US Navy sails 12,000 miles on algae biofuel

PACIFIC OCEAN (Nov. 17, 2011) The decommissioned Spruance-class destroyer ex-Paul F. Foster (EDD 964) conducts a successful demonstration of shipboard alternative fuel use while underway in the Pacific Ocean on a 50-50 blend of an algae-derived, hydro-processed algal oil and petroleum F-76.
Paul F. Foster has been reconfigured as the Self-Defense Test Ship to provide the Navy an at-sea, remotely controlled, engineering test and evaluation platform without the risk to personnel or operational assets.
(U.S. Navy video/Released)

From EnergyDigital

Launching its largest alternative fuel test in history, the US Navy's first biofuel powered ship completed a successful trip along California's coast this week.
Next year, the Navy plans to unveil a number of small ships, destroyers, cruisers, aircraft, submarines and a carrier all running on alternative fuels.
It will then deploy a “Great Green Fleet” of nuclear vessels, hybrid electric ships and other biofuel-powered aircraft by 2016.

The first tested ship ran on 20,000 gallons of algae-based fuel in a 17-hour trip from San Diego to Port Hueneme this Wednesday—a great sign for more to come.
The blend used consisted of a 50-50 mix of petroleum and a hydro-processed algal oil, produced from Solazyme in San Francisco.
But the Navy is working with many other companies as well with a wide ranging variety of alternative fuel options, all competing to win supplier bids with the Department of Energy's largest oil consumer.

With over $500 million invested in the biofuels industry, the Navy hopes to cut its use of fossil fuels in half over the next decade, according to Cmdr. James Goudreau, director of the Navy Energy Coordination Office.

“This demo, the largest to date, is a major milestone for us. More than 50 percent of our fuel goes to maritime use,” Assistant Secretary of the Navy Jackalyne Pfannenstiel told the Navy Times.
“When this ship arrives in Port Hueneme, we will be a giant step closer to powering our Great Green Fleet and demonstrating progress toward a sustainable energy future."

NSWC Port Hueneme’s Self Defense Test Ship, ex-USS Paul F. Foster (EDD 964), transits the Pacific Ocean to conduct a test of an alternative fuel blend made of 50 percent hydro-processed algae oil and 50 percent F-76 petroleum on Nov. 17

Shortly after the ship docked, the Navy reported that the alternative fuel burned just like tradition fuel in the same engines, observing no difference in the ship's operations. Operationally, the Navy's largest demonstration of shipboard alternative fuel use was a huge success, reaffirming its overall energy strategy to increase energy security and protect the environment.

In addition to the Navy's largest-scale alternative fuel demo last November, the U.S. Navy Frigate fleet ship USS Ford just completed a trip from Everett, Wash., down to San Diego in a second demonstration running on the same biofuel.

Using some 25,000 gallons of Solazyme's Soladiesel blended in even proportions with F-76 military diesel, the ship completed a trip of an estimated 1,228 nautical miles, according to charts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The second successful tour comes after reports from November's biofuel test, in which it was reported that “there was absolutely no difference, whatsoever, in the operation or performance of the ship” using the algae-based fuel.
According to Solayzme, the longer voyage from Washington portrayed similar results.

"Feedback from the ship's engineers was favorable; the crew reported that operational performance of the fuel system and gas turbine engines on the 50/50 blend was...comparable to operations on traditional petroleum F-76," Solazyme confirmed in a statement.

By 2016, the Navy has a set goal of deploying a “Great Green Fleet” powered entirely by alternative fuels in addition to reaching 50 percent alternative energy use overall by 2020.

Of the two biggest players in the Navy's biofuels program are San Francisco based Solazyme, providing algae-based biofuel, and Louisiana-based Dynamic Fuels, providing fuel from used cooking oil and non-food grade animal fats.

