April
2005
Table
of Contents:
Chesapeake Section |
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Pacific Northwest Section |
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Hampton Roads Section |
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Gulf Section |
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April
2005
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Chesapeake
Section January 19, 2005 Marine Industry Guidelines for Marine Accident Investigations On January 19th, over thirty members and guests heard a representative of the Marine Forensics Panel (SD-7) discuss the need for marine industry guidelines for marine accident investigations. The Panel, who was represented by James Ruggieri, works to contribute technical expertise in the analysis of marine accidents as well as to develop techniques that improve the examination and investigation of marine accidents. In this presentation, existing land-based guidelines and standards for forensic investigations were reviewed. This led to a discussion of the extent to which these guidelines may be applied to marine accident examination and analysis and used as the basis for expert opinions. The presentation pointed out unique differences in substantive technology, operational and regulations that exist between the land-based and marine paradigms that support a call for development of marine accident investigation specific guidelines. Panel SD-7 is a joint panel under SNAME’s Ship Design and Ship Technical Operations Committees.
February
9, 2005 "Coast
Guard Challenge – Being Prepared with Old and New Assets" On February 9th, nearly one hundred members and guests attended a joint SNAME/ASNE meeting, which was a “double-barreled” treat. First the members were told how the Coast Guard is managing to keep aged assets running – i.e. mission ready, while undertaking the largest procurement for REPLACEMENT assets ever undertaken by the Coast Guard. The speakers were the heads of the Coast Guard Directorates responsible for both missions: RADM Erroll Brown and RADM Patrick Stillman. RADM Brown noted that Coast Guard assets include more legacy assets than any other service; for example, two vessels have been in service over 60 years each and numerous others have service lives between 30 to 45 years. The newest assets are the forty-nine 110ft patrol boats which are nearing their originally designed fifteen-year service life. These vessels have seen extensive duty and some have served in the Persian Gulf.
With respect to the Coast Guard’s missions, RADM Brown noted that the “greatest threat to mission performance is the aging of the fleet, as well as their technological obsolescence.” This challenge is associated with the increased support cost of aging assets that is not met with improved operational availability. To address this, he outlined a three-pronged approach for addressing means of maintaining readiness, which included -- addressing/sustaining the legacy assets, improving organic system support, and improving management of corporate knowledge. RADM Brown noted that the Coast Guard needs the Integrated Deepwater Program for intelligent fleet replacement. RADM Erroll Brown serves as Assistant Commandant for Systems at Coast Guard Headquarters. RADM Brown’s remarks on fleet replacement lead to the next speaker, RADM Stillman. He is the Program Executive Officer for the Coast Guard’s Deepwater program. RADM Stillman provided an invigorated high-level overview of the proposed new vessel assets being developed as part of Deepwater. In his discussion about what constitutes success, he commented that part of his “performance” was measured by his ability to obtain adequate Deepwater program funding.
RADM Stillman made several observations about operational and planning paradigms with which Deepwater must manage. He noted that the ship construct has changed from former times, so that a ship today now is really a node in an overall system because it serves as a distributor of capabilities. He advocated “up-front” consideration of human systems integration since in the long term the number of people on board, not the machinery, etc., are the prime cost drivers on modern Coast Guard vessels. With respect to cost-benefit assessments, RADM Stillman remarked, “you want to be at the knuckle of curve,” which necessitates difficult trade-offs. In addition, operational integration between the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard is a vital component of improving overall mission effectiveness. RADM Patrick Stillman servers as the Program Executive Officer for Deepwater, located in Washington, DC. There was an extensive and free-ranging question and answers period during which both RADM Brown and RADM Stillman elaborated on how they work together to achieve the maximum overall effectiveness of funds available to the Coast Guard for fleet operational effectiveness. In conclusion RADM Brown and RADM Stillman reminded the members of the words of the founder of the Coast Guard, Alexander Hamilton, who stated in 1789 the United States need “sentinels of the sea to attend to the nation’s maritime needs."
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Pacific
Northwest Section February 12, 2005 Ocean Energy Conference - Joint SNAME/CIMARE/IMEREST Technical Meeting The Ocean Energy Conference was a joint SNAME/CIMARE/IMAREST meeting held at the Cheers restaurant in North Vancouver, BC at 08:00 on Saturday, February 12, 2005. Five remarkable papers were presented on the topic of Ocean Energy and future developments in this field. The large crowd of members and students enjoyed the interesting presentations from the various experts in ocean energy technology. The presentations began with Dr. Gouri Bhuyan, Director of Powertech Labs Inc. on IEA Implementing Agreement on Ocean Energy Systems and its present activities. Mr. Bhuyan explained how Powertech Labs was involved in Selecting Technologies for the various Wave Energy Projects, and it’s involvement on formation of Ocean Renewable Energy Group (OREG) and developing a R&D program for Canada. Powertech Labs also carried out wave energy resource assessment for Vancouver Island, and promotes development and the use of various technologies for sustainable energy production from the ocean. The next presenter was Mr. Nigel Protter, President and CEO of Sieber Energy Inc. Mr. Protter discussed about the technical, economic and political considerations that OREG has to take into account when assessing Ocean Renewable Energy. Mr. Protter explained about the large potential and kinetic energy, wave (on-shore and off shore), current, salinity and temperature gradient. He presented briefly the various prototypes currently in development or in assessment stages worldwide. While no technology is yet in the lead, the potential for energy harvest from the ocean is vast. Ms. Alla Weinstein, CEO of Aqua Energy Canada explained on various wave energy techniques on “Harvesting the Motion from the Ocean”. Ms. Weinstein focused on the operation of the “Aqua BUOY”, a prototype water column wave energy device that has a Pelton turbine at the surface. While only experimental, a series of these buoys can be grouped together to harvest ocean energy. This energy, in turn, can be distributed to shore, or to on-site energy consumers. After a brief lunch the crowd gathered to listen to two more presentations. The next presentation was given by Mr. Neal Brown, VP Technology of Float Inc. Mr. Brown’s presentation discussed “A Broad Band Ocean Wave Power System” which consists in a very large oscillating water column moored in deep water. The advantage of this particular technology is mainly in the efficiency, but also presented some advantages from an accessibility and maintenance point of view.
