How does the ship avoid collisions with whales?

Most cruise liner has a “whale avoidance training” program for navigation officers and lookouts. The training certificate expires after one year and needs to be renewed each year. The training concentrates on how to look for whales, patterns of different species of whales and what to do when a whale is sighted. There are strict regulations in place for areas with dense whale populations, such as Glacier Bay in Alaska. Stringent controls are in place for reduced ship speeds and what to do when sighting a whale nearby.

In ship building, is there an optimum relationship between the length and breadth of the ship?

Answer: This depends on the wishes of the ship builder and the capacity of the yard. The relationship between breadth and length of a ship affects the speed: a narrower ship has more speed as less surface is pushing through the water, however it will have less cargo capacity and buoyancy. There are also limitations for what size ship a port can handle. The Panama and Suez Canals have a maximum width. If a ship goes around one of the capes it will have to travel more miles, but can carry more cargo.

Does the speed of the ship affect the pitch and yaw?

This is indeed true. The yawing (rolling) of the ship is affected by the surface of the wave touching the hull of the ship. If a wave top is under the ship the buoyancy is less, the stability is diminished and the vessel is more prone to roll. When the ship is on a wave trough more of the wave surface is in contact with the ship, increasing stability and reducing the effects of rolling. If the speed of the vessel is almost the same as that of the waves, and in the same direction, the time on a wave top is long and the decreased stability is significant. The chance of this happening is slight as our ship has a length of more than 200 meters and there are several wave tops and troughs in contact with the ship at all times. As for pitching, if the ship has a high speed it may ride down one wave and “crash” into the next. When the ship has a slower speed it will gently ride down one wave and climb the next one.

Tuntutlah ilmu setinggi langit

Begitulah salah satu pepatah mengatakan. Ya kita harus menuntut ilmu setinggi langit. Saya sangat setuju dengan pepatah itu. Begini ceritanya .... Kemarin kami sekeluarga pulang ke kampung istri di daeran Bangli. Ada kepentingan yang harus diselesaikan di grya dengan Ratu Pedanda. Sesampainya di kampung anak kami yang pertama mengeluh pusing. Trus dia bilang dingin ... minta dipijat. Setelah itu ia tertidur. Ternyata dia sakit. Badannya panas sekali. Mungkin tertular sakit adiknya. Adiknya 3 hari yang lalu juga sakit. Kami putuskan akan membawa anak kami ke dokter setelah kami tiba di Denpasar. Setelah urusan di grya selesai kamipun meluncur pulang ke Denpasar. sesampai di Denpasar, Saya langsung ke dokter. setelah menunggu giliran, akhirnya saya dan anak saya masuk ke ruang pemeriksaan. Setelah memeriksa anak kami, doktermengatakan terjadi radang pernafasan. Dia mengingatkan untuk hati-hati, karena gejala awal demam berdarah, flu burung atau flu babi seperti sakit yang dialami anak kami.

Dokter ini, Dr Wayan Sudana SpTHT, mengatakan tidak usah kawatir. Jika tahu apa itu virus dan bakteri serta tahu cara penanganannya, hal tersebut tidak perlu dikawatirkan. Disinilah pelajaran berharga saya dapatkan. Dokter bilang ... Banyak pakar sekarang yang ngomong macem-macem, tapi tidak berdasar. Mereka tidak tahu dimana virus hidup dan dimana bakteri berkembang biak. Jika mengerti dasar-dasar ilmu kedokteran, sebenarnya ini tidak perlu terjadi. Dimana-mana para pakar mengatakan virus-virus tersebut membahayakan, menggemparkan dunia. Nah sekarang yang paling saya sukai ... Dokter itu mengatakan, "itulah akibat belajar setengah-setengah". Baru tahu sedikit sudah merasa bisa mengatasi segala masalah. Ini sangat berbahaya, terutama dalam dunia kedokteran.

Dover, England

The straits of Dover separate the European continent from the British islands at its smallest distance and it has been a major trade route since before the Iron Age. As a proof of the historic (nautical) importance of this city stands the big castle built by William the Conqueror in 1066. The Saxon Church next to it is even older, from the 7th century AD. The Church tower is the eldest part and is actually a 2000 year old roman “pharos” or light house, designated to guide the galleys across the straits from the French village of Wissant. Dover was an important port of Roman Britain from the time of its occupation in 54 BC. It became a Saxon stronghold in the 4th century AD. In the 11th century, after the Norman Conquest, Dover was enfranchised as one of the Cinque Ports (a quasi-independent group of five English Channel ports supplying naval defense). During World War I, Dover Harbor served as the base for the flotilla known as the Dover Patrol, which was responsible for keeping the straits open to shipping. In World War II, Dover was repeatedly subjected to German bombing raids and to shelling by German guns entrenched at Cap Gris-Nez, France. The town was extensively damaged and has since undergone much rebuilding. Overlooking the town from the eastern heights of the chalk cliffs is the large Dover Castle, which was built in the 11th century by William the Conqueror on the site of earlier Roman and Saxon structures. It is a noteworthy example of medieval fortification and includes the nearly intact remains of a Roman lighthouse. In the town are ruins of the Maison Dieu (House of God) founded in the 13th century by the English statesman Hubert de Burgh as a hospice for pilgrims from all lands. Freight traffic is also important to the port of Dover, but this business faces increasing competition from the trains of the channel tunnel, which can move freight faster than boats can.

Le Havre, France

The city of Le Havre is located at the entrance to the River Seine and is a major transit port for ships and cargo bound for Paris. Crossing the river Seine into Normandy is the beautiful red “Pont de Normandie” or “Bridge of Normandy”. Le Havre is also used in the sense of "port". The city was first called Franciscopolis, in homage to King Francis I, who took the initiative to construct the city, in addition to Le Havre (or Le Hable) de Grâce, the latter term being derived from the chapel Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, which existed on the site before the city's founding. The cultural roots of the French go back to the Celtic Gauls, who were conquered by Julius Caesar in 51 B.C. Five years later, Clovis extended Frankish rule over much of Europe; and after Charlemagne's death in 814, France became one of the successor kingdoms. France developed into the strongest of the unified Continental monarchies (as opposed to Germany and Italy, which were unified later). The French Revolution (1789-1793) overthrew the monarchy, and established the First Republic. Napoleon ruled over the First Empire (1804-1815), and successive governments led to the existing Fifth Republic (1958-present). The population of France is 56 million. Urbanization occurred after World War II, and now cities are home to 75 percent of the people. Paris has 8.7 million; the other important centers (Lyon, Marseille, and Lille) have under 1.5 million. Growing areas are Lyon, Grenoble (in the Alps), and the southern coast (Toulouse, Montpellier, Nice). A modern city, with tall blocks of apartment houses and large, pleasant squares, Le Havre, unlike some French towns has changed radically since it was created in the 16th century by Francois I. In 1945, at the end of World War II, Le Havre laid in ruins; it had the unfortunate distinction of being the worst-damaged port, after having been the target of more than 170 bombings. After an amazing recovery, Le Havre is now one of France's major Atlantic ports, second largest after Marseille, and takes up half the Seine estuary, extending far further than the town. Today, the largest container ships and oil tankers afloat can now dock there easily. There is plenty to see in Le Havre and its surrounding areas. If you drive out to the Le Havre Lighthouse, you'll have a good view of the port, the "Flower Coast," and an estuary of the Seine. The Église St-Joseph, on the boulevard Francois, has a bell tower nearly 350 feet high and is the tallest building made of reinforced concrete in the country. From the top of the tower, visitors can enjoy a lovely view of Le Havre. The Musee des Beaux-Arts is one of the best designed art galleries in the country, with works by Boudin, Corot, Courbet, Monet and Dufy, a native of Le Havre.

Plymouth, England

Located 190 miles (310 kilometers) southwest of London, Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area built between the mouths of the rivers Plym and Tamar. Plymouth’s early history goes back to the Bronze Age when it was a trading post for the Roman Empire. In 1403 the Breton raiders burned the town down, which lead to a series of fortifications being built including four round towers. The remains of two of these towers can still be found at Mount Batten and Sutton Pool below the Royal Citadel. During the 17th century Plymouth gradually lost its prominence as a trading port and ended up opening its first dockyard in 1690 with additional docks being built between 1727 and 1793. With the growth of the dockyard the population grew by more then 900%, from 318 people in 1712 to 3000 people in 1733. During World War II the Germans bombed Plymouth in 59 raids known as the Plymouth Blitz. The city centre and over 3700 homes were destroyed, and over 1000 people perished. Charles Church was also hit and partially destroyed; it continues to stand as an official monument to the bombing. Today it is England’s 15th most populated city with over 250,000 people calling it home. The dockyard port of Plymouth lies at the mouth of River Tamar and River Plym, and embraces the commercial harbors of Millbay Docks, Cattewater and Sutton Harbor, together with HM Naval Base Devonport. The port is a major naval dockyard, a ferry port and an important port of call for cruise liners and cargo ships, including refined oil products.

Dunmore East (Waterford), Ireland

Although the Irish Free State is barely 70 years old (its constitution was ratified in 1937), the history of Ireland dates back almost 6,000 years. Much of the country still remains unexcavated and farmers digging in fields have been known to turn up valuable artifacts detailing ancient origins. The island of Ireland lies to the west of Great Britain, separated by the Irish Sea. No part of Ireland is more than 70 miles from any of its surrounding waters: the Atlantic Ocean, the Irish Sea, and the St. George and North Channels. Known as the Crystal County, Waterford is located on the southeast side of Ireland. Possibly the most famous tourist attraction, established in 1783, is the Waterford Crystal Factory, which has gained worldwide recognition as a creator of crystal for connoisseurs. Waterford, the city, is rather small and compact, which allows for easy sightseeing on foot. Take a stroll along the quays or perhaps wander through the historic district around Reginald’s Tower, a landmark said to have been built in 1003 by a Viking governor named, of course, Reginald. The main seaport of Waterford is the picturesque fishing village of Dunmore East, and this is where the tenders will bring you ashore. Whether taking in the sights or sipping a beer in a cozy pub, visitors to this area are sure to enjoy the history and hospitality of Ireland. The harbor is one of the five designated National Fishery Harbors, and has the second highest figure for fish landings after Killybegs. Dunmore is noted for: The first Irish woman to qualify for a skipper's ticket in fishing, the first official woman crew member in an RNLI Lifeboat and the world record holder for the largest tuna caught on a rod. The long established fishing industry is under threat from governmental restrictions designed to protect stocks. A plan has been developed (2005) by Waterford County Council to expand the harbor to accommodate more recreational marine activities.

Law Of The Sea Treaty

The United Nations sponsored ‘Law of the Sea Treaty’ (1982): calls for limited, and controlled, mining of the seabed; establishes in general the twelve-mile limit for territorial waters; gives all nations’ ships the right of ‘innocent passage’ through crucial straits; and sets up the international antipollution regulations.

Morse Code

The United States and Canada did not adopt the International Morse Code for sending telegraphy messages when other countries did in the 1850s; instead, they continued to use the original Morse Code system. International Morse Code consists of combinations of dots and dashes representing the letters of the alphabet and numerals. The duration of one dash equals that of three dots. Today, International Morse Code is no longer used commercially or by the military, because radiotelegraphy has been replaced by digital communications via satellite.

Liverpool, England

In 1207, King John granted the hamlet of Liverpool the privileges of a free borough. It remained an insignificant port town until the late 17th century, when the nearby port of Chester declined as a result of the silting of the Dee River. The growth of manufacturing in surrounding areas and the increase of trade with America and the West Indies caused Liverpool to thrive. Expansion of the harbor was necessary, and in 1715 the first wet dock in Britain was constructed here. By the end of the 18th century the city had become a rich metropolis thriving on the slave trade and privateering. In 1830 a railroad was constructed between Liverpool and Manchester, and by the 1860s the city was the hub of an extensive rail network. During this period its population grew rapidly as numerous immigrants, chiefly from Ireland, settled here. Liverpool became the foremost British port for American trade and passenger service in the 19th century. Liverpool still remains Britain's second most important seaport, after London, for traffic other than petroleum. Imports include grain and other foodstuffs, wood, nonferrous metals, and textile fibers. Liverpool is also a passenger port for travel to Ireland. Manufactures include pharmaceuticals, electric equipment, rubber products, refined sugar and flour. Motor-vehicle manufacturing and oil refining are also located on the periphery of the metropolitan area. Liverpool is connected to the Wirral Peninsula across the river by two motor-vehicle tunnels and a railroad tunnel. Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. In 2004, Liverpool's waterfront was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage site, reflecting the city's importance in the development of the world's trading system and dock technology. The docks are central to Liverpool's history, with the best-known being Albert Dock: the first enclosed, non-combustible dock warehouse system in the world and is built in cast iron, brick and stone.

Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it commemorates U.S. men and women who died while in the military service. First enacted to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War (it is celebrated near the day of reunification after the civil war), it was expanded after World War I to include American casualties of any war or military action.

