Freak waves a bona fide peril of the sea

Increasing evidence and awareness that rogue waves over 30m high can occur randomly throughout the world's oceans could increase shipowners' chances of defending cargo claims after encountering such waves, according to the North of England P&I club.

'Shipowners and their P&I clubs have historically found it difficult to defend cargo claims after being hit by freak waves as they are impossible to prove with conventional linear wave modelling,' says senior claims executive Peter Scott.

However, recent research and publicity - not least in the BBC Television programme Horizon: Freak Wave that was first broadcast last November - suggests the industry is now better placed to use a 'perils-of-the-sea' defence.

A ship entered in the North of England P&I Club was recently hit by a freak wave in the middle of the Indian Ocean. She was able to reach port, but the hull was breached and some cargo was damaged. Cargo interests alleged this was because the vessel was structurally unsound and therefore unseaworthy.

In preparing to defend the claim the North of England commissioned a technical analysis of the hull damage, which revealed the water pressures experienced were significantly greater than the hull design pressures. However, it soon became apparent that the costs required to test the technical evidence in court would be disproportionate to the value of the claim, so settlement was reached.

'However, for a larger claim, we now feel confident we could assemble sufficient technical proof that a rogue wave did exist and was the primary cause of cargo damage,' says Scott.

The BBC programme reported that during a brief, three-week radar satellite study, the German Aerospace Centre found a total of 10 monster waves around the world, ranging from 26 m to 30 m in height. It concluded: 'If the satellite data is right, it looks as if freak waves occur in the deep ocean far more frequently than the traditional linear model would predict.'

The programme also added that the Schršdinger equation from quantum physics shows it is theoretically possible for an unstable, rogue wave to form anywhere in the oceans by absorbing energy from adjoining waves.

Shipowners attempting to defend rogue wave damage claims will nevertheless need to show that structural maintenance has been carried out properly and carefully. 'In particular they will need to prove that any diminution of steel is with both the classification society's limits and the limit that would be adopted by a prudent owner,' say Scott.

SOURCE MER

Atlas is first to show cetacean distribution in NW Europe

To increase the awareness of how important the waters around Europe are for whales and dolphins, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) has published an atlas of the distribution of these animals in waters off north-western Europe.

The maps are based on sightings made by hundreds of observers over the past 25 years. The atlas is a first for these waters, and is the first in the world to take full account of the variation between areas in the amount of searching that observers have carried out to gather information.

Within the pages of the publication, the JNCC discovered that:

— Great whales occur predominantly over the deep shelf-break waters to the northwest and southeast of Britain, and west of Ireland
— The minke whale occurs most commonly in inshore waters to the east of Scotland and northeast of England, in the Minch and Sea of Hebrides and far offshore on the Rockall Bank to the west of Scotland
— Bottlenose dolphins are commonest off the western coasts of Wales and northeastern coasts of Scotland
— Common dolphins are most common to the south and west of England, Wales and Ireland
— Scotland’s waters are the main home of the white-beaked dolphin off Europe, and,
— UK waters hold the majority of harbour porpoises in Europe. —

The atlas was published through collaboration between JNCC (and European partners), the Sea Watch Foundation and the Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU).

SOURCE THE MARINE SCIENTIST

Newcastle University course approved by IMarEST

The IMarEST has recently accredited the Certificate 2 - Master of Engineering, Marine Technology, Naval Architecture, Offshore Engineering and Small Craft Technology at the University of Newcastle. The course has met the educational base requirements for registration as Chartered Engineer registration and the category of Member (MIMarEST).

Email: marketing@imarest.org

Pacific 2004 - International Maritime Conference, takes place next week from 3-5 February 2004

The Program Committee, chaired by Laurie Prandolini The Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (organised by the IMarEST, RINA, The Institution of Engineers, Australia) has structured the program around the theme of the conference Maritime Engineering - Challenges and Opportunities with informative and high quality sessions organised to include outstanding speakers from Australia and overseas. John C Jeremy, Conference Chairman.

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BAE SYSTEMS (Submarines and Naval Ships) Accredited

The BAE SYSTEMS (Submarines and Naval Ships) Graduate Development Framework was proud to recently receive formal recognition of accreditation through the Institute of Marine Engineering Science and Technology (IMarEST). Ron Salters and Eric Knowles of the IMarEST, and Joe Aubrey of Professional Engineers South Cumbria (PESC) travelled to the Barrow Site to award a certificate to John Hudson on behalf of the company.

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Got what it takes to inspire scientists & engineers of the future?

Then why not become a Science and Engineering Ambassador. Ambassadors need enthusiasm, commitment, and the ability to identify with and inspire young people. They will be formally briefed on education and working with schools, and will be able to be effective locally as part of a nationally run programme. For more information contact Holly Sheridan on 020 73822619 or e-mail holly.sheridan@imarest.org

Annual Young Navigators’ Competition

The Royal Institute of Navigation is holding a free competition for anyone between the ages of 9 and 23 years old. If you or anyone you know is interested in taking part then all you need to do is enter an essay or project with a title chosen from the following...

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Below is the current list of events organised by the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology itself: