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Month: December 2022

Inflatable Rescue Boat – an Indispensable Companion for Ships

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INFLATABLE RESCUE BOAT – AN INDISPENSABLE COMPANION FOR SHIPS

Seafarers have always been conscientious about safety measures when it comes to navigating the open seas. Rescue boats are an integral part of these safety measures and are used for a variety of applications across the world. Rescue boats can comprise of lifeboats as well as liferafts.

The importance of adequate rescue craft was realized after the disastrous voyage of the Titanic, where over 1500 people died due to lack of sufficient lifeboats. As a result, the SOLAS treaty was launched to prevent loss of life at sea. Over the years, there have been many significant amendments to the principal regulations for lifeboats and boats for rescue operations.

In addition, per the amendments to the SOLAS treaty in 1983, every ship is required to carry enough lifeboats so that every passenger and member of the crew aboard the ship is evacuated safely in case of an emergency. In addition, enough liferafts for an additional 25% of the passenger capacity are to be maintained aboard for all international voyages.

Liferafts are typically used for coastal applications as stringent safety norms prevent their use in deep seas. Offshore and ocean liferafts are designed to be sturdier and protect the occupants from rough weather, with survival kits for up to a maximum of 30 days. On the other hand, modern rescue lifeboats are deployed for deep-sea voyages and are equipped with emergency beacons and rescue transponders for safe navigation.

There are two types of rescue boats in common use today :

  • Inflatable Rescue Boat
  • Rigid Hull Rescue Boat

Inflatable Rescue Boat

As is evident from the name, inflatable rescue boats consist of tubes that can be pumped with air to float in water. They have an outboard motor at one end to traverse the waves.

Fig: Inflatable Rescue Boat

There are several advantages of inflatable rescue boats. Some of these include:

  • Quick Deployment, Swift Transport

Inflatable rescue boats can be deployed at lightning fast speeds, have greater maneuverability and have a long life.

  • Enhanced Stability

Inflatables have a flat bottom made of rigid material which keeps the boat stable and prevent it from capsizing.

  • Multiple Applications

Inflatable rescue boats are used in all cargo as well as passenger ships and have numerous applications ranging from emergency rescues, leisure travel, and open-sea fishing, to river-rafting, military, and more.

Rigid Hull Rescue Boat

Rigid hull rescue boats, by virtue of their solid hull have greater stability and easier operation. These boats have excellent performance in terms of speed, efficiency, and durability and are used in a number of applications such as patrolling, rescue, offshore interception, etc.

Specifications

Fig:Rigid Hull Rescue Boat

An Intermediate Solution

Shipping manufacturers have found a way to incorporate the best qualities of the two rescue boats by creating an intermediate solution; the rigid inflatable boat.

A rigid inflatable boat offers advanced stability and a smooth passage, with increased impact resistance. Rigid inflatable boats can be repaired without any trouble and have a high buoyancy, due to which they can support a greater number of people.

The current requirements for all rescue boats on ships include:

  • The length of the rescue boat should not be less than 3.8m or more than 8.5m
  • The boat should be able to seat a minimum of 5 people with an additional provision for a stretcher
  • Each rescue boat needs to be fitted with the appropriate mechanisms for towing and be capable of towing the liferafts on the ship in their full capacity at a minimum speed of 2 knots

Manufacturing Inflatable Rescue Boats

Definite standards have been specified for the manufacturing of lifeboats, with variable length depending on the number of people to be carried, mentioned as follows :

Leading shipping solution providers in India, like SHM Shipcare, have a slew of options to choose from. When it comes to inflatable rescue boats. SHM’s Rigid Inflatable Boat has a full load capacity of 18 pax and has been designed specially as per the requirements of the Indian Navy.

The Safin 420 Inflatable Rescue Boat is one of the company’s oldest and most reliable offerings and is designed to accommodate stretchers in case of medical emergencies as well.

Inflatable rescue boats are an indivisible part of sea travel and have undergone several modifications over the years to become indispensable companions for ships!

Specification :

Gemini Boats are India’s first which comply to the new Navy NCD specification ISO 6185-3:201, and approved by international classification society RIAN.

