Saturday, October 30, 2010

Loick and Bruno Peyron join forces in bid to bring Americas Cup 2013 to France

The Peyron brothers from France, both wizards in multihull sailing,
have staged their own ‘rapprochement’ by teaming up
to raise a campaign for the next America's Cup in 2013.
photo © Vincent Curutchet/DPPI

From TheTelegraph

Loick and Bruno are the leading multihull sailors in the world but for 30 years have raced against each other as fierce opponents.
Now they are joining forces for discussions with various French parties to launch a bid to bring the America’s Cup, which will be raced on multihulls in 2013, to France for the first time in its history.

They are also talking with German yacht racing luminary Jochen Schumann and his partner Stephane Kandler about forming a Franco-German collaboration on the same lines as the All4One team, which has been campaigning the Louis Vuitton Trophy over the past year.

A French campaign was widely anticipated due to their superior expertise in multihulls, garnered from many years of high speed offshore racing in catamarans and trimarans.
Bruno is three times holder of the Jules Verne Trophy while his younger brother was the helmsman on Alinghi when they were defeated by BMW Oracle in the 33rd America's Cup in February.


CNN Mainsail episode featuring an intimate portrait of legendary multihull sailing brothers Loïck and Bruno Peyron
with Olympic veteran sailor Shirley Robertson


Their achievements in multihull racing are many, varied and highly distinguished which will go some considerable way in balancing the playing field with BMW Oracle, a field that Team Origin's Sir Keith Mills recently found too skewed in the Americans favour to commit his £100 million budget.

“We’ve always been told and quite rightly that the America’s Cup is reserved for specialists...which is good news for us," said Loick Peyron.
"From Formula 18 to the Route du Rhum and not forgetting the Jules Verne Trophy, the French are specialists in multihulls, so let’s go for it ... together.”

The brothers have now given themselves three months to raise a team and the funds for a competitive campaign.

"Will France allow other nations to catch up in three years what we have acquired over 30?," asked Bruno Peyron.
"We have three months ahead of us to answer that question and three years to show what we can do. Looking beyond individual concerns, and any protectionism, I am convinced that we need to unite to be in with a chance of winning. This first symbolic step must build the foundations to allow skills, wherever they come from to be brought together."

Links :
  • America's cup : The French Peyron brothers the latest to express interest

Friday, October 29, 2010

UK & misc. update in the Marine GeoGarage

Today 952 charts (1814 including sub-charts) are available in the 'UK & misc.' chart layer
regrouping charts for different countries :
  1. UK
  2. Argentina
  3. Belgium
  4. Netherlands
  5. Croatia
  6. Oman
  7. Portugal
  8. Spain
  9. Iceland
  10. South Africa
  11. Malta
643 charts for UK


7 charts for Argentina :

  • 227 Church Point to Cape Longing including James Ross Island
  • 2505 Approaches to the Falkland Islands
  • 2517 North-Western Approaches to the Falkland Islands
  • 2519 South-Western Approaches to the Falkland Islands
  • 3560 Gerlache Strait Northern Part
  • 3566 Gerlache Strait Southern Part
  • 4207 Falkland Islands to Cabo Corrientes and Northeast Georgia Rise

27 charts for Belgium & Nederlands :

  • 99 Entrances to Rivers in Guyana and Suriname
  • 110 Westkapelle to Stellendam and Maasvlakte
  • 112 Terschellinger Gronden to Harlingen
  • 120 Westerschelde - Vlissingen to Baalhoek and Gent - Terneuzen Canal
  • 122 Approaches to Europoort and Hoek van Holland
  • 124 Noordzeekanaal including Ijmuiden, Zaandam and Amsterdam
  • 125 North Sea Netherlands - Approaches to Scheveningen and Ijmuiden
  • 126 North Sea, Netherlands, Approaches to Den Helder
  • 266 North Sea Offshore Charts Sheet 11
  • 572 Essequibo River to Corentyn River
  • 702 Nederlandse Antillen, Aruba and Curacao
  • 1187 Outer Silver Pit
  • 1408 North Sea, Harwich and Rotterdam to Cromer and Terschelling.
  • 1412 Caribbean Sea - Nederlandse Antillen, Ports in Aruba and Curacao
  • 1414 Bonaire
  • 1503 Outer Dowsing to Smiths Knoll including Indefatigable Banks.
  • 1504 Cromer to Orford Ness
  • 1546 Zeegat van Texel and Den Helder Roads
  • 1630 West Hinder and Outer Gabbard to Vlissingen and Scheveningen
  • 1631 DW Routes to Ijmuiden and Texel
  • 1632 DW Routes and Friesland Junction to Vlieland
  • 1874 North Sea, Westerschelde, Oostende to Westkapelle
  • 2047 Approaches to Anguilla
  • 128 Westerschelde, Valkenisse to Wintam
  • 207 Hoek Van Holland to Vlaardingen
  • 208 Rotterdam, Nieuwe Maas and Oude Maas
  • 209 Krimpen a/d Lek to Moerdijk

14 charts for Croatia :

