The arsenic spreading over thallus of Saccharina latissima of different habitats of the Barents Sea

The algae Saccharina latissima (Phaeophyceae) and bottom sediment were studied in two places of its habitat in the Zelenetskaya Bay of the Barents Sea: 1) in the zone of shipping traffic and ship parking (ZST&SP) and 2) algae plantations (AP) - the background part of the bay. According to the results of scanning electron microscopy and micro-X-ray spectral analysis, an active new formation of framboidal pyrite, iron oxides-hydroxides, and salt crystals were founded in the bottom sediment in the ZCST&SP of the bay. In the structure of the rhizoids of the thallom algae, inclusions of bottom sediment particles were revealed. The ICP MS method showed that the arsenic content in the S. latissima thallom significantly exceeds its level of presence in the bottom sediment. The maximum content of arsenic in algae from both habitats is determined in the rhizoids, and the lowest in the young part of the plate (meristem). The bottom sediment and thallom of S. latissima from the ZCST&SP contain two to three times more arsenic than the algae on the plantation.

Reconstruction of various navigational scenarios of the «Ever Given» ship, including grounding in the Suez Canal using the bridge simulator with up-to-date electronic navigation charts

The Suez Canal is the largest maritime shipping traffic thoroughfare in the world. The global cargo turnover accounts for 10-12%. Theaccident occurred on March 23, 2021 with the container ship “Ever Given”, blocking the Suez Canal. It fully paralyzed shipping traffic in the region and caused enormous damage to the economy. Reconstruction of various navigational scenarios of the containership, including grounding based on the bridge simulator, allowed examination of navigation and developing recommendations to prevent similar accidents in the future. Within the limits of the research, the authors used electronic navigation charts S-57 with up-to-date information on the accident time, a similar model of containership and hydro-meteorologic conditions in the bridge simulator’s session.An assessment of the risk of grounding a container ship has been carried out using the method of Bayesian trust networks.

Antofagasta Region in northern Chile, a potential nursing ground for the Southern right whale Eubalaena australis

The Chile-Peru subpopulation (CPe) of the Southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) is classified as Critically Endangered following intense whaling in past centuries. Due to their very low abundance, information on breeding and feeding grounds is also scarce. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are increasingly applied in marine mammal research thanks to their low cost and relative ease of use. This case study documents a Southern right whale nursing in Bahía Moreno (23º S), Antofagasta, in northern Chile through high-resolution images taken by UAV of an adult in July 2019 and the same whale with a neonate in August. Combined with earlier data we hypothesize that the Antofagasta Region may be a potential calving and nursing ground for the CPe subpopulation. Given the intense shipping traffic and fishing activities around the Mejillones Peninsula and Antofagasta port, priorly recommended marine spatial planning to help avoid net entanglements and vessel collisions of fin and humpback whales may also contribute to the conservation of the CPe stock.

Measurement report: Fourteen months of real-time characterisation of the submicronic aerosol and its atmospheric dynamics at the Marseille–Longchamp supersite

This study reports results of PM1 chemical composition determined using a Time-of-Flight Aerosol Chemical Speciation Monitor (ToF-ACSM) over a 14-month period (1 February 2017–13 April 2018) at the Marseille–Longchamp supersite (MRS-LCP) in France. Parallel measurements were performed with an aethalometer, an ultrafine particle monitor and a suite of instruments to monitor regulated pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, NOx, O3 and SO2). The average PM1 chemical composition over the period was dominated by organic aerosol (OA; 49.7 %) and black carbon (BC; 17.1 %), while sulfate accounted for 14.6 %, nitrate for 10.2 %, ammonium for 7.9 % and chloride for 0.5 % only. Wintertime was found to be the season contributing the most to the annual PM1 mass concentration (30 %), followed by autumn (26 %), summer (24 %) and spring (20 %). During this season, OA and BC concentrations were found to contribute 32 % and 31 % of their annual concentrations, respectively, as a combined result of heavy urban traffic, high emissions from residential heating and low planetary boundary layer (PBL) height. Most (75 %) of the 15 days exceeding the target daily PM2.5 concentration value recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) occurred during this season. Local and long-range pollution episodes with contrasting chemical composition could be distinguished, accounting for 40 % and 60 % of the exceedance days, respectively. Enhanced OA and BC concentrations, mostly originating from domestic wood burning under nocturnal land breeze conditions, were observed during local pollution episodes, while high levels of oxygenated OA and inorganic nitrate were associated with medium-/long-range transported particles. In summertime, substantially higher concentrations of sulfate were found, with an average and a maximum contribution to the PM1 mass of 24 % and 66 %, respectively. Results from k-means clustering analysis of daily profiles of sulfate concentrations clearly reveal the significant influence of local harbour/industrial activities on air quality in addition to the more regional contribution of shipping traffic that originates from the Mediterranean basin.

