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At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources
PubMed2006

Analysis of recent vessel arrivals and ballast water discharge in Alaska: toward assessing ship-mediated invasion risk.

Ships are a dominant vector for biological invasions through ballast water discharge (BWD) and hull fouling. Here, we provide a first comprehensive analysis of shipping in Alaska, summarizing (a) the number, type and origin of vessel arrivals to Alaska for 2003 and 2004, (b) the spatial and temporal variation in vessel traffic, and (c) the available data on ballast water discharge in order to prioritize locations for tracking biological invasions. Most arrivals were passenger vessels, followed by ferries and fishing vessels, all of which carried little ballast water. Regional and seasonal patterns in arrivals and BWD were unevenly distributed among vessel types. The majority of vessels reporting BWD were from foreign ports, and most of this ballast was untreated. The largest volumes of ballast were from tankers at Valdez and Kenai Peninsula ports. Although Alaska has few documented invasions, opportunities for ship-mediated transfer now appear high and warrant further scrutiny.

Alaska↗
PubMed2005

Modeling the energy content of combustible ship-scrapping waste at Alang-Sosiya, India, using multiple regression analysis.

Alang-Sosiya is the largest ship-scrapping yard in the world, established in 1982. Every year an average of 171 ships having a mean weight of 2.10 x 10(6)(+/-7.82 x 10(5)) of light dead weight tonnage (LDT) being scrapped. Apart from scrapped metals, this yard generates a massive amount of combustible solid waste in the form of waste wood, plastic, insulation material, paper, glass wool, thermocol pieces (polyurethane foam material), sponge, oiled rope, cotton waste, rubber, etc. In this study multiple regression analysis was used to develop predictive models for energy content of combustible ship-scrapping solid wastes. The scope of work comprised qualitative and quantitative estimation of solid waste samples and performing a sequential selection procedure for isolating variables. Three regression models were developed to correlate the energy content (net calorific values (LHV)) with variables derived from material composition, proximate and ultimate analyses. The performance of these models for this particular waste complies well with the equations developed by other researchers (Dulong, Steuer, Scheurer-Kestner and Bento's) for estimating energy content of municipal solid waste.

Conservation of Energy Resources↗
PubMed2002

Biodynamic response of shipboard sitting subject to ship shock motion.

Underwater shock can produce very high accelerations, resulting in severe human injuries. In this paper, a shock-structure-human interaction model is proposed to study the biodynamic response of a shipboard sitting subject to ship motion induced by underwater shock (ship shock motion) wherein, the human body is modeled using a lumped parameter system with the parameters obtained from dynamic tensile tests. The results obtained from the human model used in this paper and living human drop test are also compared. Numerical results have revealed the characteristics of human response to ship shock motion. The part in direct contact with the structure (like the pelvis) is much more vulnerable than other parts (like the head). The influences of structural damping and stiffness on the peak loads acting on the human body are investigated. Both damping and stiffness have important influences on the pelvis, but have much less influences on other parts. Injury criteria in the literature are also summarized to facilitate injury assessment.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗
PubMed2003

Butyltin compounds in sediment and molluscs from the shipping strait between Denmark and Sweden.

The distribution of tributyltin (TBT) contamination in the subtidal zone of the waters between Denmark and Sweden was investigated in relation to major international shipping lanes. Sediment and different benthic molluscs were sampled in transects along and perpendicularly to the shipping lanes in the Sound (Øresund) and the Kattegat/Skagerrak region. The samples were analysed for TBT and its degradation products, dibutyltin (DBT) and monobutyltin (MBT), using GC-PFPD. In sediments, the TBT concentration ranged from <1 to 19 ng g(-1) dry weight (dw) with a strong correlation between the TBT concentration and the organic fraction in sediment (r(2)=0.90) in the samples collected in the Sound, where the highest concentrations were found. This relationship was not observed in the samples from the Kattegat because the TBT concentration in most sediment samples was below the limit of detection. In the molluscs, TBT and its degradation products were detected in all samples from the entire area with concentrations ranging from 8.1 ng g(-1) dw in Buccinum undatum to 1316 ng g(-1) dw in Nuculana pernula. The deposit-feeding bivalve N. pernula was found to have a particularly high accumulation potential for TBT. In addition, a strong correlation between TBT concentrations in sediment and N. pernula was found. Therefore this species seems to be an ideal organism for monitoring sediment contamination. The TBT concentration in N. pernula was found to decrease gradually along the shipping lanes from the Sound, through the Kattegat and into the Skagerrak.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Managing critical care casualties on the Navy's hospital ships.

In this article, a history of the hospital ships was recounted. Recent missions were described in terms of the ship and crew's capability based on education and mock training exercises. Patient flow was described and a case scenario was presented to illustrate surgically intensive management of critical care casualties. Finally, thoughts on the future of hospital ships were discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

A maritime navigation display that provides visual feedback to improve conning officers' ship-handling during low visibility environments.

