International Employment of Seafarers

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,…

Recent developments in marine propulsion

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…

Nuclear Power in Ships

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…

Diesel-electric propulsion system

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 Change from Steamships to Motorships

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…

Modern Steamships

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…

Test Yourself 2 – Grade 11

Read through the extract from lloyd’s register below. You will need to use some of the information in this extract to answer some of the questions Sometimes a part-cargo of one product is available for shipment. Several of these part-cargoes can be shipped in one ship, usually a Panamax or a Handysize bulker. The following…