  • 201 Rt Kamenjak to Novigrad
  • 202 Kvarner, Kvarneric and Velebitski Kanal
  • 269 Ploce and Split with Adjacent Harbours, Channels and Anchorages
  • 515 Zadar to Luka Mali Losinj
  • 683 Bar, Dubrovnik and Approaches and Peljeski Kanal
  • 1574 Otok Glavat to Ploce and Makarska
  • 1580 Otocic Veliki Skolj to Otocic Glavat
  • 1582 Approaches to Bar and Boka Kotorska
  • 1996 Ports in Rijecki Zaljev
  • 2711 Rogoznica to Zadar
  • 2712 Otok Susac to Split
  • 2719 Rt Marlera to Senj including Approaches to Rijeka
  • 2773 Sibenik, Pasmanski Kanal, Luka Telascica, Sedmovrace, Rijeka Krka
  • 2774 Otok Vis to Sibenik

6 charts for Oman :

  • 2851 Masirah to the Strait of Hormuz
  • 2854 Northern approaches to Masirah
  • 3171 Southern Approaches to the Strait of Hormuz
  • 3409 Plans in Iran, Oman and the United Arab Emirates
  • 3511 Wudam and Approaches
  • 3518 Ports and Anchorages on the North East Coast of Oman

123 charts for Spain & Portugal :

  • 73 Puerto de Huelva and Approaches
  • 83 Ports on the South Coast of Portugal
  • 85 Spain - south west coast, Rio Guadalquivir
  • 86 Bahia de Cadiz
  • 87 Cabo Finisterre to the Strait of Gibraltar
  • 88 Cadiz
  • 89 Cabo de Sao Vicente to Faro
  • 91 Cabo de Sao Vicente to the Strait of Gibraltar
  • 93 Cabo de Santa Maria to Cabo Trafalgar
  • 142 Strait of Gibraltar
  • 144 Mediterranean Sea, Gibraltar
  • 366 Arquipelago de Cabo Verde
  • 369 Plans in the Arquipelago de Cabo Verde
  • 469 Alicante
  • 473 Approaches to Alicante
  • 518 Spain East Coast, Approaches to Valencia
  • 562 Valencia
  • 580 Al Hoceima, Melilla and Port Nador with Approaches
  • 627 Luanda to Baia dos Tigres
  • 690 Cabo Delgado to Mikindani Bay
  • 886 Estrecho de la Bocayna and Approaches to Arrecife
  • 1094 Rias de Ferrol, Ares, Betanzos and La Coruna
  • 1096 Ribadeo
  • 1110 La Coruna and Approaches
  • 1111 Punta de la Estaca de Bares to Cabo Finisterre
  • 1113 Harbours on the North-West Coast of Spain
  • 1117 Puerto de Ferrol
  • 1118 Ria de Ferrol
  • 1122 Ports on the North Coast of Spain
  • 1133 Ports on the Western Part of the North Coast of Spain
  • 1142 Ria de Aviles
  • 1145 Spain - North Coast, Santander
  • 1150 Ports on the North Coast of Spain
  • 1153 Approaches to Gijon
  • 1154 Spain, north coast, Gijon
  • 1157 Pasaia (Pasajes) and Approaches
  • 1172 Puertos de Bermeo and Mundaka
  • 1173 Spain - North Coast, Bilbao
  • 1174 Approaches to Bilbao
  • 1180 Barcelona
  • 1189 Approaches to Cartagena
  • 1193 Spain - east coast, Tarragona
  • 1194 Cartagena
  • 1196 Approaches to Barcelona
  • 1197 Plans on the West Coast of Africa
  • 1215 Plans on the Coast of Angola
  • 1216 Baia dos Tigres
  • 1448 Gibraltar Bay
  • 1453 Gandia
  • 1455 Algeciras
  • 1460 Sagunto
  • 1514 Spain - East Coast, Castellon
  • 1515 Ports on the East Coast of Spain
  • 1589 Almeria
  • 1595 Ilhas do Principe, de Sao Tome and Isla Pagalu
  • 1685 Nisis Venetico to Nisos Spetsai including the Channels between Akra Maleas and Kriti
  • 1689 Ports in the Arquipelago da Madeira
  • 1701 Cabo de San Antonio to Vilanova I la Geltru including Islas de Ibiza and Formentera
  • 1703 Mallorca and Menorca
  • 1704 Punta de la Bana to Islas Medas
  • 1724 Canal do Geba and Bissau
  • 1726 Approaches to Canal do Geba and Rio Cacheu
  • 1727 Bolama and Approaches
  • 1730 Spain - West Coast, Ria de Vigo
  • 1731 Vigo
  • 1732 Spain - West Coast, Ria de Pontevedra
  • 1733 Spain - West Coast, Marin and Pontevedra
  • 1734 Approaches to Ria de Arousa
  • 1740 Livingston Island, Bond Point to Brunow Bay including Juan Carlos 1 Base and Half Moon Island
  • 1755 Plans in Ria de Arousa
  • 1756 Ria de Muros
  • 1762 Vilagarcia de Arosa
  • 1764 Ria de Arousa
  • 1831 Arquipelago da Madeira
  • 1847 Santa Cruz de Tenerife
  • 1850 Approaches to Malaga
  • 1851 Malaga
  • 1854 Motril and Adra
  • 1856 Approaches to Puerto de La Luz (Las Palmas)
  • 1858 Approaches to Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Puerto de San Sebastian de la Gomera, Santa Cruz de la Palma and Approaches
  • 1869 Gran Canaria to Hierro
  • 1870 Lanzarote to Gran Canaria
  • 1895 Ilha de Sao Miguel
  • 1950 Arquipelago dos Acores
  • 1956 Arquipelago dos Acores Central Group
  • 1957 Harbours in the Arquipelago Dos Acores (Central Group)
  • 1959 Flores,Corvo and Santa Maria with Banco Das Formigas
  • 2742 Cueta
  • 2761 Menorca
  • 2762 Menorca, Mahon
  • 2831 Punta Salinas to Cabo de Formentor including Canal de Menorca
  • 2832 Punta Salinas to Punta Beca including Isla de Cabrera
  • 2834 Ibiza and Formentera
  • 2931 Baia de Inhambane to Cabo de Sao Sebastiao
  • 2932 Cabo de Sao Sebastiao to Beira
  • 2934 Africa - east coast, Mozambique, Beira to Rio Zambeze
  • 2935 Quelimane to Ilha Epidendron
  • 3034 Approaches to Palma
  • 3035 Palma
  • 3220 Entrance to Rio Tejo including Baia de Cascais
  • 3221 Lisboa, Paco de Arcos to Terreiro do Trigo
  • 3222 Lisboa, Alcantara to Canal do Montijo
  • 3224 Approaches to Sines
  • 3227 Aveiro and Approaches
  • 3228 Approaches to Figueira da Foz
  • 3257 Viana do Castelo and Approaches
  • 3258 Approaches to Leixoes and Barra do Rio Douro
  • 3259 Approaches to Setubal
  • 3260 Carraca to Ilha do Cavalo
  • 3448 Plans in Angola
  • 3578 Eastern Approaches to the Strait of Gibraltar
  • 3633 Islas Sisargas to Montedor
  • 3634 Montedor to Cabo Mondego
  • 3635 Cabo Mondego to Cabo Espichel
  • 3636 Cabo Espichel to Cabo de Sao Vicente
  • 3764 Cabo Torinana to Punta Carreiro
  • 4114 Arquipelago dos Acores to Flemish Cap
  • 4115 Arquipelago dos Acores to the Arquipelago de Cabo Verde
  • 307 Angola, Cabeca da Cobra to Cabo Ledo
  • 308 Angola, Cabo Ledo to Lobito
  • 309 Lobito to Ponta Grossa
  • 1290 Cabo de San Lorenzo to Cabo Ortegal
  • 1291 Santona to Gijon