Navigating a ship at night in close proximity to another vessel is a dangerous task. To improve conning officers' night time ship-handling performance, a visual navigation display is proposed that is mounted on the stern of the aircraft carrier that will help shipboard conning officers manoeuvre in a battle group formation. To test the effectiveness of the visual navigation display, the Nimitz-class aircraft and plane guard vessel, a Ticonderoga-class cruiser, were modelled in a virtual environment. A navigation display condition had significantly fewer navigational positional errors than a non-navigation display condition. The navigation display provided immediate feedback as to whether the aircraft carrier had changed bearing or speed, thus enabling the operator to initiate the appropriate input to maintain station astern of the carrier. Actual or potential applications of this research include the deployment of a maritime navigation display to assist conning officers' ship handling.

Computer Graphics↗
PubMed2003

Biodegradation-based polymer surface erosion and surface renewal for foul-release at low ship speeds.

Non-toxic foul-release provides an environmentally friendly and sustainable technical solution to control micro- and/or macrofouling on ships' hulls. Silicone-based coatings have been used for foul-release at high or moderate ship speeds (> 15 knots). To remove the fouling from slower ships (< 15 knots), the macrofoulers in particular, biodegradable polymers may be used to make the coating surface self-renewable. Synthesized by micro-organisms for carbon and energy storage under controlled conditions, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are hydrophobic bipolymers that are gradually decomposed into CO2 and water in the environment. Because of their hydrophobic property and lack of hydrolysis in sterile aqueous solution, PHAs do not dissolve in water, but erode at the polymer surface (2-5 microns in depth) catalyzed exclusively by microbial enzymes (depolymerases) that are attached on the solid surface. The thin-layer surface erosion behaves like a self-renewable surface coating, which approaches a constant renewal rate at a relative hydraulic speed as low as 3 knots. A turbulence eddy model is used to describe the effect of energy consumption per mass of liquid on the turbulent shear stress and the surface renewal rate. Furthermore, the polymer biodegradation or surface renewal rate can be controlled within a broad range by blending the material with polymers such as poly (epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL). The biodegradation of binary blends of PHA/PCL of different compositions was quantitatively monitored by means of weight loss and Raman spectroscopy.

Biofilms↗
PubMed2003

The ship hull fouling penalty.

The ship resistance penalties of slime, shell and weed are discussed in turn. Methods to measure the hard paint roughness of antifouling coatings are recapitulated. The determination of a satisfactory roughness parameter from correlations with measured roughness functions is described. This in turn, allows a relationship between ship added friction and roughness height to be found. This recapitulation allows consideration of using the same route for a surface with filamentous fouling. Consideration is given to low surface energy coatings and their roughness idiosyncrasies. The determination of economic penalties is discussed, both for a particular ship and globally.

Biofilms↗
PubMed2003

Three models to relate detachment of low form fouling at laboratory and ship scale.

Since fouling-release coating systems do not prevent settlement, various methods to quantify the tenacity of adhesion of fouling organisms on these systems have been offered. One such method is the turbulent channel flow apparatus. The question remains how the results from laboratory scale tests relate to the self-cleaning of a ship coated with a fouling-release surface. This paper relates the detachment strength of low form fouling determined in the laboratory using a turbulent channel flow to the conditions necessary for detachment of these organisms in a turbulent boundary layer at ship scale. A power-law formula, the ITTC-57 formula, and a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model are used to predict the skin-friction at ship scale. The results from all three methods show good agreement and are illustrated using turbulent channel flow data for sporelings of the green macrofouling alga Enteromorpha growing on a fouling-release coating.

Adhesiveness↗
PubMed2004

Outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis on cruise ships and on land: identification of a predominant circulating strain of norovirus--United States, 2002.

In 2002, a sharp increase in outbreaks of norovirus-associated illness, both on cruise ships and on land, encouraged us to examine the molecular epidemiology of detected noroviruses, to identify a common strain or source. Of 14 laboratory-confirmed outbreaks on cruise ships, 12 (86%) were attributed to caliciviruses; among these 12, outbreak characteristics included continuation on successive cruises in 6 (50%), multiple modes of transmission in 7 (58%), and high (>10%) attack rates in 7 (58%). Eleven of the 12 calicivirus outbreaks were attributed to noroviruses, 7 (64%) of which were attributed to a previously unreported lineage, provisionally named "the Farmington Hills strain." From May 2002 to December 2002, 10 (45%) of 22 land-based outbreaks also were attributed to this strain. Nucleotide-sequence analysis provided insights into norovirus transmission, by documenting links among outbreaks, the introduction of strains onto ships, and viral persistence on board (despite cleaning). Control measures for outbreaks should address all routes of transmission. Better outbreak surveillance and collection of data on sequences will help to monitor norovirus strains and to identify common sources.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1979

Vibrio parahaemolyticus gastroenteritis outbreaks aboard two cruise ships.

