PONDICHERRY MARITIME ACADEMY

INTRODUCTION Autonomous ships, also known as Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS), are crewless vessels that transport either containers or bulk cargo over navigable waters with little or no human interaction. Different methods and levels of autonomy can be achieved through monitoring and remote control from a nearby manned ship, an onshore control center or through artificial intelligence and machine learning, letting the vessel itself decide the course of action. Autonomous cargo ships are by some in the shipping industry viewed as the next logical step within maritime shipping, noting the general trend of automating tasks and reducing crews on ships Autonomous ships achieve autonomy by the use of technologies similarly found in autonomous cars and autopilots. Sensors provide data with the help of infrared and visual spectrum cameras supplemented by radar, sonar, lidar, GPS and AIS which will be able to supply data for navigational use. Other data such as meteorological...

Even though it may be t-shirt weather and the air is warm, the water can still be very cold. Because the majority of us do not participate in cold water activities, we are unaware of how our bodies react in early and late season conditions.  On average, 200 people die each year from cold water immersion. If you're heading out on the water this winter, or even doing some work around the shoreline, there are a few things that you should know about Cold Water Immersion and Hypothermia.  Always wear a PFD (Personal Floatation Device) or life jacket when boating in early or late season weather. There is also a wide selection of Hypothermia clothing available. The Huddle Technique Important Steps: It is important to keep your head out of the water. A large percentage of your body heat is lost through your head, so it is critical to keep dry. Cold temperatures significantly decrease your physical ability. Swimming will be more difficult and you will not be able to swim as far. Heat E...

This blog contains information on how to survive by  finding land and reaching shore . if you're lost in the open sea, also you will find useful information about how to recognize signs of land. Sometimes the rescue team cannot get to you, or don't know where you are, so you need to do whatever it takes to stay alive, and eventually get to shore. Your survival in the open seas depends upon your ability to use the available survival equipment, and your special skills to apply them to cope with the hazards you face as well as your will to survive. But most importantly your ability to improvise, because every survival situation is different, so think and improvise by taking advantage of what you have available to you. Finding Land and Reaching Shore When you're in the open water you should watch carefully for signs of land. If more than one person is on the raft, the team should take turns to be on the lookout for land or signs of land (rotate every 2 hours). Below you will fi...

This blog contains information on how to survive by finding  drinking water in the open sea and ocean  in an emergency situation, also you will find useful tips on how to desalt seawater and evaporate it. Finding water is more important than finding food, because without food you can live for weeks, but without water you can't live more than three day. Your survival in the open seas depends upon your ability to use the available survival equipment, and your special skills to apply them to cope with the hazards you face as well as your will to survive. But most importantly your ability to improvise, because every survival situation is different, so think and improvise by taking advantage of what you have available to you. Finding Water in the Open Sea The lack of drinkable water could be a major problem on the open seas.  Seawater should never be ingested in its natural state . It will cause an individual to become violently ill in a very short period of time. When water ...

  Sharks Thanks to Hollywood, sharks have a very bad rap. No doubt they are dangerous, but almost all attacks on humans are due to mistaken identity. In most cases, they think humans are food so they have a taste. They then realize that we taste disgusting and leave. How to Fight a Shark The vast majority of shark attacks on humans are mistaken identity. Humans don’t taste good to sharks! Still, they are the king of the ocean, so you want to stay out of their way. Like most animals food is what will attract a shark, whether it is real or mistaken identity. Blood and fish are the biggest attractions. So is anything that resembles these, like shiny objects or human waste. Whether you are in a life raft or not, if you spot a shark, be loud and slap the water. If you don’t have a liferaft and are in a group, bunch together and face out. Everyone should shout underwater and slap the surface. When a shark starts circling you, it is a sign of attack. When it comes at you, strike at its gi...

Catching Food at Sea If you don’t get rescued or find land within a day, you will want to find food. Fishing is the obvious answer, but you can also eat seabirds, planktons, seaweed, etc. Small fish will gather underneath your raft. A simple handline, hook, and lure will do the trick. Even a simple survival kit will have a small fishing kit in it. If you don’t have fishing line, any string can work. Shoelaces, paracord, etc. If you do have fishing line, be careful not to cut yourself. Anything flashy makes a good lure. Be very careful with the hook or anything sharp if in an inflatable liferaft. When you do catch a fish, use its guts as bait. Do not hang around after spilling blood in the ocean. It may attract sharks. World's Most Dangerous Fish Puffer. puffer fish Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images Plus Red Lionfish. red lionfish Candiru. candiru © Morphart Creation/COMEO—Shutterstock. Great White Shark. great white shark Moray Eel. mosaic moray eel Tigerfish. Tigerfi...

HOW TO SWIM LONG DISTANCE WITH SURVIVAL BACKSTROKE When you need to swim long distance and/or stay afloat in the water for a really long time, do survival backstroke.  Survival backstroke is floating on your back as you propel through the water. You use a simultaneous frog/breaststroke kick and a sculling motion with your hands. Your arms and legs move and come together at the same time. The main goal of the survival backstroke is to conserve energy and reduce heat loss. To maximize energy conservation, do the survival backstroke very slow. Take short strokes and glide for as long as possible. Only take the next stroke when you feel your legs dropping or you loose forward momentum. Take short strokes and glide for as long as possible. Short strokes minimize heat loss from under your armpits and between your legs. Your arms should not extend beyond your shoulders. Also, at the end of each stroke, bring your arms and legs together. Hold them close but comfortable against your body. ...