Arctic research uncovers how melting ice is changing the ocean’s ecosystem
marine mammals higher up the food chain. Researchers measured radium at 69
locations from the western edge of the Arctic Ocean to the North Pole on a two-month excursion on the icebreaker Healy in summer 2015. They found that radium-228 concentrations in the area had skyrocketed since measurements were last taken eight years before. Upon investigation, they discovered that ice
Scientists have discovered that levels of the naturally-occurring isotope radium-228 have almost doubled in the middle of the Arctic Ocean in the last 10 years. The study illustrates once more that a warming climate is having a far-reaching effect on Arctic ecosystems. The findings — published in the journal
Science Advances — show that significant changes are occurring along the region’s coastlines, because the source of the radium is the land and continental shelves around the ocean. The research team, led by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, thinks that the Arctic’s rapidly melting sea ice has resulted in more open water near the coasts, thereby allowing winds to create waves. These waves then churn up sediments on the shallow shelves, releasing radium that is carried to the water’s surface and into the open ocean. This process is also likely to deliver
additional nutrients, carbon and other chemicals into the Arctic Ocean — fuelling the growth of plankton and impacting fish and
INBRIEF
s Indian Maritime Unions initiate welfare schemes for seafarers India’s leading maritime unions, the Maritime Union of India (MUI) and the National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI) have initiated a series of welfare measures in a bid to improve quality of life for the country’s 1.3 million seafarers.
and water were flowing northward from the northern coast of Russia towards the middle of the Arctic Ocean, where the radium levels had gone up. They concluded that the radium had
originated in sediments from the East Siberian Arctic Shelf, which is shallow, but extends 930 miles offshore and is known to contain large concentrations of radium, as well as other chemical compounds. However, the researchers believe there
could be other factors behind the increased radium levels. Greater wave action can lead to coastline erosion, which adds terrestrial sediment into the ocean. Warmer temperatures can melt permafrost, leading to river and groundwater run-off that also carries material into the Arctic Ocean. “Continued monitoring of shelf inputs to
Arctic surface waters is therefore vital to understand how the changing climate will affect the chemistry, biology, and economic resources of the Arctic Ocean,” wrote the authors of the study.
s Saab to demonstrate anti- submarine warfare training drone Swedish defence firm Saab has said it will demonstrate its anti-submarine warfare training system, known as the AUV62-AT, for the US Navy this summer. The underwater drone mimics the acoustic signature of a submarine, thereby allowing US Navy vessels to use it as a manoeuvring training target.
The US Navy has entered into an agreement with defence contractor Textron to weaponize the Common Unmanned Surface Vehicle (CUSV), a remotely-operated vessel that is deployed from littoral combat ships. While the CUSV was originally intended to
conduct minesweeping operations, it notably features a 14-foot modular payload bay to allow it to carry out surface warfare roles. According to a statement from Textron, potential payloads may include missiles, sensors, and remote weapons stations. The US Navy purchased its first minesweeping CUSV from Textron in 2014, and awarded the firm a $14.8 million contract for two more in April 2017. Though the US has been successful in weaponizing unmanned aerial vehicles, other countries have been quicker to arm unmanned surface vessels. Both Singapore and Israel already operate the Protector USV — also known as the “death shark” — an unmanned vessel capable of fielding a .50 calibre machine gun, a Gatling gun, or a grenade launcher.
s RIMS receives class approval from Lloyd’s Register Drone and robotics specialist RIMS (Robotics in Maintenance Strategies) has received its fourth Classification Certificate as Recognized External Specialists, from Lloyd’s Register, for the use of drones during surveys of enclosed spaces. The audit took place on a deepwater construction vessel.
s IMO introduces new seafarer shore leave protection Seafarers’ rights to shore leave have been strengthened under new amendments to the IMO’s Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic. The changes add an additional provision on top of the existing requirement that allows crew ashore while the ship they arrive on is in port.
US Navy to add weapons to
unmanned vessels
05
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40