New UCLA research finds global warming will make Arctic shipping routes accessible due to melting sea ice, allowing ordinary vessels to navigate previously inaccessible areas. By mid-century, ships will be able to traverse the Arctic Ocean without icebreakers, and even the Northwest Passage may become viable for commercial shippers.
Researchers found that ship noise increases crab metabolic rate, indicating elevated stress, and larger crabs are affected most strongly. This study highlights the importance of reducing noise in busy shipping areas to protect commercially important crustacean species.
Researchers have created a material that uses physical movement to knock away bacteria, reducing drag and improving energy efficiency on ships. The innovative solution avoids toxic chemicals often found in traditional antibacterial paints.
Oregon State University will lead a $290 million project to design and build three new coastal research vessels, bolstering the US marine science research capabilities. The vessels will be designed for flexibility and environmental sustainability, addressing critical ocean issues such as climate change and marine ecosystems.
A speed limit on container ships near ports and coastlines could reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and soot by up to 60-70% compared to traditional cruising speeds. This measure could significantly protect the health of people living in coastal areas.
Researchers found four well-preserved ships and an ancient harbor structure from the Hellenistic period, shedding light on a lesser-known era of history. The discoveries suggest that additional remains may be found in the coastal sediment before storms destroy them.
Slowing container ships to 14mph reduced emissions of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and soot by 60-70% compared to traditional speeds. Imposing speed limits near ports could significantly reduce pollution and protect local populations' health.
Researchers have found coral 'hotspots' in deepwater canyons off the northeastern US coast, with a new model helping predict their locations. The discovery is expected to aid fishery management and increase knowledge about deep-sea life in the region.
Scientists warn that the famous Swedish warship Vasa is deteriorating due to significant loss of strength in its wooden hull. The study found that the ship's wooden structure weakened by up to 80 percent, potentially threatening its preservation for future generations.
Researchers at University of Washington suggest testing the concept of marine cloud brightening through a small-scale experiment. The study aims to investigate the feasibility and potential climatological impacts of adding sea salt particles to clouds over oceans, which could create a cooling effect on Earth.
Scientists developed a new fuel mixture by adding glycerol to low-sulfur diesel, reducing emissions of soot-like particulates and nitrogen oxide pollutants by 15% and 26%, respectively. The 'Bunker Green' fuel has improved emission properties and potential to lower fuel costs for the shipping industry.
A NOAA-led study reveals that high levels of background noise from ships have reduced the ability of critically endangered North Atlantic right whales to communicate with each other by about two-thirds. The study found that right whales now find themselves living in a world full of acoustic smog, making it difficult for them to gather ...
A 2009-2010 study by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre found an average 66% decrease in sulphur dioxide concentrations in EU harbors, while non-EU ports showed no change. The policy limits fuel sulfur content to less than 0.1%.
Researchers have designed an algorithm that enables robots to navigate and view complex structures on ships, including propellers and shafts, using sonar data. The system can detect small mines as small as an iPod and significantly improves the robot's path length, making it competitive with divers in speed and efficiency.
The Navy's Universal Gateway collapses 30 network connections into a single portal, automating data integration and enhancing information assurance. This improves the accuracy of real-time information for warfighters, reducing errors and increasing efficiency.
The ONR Rough Rhino system tracked over 600 vessels of interest during the recent AMLEP operation, culminating in 24 boardings by maritime security teams. The system provided a comprehensive maritime domain awareness picture for dark and light targets.
Researchers analyzed maritime piracy data from 2002 to 2009, identifying target vessels and violence levels. Bulk carriers and container ships were most targeted, with increasing reports of kidnapping and violent attacks.
A new project, WhaleWatch, uses satellite data and migration models to identify high-risk areas for whale entanglement and ship strikes. The study aims to provide key information on whale migration patterns and inform management policies.
A recent study published in Geophysical Research Letters suggests that GPS on commercial ships could detect tsunamis with high accuracy, even in open ocean. This could provide critical data for predicting tsunami size and direction, saving lives and reducing costs associated with evacuations.
The OceanScope project combines the ocean-observing community and the global shipping industry to study ocean circulation dynamics and fill observational gaps. By leveraging commercial ships like Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas, the partnership aims to create a cost-effective opportunity for systematic long-term observation.
A University of Rhode Island oceanographer is leading an effort to partner with the global shipping industry to collect detailed ocean data on commercial vessels. The proposed OceanScope initiative aims to fill observational deficiencies in the ocean, particularly below the surface, where satellites cannot measure properties.
