Mariner_World

22/09/2024

Did you know about the floating cities of the sea? 🚢🌊

Single Buoy Moorings (SBMs) are like giant anchors in the deep ocean, providing a safe haven for massive ships to load and unload precious cargo. They're especially important for transporting liquids like oil and natural gas. 🛢️⛽️

Fun fact: Some SBMs are so big they could fit an entire soccer field on top! ⚽️🏟️

Have you ever seen an SBM in action? Share your thoughts below! 👇

11/09/2024

1957 Liners lined up in NY, photo is either suffering bad color fade or someone did a bad job of coloring. SS united States seems to be sporting blue funnels and Queen Mary has three different colors for her funnels, but otherwise a nice shot from a moment in time we will never see again.

16/08/2024

15/08/2024

Do ship engines have turbochargers?

Marine engines do have turbochargers and they are massive.

They can weigh about 18 tonnes and have pressure ratio of around 4.5 to 5.5, that means they can produce a boost of 4.5 to 5.5 bar if atmospheric pressure is considered as 1 bar.

They are of constant pressure type instead of Pulse type used in typical automobile engine.

In this type of turbocharger the exhaust of the turbocharger doesn't directly enter the turbines instead it passes through a plenum which normalises the pressure or makes it constant before entering the tubines. This makes them spool slowly but marine engines are running at constant speeds for very long hours so, it makes turbocharger more efficient. But this type of turbocharger is not suitable for automobiles.

The largest engine in the world Wartsila Sulzer 14 RTA96-C tops at 120rpm and cruise speed of less than 100rpm can't spool a pulse type turbocharger. And this engine has 2 of those turbochargers mounted on top of the engine.

Turbochargers used can be radial or axial.Radial type turbochargers are the most used type due to its simplicity. But Axial type turbocharger gives the most efficiency and they are installed on larger engines.

These turbocharger makes the marine engines which runs on HFO very efficient and makes them reach thermal efficiency near to 50%.

14/08/2024

MAN B&W, originally Burmeister & Wain (B&W), was founded in 1843 in Copenhagen, Denmark. The company began by producing steam engines and expanded into shipbuilding and diesel engine production. In 1898, B&W signed a contract with Rudolf Diesel, securing exclusive manufacturing rights for his diesel engine design in Denmark. This led to the construction of the world's first ocean-going diesel-powered ship, M/S Selandia, in 1911.

In 1980, B&W was acquired by MAN (Maschinenfabrik Augsburg-Nürnberg), a German company with a long history in engine manufacturing. This acquisition led to the formation of MAN B&W, which became a major player in the marine diesel engine market. By 2000, MAN B&W engines held over 70% market share in two-stroke diesel engines, a testament to their efficiency and reliability.

MAN B&W engines are known for their wide range of applications, from marine propulsion systems to power plants. The engines come in various configurations, with two-stroke and four-stroke models, and are renowned for their large-bore sizes, reaching up to 95 cm in diameter. The company's product line includes the electronically controlled ME diesel engines introduced in 2002, offering improved fuel efficiency and reduced emissions.

MAN B&W has production facilities in several locations, including Augsburg, Copenhagen, Frederikshavn, Saint-Nazaire, Aurangabad, and Shanghai. The company continues to innovate in engine technology, focusing on sustainability and efficiency.

05/08/2024

Navigation playground

04/08/2024

Boka Vanguard is a semi-submersible heavy-lift vessel with a remarkable deadweight capacity of 117,000 tons. This unique ship, operated by Boskalis, features a 'bowless' design, allowing it to accommodate overhangs on both the bow and stern. It measures 275 meters in length and 70 meters in breadth, offering an expansive open-end deck space ideal for transporting exceptionally heavy and large cargoes such as offshore drilling rigs, oil production platforms, and other substantial structures. This vessel's innovative design and capabilities enable it to serve as an offshore dry-dock facility, providing maintenance and inspection services without the need to return to port, thus minimizing downtime for its cargo.

The ship's versatility and capacity have made it an invaluable asset for various complex maritime operations, including the transport of the Jack/St. Malo oil platform and serving as a floating dry dock for the Carnival Vista cruise ship's repairs.

03/08/2024

The most famous cargo ship in the world, Emma Maersk was built at the Lind Yard in Denmark,& was the largest container ship ever built until 2012. Emma Maersk measures 397 meters in length, 56 meters in beam, and has a draught of 15.5 meters. She can carry around 15,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), although by Maersk's calculation method, her capacity is listed as 11,000 TEUs.

