Hostile Environment News

The oxygen supply of the missing Titan submersible is expected to run out today around 10am GMT, or 8pm AEST.A frantic search continues for the Titan and its five occupants, with sonar buoys having recorded “banging” noises in the search area on Tuesday and Wednesday.With the vessel’s fate yet to be determined, the general public is asking questions about the safety of such touristic endeavours.The contextThe context in which the Titan has disappeared is disturbing. Reports have come out detailing court documents from a 2018 case that show OceanGate…

Two seafarers have been brought up on charges for their alleged roles in smuggling cocaine into Western Australia on board a Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier.The men, both from Montenegro, were serving as master, 43, and chief engineer, 39, on board the 58,000-dwt supramax St Pinot. They have been charged with importing a commercial quantity of cocaine by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and are expected to face Perth Magistrates Court on Friday.Police allege the pair…

Authorities intercepted a shipment of cocaine from a shipping container at Bell Bay near Georgetown, Tasmania on March 16.Tasmania Police and Australian Border Force (ABF) are working to identify the source of the 15-kilogram cocaine seizure, which was found in a refrigerated container originating from Sydney, Australia. A search was conducted in partnership with Tasmania Police detectives from Northern Drug Investigation Services and the Drug Dog Handler Unit. During the search…

Has the age of maritime discovery and exploration actually ended? Perhaps not exactly. As the history of maritime resilience and the human element shows, as far back as the 1500s and earlier, from using new navigational aids and improved ship designs, to coastal and inland route sailing, to navigating on open seas with uncertain charts, wayward icebergs, dense fog and luckily at times, clear starry nights, mariners have faced human element and maritime resiliency challenges. "Short of food and water…

Sentinel Marine’s latest new-build emergency response and rescue vessel (ERRV) has been deployed to service in the North Sea after being christened at Aberdeen Harbor. The new vessel, Mariner Sentinel, is operating on behalf of Statoil at its Mariner field to the east of Shetland – the sixth of nine vessels to join the firm’s fleet since 2015. Statoil’s Aberdeen-based offshore logistics and services supervisor, Line Kaldestad, officially named Mariner Sentinel in her role as the ship’s godmother.

HMAS Melbourne has launched an Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile in a test off the east coast of Australia recently. The missile is a short range, self defence weapon, optimised for anti-ship missile defence. In the recent test, Melbourne’s combat system tracked and engaged, a Pheonix Jet unmanned aerial vehicle target drone operated by Air Affairs Australia. Melbourne's Air Warfare Officer, Lieutenant Rhys Ryan said the activity went smoothly. “The firing took months of preparation to understand the combat system, and how it’s various components integrated with each other,” he said. Able Seaman Electronics Technician Nazmi Kenar performed the role of Fire Control Officer, responsible for coordinating and controlling the full weapon systems under the direction of the Air Warfare Officer.

NAMJet’s tractor jets seal the deal on a significant military boat building contract. The Army’s one-of-a-kind bridge erection boats fill an obscure, shallow draft workboat niche, while showcasing capabilities that someday could be commercially viable. When the U.S. Army turned to industry in its quest to design the next generation, prototype bridge erection boat, the ensuing competition attracted no less than three industry competition teams, all of whom eventually submitted prototypes in 2010. Birdon America, Inc., teaming with a (now) wholly owned NAMJet propulsion group, was one of the players. These models were then handed over to the U.S. Army for extensive testing. Eventually, in March of this year, Birdon won the US Army Bridge Erection Boat (BEB) platform contract.

Preserving pristine Coral Reefs in a remote location is no small task, but also of big importance. Global Diving & Salvage shows how it is done. On June 19, 1991 officials with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration were notified of a 121 foot long fishing vessel shipwrecked and hard aground in the coral reef on the Western Terrace of Palmyra Atoll. The wreck of the Taiwanese long line fishing vessel HUI FENG #1 lay deep into the reef in 20 feet of water, about one…

First Medical Group and Hawkes Associates Limited  announced a strategic partnership to deliver a range of risk management and training services to energy and construction industries in Libya and globally. Based in Aberdeen Hawkes Associates Limited have provided risk management services to global energy organizations for over 10 years and are particularly known for their health risk management activities. First Medical Group, (FMG) specialize in hostile environment and remote healthcare, and offer a range of occupational health and clinical services.

Mock-ups, practice and repetition are just some of the key elements of how AquaTerra’s Rope Access team prepare for any major job where there is the requirement to enter a potentially hazardous environment and the latest contract win for work within the concrete leg of an offshore platform is no exception. The Aberdeen Specialist Access company said it won the contract worth over £5 million based on their experience and history within these offshore structures, their proven track record with the client, their safety record and their quality assured and accredited credentials.