The last presentation of the day was given by Niel Pearce, of University of Victoria on Tidal Current Energy Extraction. Mr. Pearce explained about the advantages of the energy found in tidal current, it’s predictability, how it is invulnerable to climate change and it's minimal environmental disruption. This technology is also modular and does not require large civil engineering projects. The presentation also detailed the various prototype devices that can be used to harvest energy found in tidal current. All
presentations were followed by lively discussions from members and students.
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Hampton
Roads Section February 17, 2005 “Soviet Submarines of the Cold War" Presented by Dr. Gary Weir, U.S. Naval Historical Center On February 17, 2005, Dr. Gary Weir of the United States Naval Historical Center spoke at a joint meeting between the Hampton Roads Sections of SNAME and the Naval Submarine League on his research for his recent book, Rising Tide. This research focused on interviews with high-ranking Soviet submariners that fought the Cold War. An engaging, insightful, and captivating speaker, Dr. Weir shared anecdotes of his meetings with the Captains and Admirals that were once enemies of the United States. He recounted the difficulties in this effort, such as being treated with suspicion until some equalizing moment – a photo of a loved one, or sharing a drink – would allow the interviews to proceed. He shared the pride and experiences of these men; Rear Admiral Kondratiev’s successful mission to retrieve launch debris and telemetry buoys from the first Poseidon missile test is just one example. Most importantly, Dr. Weir gave these men a sense of humanity that could not have been seen by Americans. He showed that these men were just as dedicated, professional, brave, and skilled as their American counterparts. Dr. Gary Weir is a leading expert on submarines, Historian of Science and Technology at the U.S. Naval Historical Center, and Adjunct Professor of History, University of Maryland. He is author of several books, including Forged in War: The Naval-Industrial Complex and Submarine Construction, 1940-1961, winner of the Roosevelt Prize for Naval History, and An Ocean in Common: American Naval Officers, Scientists and the Ocean Environment, 2002 recipient of the Organization of American Historian’s Richard W. Leopold Prize. He lives in Montgomery Village, Maryland.
Gulf
Section February 23, 2005 The Gulf Section of the Society of Naval Architects & Marine Engineers was honored to have Dr. Lothar Birk present his paper on Designing Offshore Structures with Optimum Seakeeping Qualities during our February 23rd, 2005 meeting. The 50 honored SNAME members and their distinguished guests gathered at Doug’s Restaurant in Slidell to observe the technical presentation.
Dr. Birk opened by introducing the applications of using advanced computer software in the integration of parametric design. This design process allows users to implement everything from subtle to radical design changes in ship and offshore platform design philosophy. The implementation of parametric design, hydrodynamic analysis, short/long term wave statistics and formal optimization procedures is relatively new to offshore design. There are numerous advantages of automating the subtask of hull shape development for offshore structures by using computers. By using computers, naval architects have the ability to perform numerous calculations within the ship/sea surface interface. Dr. Birk discussed how the software’s versatility allows the design loop to be circumnavigated quickly while finishing the process on an improved path. Traditionally, engineering for Optimum Seakeeping Qualities has normally been a large, rather complex and expensive endeavor. However, with the advent of computers automating the task of parametric design; hydrodynamics engineers have gained the ability to create models while testing them on the computer before their actual construction. Dr. Birk’s analysis of the design system has enabled engineers to develop models that the customer can comprehend from design inception to completion. Modeling in virtual space promotes cost savings for the engineer and customer by way of improved design efficiency, error checking prior to production, and conceptual visualization. Similar to computer-aided design, the advantages of Dr. Birk’s analysis have been contributed to advantages in reduced production costs as well as predictive motions while performing missions. An additional flexibility of the parametric design process is the ability for the end user to adapt to the changing needs of ships and offshore platform owners. The design philosophy allows the naval architect to define mission specific parameters while achieving Optimum Seakeeping Qualities within those limitations. Ultimately as parametric design progresses and computer software becomes more elaborate, the evolution of what we know as the “hull form” will radically be redefined. The Gulf Section Officers would like to give special thanks to Dr. Lothar Birk for his exceptional presentation and paper. Elections were held during the January meetings and effective September 1, 2005, a new assemble of marine professionals will assume executive committee duties within the SNAME Gulf Section. Chairman
- Glenn Hauptmann |