The ship is powered by the Wärtsilä-Sulzer 14RTFLEX96-C engine, the world's largest single diesel unit, capable of producing 109,000 horsepower. Emma Maersk's innovative design includes features to lower environmental impact, such as exhaust heat recovery and a silicone-based hull coating that reduces drag and saves approximately 1,200 tons of fuel per year. She also has a waste heat recovery system that improves efficiency by 12% and reduces emissions.

Emma Maersk's regular route includes ports in northern Europe and the Far East, making stops at major hubs like Ningbo, Xiamen, Hong Kong, and Rotterdam.

28/07/2024

Marine engineers often embody the phrase "dirty hands, clean money." Their work involves maintaining and repairing the complex systems and machinery that keep ships operational, which can be physically demanding and involve getting quite dirty. Despite the gritty nature of the job, it is a well-respected and well-compensated profession. Marine engineers ensure the smooth operation of a vessel's engines, navigation systems, and other critical components, which is crucial for the safety and efficiency of maritime operations. Their hard work and expertise are rewarded with good pay and job stability.

28/07/2024

Largest Supertanker Twice As Long As Titanic

The Supertanker Seawise Giant was twice as long as the Titanic. Actually, it was so huge it couldn’t navigate either the English Channel, Suez Canal, or Panama Canal. Although fascinating, the story of Seawise Giant is far less known than the story of Titanic, says an article published in Medium.

Seawise Giant’s stunning specifications

With a length of 458 meters (1,504 feet) Seawise Giant was the longest self-propelled ship ever built.

Seawise Giant also possessed the largest deadweight tonnage of 564,763 tons.

It could carry 4.1. million barrels of crude oil at a relatively high speed of 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph).

Two Mitsubishi steam turbines provided a stunning 50,000 horsepowers.

When at full speed, Seawise Giant needed 9 kilometers (5.5 miles) to stop.

The rudder weighed 230 tons, the propeller weighed 50 tons, and the anchor weighed 36 tons.

Supertanker’s initial purpose was to transport crude oil between the United States and the Middle East.

Surprisingly, it required only 40 men crew.

A short history of a long supertanker

During its 30 years long stellar career, Seawise Giant changed owner five times and was also renamed five times.

Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd. from Japan was commissioned to build Seawise Giant in 1974.

Five years later, in 1979, the ship was finished, however, the Greek owner refused to take delivery because he had gone bankrupt.

Jumboisation

Sumitomo shipyard enlarged already huge Seawise Giant by a third through a process called jumboisation and sold it to Hong Kong ship magnate C.Y. Tung.

In 1988, during the Iran-Iraq War, the ship was sunk by the Iraqi Air Force off the coast of Iran.

After being sunk on the bottom of the sea for a year, the Norwegian conglomerate Norman International heaved the ship from the seabed in 1989, repaired it, and renamed it the Happy Giant.

Norwegian mogul Jorgen Jahre bought it for $39 million (in today’s value $81 million) and renamed it the Jahre Viking.

In 2004, the ship was sold to Norway’s First Olsen Tankers, got the new name Knock Nevis and became a stationary storage unit for crude oil in the Persian Gulf.

In 2010, the ship received a new name (the Mont) and was sold to Alang Ship Breaking Yard in India to be scrapped. It took over a year and tens of thousands of workers to disassemble Seawise Giant.

Conclusion

Bigger is not always better. Seawise Giant was so big it couldn’t travel through either Suez nor Panama Channel.

Since it had a draft of 24 meters (80 feet) it was impossible to anchor her in most of the world’s ports.

Eventually, her size proved more of a burden than an advantage.

It’s unlikely, any ship of comparable size will ever be built again.

27/07/2024

An Able Seaman (AB) is a vital member of a ship's crew, primarily responsible for various tasks on the deck and assisting in the overall operation of the vessel. With at least two years of sea experience, an AB is skilled in deck operations, maintenance, and safety procedures.

The duties of an Able Seaman include performing routine maintenance such as chipping, painting, and cleaning the ship's deck and structures. They assist in mooring and unmooring operations, handle cargo during loading and unloading, and operate deck machinery like winches and windlasses. An AB also plays a crucial role in emergency situations, managing lifeboats, rescue boats, and other lifesaving equipment, ensuring the ship's readiness for any crisis.

Additionally, an AB is responsible for navigational watch duties, steering the ship under the officer's guidance, and keeping lookout for obstacles or other vessels. They must be proficient in using navigational tools and understanding nautical terms and signals.

To become an Able Seaman, one must complete relevant maritime training and certification, including courses in personal survival techniques, fire prevention, and first aid. Physical fitness and the ability to work under challenging conditions are also essential.

Overall, the role of an Able Seaman is multifaceted, requiring a combination of practical skills, safety knowledge, and teamwork to ensure the smooth and safe operation of a ship.

14/07/2024

Singapore