Underwater noise from maritime sources and impact on marine life

Underwater Sound is essential for marine animal functioning. Sound levels from human sources in the marine environment interfere with sound-mediated behaviour in marine animals when shipping coincides with areas or pathways that are vital for animal populations. The impact of human-generated underwater sound to ecosystem functioning and biodiversity receives increasing attention, although as yet it has not been included in the work of international organisations, such as the IMO. At MEPC 55 a document on ships striking whales was discussed; it was noted that disturbed whale hearing might hamper the recognition of a ship approaching.     

The port and maritime industries in the post-2008 world: Challenges and opportunities

This article introduces the theme of this issue - the port and maritime industries in the post-2008 world - including its background and significance. A brief introduction on the contents of this issue is also given.     

海啸对海上安全的影响以及海事部门应采取措施

针对中国部分海域可能会遭受海啸影响以及中国在海上安全领域还没有建立相应应急管理体系的情况,分析海啸对海上安全特别是船舶安全可能造成的影响,提出加强应急管理制度建设、重视海啸预警、提前做好防范工作、加强船舶安全监管、对助航设施采取防护措施等。     

对涉外海洋科学考察活动的海事管理责任分析

文中从海事行政执法的角度,探讨海事部门对涉外海洋科学考察的管理责任,研究如何针对不同性质的涉外海洋科学考察进行管理,从而规范合理、合法的科考活动,切实维护国家海洋权益。     

The role of geomatics engineering in establishing the marine information system for maritime management

Maritime management encompasses the employment and manipulation of human resources, financial resources, technological resources and natural resources that relate to the sea, maritime navigation, shipping, port development and coastal protection. It contributes to the economic growth, price stability, transportation of cargoes and passengers, and business activities of shipping organizations. The efficient management of resources, operations and activities relies on a modern marine information system (MIS) whose information is provided by geomatics engineers and IT professionals, among others. This paper first introduces the role of the geomatics engineer as geodesist, engineering surveyor, land boundary surveyor, cartographer, hydrographer, photogrammetrist and geographic information system (GIS) engineer since all these fields are related to maritime trade, supply chains and development of ports and airports. It then describes the principal components of a web-based MIS and the important role of geomatics engineers in surveying data. This includes collecting data from electronic nautical charts (ENC) and raster nautical charts (RNC), by applying high resolution light detection and ranging (LIDAR), satellite platform sensors and GIS.     

The role of geomatics engineering in establishing the marine information system for maritime management

Maritime management encompasses the employment and manipulation of human resources, financial resources, technological resources and natural resources that relate to the sea, maritime navigation, shipping, port development and coastal protection. It contributes to the economic growth, price stability, transportation of cargoes and passengers, and business activities of shipping organizations. The efficient management of resources, operations and activities relies on a modern marine information system (MIS) whose information is provided by geomatics engineers and IT professionals, among others. This paper first introduces the role of the geomatics engineer as geodesist, engineering surveyor, land boundary surveyor, cartographer, hydrographer, photogrammetrist and geographic information system (GIS) engineer since all these fields are related to maritime trade, supply chains and development of ports and airports. It then describes the principal components of a web-based MIS and the important role of geomatics engineers in surveying data. This includes collecting data from electronic nautical charts (ENC) and raster nautical charts (RNC), by applying high resolution light detection and ranging (LIDAR), satellite platform sensors and GIS.     

Causes and effects of FDI by the Norwegian maritime industry

A theory of replacement in the context of ocean going vessels is discussed. The approach is based upon costs rather than profits, and while there appear to be many difficulties in applying replacement theory to ships it is shown that there are some segments where the theory can still usefully be applied. The effect on replacement resulting from varying important cost parameters is shown and it is found that while fiscal measures have very little effect, capital cost and operating cost profiles have the most important influence. It is concluded that shipowners need to keep themselves fully informed of changes in cost and improvements in technology that may indicate replacement of a vessel somewhat sooner than normal replacement age.     

Causes and effects of FDI by the Norwegian maritime industry

This paper analyses foreign direct investments (FDI) in Asia by the Norwegian maritime industry. It focuses on three topics: (1) Why do Norwegian maritime companies invest abroad? (2) What are the effects of maritime foreign direct investments on the Norwegian maritime milieu? (3) What are the effects of these investments on the host country? By analysing specific Norwegian maritime companies, it was found that the FDIs have partly been induced by the instability of the Norwegian policy towards this sector. Several firms also point at the importance of being closer to the Asian market as a significant reason for FDI, and the Norwegian ship equipment industry tends to 'follow' the shipping companies abroad. The domestic effects of FDI are uncertain, and are likely to depend on the motivation behind the investments. Finally, using Singapore as an example, it is argued that the host country effects of FDI tend to be positive.     

The implications of piracy on marine insurance: some considerations for the shipowner

A prominent feature of modern day piracy is the ransom that is demanded for the safe release of the ship, cargo and crew. The recent upsurge of this type of piracy, in areas of the world that are of strategic importance to the shipping industry, has created many challenges for shipowners, underwriters and the law relating to marine insurance. The aim of this paper is to examine how the marine insurance market is being affected by the threat of modern day piracy, and seeks to identify the options that are available for the recovery of a ransom payment by the shipowner. Moreover, this study aims to identify the legal issues that might prevent a shipowner from recovering a ransom payment under an insurance policy or from the other interests in a common adventure. The study establishes that a reasonably made ransom payment by the shipowner will amount to an extraordinary expense that is taken to minimise or avert a loss. Such an act can generally be recovered under the insurance policy as a sue and labour expense or from other interests in the common adventure as a general average expense. However, illegality, unseaworthiness and exemption clauses in a marine policy are identified as being legal issues that may prevent a shipowner from recovering the ransom payment. Some of these problems may be overcome if clauses are carefully drafted to specifically cater for modern day piracy in a marine insurance policy. Several inconsistencies may also be resolved by transferring the piracy peril to war risks cover. The shipowner’s duty is to respond to the changing circumstances, by ensuring that his vessel is sufficiently equipped and the crew is properly trained to resist a hijacking.     