Researchers have successfully manufactured a full-size ship hull section made entirely from marine-grade titanium using friction stir welding. The development aims to bring titanium into future Navy ship construction, offering high strength, light weight, and corrosion-resistance.
The Titanic's sinking was attributed to a combination of structural deficiencies and the Gulf Stream's unusual alignment, weakening the ship's hull. Researchers found that non-uniform rivet composition and insertion contributed to the vessel's vulnerability.
Richard Woytowich reinterprets the statements made by Titanic survivors, taking into account new knowledge about the ship's breakdown. His research aims to resolve conflicts in testimony and restore credibility to the majority of survivors.
Scientists have recorded unprecedented deformation within Santorini's caldera, with movement of up to nine centimeters between GPS stations. The volcano's magma chamber has expanded by 14 million cubic meters since January, raising concerns about a potential eruption.
A team of MIT engineers has created a mathematical procedure that can optimize path planning for automated underwater vehicles (AUVs) even in regions with complex shorelines and strong shifting currents. The system can provide paths optimized for the shortest travel time, minimum energy use, or maximum data collection.
Archaeologists have uncovered a slave burial ground on St Helena, containing the remains of around 5,000 enslaved people. Osteological analysis reveals that most victims were children or young adults, with scurvy and violence being common causes of death.
The Navy has fired its first industry-built electromagnetic railgun prototype launcher at a test facility, starting an evaluation towards a future tactical weapon. The tests will evaluate the barrel life and structural integrity of the prototype system.
The ONR's Navy Manufacturing Technology (ManTech) program has improved manufacturing efficiency to save millions of dollars annually. By reducing product costs, the program enables warfighters to access more affordable technologies that enhance their capabilities.
Experts have confirmed that UK road users are jamming GPS signals, with over 60 individual incidents recorded in one location. The phenomenon poses a significant threat to maritime navigation, with ships relying heavily on GPS for safe passage.
A new logistics model for biofuel raw materials is proposed by MSU researchers, utilizing regional biomass processing depots to process feedstocks before shipping to refineries. This approach aims to reduce transportation costs and distances, while providing economic benefits to farmers who own part of the depots.
The Panama Canal expansion allows for larger container ships, reducing fuel costs and emissions by up to 16% per tonne-mile. The study suggests that the industry can reduce its environmental impact through simple changes in hull design and optimization.
A new radar system uses ultra-wideband radio waves to quickly identify objects on train tracks, including luggage items and people who may have fallen. The system has been successfully tested in simulations and real-life experiments, showing its potential to prevent serious accidents and reduce delays.
A new species, Solanum baretiae, has been named in honor of Jeanne Baret, a Frenchwoman who disguised herself as a man to work on a historic botany expedition. The species is endemic to southern Ecuador and northern Peru, reflecting Baret's adventurous spirit.
The Office of Naval Research has demonstrated a new suite of information technology tools that could improve fleet operations by enabling seamless data sharing between ship systems. The technology, known as the universal gateway system, securely passes data between a ship's combat system network and its command-and-control network.
Researchers at VirginiaTech have improved Robojelly's performance by introducing a flexible margin, reducing folding and increasing speed. The upgrade provides new insights into jellyfish propulsion mechanisms, enabling the robot to detect chemical spills, monitor ships and submarines, and observe fish migration.
Invasive species like ship rats and non-native birds can become essential to ecosystems when native pollinators disappear. Researchers found that these 'alien' species perform similar functions as extinct native pollinators in New Zealand's North Island.
A study published in BioScience found that US East and Gulf Coast ports are disproportionately affected by unmanaged ballast water, allowing invasive species to harm local ecosystems. The West Coast is better protected due to more stringent open-ocean exchange practices.
The HybridSil Fire/Blast coating is a game-changer for military applications, offering blast- and fire-resistance to various surfaces. It was developed by ONR scientist Dr. Roshdy George S. Barsoum and can be applied like paint, with minimal surface preparation.
Researchers at the University of Montreal developed a computer program to evaluate tradeoffs between marine mammal conservation, whale watching, and marine transportation. The model simulates the comings and goings of five whale species and three types of boats, allowing regulators to make data-driven decisions to reduce collisions and...
Archaeologists have uncovered a large Roman shipyard near Rome, which could be the largest of its kind in Italy. The massive building, dating back to the 2nd century AD, features eight parallel bays with wooden roofs and was likely used for shipbuilding activities.