13 charts for Iceland :

  • 2733 Dyrholaey to Snaefellsjokull
  • 2734 Approaches to Reykjavik
  • 2735 Iceland - South West Coast, Reykjavik
  • 2897 Iceland
  • 2898 Vestfirdir
  • 2899 Iceland, Noth Coast, Horn to Rauoinupur
  • 2900 Iceland, North East Coast, Rauoinupur to Glettinganes
  • 2901 Iceland, East Coast, Glettinganes to Stokksnes
  • 2902 Stokksnes to Dyrholaey
  • 2955 Iceland, North Coast, Akureyri
  • 2956 Iceland, North Coast, Eyjafjordur
  • 2937 Hlada to Glettinganes
  • 2938 Reydarfjordur

47 charts for South Africa :

  • 578 Cape Columbine to Cape Seal
  • 632 Hollandsbird Island to Cape Columbine
  • 643 Durban Harbour
  • 1236 Saldanha Bay
  • 1769 Islands and Anchorages in the South Atlantic Ocean
  • 1806 Baia dos Tigres to Conception Bay
  • 1846 Table Bay Docks and Approaches
  • 1922 RSA - Simon's Bay
  • 2078 Port Nolloth to Island Point
  • 2086 East London to Port S Johns
  • 2087 Port St John's to Durban
  • 2088 Durban to Cape Vidal
  • 2095 Cape St Blaize to Port S. John's
  • 3793 Shixini Point to Port S Johns
  • 3794 Port S Johns to Port Shepstone
  • 3795 Port Shepstone to Cooper Light
  • 3797 Green Point to Tongaat Bluff
  • 3859 Cape Cross to Conception Bay
  • 3860 Mutzel Bay to Spencer Bay
  • 3870 Chamais Bay to Port Nolloth
  • 4132 Kunene River to Sand Table Hill
  • 4133 Sand Table Hill to Cape Cross
  • 4136 Harbours on the West Coasts of Namibia and South Africa
  • 4141 Island Point to Cape Deseada
  • 4142 Saldanha Bay Harbour
  • 4145 Approaches to Saldanha Bay
  • 4146 Cape Columbine to Table Bay
  • 4148 Approaches to Table Bay
  • 4150 Republic of South Africa, South West Coast, Table Bay to Valsbaai
  • 4151 Cape Deseada to Table Bay
  • 4152 Republic of South Africa, South West Coast, Table Bay to Cape Agulhas
  • 4153 Republic of South Africa, South Coast, Cape Agulhas to Cape St. Blaize
  • 4154 Mossel Bay
  • 4155 Cape St Blaize to Cape St Francis
  • 4156 South Africa, Cape St Francis to Great Fish Point
  • 4157 South Africa, Approaches to Port Elizabeth
  • 4158 Republic of South Africa - South Coast, Plans in Algoa Bay.
  • 4159 Great Fish Point to Mbashe Point
  • 4162 Approaches to East London
  • 4170 Approaches to Durban
  • 4172 Tugela River to Ponta do Ouro
  • 4173 Approaches to Richards Bay
  • 4174 Richards Bay Harbour
  • 4204 Walvis Bay to Maputo
  • 4205 Agulhas Plateau to Discovery Seamounts
  • 4700 Port Elizabeth to Mauritius
  • 4160 Ngqura Harbour

