In former times, crewing of ships was not as regulated as it is now. The original practices were regulated following the realisation that inadequate training and flawed certification procedures in some countries meant that under-qualified seafarers were serving aboard many ships. Several serous maritime accidents occurred as a result of inadequate training of seafarers. Now,…
Sources of Information To help them to identify trends and potentially successful services or potentially weak areas of operation, shipping companies and organisations need to keep up to date with information that relates to shipping. Although some of this might not be direct shipping information, it will be of interest to some in the maritime…
SkySails wind propulsion system Engine, hull and propeller design More efficient engines are key to effective propulsion and therefore to fuel saving that ultimately saves money and promotes anti-pollution measures. The shape of a ship’s hull is important in determining how well she passes through the water in terms of resistance, while the size…
Although it was tried in the American freighter Savannah and in the German ship Otto Hahn, nuclear power is not used by merchant ships as it is too expensive to install, the nuclear scientists that would be needed to operate the nuclear reactor on board are very scarce and very highly-paid, and there is the…
This system involves generators producing electricity that drives an electric motor unit that turns the propeller shaft or other propulsion device such as azipods (see below). The system that drives most multi-directional tugs uses a modification of this system whereby the electric propulsion system drives the so-called “paddle-wheels” that create a water thrust. (See below.)…
The use of the internal combustion engine in ships was introduced in the early 1900s, and the Royal Dutch Shell tanker Vulcanus (built 1910) was probably the first motorship. One of the leading shipyards to design and build motorships was William Doxford at Sunderland in Britain. In 1906, the Doxford yard began planning the introduction of…
From the earlier steam turbine vessels where coal was the fuel, oil-fired boilers generate the steam that turns the turbines. This principle has been in use since the 1920s, but modified greatly so that propulsion by steam turbine is now more efficient, and remains a propulsion type used in some modern ships. Liquefied natural gas…
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Containerships 2100 2006 2114 2101 2156 2964 3118 3109 Bulk Carriers 204 232 241 221 248 1109 2115 2332 Tankers (VLCC) 367 393 379 381 369 387 392 369 Product Tankers 625 …
Once the steam engine had been invented and used to pump water from mines or on railway locomotives, several steam-powered ships were built. Initially these were small vessels, trading along the European coast or on American waterways. In 1818, the steamship Savannah was built for an American owner. Her steam engine powered a paddlewheel on each…
From the old sailing ships (that were dependent on wind and currents) to today’s ships with highly sophisticated engines, Marine propulsion systems have changed radically over the years. In this section, we study the varous types of marine propulsion. Sailing ships Steamships Modern steamships The change from steamships to motorships over the years Diesel-electric propulsion system…