The Office of Naval Research is pursuing an Affordable Common Radar Architecture (ACRA) to upgrade the Navy's aging combat ship radar systems. The ACRA design features a novel architecture with two separate antennas to control cost and improve upgradeability.
The Office of Naval Research has developed a smartphone app called PASSION that allows deployed sailors to navigate, locate, and track people and assets on ships in real-time. This system provides low-cost, real-time situational awareness for enhanced navigation and force protection.
Russian engineer Vladimir G. Shukhov invented a lattice design that supports structures with minimum materials while maintaining stability. The researchers are studying his works to identify previously unknown projects and raise awareness of their preservation.
Wayne State University researcher Jeffrey Ram is using EPA grants to develop effective ballast water treatment systems and an early warning system for invasive species in the Great Lakes. The goal is to minimize the impact of existing invasive species and prevent new ones from entering the lakes.
A recent study found high concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the deep sediments of the Indiana Harbor and Ship Canal, posing a risk to human health and the environment. The discovery was made by researchers from the University of Iowa Health Care, who used submersible vibro-coring systems to collect sediment samples.
Researchers at Duke University have demonstrated a theoretical ability to significantly increase the efficiency of ships by creating a 'fluid flow cloak' that tricks the surrounding water into staying still. The cloak uses porous materials and tiny pumps to push flowing water along, greatly reducing the energy needed to propel vessels.
A Woods Hole team joins forces with NOAA to map and survey shipwrecks off North Carolina, a critical piece of WWII history. The mission aims to create detailed 3D images of wrecks using ROVs and dive teams, providing insights into the marine environment and potential new discoveries.
Researchers from British Antarctic Survey discovered 12 previously unknown volcanoes in the Southern Ocean, with 5km diameter craters and 7 active volcanoes. The findings provide new insights into underwater volcanic activity and its potential hazards like tsunamis.
Scientists from the Biomimetics-Innovation-Centre have developed a new anti-fouling surface based on a seed from a species of palm tree. The artificial surface mimics the hairy-like structure of the seeds' surfaces, which constantly move to prevent fouling by marine organisms.
Heavy rainfall is expected in southern Taiwan, Fujian and Guangdong provinces, and Hainan Island as Tropical Depression Haima nears Hong Kong. NASA's AIRS instrument captures strong rain-making thunderstorms on the storm's southern quadrant, indicating very high, cold cloud tops and likely heavy rainfall.
Researchers studying naval records of mutinies found that grievances over unpaid wages, excessive punishment, and poor living conditions were common triggers. In many cases, mutinies emerged due to a breakdown in trust between sailors and officers, leading to violent confrontations.
Research suggests right whales stay in Gulf of Maine area during spring due to vertical migration of copepods, allowing them to feed below surface. This behavior helps them outcompete herring for food, contradicting earlier thought that declining herring stocks would threaten their population
The SSPEED Center will focus on four key areas: the Houston Ship Channel, Galveston Bay, Galveston city, and low-lying coastal lands. The goal is to develop and evaluate alternative concepts for protecting these areas in light of new regulations.
Research reveals high concentrations of carcinogenic PCBs in West Africa's coastal regions, with possible sources including illegal waste dumping and ship graveyard pollution. The study collected air samples from ships and land-based stations, pointing to the large ships' graveyard in Mauritania as a significant source of contamination.
A new statistical model helps regulators identify ships carrying unwanted species, enabling more effective screening of ballast water. The model's findings are published in Environmental Science & Technology, providing a promising solution to prevent bioinvaders from causing environmental damage.
A study on a cruise ship norovirus outbreak found that infected passengers were more likely to have an ill cabin mate and resided or dined on the deck level where a vomiting incident occurred. Quick reporting by sick passengers and crew is crucial in preventing the spread of illness.
A team of researchers from MBARI and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary will use a robotic submarine to study the biological impacts of a shipping container on the seafloor. The goal is to determine what effects, if any, the container has had on seafloor life.
A new study finds that the tropical Atlantic has experienced weaker trade winds and changes in ocean surface temperature, leading to increased rainfall over adjacent land areas. This shift is attributed to asymmetric reduction in surface solar radiation due to man-produced aerosols.
Researchers found people on ships are steadier when focusing on the horizon, unlike on land where they sway more when gazing far away. This phenomenon may help differentiate between body movement and ship movement, potentially predicting motion sickness.