5 charts for Malta :

  • 36 Marsaxlokk
  • 177 Valletta Harbours
  • 211 Plans in the Maltese Islands
  • 2537 Ghawdex (Gozo), Kemmuna (Comino) and the Northern Part of Malta
  • 2538 Malta

By the way, NGA gave us its agreement to display the following 67 international charts :

  • 3 Chagos Archipelago
  • 82 Outer Approaches to Port Sudan
  • 100 Raas Caseyr to Suqutra
  • 255 Eastern Approaches to Jamaica
  • 256 Western Approaches to Jamaica
  • 260 Pedro Bank to the South Coast of Jamaica
  • 302 Approaches to El Iskandariya (Alexandria)
  • 332 Grassy Bay and Great Sound including Little Sound
  • 333 Offshore Installations in the Gulf of Suez
  • 334 North Atlantic Ocean, Bermuda
  • 386 Yadua Island to Yaqaga Island
  • 390 Bahamas, Grand Bahama Island, Approaches to Freeport
  • 398 Grand Bahama Island, Freeport Roads, Freeport Harbour
  • 457 Portland Bight
  • 462 The Cayman Islands
  • 486 Jamaica and the Pedro Bank
  • 493 Approaches to Trinidad including the Gulf of Paria
  • 700 Maiana to Marakei
  • 766 Ellice Islands
  • 868 Eastern and Western Approaches to The Narrows including Murray's Anchorage
  • 920 Chagos Archipelago, Diego Garcia
  • 928 Sulu Archipelago
  • 959 Colson Point to Belize City including Lighthouse Reef and Turneffe Islands
  • 979 Islands between 160 degrees East & 150 degrees West Longitude
  • 1043 Saint Lucia to Grenada and Barbados
  • 1225 Gulf of Campeche
  • 1265 Approaches to Shatt Al 'Arab or Arvand Rud, Khawr Al Amaya and Khawr Al Kafka
  • 1266 South-Eastern Portion of the Bahama Islands
  • 1450 Turks and Caicos Islands, Turks Island Passage and Mouchoir Passage
  • 1638 Plans in Northern Vanuatu
  • 2006 West Indies, Virgin Islands, Anegada to Saint Thomas
  • 2009 Sheet 2 From 23 deg 40 min North Latitude to Old Bahama Channel
  • 2065 Northern Antigua
  • 2133 Approaches to Suez Bay (Bahr el Qulzum)
  • 2373 Bahr el Qulzum (Suez Bay) to Ras Sheratib
  • 2374 Ra's Sharatib to Juzur Ashrafi
  • 2441 Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Bozorg to Jazireh-ye Forur
  • 2658 Outer Approaches to Mina` al Jeddah (Jiddah)
  • 2710 Delaware Bay to Straits of Florida
  • 2837 Strait of Hormuz to Qatar
  • 2847 Qatar to Shatt al `Arab
  • 2858 Gulf of Oman to Shatt al `Arab
  • 2887 Dubai (Dubayy) and Jazireh-Ye Qeshm to Jazirat Halul
  • 2888 Jask to Dubayy and Jazireh-ye Qeshm
  • 2889 Dubayy to Jabal Az Zannah and Jazirat Das
  • 3043 Red Sea, Ports on the coast of Egypt.
  • 3172 Strait of Hormuz
  • 3174 Western Approaches to the Strait of Hormuz
  • 3175 Jazirat al Hamra' to Dubai (Dubayy) and Jazireh-ye Sirri
  • 3179 UAE and Qatar, Jazirat Das to Ar Ru' Ays
  • 3310 Africa - east coast, Mafia Island to Pemba Island
  • 3361 Wasin Island to Malindi
  • 3432 Saltpond to Tema
  • 3519 Southern Approaches to Masirah
  • 3520 Khawr Kalba and Dawhat Diba to Gahha Shoal
  • 3522 Approaches to Masqat and Mina' al Fahl
  • 3526 Ports of Khawr Fakkan and Fujairah (Fujayrah) including the Offshore Anchorages
  • 3530 Approaches to Berbera
  • 3785 Mina' Raysut to Al Masirah
  • 3907 Bahama Islands and Hispaniola, Passages between Mayaguana Island and Turks and Caicos Islands.
  • 3908 Passages between Turks and Caicos Islands and Dominican Republic
  • 3910 Little Bahama Bank including North West Providence Channel
  • 3912 Bahamas, North East Providence Channel and Tongue of the Ocean
  • 3913 Bahamas, Crooked Island Passage and Exuma Sound
  • 3914 Turks and Caicos Islands and Bahamas, Caicos Passage and Mayaguana Passage
  • 3951 Sir Bani Yas to Khawr al `Udayd
  • 501 South East Approaches to Trinidad
So today, for a cost of 9.9 € / month ('Premium Charts' subscription),
you can have access to
3659 updated charts coming from 7 international Hydrographic Services.