Belfast, Northern Ireland

Consisting of mainly low plateaus and rolling hills, Northern Ireland is situated in the northeast part of the island of Ireland and is part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, more commonly referred to as the United Kingdom or Great Britain. Northern Ireland is the smallest of the countries of the United Kingdom, and also contains the largest freshwater lake (Lough Neagh) in the UK. Also referred to as Ulster, Northern Ireland actually only contains six of the original nine counties that comprised this historical kingdom. Ulster holds a special importance in the mythological history of Ireland because the rulers and their champions played a prominent role in the rich Irish sagas of the middle Ages. More recently, the Government of Ireland Act was adopted in 1920, thereby creating North and South Ireland. Still today, political and religious conflicts continue, based on differences between Catholics and Protestants, Unionists and Nationalists. Belfast is the capital city of Northern Ireland and found its most noted development occurring during the industrial revolution when the area emerged as a linen manufacturing region. Strengthened later by Belfast’s development into a shipbuilding and engineering city, residents can boast that their city was the building site of the famed Titanic. The reopening of the Grand Opera House in 1980 signposted Belfast’s emergence as a city of culture with special emphasis on music, as noted in the symphonies and orchestras found there. From the navigator In the morning, after picking up the pilot, we sail up the Belfast Lough (Bay) before reaching our dock. Belfast is a busy port, most known in the maritime world because the Titanic was build here, at the Harland and Wolff shipyard, as well as some of the past Holland America Line ships like the flagships Rotterdam IV (1908) and Statendam II (1914) and Statendam III (1929).

The ss Rotterdam Story

ss. Rotterdam I: Built by Henderson, Coulborn & Co in Renfrew. (1,694 Brt, 81.8 meter long). In service from September 7, 1872 until she ran ashore on the coast of the island Schouwen on September 26, 1883 during her 65th voyage from New York to Rotterdam. The wreck was sold on October 29, 1883. ss. Rotterdam II: Built by Harland & Wolff in Belfast as s.s. British Empire (3,329 Brt, 122.3 meter long) in 1878. In 1886 purchased from The British Shipowners and renamed into s.s. Rotterdam. She was the first cruise ship of the Company and sold to an Italian demolisher in 1899. ss. Rotterdam III: Built in 1897 by Harland & Wolff in Belfast (8,187 Brt and 147.06 meter long). In 1906, sold to Det.Forenede Dampskipselskab in Copenhagen. ss. Rotterdam IV: (24,148 Brt, 203.52 meter long) Built by Harland & Wolff in Belfast in 1908; the largest ship of the Dutch Merchant fleet. During the winters she sailed a Mediterranean cruise-program visiting Palestine & Egypt. After 32 years she was sold to a demolisher in 1940. ss. Rotterdam V: Built by the Rotterdam Drydock Company, 38,645 Brt, 228.12 meter long. She sailed for 38 years (1959 - 1997) as the flagship of the Holland America Line. On September 30, 1997 she was sold to Premier Cruises. She is being restored and will find her final dock in Rotterdam in March 2008 as convention center. ms. Rotterdam VI: The new flagship (62,000 Brt, 237 meter long) was built by the Fincantieri Shipyard in Venice. She made her maiden voyage in November 1997. On December 9, 1997 she was officially named by Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet.

From The Navigator

The Atlantic Ocean we now sail in is the second greatest Ocean in the world (after the Pacific Ocean). The Pacific Ocean is 64 million square miles (103 square kilometers) and the Atlantic Ocean is 31.8 million square miles (51 square kilometers). Due to the theory of continental drift it is believed that the Atlantic Ocean is widening an inch every year while the Pacific Ocean is shrinking. The Atlantic Ocean takes its name either from the lost kingdom of Atlantis or, more probably, from the Atlas Mountains in Northwest Africa, which the ancients believed overlooked the entire ocean.

St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada

St. John’s is the capital city of Newfoundland and Labrador and the province’s largest city. Situated on the Avalon Peninsula, it is the easternmost city of North America and one of the oldest inhabited ports on the continent. Norseman Bjarni Herjolfasson sighted Newfoundland in 986 AD, making him the first European to sight the New World. Bristol sea captain John Cabot rediscovered and named Newfoundland in 1497. St. John’s has been the site of several significant events, including Marconi’s first reception of radio signals across the Atlantic in 1901 at Cabot Tower on Signal Hill above the harbor, and the 1919 departure of Alcock and Brown on the first successful transatlantic flight. St. John’s harbor is situated on the northeast side of Avalon Peninsula, within a well-sheltered inlet. It is the principal port for the Province of Newfoundland, a center of important sea fisheries used by the vessels of many nations, and the primary service center for offshore oil activity in Newfoundland.

