Oil/Ore (O/O) An OBO is an oil tanker, which is equipped to carry ore in its centre cargo compartments. Compared with a similar-sized conventional tanker, the main differences revolve around the centre compartments, which are located over double bottom tanks, and have large, heavy steel hatch covers. The … Continue Reading
Slow Speed Control
The estimation of speed and knowing when to reduce speed when approaching a berth is not always easy and confidence can only come with experience. On very large ships, such as VLCCs, some guidance may be available from reliable doppler logs, but … Continue Reading
Visual Storm (Cyclone) Warning Signals for Indian Sea Ports
When storm (cyclone) warnings are given by news channels, they mostly report only the storm warning signal numbers hoisted in sea ports. What those signal numbers imply are not known to the common man listening/viewing the news.Here are some … Continue Reading
Fire Wires or Emergency Towing-off Pennants (ETOP’s), MEG 4, ISGOTT Edn 6th Recommendations
Emergency Towing-off Pennants or ETOP's is usually referred to as “ Fire wires,” which provide a method of towing the vessel away from the berth in the event of an emergency. The intent of rigging fire wires or emergency towing pennants is to facilitate the movement of the vessel by tugs without the … Continue Reading
Safety Officer Onboard – Definition, Duties and Powers
Definition of Safety Officer Safety Officer onboard the vessel is an appointed safety adviser who promotes safety onboard by carrying out inspections, identifying hazards and potential hazards to health, safety and the environment with subject to the agreement of the Master. The safety officer should be … Continue Reading
What is General Average & the importance of York-Antwerp Rules ?
General Average There is a General Average act when and only when any extraordinary or expenditure is intentionally and reasonably made or incurred for the common safety, for the purpose of preserving from peril, the property involved in a common maritime adventure. Extraordinary Sacrifice in … Continue Reading
What is a Marine Policy? Basics you need to know!
A contract of Marine Insurance shall not be submitted in evidence unless it is embodied in a Marine Policy accordance with Marine Insurance Act. The policy may be executed and issued either at the time when the contract is concluded or afterwards. Dictionary Meaning of " POLICY " : A set of ideas or a plan … Continue Reading
Documentary Credit System in Shipping – Basics Explained with Flowchart
Documentary Credit System is a payment system used in international trade where the BUYER and SELLER are from different countries. It is developed to include a measure of security to trade transactions by involving a third party, the BANK.The bank provides additional security for both parties i.e. it … Continue Reading
Propeller Cavitation Explained – Cause, Types, Effects & Avoidance
Cavitation of a ship's propeller is phenomena that can greatly reduce a ship propelling efficiency whilst at the same time lead to rapid degradation of the propellor.To learn further about cavitation, we need to get familiar or refresh our knowledge regarding Liquid vapour phases.Solid (ice) … Continue Reading
Technical Aspects of GMDSS Equipments – Propagation, Modulation, Terrestrial Equipment & Antenna
GMDSS Radio Signals Radio signals are transmitted as electromagnetic radiation and occupy the frequency range 3 kHz ~ 300 GHz. The radiofrequency range is divided into a number of bands. In the GMDSS system both terrestrial and satellite methods of communications are interlocked in order to provide an … Continue Reading
Note of Protest vs Letter of Protest – Why, When and Differences between NOP & LOP
Note of Protest Note of Protest or a NOP is a solemn declaration made on oath by a Ship Master that circumstances beyond his control have or may have given rise to loss and/or damage to his ship or its cargo or have caused him to take action which may render owners liable to legal action by another … Continue Reading
Frontal Depressions – Types of Fronts, Weather Associated and Frontolysis
Air Masses It is defined as a quantity of air with dimensions of about 500nm or so, with little or no horizontal variation of any of its properties, especially temperature. Air masses are named after the sources from which they originate. Main air masses on the Earth are Tropical Air Masses and Polar Air … Continue Reading
Clouds – Formation and Ten different Types
General Clouds are a collection of water droplets or ice crystals, or a combination of these two states of water, suspended in the atmosphere.The temperature of the air decreases steadily with increasing altitude, but the amount of water vapor does not necessarily decrease with altitude. Thus, the relative … Continue Reading