NZ Linz update in the Marine GeoGarage

NZ 6142 : Nelson Harbour and Entrance : Port Nelson

9
charts have been updated in the Marine GeoGarage (Linz update published September 28, 2010) :

  • NZ 63 : Kaikoura Peninsula to Banks Peninsula
  • NZ 64 : Banks Peninsula to Otago Peninsula
  • NZ 72 : Cape Foulwind to Heretaniwha Point
  • NZ 463 : Approaches to Wellington
  • NZ 864 : Apolima Strait
  • NZ 2681 : Plans in the Chatham Islands
  • NZ 4421 : Raglan Harbour
  • NZ 6142 : Nelson Harbour and Entrance : Port Nelson
  • NZ 7142 : Greymouth Harbour and Approaches
Today NZ Linz charts (178 charts / 340 including sub-charts) are displayed in the Marine GeoGarage.

Note : LINZ produces official nautical charts to aid safe navigation in New Zealand waters and certain areas of Antarctica and the South-West Pacific.
Using charts safely involves keeping them up-to-date using Notices to Mariners

As seas rise, future floats


Architect Koen Olthuis believes the best way to live with water is to live on water.
He explains why he wants to lead Holland — and the world — toward an amphibious future.

From The New York Times

It might seem to be a futuristic scene like the one depicted in Kevin Reynolds’s 1995 movie “Waterworld”. But floating pavilions and cities may in fact help communities adapt to the effects of climate change, as well as meet the challenges of ever-rising real estate prices and congestion in urban areas.

From single homes to office blocks and even roads, the construction of floating cities could make low-lying nations habitable amid dramatically rising sea levels and storm surges, according to DeltaSync, a design and research company that specializes in floating urbanization.

Sea levels rose as much as 20 centimeters, or 7.8 inches, over the course of the 20th century, and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimates a rise of 18 to 59 centimeters by 2099.
In low-lying, heavily populated deltas used for agriculture, like those in Bangladesh, China and Egypt, such rises will have a devastating impact.

“Currently, for the first time in human history the amount of people that live in urban areas is larger than the amount that live in rural areas,” said Rutger de Graaf, founding partner and research director at DeltaSync
“The degree of urbanization is expected to rise further toward 70 percent in the 21st century.”

Eleven of the world’s 15 largest cities are built on coastal estuaries.
The two largest, Shanghai and Mumbai, have populations of 19.21 million and 13.83 million, respectively, and such rises in sea level would have disastrous consequences for both.
In India alone, land losses could range from 1,000 to 2,000 square kilometers, or 385 to 770 square miles, by 2030, destroying as many as 150,000 livelihoods, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.

As traditional land use or creating landfills is not a sustainable answer to the unpredictable effects of climate change, DeltaSync believes floating-city technology offers a better solution.
In countries like the Netherlands, where approximately half of the land lies less than a meter above sea level, such technology is a viable alternative to repeated raising of dikes, which must be altered in accordance with rising sea levels.
Floating constructions naturally rise with the water level, negating the need for adjustments or rebuilding.

Floating pavilions are also a less risky option, as dikes may be in danger of eroding, shifting or even eventually tearing open, unleashing floodwaters of devastating destruction.

Floating cities could also be a practical solution to overpopulation and congestion, opening up the possibility of more space for civilian housing and public buildings.
In New York City, almost half of all high school students were studying in overcrowded conditions in the 2008-9 school year, according to the Independent Budget Office, which provides nonpartisan budget information about the city.
Creating a floating facility could be a practical answer to such congestion-related problems.

“Constructing floating buildings is a promising solution,” Mr. de Graaf said.
“It enables multifunctional use of space in densely populated areas, without further increasing flood risk.”

The world’s first floating pavilion was built in Rotterdam.
It was constructed as a response to the city’s objectives to reduce CO2 emissions by 50 percent and to ensure that Rotterdam remains climate-change resilient in the future.

“Twelve months ago, all we had was a sketch, a plan, and the drive to make it work,” said Rob Tummers, building director of Dura Vermeer, the construction group behind the pavilion, when the structure was formally unveiled to the public on June 26.
“The laws and regulations required to build it had yet to be developed and adopted.”

The construction, which took just six months to complete, was built directly on the water, rather than on a dry dock. It serves as an exhibition and reception space focusing on Rotterdam’s water management, climate change and energy.
The pavilion is 12 meters high, with a floor space the size of four tennis courts, and can accommodate approximately 500 visitors.
It has a plaza and dome section, including an auditorium that can seat up to 150 guests.
Although it can be moved, it will remain moored in the Rijnhaven port for five years.