Specification :

Fig : Gemini Boats

Gemini’s are light weight, compact in size when stored, highly durable, and can be launched from all major types of vessels. Their capability of carrying heavy load and highly stable platform are what they are best known for.

The Role of Sustainability in Indian Shipping and Naval Defence

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THE ROLE OF SUSTAINABILITY IN INDIAN SHIPPING AND NAVAL DEFENCE

India has maintained a strategic approach towards the development of naval defence in the last 10 years. Not only have we been increasing our military might in the Indian Ocean, we have also begun to take sustainability as a driving factor while building new-age boats and ships. Inspired by the global efforts towards creating a greener world of shipping, the Indian Navy has also taken up a string of green initiatives that are expected to promote environmental sustainability.

In this article, we see what measures are being taken by the Indian Naval forces like the Navy, Indian Coast Guard, and the Border Security Force, to enhance sustainable shipping. We have already implemented several initiatives for increasing ship sustainability, with many other ideas under consideration. The ultimate aim, as mentioned by Admiral R. K. Dhowan, is to synergize India’s blue water capability with a green footprint.

Why is a Sustainable Approach Necessary?

Sustainable development is the need of the hour, across all verticals of progress. Shipping and naval defence are no exception either. At present, the idea is to develop our existing naval capabilities to meet the demands of the future. As the scarcity of non-renewable resources and the cost of energy increases, India may soon find itself in a position where all the conventional resources become useless or ridiculously expensive.

To avoid such a situation, maintaining a sustainable approach towards boat development and management becomes imperative. Building this capability to meet current and future requirements will be effective in ensuring operational readiness of the defence forces. Consequently, this push towards sustainability can make India an environmentally aware and energy-efficient force that meets the future head-on, instead of having to execute last-minute plans for sustainability compliance.

Sustainability in Indian Boat Design

Sustainability is an important aspect of boat building, right from the outset. Throughout the ship’s lifecycle, energy is consumed during the various stages of boat building including boat operation, boat maintenance, and dismantling. This energy can be classified as establishment energy, energy used in materials and transportation, during the actual construction, and any overheads that are incurred by the shipyard. Now, designing the boat so that this use of energy is reduced in the different stages leads to the creation of a ‘green’ or sustainable boat. It is hence evident that sustainable boat design begins right from the conceptual phase.

Some of the best measures that can be taken to reduce energy consumption in the boat and in boat building include:

  • Use of alternative materials, which are recyclable (like FRP) or biodegradable, can be used in building the boat hull. Minimum quantity of steel and other energy consuming materials by optimizing the procurement process is another solution.
  • Electricity consumption during the manufacturing processes can be reduced by reducing the machining involved as well as regular maintenance of the machines and equipment. Furthermore, rework can be eliminated by constant quality assurance and management which reduces energy consumption to a great extent.
  • In terms of boat design, an effective hydrodynamic structure to minimize water resistance and efficient propeller flow are necessary. These can be tested using CFD techniques and model testing.
  • Hull structure needs to be optimised for safety and reliability by reducing hull weight. Structural analysis using FEM techniques is of great importance here. Additionally, hull lubrication is necessary to reduce corrosion, frictional drag, and fouling. To maintain sustainability, environment-friendly paints should be employed as they are non-poisonous and non-polluting.
  • While dismantling the boat, hazardous materials need to be handled very carefully or they may cause heavy environmental damage.

Green Initiatives for Sustainable Naval Defence

The Indian Navy adopted the ‘Green Initiatives Programme’ on World Environment Day four years ago, June 5, 2014. Ever since then, it has designed and implemented several short-, medium-, and long-term goals to achieve energy efficiency. The principal aim of these initiatives is to reduce the use of equipment that can potentially damage the environment and align the goals of energy conservation in the defence sector with those of the Indian Government.

Consequently, there is a two-pronged approach according to which the initiatives are classified – one, minimising environmental impact, and two, increasing resource efficiency. A detailed plan of all the efforts this initiative will entail is included in the Indian Navy Environment Conservation Roadmap.

