to raise awareness of electric arc flash within the maritime community and uncover best practice to ameliorate the risk of arc flash in ships. The arc flash hazard is beginning to be addressed in land-based industries and considerable research has gone into developing standards, which allow the calculation of heat flux and advises on ...

Imarest publication provides guidance on safe solutions The introduction of both the EU Directive and subsequent UK legislation on increased use of biofuel content, and the consequent reduction of sulphur content to new gas oil (diesel fuel) specifications, resulted in a challenge for owners and operators of commercial and leisure vessels in coastal and inland waters.The new fuel can result in microbiological growth in engine components, and thus risks for all. A new IMarEST publication provides guidance on safe solutions to the issue."The short notice of the DfT consultation was something of a sudden blow to the maritime sector," explained Alan Cartwright, Vice Chairman of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology's (IMarEST) Small Ships Group (SSG). "The small commercial vessel, recreational and inland sectors were very concerned about the potential for introducing biofuel content and at the same time reducing the sulphur content of Red Diesel."However, our close involvement with the DFT officials, who have been supportive of our sectors' needs, has helped to ensure that the UK legislation to meet the EU Directives should have least detrimental impact upon maritime and inland waterways operators. Nevertheless, we should all maintain our vessels' systems, monitor our fuel and keep ...