Paula Verhoeven, Rotterdam’s climate director, called the project “remarkable,” noting that it demonstrates Dutch “ability to realize sustainable and climate change resilient constructions.”

To ensure that the pavilion remained lightweight and thus unsinkable, it was constructed using five layers of expanded polystyrene sheets, the thinnest layer measuring 20 centimeters and the thickest 75 centimeters, and made buoyant by tiny air-permeated cells.
The thickest layer contained a grid of concrete beams and was fastened to prefabricated concrete slabs, forming the hard shell of the island and acting as a protection against waves.
The subsequent addition of a 20-centimeter-thick concrete floor made the island’s total thickness 2.25 meters and rendered the floating island a rigid unit.

“Building three to four levels high is possible without problems,” Mr. de Graaf said, addressing concerns about the stability of the structure.
“Higher can be done, but it requires larger platforms than the building footprint or more depth to stabilize.”

In order to continue to keep the weight to a minimum, the domes of the pavilion were clad with special ETFE foil, a transparent material that is approximately 100 times lighter than glass.
The pavilion is connected to the mainland by a footbridge.

The construction also implements a Thermal Energy Storage system, with layers of water acting as insulation for the storage facility, maintaining a sustainable energy and hot water supply through solar panels.
Water is collected through rain-water harvesting, or by drawing from the large reserve on which the pavilion floats. Subsequent constructions would adopt similar techniques, with the goal that floating cities be self-sufficient in terms of both water and energy supply, relying on solar energy and surface water.
Even the toilet water will be purified by its own system.

Mr. de Graaf, also a civil engineer, is in talks with officials in New York and other cities.
“We are talking about starting up a data collection study to gain more insight in the water quality aspects of building on water,” he said.
“Water in lakes and old port areas are perfect because of the gentle wave conditions.”

Rotterdam’s pioneering model could be the first of many to come, as such projects are not unique to DeltaSync.
Waterstudio.NL , an architectural and city planning company, has unveiled similar innovations to build floating structures.
Its master plan, called Het Nieuwe Water, or The New Water, is geared toward “a new relationship with the water”.
The project was presented to the 2009 World Architecture News Awards and is “one of the leading projects of architectural homes,” according to its architect, Koen Olthuis.

The project includes a total of 1,200 new houses, of which some 600 will be floating.
The planned area of development is one of the lowest areas of the Netherlands, between The Hague, the North Sea beach and Rotterdam, on land reclaimed from the sea.
It once housed greenhouses, but these have now been cleared to make way for the project.

“The building work will be completed on dry land,” Mr. Olthuis said. “Afterwards, we break down the dikes and let water come in.”

The first stage of the project will be construction of Citadel, the world’s first floating apartment complex, with a planned 60 luxury apartments, including parking spaces and large terraces.
The New Water is scheduled for completion by 2017.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Updated kmz files for Deepwater Horizon

From The Maritime Executive Magazine

Security zone established around Deepwater Horizon wreckage site

In response to a
motion by the U.S. DOJ Department of Justice (Environment and Natural Resources Division), the U.S. District Court in New Orleans has ordered the establishment of a security zone extending 750 feet in all directions from the mobile offshore drilling unit Deepwater Horizon wreckage site and its debris field.

The security zone extends from the center of the wreckage site, which is located at the precise coordinates N28°54.91/W088°22.0293 (in the area known as the Mississippi Canyon 252) from the sea floor of the Gulf of Mexico to the sea surface.

The court found it in the interest of the public to protect the search area and any evidence located in the area against intentional or unintentional loss, the order said.
It ordered the United States to inform the public and advise all known parties capable of intruding into the security zone.

In accordance with the order, the Department of Justice has informed those companies known to have the means and equipment to do so not to enter the security zone.

The order will be enforced by the United States using the full range of security assets available, including vessels, aircraft or other appropriate means and equipment.

The security zone will remain in place until Oct. 8, 2011 unless renewed for good cause, the court ordered.

Download the kmz files created by Marine GeoGarage to display the following NOAA charts with Google Earth :

Learn to use nautical charts and compass for navigation


Demo for Coastal & Offshore skipper from NauticaLive
Sailing Lessons

From NewsPress

A nautical chart is a "road map" to waterways where you take your boat.
It has a compass rose to give you a true bearing in which to steer your boat.

We plot or read our charts in true north.
However, our compass on board will always point to magnetic north.
This is the magnetic pull of the earth.

The difference between true north and magnetic north is called variation.
Variation alternates depending on your geographic location.
To determine the variation, look at the rose on your chart.
It will show the degree of variation and indicate if it is east or west.

The formula for converting magnetic north to true north is T-V-M-D-C.
T is for true course, V for variation, M for magnetic course, D is for deviation (this is the effect of the magnetic pull of your vessel) and C for compass course.

Deviation can be affected by something as simple as a screwdriver or a set of keys laying alongside your compass.
The compass course is the course you steer.