Outbreaks of Vibrio parahaemolyticus gastrointestinal illness occurred on two Caribbean cruise ships in late 1974 and early 1975. In all, 697 passengers and 27 crew were affected. Epidemiologic evidence incriminated seafoods served on the ships as the vehicles of transmission. The seafoods were probably contaminated by V. parahaemolyticus after cooking in seawater from the ships' internal seawater distribution systems. Use of seawater in foodhandling areas was discontinued, and no further outbreaks occurred.

Disease Outbreaks↗
PubMed1991

An outbreak of shigellosis aboard a cruise ship caused by a multiple-antibiotic-resistant strain of Shigella flexneri.

From October 23 to October 27, 1989, an outbreak of gastroenteritis occurred aboard a cruise ship in the Caribbean. The 818 passengers and 518 crew members were surveyed for gastrointestinal symptoms; 72 (14%) of 512 passengers and 12 (3%) of 388 crew members who answered the survey reported having a diarrheal illness. Multiple-antibiotic-resistant Shigella flexneri 4a was isolated from 19 ill passengers and two ill crew members. Thirteen people were hospitalized, and prolonged duration of illness was associated with taking an antibiotic to which the isolated strain of Shigella was resistant. A case-control study of food items implicated German potato salad as the vehicle of transmission. It was prepared and probably infected by a food handler from a country where multiple-antibiotic-resistant Shigella is common. Spread may have been facilitated by the limited availability of toilet facilities for the galley crew. This outbreak demonstrates how antibiotic-resistant strains can be introduced into the United States, where they can pose treatment problems. The continuing problem of foodborne gastrointestinal disease in settings such as cruise ships underscores the need for basic hygienic control for food handlers and food preparation areas. In addition, the availability of adequate working conditions for crew members, including appropriately furnished toilet facilities, may be important issues that must be addressed in order to decrease the frequency of diarrhea outbreaks aboard cruise ships.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Transport of the harmful bloom alga Aureococcus anophagefferens by oceangoing ships and coastal boats.

It is well established that cyst-forming phytoplankton species are transported in ships' ballast tanks. However, there is increasing evidence that other phytoplankton species which do not encyst are also capable of surviving ballast transit. These species have alternative modes of nutrition (hetero- or mixotrophy) and/or are able to survive long-term darkness. In our studies of no-ballast-on-board vessels arriving in the Great Lakes, we tested for the presence of the harmful algal bloom species Aureococcus anophagefferens (brown tide) in residual (i.e., unpumpable) ballast water using methods based on the PCR. During 2001, the brown tide organism was detected in 7 of 18 ballast water tanks in commercial ships following transit from foreign ports. Furthermore, it was detected after 10 days of ballast tank confinement during a vessel transit in the Great Lakes, a significant result given the large disparity between the salinity tolerance for active growth of Aureococcus (>22 ppt) and the low salinity of the residual ballast water (approximately 2 ppt). We also investigated the potential for smaller, recreational vessels to transport and distribute Aureococcus. During the summer of 2002, 11 trailered boats from the inland bays of Delaware and coastal bays of Maryland were sampled. Brown tide was detected in the bilge water in the bottoms of eight boats, as well as in one live-well sample. Commercial ships and small recreational boats are therefore implicated as potential vectors for long-distance transport and local-scale dispersal of Aureococcus.

DNA, Ribosomal↗
PubMed2005

Hospitalisations among seafarers on merchant ships.

AIMS: To study morbidity among active seafarers in the merchant navy in order to clarify possible work related morbidity and the morbidity related to work and lifestyle where possible preventive measures may be initiated. METHODS: From a register in the Danish Maritime Authority a cohort of Danish merchant seafarers who had been actively employed at sea in 1995 was identified. For each seafarer, information on all employment periods at sea, charge aboard, and ship was available. The cohort was linked with the National In-patient Register in Denmark. Standardised hospitalisation ratios (SHRs) were calculated for all major diagnostic groups using all gainfully employed as reference. RESULTS: Seafarers were shown to be inhomogeneous, with significant differences in SHRs for the same disease groups between different groups of seafarers depending on charge and ship type. SHRs for lifestyle related diseases were high, although rates for acute conditions, such as acute myocardial infarction, were low, probably due to referral bias, as acute conditions are likely to cause hospitalisation abroad, and thus are not included in the study. SHRs for injury and poisoning were high, especially for ratings and officers aboard small ships. CONCLUSION: Despite pre-employment selection, a large proportion of the seafarers constitute a group of workers with evidence of poor health probably caused by lifestyle. The subgroups with high risk of hospitalisation due to lifestyle related diseases also had an increased risk of hospitalisation due to injury and poisoning.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluation of emergency air evacuation of critically ill patients from cruise ships.