With respect to ship building and construction, the SEEMP (Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan) is proposed to ship owners and operators. Under this plan, they are expected to review operational practices on ships and consider options for improvement and technology upgrades. These measures will improve ship efficiency and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, thus optimising performance. Furthermore, all new ships under construction are expected to be MARPOL compliant. The Eastern and Western Naval Commands have conducted energy audits of the naval dockyards in Mumbai and Visakhapatnam, to ensure energy optimization.

The government has commissioned a port-to-ship power supply under the Green Ports Project, which is also a part of the sustainability initiative. This solution is to be implemented at the V. O. Chidambaranar Port and will allow ships to dock at the port and plug for power, instead of running on fossil fuels that pollute the environment. The Green Port initiative aims to reduce the carbon footprint of ports by making use of biodiesel and renewable sources of energy.

The Road Ahead

It is important to understand that sustainable growth is a process, not simply a one-step product. Priming people’s perspective towards sustainability is critical for achieving significant results.  Sustainability in shipping and naval defence ranges from energy conservation to environmental protection, and efficient operation through the entire lifecycle of the boat or ship.

The Indian naval defence and shipping efforts are currently implementing sustainable boat design as a major part of their growth strategy. The aim is to build a fleet that is ready for the future, not just for today. The naval growth is anchored on indigenisation and self-reliance. As the naval forces emphasize on building boats and ships instead of buying them, it is up to the Indian boat manufacturers to rise up to the challenge and create sustainable boat designs.

What are your thoughts on the way sustainability is impacting Indian boat design? Any insights you would like to share? Drop a comment to let us know!

Cover Image: Source

Fire Risk Assessment in Warehouses and Factories

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FIRE RISK ASSESSMENT IN WAREHOUSES AND FACTORIES

Establishing a business is a task in itself, and as the years pass on, the challenges that an organization has to face only keep on increasing. Companies conduct hundreds of meetings to plan their long-term growth strategies, but how often do they reconsider their safety practices?

Ever since the end of 2019, the world has noticed a horrific pandemic that brought the world to a standstill. Companies suffered enormous losses as their supply chains were disrupted completely and the produced goods perished in their storage facilities.

Even though the production started again some time in mid-2020, it came with unprecedented restrictions and uncertainties. Manufacturers preferred overproduction fearing yet another lockdown, and stocked their storage facilities as much as possible, turning a blind eye towards the safety norms.

Desperate times require desperate measures, but that shouldn’t be at the cost of sacrificing safety. Storage facilities are always prone to fire hazards, and caution is necessary to avoid loss of property and life. Hence, it is crucial to incorporate Fire Risk Assessments periodically in warehouses and factories, to avoid possible fire hazards.

Fire Risk Assessment in Warehouses and Industries

A fire risk assessment is an organized and methodical examination of your premises, the activities carried on, and the odds of a fire starting and causing harm to property and life.

Step 1 – Identify and pinpoint fire hazards

Depending on the kind of products you manufacture and store, the fire hazards associated may vary. 

For instance, if your products contain flammable chemicals, you should be cautious while storing those chemicals. 

On 4th November 2020, a similar tragic incident occurred in a cotton warehouse located outside Ahmedabad, Gujarat, where 12 people lost their lives to an accidental fire. The cause of the fire was identified to be the stored chemicals needed for this cotton factory. If the potential risk was identified and tackled, this tragedy could have been avoided.

Step 2 – Identify potential sources of fire hazards

If we carefully observe our surroundings, we will find many items that can be a potential source of fires. The most common objects in a warehouse that can act as a source of fire are:

  1. Cigarettes and matches – Improperly disposed-off cigarette butts and matches can be a source of the fire. Employees must be educated of the risk a single match can impose on the entire facility.
  2. Extractor fans – The fans designed to dissipate heat may get clogged, resulting in poor performance. Over time, this can cause a fire. Preventative Maintenance must be carried out to avoid this problem. Items that obscure the ventilation of machines must be moved out of the way.
  3. Electricals – Faulty electrical wires can lead up to a fire. Due care must be taken while constructing the warehouse. The open wire must be fixed or replaced. 

A fire erupted in a warehouse owned by an E-Commerce company located in Delhi. The fire consumed 1/3rd of the storage facility and was reported to be due to an electrical short-circuiting. Although there were no casualties, the company suffered substantial financial loss.