Methodological Aspects of Container Rail Traffic Managed by Transport Organizations

The article considers the state of the container rail transportation market and the competitiveness of its development in Russia. It also reveals the negative factors and problems hindering the development of Russian transit potential as well as characterizes the main container rail operators. Methodological approach for identifying the potential of container railway traffic managed by transport organizations is offered in the research. Several methods are used in the study, such as analysis as a way to explore the prospects of container transportation in the Russian Federation, synthesis as a way of combining into a single whole for development of methodological aspects of organizing container transportation and hypothetical method for constructing an algorithm (model) of choosing a strategy for organizing container transportation for participants of the process. The research indicated inadequacy in existing scientific research of the methodological approach used in container shipping traffic strategy for transport companies. It is recommended to take into account the influence of negative factors and problems, hindering the development of container transportation. The study highlighted the need for developing a model while choosing a strategy in container traffic management for transport organizations. Practical value of the study is in methodological approach offered for constructing an algorithm in choosing a strategy for container transportation managed by transport organizations. The article reviews the container market conditions in macro and micro-levels, ranking the profitability of container transportation routes. It is concluded that methodology for calculating the need for fitting platforms will allow transport organizations to optimize investment projects in the market.

Modelling liquefied natural gas ship traffic in port based on cellular automaton and multi-agent system

Over the past few decades, the number of liquefied natural gas (LNG) ships and terminals has been increasing, playing an important role in global clean energy transportation. However, the traffic capacity of LNG shipping in port areas is limited because of its high safety requirements. In view of this problem, a novel model is proposed to study the ship traffic in a port area by combining cellular automaton (CA) and multi-agent methods. Taking the CNOOC Tianjin LNG Terminal as an example, the ship traffic in Tianjin Port is simulated. Based on the simulation results, the LNG ship traffic capacity and its impact on the general shipping traffic flow under different special traffic rules are obtained. This model can provide theoretical support for optimising the port traffic organisation for LNG ships.

Kjente helter og skjulte nettverk: SOE-organisasjonen Cheese og senderen på Helle ved Flekkefjord

This is the story of Cheese, the intelligence and sabotage organisation that, after British initiative, was built around the radio transmitter at Helle in Flekkefjord in January 1941. Cheese was one of the first operations to come to Norway for the purpose of weakening Germany’s military and economic capacity in the occupied country. The transmitter at Helle was the first SOE-operation to establish two-ways contact between Norway and the British and Norwegian authorities in London. For most of 1941, only one other SIS transmitter was active in Norway. In January 1942, Odd Starheim and Andreas Fasting were also the first SOE agents to be parachuted over Norway. Cheese made early contacts with the organisation in Oslo which later became Milorg. Cheese had port-spies in Stavanger and Kristiansand and close contact with people in the oil companies and airports. In addition, the organisation had a well-functioning courier system from Oslo to Stavanger, and all routes led to Tor Njaa and then to Tomstad and Starheim at Helle. The heroes are known, but in this network, there are still many unknown names. Cheese reported on the shipping traffic along the coast, the construction of German military facilities, the oil supplies in the country, the movement of military forces and the political development in the country. Two of these topics are presented here: the bombing of Sola airport and the preparation of operation Barbarossa.

A Potential Nursing Ground for the Southern Right Whale Eubalaena australis in Northern Chile

The Chile-Peru subpopulation (CPe) of the southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) is classified as critically endangered following intense whaling in past centuries. Due to their very low abundance, information on breeding and feeding grounds is also scarce. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are increasingly applied in marine mammal research thanks to their low cost and relative ease of use. This case study documents a southern right whale nursing in Bahía Moreno (23ºS), Antofagasta, northern Chile, through high-resolution images taken by UAV of a lone adult in July 2019 and the same (photo-identified) whale with a neonate in August, confirming local parturition. Combined with earlier data we hypothesize that the Antofagasta Region may be a calving and nursing ground for the CPe subpopulation. Given the intense shipping traffic and fishing activities around the Mejillones Peninsula and Antofagasta port, priorly recommended marine spatial planning to help avoid net entanglements and vessel collisions of fin and humpback whales would also contribute to the conservation of the CPe stock of southern right whale.

Calculating a Drop in Carbon Emissions in the Strait of Gibraltar (Spain) from Domestic Shipping Traffic Caused by the COVID-19 Crisis

As a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Spanish government declared a State of Emergency, and domestic passenger ship traffic was restricted in Spanish ports. This manuscript presents scenarios of emissions from domestic shipping traffic in the seas of the Strait of Gibraltar (Spain) over three months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Emissions were estimated for only 90 days of the pandemic, and two scenarios were studied: emissions while vessels were berthed at the Algeciras Port and emissions as a consequence of the interruption of passenger ship transportation in the Strait of Gibraltar. To this end, the authors’ own model was used, which has near zero uncertainties. This model was used for the first time in this study and takes into account both meteorological and sea condition parameters, as well as the efficiency of the propulsion system. The manuscript concentrates on the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur oxides (SOx), carbon dioxide (CO2), and particulate matter (PM) from six Ro-Pax ships that ceased to operate. The main finding is that as a consequence of the pandemic, reductions of up to 12% were found in the Strait of Gibraltar in all the pollutants and GHGs when taking into account all international traffic, while the decrease in emissions from domestic traffic only reached 51%.