BACKGROUND: The study objectives were to assess the ship physician's diagnostic accuracy in making the decision to air evacuate critically ill patients from cruise ships, to determine the outcome of these patients, and the overall benefit of air evacuation. METHODS: From October 1999 to May 2000, we performed a prospective study of critically ill patients coming from cruise ships in the Caribbean and transported to our institution by air ambulance. Demographics, initial diagnosis, and treatment on board were collected by the triage officer at the time of the cruise physician's first call. In route complications and flight team composition were obtained from the air ambulance monitoring log. Patients were followed-up in the hospital for complications, outcome, and final diagnosis. RESULTS: A consecutive series of 104 patients were considered for analysis. There were 65 men and 39 women (mean age: 68.7 years). Cruise physician's diagnosis was correct in more than 90% of the cases. Internal medicine and surgical conditions represented 80.8% and 19.2% of the cases respectively, falling mainly into three categories: cardiac (34.6%), neurological (20.2%), and digestive (14%). Two cardiac arrests and 1 ventricular fibrillation were successfully resuscitated and 5 of 15 myocardial infarctions received thrombolytic therapy on board. Air transfers were warranted in 96.1% of the cases and physician presence in the flight was considered appropriate in 97.6%. In route complications and mortality rate were 5.8% and 2.9% respectively, related to serious cardiac events. Among the 98 hospitalized patients, 10 patients developed new complications and 5 died. The overall mortality rate was 7.7%. CONCLUSION: The cruise industry appears off to a good start in the medical treatment of passengers needing air evacuation to a land based medical facility. There is room for improvement and adoption of American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) and International Council of Cruise Lines (ICCL) Health Care Guidelines are meaningful first steps. Analysis of Caribbean medical facilities and implementation of active telemedicine conferencing represent alternatives to air evacuation that need to be studied.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Gender differences in the utilization of a military ship's medical department.

Civilian studies show roughly a three-fold higher use of medical resources by females of childbearing age than males. Significantly higher use of medical services by females would be important information when staffing and supplying U.S. Navy ships to accommodate female crew members. In this light, visits to the medical department on a ship with a mixed-gender crew were reviewed for a 6-month period. Total visits were counted by gender, and female visits were categorized. Females were seen at a rate 9.2 times that of males (6.44 vs. 0.70 visits per year). Gender-specific problems accounted for a minority of female visits (39%), whereas gender-neutral problems yielded a female-to-male visit ratio of nearly 6:1. At this rate, the work load of a ship's medical department will increase substantially when integrating women into an all-male crew.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Shipping and the spread of infectious salmon anemia in Scottish aquaculture.

Long-distance transport of pathogens plays a critical role in the emergence of novel diseases. Shipping is a major contributor to such transport, and the role of ships in spreading disease has been recognized for centuries. However, statistical confirmation of pathogen spread by shipping is usually impractical. We present evidence of invasive spread of infectious salmon anemia in the salmon farms of Scotland and demonstrate a link between vessel visits and farm contamination. The link is associated with vessels moving fish between sites and transporting harvest, but not with vessels delivering food or involved in other work.

Anemia↗
PubMed2001

Health promotion in the Finnish shipping industry.

In autumn 1997 a pilot project was started in Finland to develop methods for promoting the health of sailors. Four Finnish shipping companies, (4 cargo ships and 2 passenger-cruise ferries), with altogether 730 sailors participated in the project. Special attention was paid to individuals with health problems and those who generally did not take care of their own health or fitness. Three-quarters of the respondents saw their health as good and one fifth as fair. Thirty-four persons responded that their working capacity was poor. 154 sailors were selected into further physical fitness evaluations. The main task of the project team was to activate sailors to take care of their own health and well-being. The health-promoting activities were directed especially at those persons who needed it. Information lectures concerning healthier eating habits and meals were given. Anti-smoking and anti-alcohol drinking information was given. On board one cruise ferry a project was started on how to react as early as possible to alcohol abuse among seafarers. Courses on shore for sailors were arranged to improve their physical fitness and to increase their resting benefit between working periods at sea. The intervention time was one year. Information about smoking and alcohol led to reduced alcohol consumption. The sailors had started to exercise more often both on board ship and on shore. Those who had increased their physical exercise during free time more often found their own health and working ability to have improved than those who had not changed their exercise habits. It appeared that health intervention projects are really needed especially by older sailors. The results also showed that positive effects could be achieved in the fitness of sailors. Better fitness was good for their health and also increased the work safety.

Accidents, Occupational↗