Links :

• Energy.gov : Fueling the Navy's great green fleet with advanced biofuels

Bioinspired Robojelly fuelled by hydrogen

American researchers have created a robotic jellyfish, named Robojelly, which not only exhibits characteristics ideal to use in underwater search and rescue operations, but could, theoretically at least, never run out of energy thanks to it being fuelled by hydrogen.
(other video)

From WP

Scientists funded by the U.S. Navy have developed a robot “jellyfish” — a foot-long submarine that runs on seawater and could be used on spy missions.

Researchers at The University of Texas at Dallas and Virginia Tech created the submarine drone, dubbed “Robojelly,” which is powered by hydrogen and oxygen in the water through which it sails.

The scientists, funded by the Office of Naval Research, reported their findings this week in the academic IOP Publishing's journal Smart Materials and Structures.

“We’ve created an underwater robot that doesn’t need batteries or electricity,” said Dr. Yonas Tadesse, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Texas and lead author of the study.
“The only waste released as it travels is more water.”
Engineers and scientists working for the military have increasingly turned to the animal kingdom, especially simple creatures like jellyfish or insects, for inspiration when creating new technology.

Scientists at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, for example, are working on ways to create insect cyborgs, by incorporating mechanical elements into larvae and then using them to control the fully grown insect when it emerges.

The Robojelly consists of two fist-sized bell-like structures made of silicone that fold and unfold like an umbrella. Connecting the umbrella are artificial muscles created with nanotechnology that contract to move the vehicle.

“It could stay underwater and refuel itself while it is performing surveillance,” Dr. Tadesse said.

Waterproof iPhone case allows you to take pictures, videos 20 feet underwater

Take advantage of the HD video capability of your iPhone 4S/4 and bring it to the underwater world. Put the phone in the Keystone ECO MarineCase that protects the phone up to 20 ft underwater. It also protects your phone from sand, rain and snow.
When you go to the pool, the beach and any watersport activities, exchange your daily phone with the Keystone ECO MarineCase for added protection.

Wish you could take pictures and videos with your iPhone while submerged under 20 feet of water?
A new waterproof swimsuit for the iPhone 4 and 4S keeps the phone completely dry — whether you’re snapping shots of marine life in the ocean or texting during a casual swim in the pool.

iPhone case manufacturer Concord Keystone has created the Keystone ECO MarineCase, which protects against water exposure.
The device also works well in any situation where water might be present, such as snorkeling, fishing, boating and rafting.

The clear protective silicon cover supports the full iPhone screen and call functionality, so you can watch videos, answer email, send texts and use apps without ever leaving the water.
It also protects against sand at the beach.

The case — which comes in black and white, along with a neck strap — is not for everyday use. It’s designed for in-water use, so you would switch your cases before jumping into water:
“You don’t swim in your everyday clothes. Your iPhone shouldn’t either,” the site says.

Check out the video below of a turtle swimming underwater, which was taken with an iPhone wearing the MarineCase.
The mobile swimsuits are now available for $39.99 on Amazon.

Links :

• MacWorld : Concord Keystone's Eco MarineCase offers impressive protection
• GeoGarage blog : iPad compatible waterproof case, panorama of solutions
• other protective iPhone cases : LifeProof / RainBallet
  

Meet big wave hellman, Ryan Hipwood

Ryan Hipwood is one of the new breed of Ozzy Big Wave Hellman.
He basically spends his life chasing rather large swells around to tow and paddle into very scary waves.

Some of his exploits at massive Cloudbreak (Fiji) and the secret slab in West Oz, almost beggar belief.

Diving with whales

World free-diving champion Tanya Streeter dives with humpback whales in the Turks and Caicos Islands as they migrate southward.

>>> geolocalization with the Marine GeoGarage <<<

Brilliant footage from BBC sea life show 'Diving with Whales'.

Some tourists, in search of extreme thrills, have taken to diving with killer whales.
In Tysfjord in Norway, a local diver offers tourists a unique encounter with killer whales as David Attenborough explores the safety of such an extreme sport.