The Strike Club, an insurer of shipowners and charterers seeking insurance protection against delays in the marine trades, is experiencing a stronger uptake of its covers, whether for mutual entries or for the fixed-premium covers for war risks, loss of earnings (LoE) and bespoke delay risks. LoE business is particularly strong, and the club now offers an increased limit of $4 million each incident (up from $3.375 million). The club, now in its 56th year of trading, has an S&P rating of BBB+ with stable outlook. This was reconfirmed by the rating agency after it announced new criteria for the rating of insurance companies, including 14 marine mutual insurers.

The Series 44M with the AM propeller design is suitable for applications from engine room exhaust to cargo hold ventilation fans. The new die-cast aluminum propeller has been specifically engineered to enhance the operating performance of their Series 44M Ductaxial fan. The Series 44M with the new AM propeller is available in sizes 12 to 48 inches and produces up to 65,000 CFM and up to 4 inches of static pressure. The Series 44M with the AM propeller design is available for use in a variety of hostile environment applications, from engine room exhaust to cargo hold ventilation, in offshore oil rigs or workboats. Sean Steimle, President of Hartzell Air Movement, states “The AM propeller is a direct result of listening to our U.S. and global marine customers’ requirements.

Skye Maritime, a provider of counter-piracy embarked security guards, appoints Ben Smith to its management team. Ben served for 15 years in the British Army as a Special Operations reservist; he was also an attorney in the UK, appearing in the UK equivalent of District, Military and Appellate courts in over 2000 cases. From 2008 Ben served in Afghanistan and Iraq as a counter-insurgency operator and close protection specialist. His appointments included patrol medic and sharpshooter. He regularly delivers hostile environment training and threat briefings to major US and UK news networks, and still delivers weapons and tactics training to law enforcement, military and civilians as a consultant firearms instructor.

Following the discovery of a potential debris field at Amelia Earhart’s proposed crash site offshore Nikumaroro Island in the Western Pacific, Sonardyne International Ltd is now able to reveal that it’s Ranger 2 USBL tracking system together with a Lodestar GyroUSBL was the acoustic positioning technology of choice for the mission. Provided to Phoenix International, the expedition contractor, Ranger 2 was used to position both the ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) and AUV (Autonomous Underwater Vehicle) used in the underwater searches. The U.S.

Allen Marine, Inc. has announced the construction of the world's first aluminum floating dry dock. This fully self-contained, eco-friendly unit represents a major breakthrough in boat-lifting equipment. The aluminum floating dry dock is the brainchild of CEO David Allen. The dry dock is 140 feet long, with 42 feet of space between the 26-foot tall wing walls. It is capable of lifting vessels of up to 1000 tons, at 5 LT/feet of keel block loading. The Allen Marine floating dry dock is unique because it is constructed entirely of marine-grade aluminum (a high-caliber alloy).

"I could not think of a better way to formally start the ‘Year of the Seafarer’ other than by commissioning a new training centre, such as the new branch of the Arab Academy in Port Said,” said IMO Secretary-General Efthimios E. Mitropoulos on Saturday, 9 January, as he formally opened an extension to the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT). The extension is on a new 77-acre site allocated for that purpose by the Governor of Port Said, who also officiated during the ceremony together with other senior officials of Egypt and Dr. Mohamed Farghaly, Director General of the AASTMT since October 2007. This latest expansion of the Academy comes within the context of significant development in the City of Port Said…

Arctic shipping operations are set for dramatic growth due to vast energy resources and a rise in cruise ship calls – but to maximise opportunities, the industry needs urgent solutions to challenges ranging from sovereignty claims to design and crewing for a hostile environment. Some 200 delegates will discuss the latest issues at Arctic Shipping 2008 - the fourth annual conference in the world-leading series from Lloyd’s List Events - which takes place in , from April 8-10. Among 50 government and industry-wide speakers, 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.

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 11 and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11 took their final steps toward deployment as they completed the Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) March 2. The exercise was designed to test the group’s ability to operate in a complex, hostile environment along with other U.S. and coalition forces. “This was a perfect opportunity for everyone to come together to hone their skills,” said Command Master Chief (AW/SW) Billy Ward. Ward said JTFEX effectively simulated real-world situations Nimitz could encounter during its time in the Persian Gulf. “I know we have the talent and skill to take on any challenge and win,” Ward said. Capt. Ted Branch, Nimitz’ Commanding Officer, held captain’s call March 3 for the ship’s crew.

Riverine Squadron (RIVRON) 1, based at Naval Amphibious Base (NAB) Little Creek deployed March 8 after a year of intense training with Marine forces. The deployment marks the first for a riverine squadron since the Vietnam War. More than 100 riverine Sailors deployed to the Middle East to integrate with Marines from the II Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) to conduct maritime security operations (MSO) along rivers and other inland waterways: denying the use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack; a haven for insurgent activities; or the illegal transportation of weapons, people or material in Iraq. “The combat skills training…