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OCEANS HUGE CARRIER WILL BE AN ICE-CRUSHER Hyundai Heavy Industries has finished testing a model of a 190,000dwt ice-breaking iron ore carrier at the Institute for Ocean Technology in Canada. When launched, the ship will measure 310m with a beam of 51m and will be the world's largest commercial ice-breaking ship. The carrier is designed to navigate through ice-covered waters 1.7m thick at six knots without the help of an icebreaker. She will carry twice as much cargo as any existing similar ship and travel twice as fast, with five percent better fuel efficiency. Her dual-propulsion system will be equipped with two ring- type propellers to increase mobility and her hull will be specially shaped and strengthened. Hyundai says the demand for ice-breaking commercial ships is expected to increase as exploration of natural resources like gas, oil, and iron ore in the polar regions becomes easier. Travel distances can also be shortened by up to 40 percent between Asia and Europe when Arctic sailing routes are available in summer. SAILS ALSO GENERATE POWER Work is under way at Eco Marine Power in Fukuoka, Japan on the detailed design of a rigid sail power generation system for ships. The Aquarius system is designed to use both wind and solar energy to power ships of a wide variety of sizes, and will also help reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gases. The system consists of a series of computer-controlled rigid sails or panels positioned along the port and starboard sides of the ships' upper deck. When wind conditions are not favourable, the sails can be trimmed at an angle of least resistance to collect solar power. The solar collection modules can be fitted to these sail-like structures rather then simply fitting them to the deck and there is no need to redesign the system. The Balmoral The Waverley CREW BLAMED FOR CRUISE SHIP ASSAULTS Women intent on a relaxing cruise at sea are being warned to remain vigilant after a study revealed hundreds have been sexually assaulted while on board. Dr Jill Poulston, the head of hospitality at the Auckland University of Technology, who conducted the research with Canadian Professor Ross Klein, described the findings as "chilling". After analysing data from FBI reports and three major cruise lines – Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Carnival Cruise Lines – they found an unusually high incidence of sexual assaults and unwanted sexual contact on cruise ships. The attackers were largely members of the crew, while the victims were predominantly females of varying ages. More than a third of the assaults occurred in the passengers' own cabins, often after crew had forced their way in. Most of the data involved American and Canadian incidents, but Dr Poulston warned the lessons learnt were just as relevant to New Zealanders. "While cruise vacations are often sold as voyages of romance and adventure, a significant number of passengers have very different and very unpleasant experiences," she said. Data from RCI and Carnival Cruise Lines found the rate of sex-related incidents on cruise ships was almost 50 percent higher than the rate of sexual assault on land in Canada. RCI received more than 450 sexual abuse complaints during an eight-year period, she said. However, its rate of alleged incidents had dropped from nearly 112 per 100,000 passengers in 2003 to 45 in 2005. SEA-GOING STEAMER NEEDS MORE FUNDS The current northern summer season could well spell the end what is believed to be the world's last surviving ocean-going paddle steamer. An appeal was launched recently to raise ₤350,000 (NZ$700,000) to secure the future of the 54-year-old Waverley, a popular visitor at ports around the coast of the United Kingdom. The fund is still about ₤160,000 short of its target. The Waverley and the Balmoral, both operated by the Waverley Steam Navigation Co Ltd, are said to be the only vessels offering day trips along the British coast. The company says passenger numbers are 32 percent up on last year, with 32,000 people cruising on the Waverley in July alone. She has carried more than five million passengers since the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society bought her in 1975. 64 Professional Skipper November/December 2011 Dr Poulston believes one reason assaults are so high on cruise ships is because passengers arrive on board and let their guard down. Examples of sexual assaults included a 14-year-old girl who had been kissed and inappropriately touched by a second officer, and a woman who was raped in her cabin by a steward. A spokeswoman for RCI, which also owns Celebrity Cruises, said the company's highest priority was to ensure the safety and security of all its guests and crew. "This is always the case, whether it is a regular cruise or a chartered cruise like Rhapsody of the Sea's sailings during the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand." She said the company carried more than 4.5 million guests and crew in 2010 and reported 13 allegations of rape and 11 of sexual assault, not all of which were upheld. A spokeswoman for Carnival Australia, which operates P&O Cruises Australia and New Zealand, said claims of sexual assault on board its ships were extremely rare, and there was no data to suggest assaults of any kind occurred at a higher rate on its ships than on land. "Our responsibility is to create an environment on board our ships where we do all we can to make sure people are safe, that behaviour is appropriate and our passengers enjoy their holiday." SEAPIXONLINE.COM SEAPIXONLINE.COM