St Pierre & Miquelon, France

The tiny island of St-Pierre et Miquelon comprises a speck of French territory located in the middle of Atlantic Canada. St-Pierre was first settled by the French fishing fleet in the 1500s, and for some reason, the British never bothered claiming these islands during their colonial conquest of North America. The town of St-Pierre is the host to the seat of colonial government and maintains its truly French heritage. The architecture and the people exhibit the true flavor of France. A focal point of the town is the Hotel Robert which was constructed in the 1920s and was “home away from home” to Al Capone during the prohibition years. Saint-Pierre is the more populated of the two communes (municipalities) making up Saint Pierre and Miquelon. Until 1945, there existed a third commune in Saint Pierre and Miquelon: L'Île-aux-Marins. The commune of L'Île-aux-Marins was annexed by the commune of Saint-Pierre in 1945.

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia’s capital sits by one of the world’s most extensive natural harbors, midway along Nova Scotia’s south Atlantic shore. It was also the assembly and departure point for the Trans-Atlantic convoys during both world wars. With a population of 350,000, Halifax is the largest Canadian city east of Montreal. Modern buildings nestle among Nova Scotian heritage, interspersed with numerous parks. The port is the busiest on Canada’s east coast, partially because it’s a year-round harbor as ice forces most others to close in winter. Over 16 million tons of cargo is handled from more than 2,400 vessels. Major industries are manufacturing, oil refining and food processing. Canada’s largest naval base is here as well. Halifax was founded in 1749 as a British stronghold counterbalancing the French fort at Louisbourg on Nova Scotia’s far eastern tip. The historic waterfront district is a short and pleasant walk from the ship; and the famous star-shaped Citadel, although a more aggressive uphill climb, is also nearby. The cruise ship terminal hosts a number of shopping booths boasting an array of “Haligonian” craftsmanship.

New York City, New York

New York City (officially named the City of New York) is the largest city in the United States by population and one of the world’s major global cities. Located in the state of New York, the city has a population of 8.2 million within an area of 321 square miles (830 square kilometers), making it the most densely populated city in North America. With a population of over 22.1 million, the New York Metropolitan Area is one of the largest urban areas in the world. New York City is an international center for business, finance, fashion, medicine, entertainment, media and culture, with an extraordinary array of museums, art galleries, performance venues, media outlets, international corporations, and financial markets. The city is also home to the United Nations and too many of the world’s most famous skyscrapers. Popularly known as the “Big Apple,” and the “City That Never Sleeps,” it attracts people from all over the globe who come for its economic opportunity, culture and fast-paced cosmopolitan lifestyle. The city’s geography is characterized by its coastal position at the meeting of the Hudson River and the Atlantic Ocean in a naturally sheltered harbor. This position helped the city grow in significance as a trading city. The city’s land has been altered considerably by human intervention, with substantial land reclamation along the waterfronts since Dutch colonial times. Reclamation is most notable in Lower Manhattan with modern developments like Battery Park City. Much of the natural variations in topography have been evened out, particularly in Manhattan.

Dutch Rule in New York

Hudson discovered that the vast area between French Canada and British Virginia was unfortified and unclaimed and that the Native Americans who lived at the mouth of the Hudson River would happily trade furs for European goods. Excited by the commercial prospects of Manhattan Island, which was in the midst of a vast harbor that was ice-free in all seasons, Dutch merchants promptly dispatched other expeditions to the vicinity. The Dutch East India Company established the first permanent European settlement in what is now New York City in 1624. Although most of the Dutch settlers established themselves in the northern Hudson Valley, near the future site of Albany, about eight or ten Protestants from Belgium, who had taken refuge with the Dutch to escape religious persecution, settled on Governors Island in New York harbor. In 1625 the tiny community moved to the southern tip of Manhattan Island. A year later, according to legend, Dutch colonial governor Peter Minuit purchased Manhattan from the Canarsees for 60 guilders (approximately $24) in trinkets and goods. The city of New Amsterdam, as it was soon called, operated as part of the colony administered by the Dutch West India Company.