For example:
  • True: 75 degrees
  • Variation: 15 degrees west
  • Magnetic: +15 degrees equals 90 degrees
  • Deviation: -3 degrees east
  • Course: 87 degrees. This is the course you will steer.
As you work down the equation, add west and subtract east on both variation and deviation.

An easy way to remember this: east is least, or minus; west is best, or plus.

Most of us cruising on the Caloosahatchee, Pine Island Sound, Matlacha Pass or the Gulf of Mexico use landmarks, bridges, markers or buoys to come and go to our destination.

However, you could get caught in fog, rain or darkness, resulting in limited visibility.
Then, you will have to depend on your charts and compass to navigate.
If you steer a compass course without correcting true north from magnetic north in our example, you would have been 13 degrees off course.

This would put you in trouble anywhere in this area, except way out in the Gulf.

Learning to navigate can be challenging.
It can seem like there is a lot to learn, but with practice, mastering the art of navigation is very rewarding.

Learn the ins and outs of seamanship by taking the courses given by the Cape Coral Power Squadron, located at 917 SE 47th Terrace. For more information, call 549-9754.

Links : Sailing & Boating Lessons (videos) from NauticaLive
  • Application of variations : 2 / 3 / 4
  • Applying distance : 1
  • Cardinal marks : 2 / 3
  • Doubling angle : 1
  • Chart symbols : 1
  • Measuring distance : 1
  • Natural features : 1
  • Navigation terms : 1
  • Reviewing the marks : 1
  • Running fix : introduction / plotting
  • Safer water marks : 1
  • Sound signals : 1 / 2
  • Special marks : 1
  • Vessel fishing : 1
  • Vessel mine clearing : 1
  • Anchoring one anchor : 1

Chart number on the coverage layer

Raster charts coverage with map number for Australia

Right now, each nautical maps layer proposes a new feature to display the reference (number) for all the raster charts issued from each international Hydrographic Service.
To activate this feature, select the map layer and click on the 'coverage' button to see the different geographical areas.

This feature is available whatever you are logged in or not.

For 'private' layers depending on royalties to Hydrographic Services (UK & misc., Canada, Australia...), this allows the user to know exactly what he buys,
subscribing to a 'Premium Charts' account.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Breath of the ocean


Have a look to this surface temperature animation from Mercator Ocean new hourly frequency model. This incredibly figures out two cycles : tide movement in the Atlantic Ocean and the diurnal cycle. This animation represents the sea surface temperature with a 2km grid ocean model during the two weeks (spring 2010).

From MercatorOcean (MyOcean project)

Gibraltar Strait is of major importance, oceanographically, strategically...
There colder Atlantic Ocean waters enter the warmer Mediterranean Sea. Sea Surface Temperature shows all the wealth of marine features that can be seen in this area.

The "entry" to the Mediterranean is the Gibraltar Strait.
There, cold water Atlantic waters enter the warmer Mediterranean Sea.
Depending on the season, in the Alboran Sea just East of Gibraltar, one or two gyre(s) (semi-permanent eddies) can be seen; in Summer, a warm (anticyclonic) one at the very beginning of the Alboran Sea, and another one just after, also anticyclonic but slightly less warm.
Further East, there is a zone of intense activity along the Algerian coast.
Eddies and meanders in the Algerian Current are among the most turbulent features of the Mediterranean-but some are more stable.

The Sea Surface Temperature is one of the important physical quantities proposed by
MyOcean, from observations as well as from models.
It is sensitive to the difference between night and day (the Sun warming the upper layer of the ocean). With an hourly frequency, the pulse of those daily variations can be seen.

The Sea Surface Temperature is of foremost use in meteorology and climate forecasts (e.g. the Mediterranean Coast of France know every beginning of Autumn heavy rainfalls linked to the Sea temperature; seasonal forecasts won't be possible without ocean temperature...).
Life in the water is also driven by temperature, with phytoplankton more abundant where the temperature is low, etc.

Ever since ancient times, the Mediterranean Sea has occupied a vital place in the lives of the peoples on its shores.
It is also a sea of mystery.
According to the myths of Ulysses and Jason, the Greeks' voyages of adventure took them to the four corners of the Mediterranean, from the Pillars of Hercules in the west (Gibraltar) to Hellespont in the east (Dardanelles).
In later years the Mediterranean linked the various parts of the vast Roman Empire.
Indeed, such was the Romans' dominance on all sides of the Mediterranean basin that they called it "our sea" (
Mare Nostrum).
And it was here that Orient met Occident as Islam and Christianity fought to wrest this strategic prize from each other's grasp.
Today, it is one of the world's main commercial routes.
Oceanography programs have been set up to study its movements and its fragile ecosystem.
These programs rely on satellite and in situ observations, and on ocean models, merging a wealth data to piece together the Mediterranean puzzle.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Michel Desjoyeaux’s new challenge


Get on board !
As soon as the boat was launched, Michel Desjoyeaux and Dassault Systèmes found a way
to invite the largest audience possible to visit their boat in 3D.

From Dassault Systems

Michel Desjoyeaux, France's most successful solo yachtsman, is impassioned not only by sailing and competition but also by technology and innovation.