  1. Lighting – Warehouses often have openings to allow in natural sunlight. If this light is reflected from a shiny surface and concentrated to a smaller area, it will generate a lot of heat, eventually leading to a fire.
  2. Stored goods – It isn’t a surprise that a warehouse will be packed with lots of goods. A fire could be a risk depending on factors like storage density, space between pallets, and the type of racks used.
  3. Packing – Packing materials like foam, paper, and wood immediately catch fire. Since storage boxes contain a great deal of packing material, these can flame the intensity of the fire very quickly.
  4. Flammable liquids – Many times, machined metal parts are dipped in oils before storing them, to avoid corrosion. Such factors are rarely considered and pose a potential threat for starting fire hazards.

Although these sources can be identified and nullified at an organizational level, it is better to get this done by a professional who can implement a proper Fire Risk Assessment.

Once you have successfully identified the hazards, the next step is to work on eliminating the fire-causing factors. In real-world scenarios, it can be impossible to eliminate some sources. In such cases, actions must be taken to reduce the risk as much as possible.

Step 3 – Identify which safety systems are best suited for your warehouse.

Depending on the type of warehouse and the item it stores, a well-functioning, highly responsive fire safety system must be incorporated.

The most commonly used safety system is the sprinkler system.

According to this report, between 2007-2011, wet pipe sprinklers have successfully put out 84% of the fires and as a result, controlled damage cost by over 60%

Apart from this, fire extinguishers must be placed in areas that are of apparent danger. 

Depending on the type of product /process, there is a variety of fire extinguishers available. The role of this system is crucial as it acts as the last resort to tackle this fire mishap. An efficient safety system warns everyone and quickly acts to contain the spread of the fire.

Fire Risk Assessment in Warehouses and Factories – Factors to Consider

The fire safety audit not only emphasizes preventive measures but also what actions must be taken after implementing those measures.

Evaluate the outcomes

To implement the best possible fire safety system, you should first evaluate high-risk areas and areas where smoke accumulates, through modeling.

Create an Evacuation Plan

Once you have identified potential fire and smoke areas, you can now devise an evacuation plan which ensures all the employees get out safely, as early as possible.

Increase Awareness about Fire Safety

If we consider a small company, the owner or the manager should shoulder the responsibility to take charge in situations of fire. For a large company, the senior manager should take control. However, every employee must be educated about fire hazards, their cause, and their prevention, and an overall atmosphere of taking fire hazards seriously must be developed.

Build Documentation

Every single event of a fire, even a near miss, and every modification in the system should be documented. This record helps you make sound decisions in the future and implement the right changes.

Endnote

Any warehouse, whether new or existing, which is about to begin or expand, should get a fire safety assessment done and install a robust fire safety system. 

Since this is a crucial aspect of safety, it is better to get in touch with experts who have been in this field for years. SHM Group is one such industry leader that specializes in manufacturing fire safety systems and fire extinguishers. We understand the importance of safety, and we believe in providing the best solutions to each client.

Warehouses are an indispensable and integral aspect of the logistics chain. It is hence, necessary to safeguard them properly, to avoid damage to goods and property. Whether for eCommerce storage or an automotive storehouse, it is necessary to implement preventive fire safety measures beforehand and conduct regular fire risk audits to ensure the health and safety of products and people!

The 7 Challenges of Autonomous Boats

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THE 7 CHALLENGES OF AUTONOMOUS BOATS

The idea of automation in boats is fast turning into reality, with major players of the world taking an active interest in building fully-automated vessels. Given the high rate of adoption of technology in boats and ships, it won’t be long before we see ‘ghost’ ships sailing across the seas.

While this change in perspective is welcome, there is the proverbial another side of the coin to be considered as well. When we speak of autonomous boats or rather, automation in shipping, the reactions are inherently sceptical. Is it even necessary? Is it as useful as it is said to be? These are some of the questions which everybody asks.

Today, we discuss the various challenges of autonomous boats, ranging from a conservative perspective to the high capital investment required, and the possible solutions that can be used to overcome these hurdles.