浅议海事调查证据与海事诉讼证据

证据是指用于证明某一事物客观存在或某一主张成立的有关事实证明。无论海事调查还是海事诉讼过程中,证据无疑是至关重要的,它是海事部门查明事实的基础,也是海事法院审判的依据。由于海事调查证据与海事诉讼证据都是对事实的证明,因此这两种证据有很多方面是相同的,但由于调查取证的方法、证明的侧重点、法律规定的不同,海事调查证据与海事诉讼证据必然存在不同之处。本文通过对两种证据在各个方面的比较分析,并参照国外海事调查情况,提出海事调查证据与海事诉讼证据的关系。海事部门海事调查的性质和目的我国自建国以来,直到《海上交通安…     

Rates and mechanisms of climate change: Implications for ports and harbours

The paper explores some of the key ocean-atmosphere processes relevant to the themes of ‘global warming“ and ‘sea level rise“ addressing some of issues that form the basis of the science. It is shown that both processes as well as the data used to characterise such processes demonstrate that a) there is no such thing as a single global sea level and b) changes in extreme storminess are not uniform worldwide. Instead, trends in storminess (including Asian typoon and Atlantic hurricane activity) exhibit marked regional variability with strong regional signature linked to episodes of major El Niño and La Niña activity. Similarly, satellite data demonstrates that whereas some ocean areas have recently experienced sea level rise caused principally by thermal expansion effects, other ocean areas have been subject to cooling and sea level lowering. This account provides an introductory account that discusses the rationale for understanding the regional variability in the nature of coastal flood risk to the world’s ports and harbours.     

内波对海洋立管的作用

海洋内波作为海洋水体中特殊的非线性波动现象,对海洋立管的作用特征尚处研究阶段。本文首先分析海洋内波的成因及研究现状,之后结合我国南海海洋内波多发特性,对该海域内已建立管在内波作用下的特性进行分析,得出合理化建议。随着我国南海深水油气资源开发战略的推进,研究内波对海洋立管的作用具有重大的学术意义和实际应用意义。     

湖北应对全球变化的气候与生态响应

文章系统分析了在全球变化背景下我国湖北气候与生态多样性变化,以及区域的生态响应;评估了近几十年来湖北气候与生态环境的现状、变化,并初步提出了湖北生态环境建设与社会经济协调发展得对策与建议。     

Review of fishing safety policies in Canada with respect to extreme environmental conditions and climate change effects

Fishing is one of the most dangerous occupations in the world. Numerous research studies have been carried out to improve fishing safety from many different perspectives. Several of these studies focused on the relationship between environmental factors, climate change effects, and fishing safety. This paper aims to suggest a knowledge mobilization structure that translates findings of this type of research into input of evidence-based decision making and consequently improve and update fishing policies with respect to fishing safety and environmental conditions. Significant safety factors extracted from related literature are stability of vessels, fisheries management, safety equipment, communication, insurance, training, safety information and culture, weather forecasts, fatigue, and search and rescue planning. The paper then reviews policies related to these factors to examine if they address extreme environmental conditions and climate change effects. The paper presents recommendations to improve general fishing safety with respect to short- and long-term environmental considerations.     

中国经济与全球海运经济

在2007～2009年间的两年中,航运市场的供需发生了巨大变化。受全球金融危机的影响,需求减少,给全球经济带来重创。决策者不知道需求何时才能回暖。航运业的供应面临船厂造船能力扩张和订单量减少的压力。因此,航运业在未来很长一段时间将处于萧条状态。但是,有一点是可以避免的。     

航海英语教学法初探

STCW1995公约要求海船船员必须在书写和听说方面具有使用英语的能力。而目前我们在航海英语教学中使用的语法翻译法和听说法似乎不能满足广大学生和受训学员作为驾驶员和轮机员在国际环境中进行语言交流的能力要求。根据IMO要求，本文提出在航海英语教学中使用交流法，以期为航海英语教师提供一种有效改善自己教学并满足学生学习需求的基本方法。     

中国海员资源以及航海教育的对策分析

面临国际市场新形势对中国船员的挑战，从而对中国航海教育提出了新的要求。航海院校与航运企业“订单式”培养和合作办学是培养航海人才重要的途径和教育模式。文章从船员市场资源现状入手，对我国航海教育的现状、内容、对策和值得注意的问题作了简扼的分析。     

A European perspective on bond finance for the maritime industry

The European Shipping Industry faces a huge capital requirement over the next decade as a result of increasing trade and ageing fleets. This growth in demand is juxtaposed with a contraction in the number of banks willing to support the industry and a general tightening of credit facilities. Consequently, companies have been forced to access the capital markets for equity and debt. The difficulties experienced particularly in the bond markets have lead to premature dismissal of this relatively new form of finance. This paper seeks to explore the suitability of bond finance and finds that it is largely dependent on the perception of the maritime industry by the investment community.     

A European perspective on bond finance for the maritime industry

The European Shipping Industry faces a huge capital requirement over the next decade as a result of increasing trade and ageing fleets. This growth in demand is juxtaposed with a contraction in the number of banks willing to support the industry and a general tightening of credit facilities. Consequently, companies have been forced to access the capital markets for equity and debt. The difficulties experienced particularly in the bond markets have lead to premature dismissal of this relatively new form of finance. This paper seeks to explore the suitability of bond finance and finds that it is largely dependent on the perception of the maritime industry by the investment community.