PONDICHERRY MARITIME ACADEMY

Introduction: The vast expanse of the open sea is a realm of both beauty and peril. Sailors and mariners often find themselves facing the unpredictable forces of rough weather, a formidable challenge that tests their skills and courage. In this article, we will explore the impact of rough weathers in the sea and the strategies employed by seafarers to navigate safely through these turbulent conditions. Understanding Rough Weather at Sea: Rough weathers in the sea encompass a variety of challenging conditions, including storms, high waves, strong winds, and adverse currents. These elements can be particularly daunting for ships and vessels, posing risks to both crew and cargo. The dynamics of rough seas are influenced by factors such as atmospheric pressure, temperature gradients, and the geography of the waterbody. Challenges Faced by Seafarers: Violent Storms: Storms at sea can be intense and violent, with towering waves and ferocious winds. These conditions make navigation...

To create domestic and global demand and to provide nutritional food to the people, Government of India had proposed to the United Nations for declaring 2023 as International Year of Millets (IYoM-2023). The proposal of India was supported by 72 countries and United Nation's General Assembly (UNGA) declared 2023 as International Year of Millets on 5th March, 2021. Millets are the staple crops of the semiarid tropics, as other food crops cannot be cultivated in that terrain due to low rainfall and poor soil fertility. They also have higher nutrient content compared to major cereal crops and ensure food and nutrition security. Further, millets are tolerant to drought and other extreme weather conditions and hence are endemic to such geographies. “Millets are incredible ancestral crops with high nutritional value. Millets can play an important role and contribute to our collective efforts to empower smallholder farmers, achieve sustainable development, eliminate hunger, adapt to c...

Introduction: In the vast expanse of the world's oceans, where waves dance and currents weave intricate patterns, marine ship propellers emerge as unsung heroes, propelling vessels through the vast blue abyss. In this blog post, we'll dive into the fascinating world of marine ship propellers – the unsung engineering marvels that make maritime transportation possible. The Heart of Seafaring: Ship propellers serve as the beating heart of seafaring vessels, transforming mechanical power into forward thrust. Unlike their land-bound counterparts, marine propellers must contend with the challenges of water resistance, varying depths, and unpredictable currents. These essential components are a testament to human ingenuity, ensuring the efficient and reliable movement of ships across the globe. Design and Functionality: The design of marine ship propellers is a delicate balance between efficiency and durability. Propeller blades are meticulously crafted to optimize hydrodynamic...

LED makes its way across more and more in Marine/ Industrial applications. In today’s maritime industry, the term ‘Energy Efficiency’ is of sheer importance in all aspects of shipping operation. From main engine to cargo operations, energy efficiency has become the base to set up and plan any machinery or procedure. Electrical system being the most important network onboard ships, it is important for ship owners and operators to make their energy efficiency plans considering the same. Use of energy efficient LED lighting in place of conventional lamps and tube lights on ship, contributes to more savings and add up to its energy efficiency model. An incandescent globe (bulb) can provide a life span of 1000 hrs and a fluorescent lamp can be used up to 7500 hrs. However, far better performance can be achieved by LED lights which have lifespan of about 50,000 hours and 60% less energy consumption. Implementing this would not only reduce the maintenance hours but also bring down the operat...

In this article, we delve into the critical operational factors that influence the performance of an Oily Water Separator (OWS). A proper understanding of these factors is vital for the efficient functioning of the OWS, an essential component on-board ships. Marine engineers encounter various types of Oily Water Separators throughout their careers, each with its unique features. While equipment-specific knowledge can be obtained from on-board operational manuals, a fundamental understanding of OWS operation remains consistent across types. Operational Factors Affecting Oily Water Separator Performance on Ships: 1. Avoid Emulsions: Emulsions occur when the interfacial tension between two liquids decreases sufficiently, allowing droplets of one liquid to disperse in another. Mechanical agitation, shearing forces, solvents, chemicals, surfactants, and particulate matter can reduce interfacial tension and lead to emulsion formation. 2. Avoid Chemical Emulsions: Chemical emulsions result...

Operating an Oily Water Separator An oily water separator serves the vital role of purifying bilge water, reducing its oily content to within acceptable levels for safe discharge overboard. The operation of an oily water separator is so significant that it is entrusted to either the 2nd engineer or the chief engineer, although the duty engineer may also be called upon to operate it under supervision. To ensure the proper functioning of an oily water separator, the following operating procedures must be followed: 1. The manual discharge valve for the oily water separator's overboard discharge should remain locked, with the keys held by the chief engineer. Unlock the valve and open it, along with all other relevant system valves. 2. Select the appropriate bilge tank valve from which the oily water mixture will be discharged through the oily water separator. 3. Activate the air supply if control valves are air-operated. 4. Power on both the control panel and the Oil Conten...

Every ship engineer understands the significance of the oily water separator (OWS) and may have heard stories of legal actions taken against seafarers who attempted to tamper with or bypass the OWS automation system. The primary reason for tampering with the oily water separator often stems from a decrease in system performance. Beyond the common issue of filter clogging due to continuous usage, various other factors can contribute to this performance decline. This article delves into several critical points that engineers operating oily water separators, particularly the coalesce filter type, may overlook. These insights aim to ensure the efficient performance of OWS systems used on board ships: 1. Proper Usage: The separator is designed for separating a small quantity of oil from bilge water, not the other way around. If the mixture contains mostly water with a small quantity of oil, it's best not to pass it through the OWS. Instead, transfer it directly to a waste oil tank fo...