The Challenges of Autonomous Boats

In the process of automation of boats, there are three factors that come into play; one, remote operation of the boat, two, the onboard controller, and three, reduced number of the members onboard the vessel. All of these play an important part in deciding the feasibility of the autonomous boat. Let us see the impact of these factors on the various aspects of the boat in detail.

Security Concerns

Autonomous boats will be entirely dependent on the technology they are equipped with, for safe navigation and transport. When tools like big data and IoT are used to drive autonomous vessels, cybersecurity is a major concern. Strong security to ensure that the control algorithms are not tampered with and the safety of the boat or the goods it carries is not compromised is important.

The chance of violation of international treaties leading to potential security conflicts is also an aspect to be considered. Unmanned stealth vessels or surface-vessels can fan political conflicts if misappropriated.

Communication and Control

Connectivity is a critical component of autonomous boats. Communication has to be two-way, accurate, and undivided at all times, to ensure that the boat does not move off-course. Although the networks for connectivity have strengthened over the years courtesy of the satellite system, there can be potential lack of connectivity due to bad weather or any other disruptions.

The major problem is that control is not independent of the current situation of the boat. For instance, while traveling close to the shore, if the boat has to avoid a sandbank or dock at the pier, communication should be fast and smooth enough to ensure that instructions are related with time in hand and the boat does not run aground. Achieving this speed of communication and control is not possible at the moment, which can lead to accidents and loss of life and property.

All-round Adoption of Technology Required

When it comes to automation, taking things halfway cannot be a solution. Using technology for assistance and creating a technology-dominant operational workflow are very different things. For instance, if boats are made autonomous, but ports remain manually operated, the point of automation is lost.

If autonomous boats are to be leveraged for maximum efficiency and high productivity, the adoption of technology must be all-encompassing. This naturally requires a huge amount of capital, which is not always possible for every country (that is the next hurdle we shall see).

There is an added problem of employment issues resulting if a majority of the port activities are automated, though that is an offshoot of boat automation.

High Capital Investment

High capital investment is one of the major reasons why autonomous boats are not yet brought into frequent use. The amount of capital to be raised to get the technology involved in boat and port automation is staggering. Even with international organizations funding the research for better and cheaper alternatives to boat technology, the capital cost is high enough to deter individual boat manufacturers in India from manufacturing automated boats.

Government Policies and Legislation

There are no international policies in place yet for autonomous boats, legalising unmanned international travel. Every boat is required to have an adequate crew onboard to attend to all the necessary operations as required. The Indian government does not permit the use of unmanned vessels and this scenario is unlikely to change in the near future.

Considering the sensitive nature of autonomous boats, the IMO is coming up with a legislative framework for unmanned vessels. There is a growing need to ships and boats to have the proper regulations in place as autonomous ships are already under construction in western countries and are in their final deployment phases.

Global Sharing of Information

Imagining a hypothetical scenario where autonomous boats are plying international waters, one major problem is identified immediately, i.e. that of trade routes. To ensure that accidents are to be avoided, vessels and shipping companies from across the world will have to coordinate and cooperate with each other by sharing information about their travel routes and times.

This will be important even if the boat is configured to avoid collisions, as a necessary security precaution. However, no country or company will be willing to disclose their travel routes or potential military operations due to the sensitive nature of these plans and the fierce business competition. The maritime industry works in harmony at present but this kind of autonomous shipping will require a sharing of information at an unforeseen level, which all countries and/or companies may not be open to.

Inadequacy of Technology as an Alternative for Human Foresight

Finally, although technology is an excellent alternative to human effort, it can never completely replace human acuity and judgment. AI systems have developed a lot over the past years and are being used in every sector of the world today, but shipping requires a level of experience and instinct that cannot be found in a machine.

As no machine can be programmed for every eventuality, there will always be a need for human guidance to control and direct ships in case of an unexpected emergency.

Final Thoughts

Autonomous boats are touted to be the future of shipping and they may well be so, but there are a number of obstacles to overcome before that level of efficiency and finesse in operation is achieved.

What are your thoughts on autonomous boats? Any other problems you foresee? Or perhaps a solution for those mentioned above? Drop a comment to let us know!

Cover Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

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