At the beginning of 2010, Michel Desjoyeaux set a new challenge for himself: construct a new 60 ft monohull in order to vie for victory in the
Route du Rhum (a transatlantic solo yacht race that begins next Sunday, October 31, 2010) and the Barcelona World Race (two-handed, non-stop, round the world race starting December 31, 2010).
Although it normally takes 10 months to design this type of boat, Michel Desjoyeaux has less than 6 months to construct his new monohull and develop the technical innovations that will permit him to distance himself from his competitors.
In other words, a never-before-seen in such a short time!

Trained by Dassault Systèmes engineers, the team at Michel Desjoyeaux's engineering and design studio,
Mer Forte, was able to conceive and realize numerous innovations during the design phases and the construction of the sailboat.
This particularly allowed them to fine tune and perfect the kinematics of the keel/jack assembly.
The
CATIA software feature that calculates the finished elements of complex composite parts made the quick optimization and validation of major parts such as the rudder housings, the tiller system and even the boom (saving a significant amount of weight) much easier.

His love for sailing is matched by his desire to conceive and develop the boats that he sails.
Sharing this passion with the general public is a part of the challenge he has set for himself.
Click here for a 3D tour of the boat in real time

Links :

Quite real the background animated image of the Rivages2012 website
(shipyard building the new
IMOCA 60' for Bernard Stamm)

Monday, October 25, 2010

'Old charts may have grounded sub'


HMS Astute, the nuclear submarine
that ran aground in shallow waters off the Isle of Skye, has been towed free

From TheGuardian

A nuclear-powered submarine may have run aground on a shingle bank because the charts it was using were out of date, sources have said.

HMS Astute was on sea trials when the rudder of the vessel is thought to have become stuck on the bank on the west coast of Scotland at around 8am on Friday.

The Royal Navy has launched a service inquiry into why the 100m-long submarine ran aground in the channel between Skye and Kyle of Lochalsh.


Location on the Marine GeoGarage

One of the possibilities being explored is that out of date charts had not accurately mapped the shifting sea channels off the Isle of Skye.

The vessel is understood to have strayed several hundred yards outside the safe sea lane marked on Admiralty charts.

A Royal Navy source told the Mail on Sunday: "One of the things that is being looked at is if the charts were up to date with the recent seabed changes in the area. The seabed can change quickly."

The Ministry of Defence said the investigation into the incident would be "full and thorough".

The investigation will also consider if any crew were negligent and the submarine's skipper, Commander Andy Coles, could find himself in front of a court martial.
But a Ministry of Defence spokesman said it would be "inappropriate" to comment on the possibility of disciplinary action until the investigation is complete.

It is believed a crew transfer from the shore to the submarine was being carried out when the incident happened between the Isle of Skye and the mainland.
There were no reports of any injuries and the Ministry of Defence said it was not a "nuclear incident".

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TheHeraldScotland :
Dozens of people gathering on a nearby beach could clearly see that the Astute was sitting well outside normal shipping channels, and tilting slightly. Ross McKerlach, operational manager at Kyle of Lochalsh lifeboat station, said the submarine was a full six miles from where it would normally lie overnight, and had run aground in water too shallow even for his own small motor boat.
“Where he was is in between two rocks and on a sandbank,” he said.

The DailyExpress :
Independent nuclear expert John Large said the accident could lead to costly repairs, and was most likely caused by a “navigational error”.
Ross Mckerlich, 56, the operations manager of the local Kyle Lifeboat, said he was “amazed” that the submarine tried to do a crew transfer so close to shore. He said: “These subs normally lie six miles off Kyle. Last night I saw this one four miles off and now he’s less than half mile. Someone’s made an error.”

TheScotsman :
Mike Critchley, a former naval officer and the editor of Warship World magazine, said the accident was likely to have been caused by a navigation error or technical failure of the steering gear.
"She was a long way out of where she should have been to do this transfer. It was 800 yards away from where it should have been and grounded in shale and silt and not jagged rocks.

Other links :
  • DailyRecord : HMS Astute heads back to base for checks as commander faces possible court martial over missed warning signs
  • DailyMail : Royal Navy chiefs left red-faced after brand new £1.2bn nuclear submarine is left high and dry off the coast of Scotland
  • TheGuardian : Royal Navy attempts to free grounded nuclear submarine
  • TheTelegraph : HMS Astute, world's most advanced nuclear submarine runs aground
  • BBC : Nuclear submarine HMS Astute runs aground off Skye
  • BBC : Grounded nuclear sub HMS Astute moored for tests
  • YouTube : video taken by Paul Yoxon of the International Otter Survival Fund, based in Broadford on the island

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2010 exhibition

Photograph: Andrew Parkinson

Photograph : Jordi Chias Pujol

The world’s most prestigious wildlife photography competition, Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year, has revealed the commended images from this year’s competition.

We have selected the 2010 marine images here :
They are among the selection that will join more than 100 other prize-winning photographs, including the overall winning images, when the exhibition debuts at the Natural History Museum, London on 22 October 2010.

It will then tour nationally and internationally after its launch in the English capital.
More than one million visitors are expected to have seen the exhibition once the tour is complete.