Ocean Geography and Marine Transport

### Ocean Geography

• Geographers have divided the ocean into five major basins: Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic, and Southern.
• Smaller ocean regions, like the Mediterranean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and the Bay of Bengal, are called seas, gulfs, and bays.

Oceans & Earth's Surface

• Oceans cover 71% of the Earth's surface, while land covers only 29%.
• Oceans cover an area of 139 million miles² or 361 million km².
• Oceans contain approximately 1.37 billion km³ of water.
• Oceans cover 61% of the Northern Hemisphere and 81% of the Southern Hemisphere.

LNG Gas Carriers

• Gas carriers support transportation of cleaner energy sources, such as liquefied natural gas (LNG).
• Disadvantages:
  • Move highly flammable and potentially dangerous gases.
  • Require specialized infrastructure and facilities for loading/unloading operations.

High-Speed Craft

• Use air pressure to move at high speed over water and feature engines and turbine propellers.
• Primarily function as fast ferries for passengers.
• Advantages:
  • Enhance efficiency by transporting people and goods at speeds faster than conventional vessels.
  • Provide a smooth and comfortable ride even at high speeds.
• Disadvantages:
  • More expensive to construct, maintain, and operate than conventional vessels.
  • Consume more fuel per unit of distance traveled compared to slower ships.

Naval Ships

• Military ships used by the Navy, including battleships, destroyers, and corvettes.
• Designed for engaging enemy forces on the high seas, but can also be used for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
• Advantages:
  • Protect a country’s maritime assets by offering security and protection from potential threats.
  • Frequently used for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
• Disadvantages:
  • Can be costly to construct, operate, and maintain.
  • Are exposed to modern weapons systems, such as submarines, torpedoes, and anti-ship missiles.

### Offshore Ships

• Mainly used for oil exploration and construction at sea.
• Perform various tasks, including logistic support and transportation of goods, equipment, and crew personnel.
• Advantages:
  • Essential for supporting offshore operations in the oil and gas sector.
  • Equipped with safety features to protect personnel and address emergencies.
• Disadvantages:
  • Operations heavily reliant on weather conditions.
  • Complex vessels with modern technology and equipment that require skilled personnel and specialized training.

Passenger Ships

• Also known as cruise ships, primarily for transporting passengers from one place to another.
• Usually used for round-trip voyages to various ports, where passengers can go on tours.
• Modern cruise ships are described as "floating condominiums laden with balconies."
• Advantages:
  • Offer a unique and enjoyable travel experience, allowing passengers to visit different locations and participate in leisure activities.
  • Make a significant economic contribution to the cruise industry by promoting local business growth, creating jobs, and bringing in tourism revenue.
• Disadvantages:
  • Can have a substantial environmental impact.
  • May become overcrowded, resulting in clogged common areas, lengthy lines, and insufficient personal space.

STCW Convention - Alternative Certification

• Enables seafarers to perform different functions that are not necessarily within the same department.
• Requires candidates to qualify in all functions at a determined level of responsibility in one department (deck or engine) before qualifying for other functions (at the same level) in a different department.
• Purpose is to align shipboard organization with modern technological developments and open up new career paths for seafarers.
• The convention prohibits ship owners from using alternative certification to reduce crew numbers, increase workloads, or undermine the integrity of the profession.

STCW Convention - Integrated Rating

• The 2010 STCW Convention introduced qualifications for an integrated rating with multiple options for achieving it.
• The introduction of integrated ratings on vessels is not intended to reduce crew numbers.

STCW Convention - Next Higher Certificate

• Requires approved training and education, minimum age, approved seagoing service, and medical fitness.

STCW Convention - Officers' Duties on Joining a Ship

• All officers need to complete a period of ship-specific and security familiarization training before being assigned shipboard functions.
• This requirement applies to all crew members, including hotel staff holding officer rank in passenger ships.

STCW Convention - Basic Safety Training for Officers

• Officers with safety and pollution prevention responsibilities must complete basic safety training.
• This includes personal survival techniques, basic fire prevention and firefighting, elementary first aid, and personal and social responsibilities.
• The training should be documented within five years of the officers being assigned to safety and pollution prevention duties.

STCW Convention - 2010 Amendments

• All ships must have a qualified security officer delegated by the company and master of the ship.
• The security officer is responsible for ensuring the crew is familiarized and trained in security matters for the vessel.
• The revised convention has introduced bridge resource management and engine resource management requirements for senior officers, and leadership and management skills within their certificate.

Explore the vastness of our oceans, covering the five major basins and various smaller bodies of water. Additionally, this quiz delves into the transportation of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and the technology behind high-speed craft. Test your knowledge on ocean geography and marine transport technologies.