Two polarization mobile X-band radar IKI-2M, developed by Space Research Institute, Russ. Acad. Sci., has sufficiently high resolution of order 5–7 m both in distance and in azimuthally direction and is able to study sufficiently small details of the sea surface. This paper outlines the results of the sea surface observations, performed in 2008 in Gelendzhik, the Black Sea, at low grazing angles. Using radar images of the sea surface, presented in “time-distance” format, two kinds of wave breaking were observed: traditional “macro-breakings”, answering to long gravity waves, and “micro-breakings”, which correspond to small-scale breaking waves of meso-scale (decimeter) range, which never were registered by radar so far. These two kinds of wave-breakings differ by their intensities, velocities of movement, life-times and polarization characteristic. “Macro-breakings” are produced by long gravity waves with velocities, exceeding 5–8 m/s. They demonstrate rather long life-times about 10–20 s and sufficiently high radar cross-section up to 5–10 m2. In distinction to the “macro-breakings”, the “micro-breakings” are generated by slow meso-waves with velocities about 0.5–2.5 m/s. They do not produce the foam, have short life-time about 2–3 s and sometimes demonstrate very high radar cross-section up to several m2. Both types of breaking waves may produce significant clatter for marine radar and should be taken into account in solution of problems, connected with the safety of navigation and shipping

The success of Search and Rescue action depends on the large number of different factors such as accident characteristics, environmental conditions and human factor. Accident characteristics and environmental conditions are outer controlled factors which have to be considered with respect to the action success assessment. The preparation and conducting of the SAR action can be the decisive factors of action success. Nowadays the organization of SAR action entirely depends on the coordinator decisions. His knowledge, experience and attitudes are the critical factors for the action success. The paper presents the influence of the coordinator attitudes on SAR action efficiency and idea of a decisional model with respect to the tasks of the coordinator. The basic human attitudes to take a risk: aversion to risk, neutrality and predisposition to take a risk have been studie

In the article there are presented various operating events leading to the same consequences, i.e. permanent engine damage. The analysis has been carried out of diagnostic actions performed by the operators, of usefulness of the diagnostic systems held on these ships and the operating qualities of the latest diagnostic systems in respect of possibility to prevent the described consequences of operating events

In the modern systems of operation monitoring and of early detection of technical condition changes, additionally to the monitoring and measuring function, there is required the analysis of information in purpose to support the operator in making decisions. Such high complexity of a problem needs application of the fast methods of analysing the information in variety of aspects. Presently, in monitoring of a marine piston diesel engine tremendous importance the methods have, which are based on artificial intelligence both in a meaning of analysis of the individual processes and in complex analysis of a whole object. Merits of the artificial intelligence methods are – high flexibility, versatility and possibility to use the object for analysis with no need to have a mathematical description of the examined object, or occurring processes, what often imposes the considerable difficulty and restrictions in examination to be carried out

Ship collisions belong to major hazards to the safety of navigation. This article presents a prototype navigational decision support system aimed at assisting the navigator in the process of ship conduct. The problem of choosing the right track in ship encounter situations and optimization criteria are considered. The authors present algorithms for the optimization of ship‟s route in collision situations, implemented in the navigational decision support system being developed. The description of the system operation intended to determine optimized ship movement trajectories is based on simulated ship encounters

Electric power estimation of contemporary container vessels for whole container capacity range is presented in the paper. The multiple regression model has been used to determine electric power, based on the container ships database created for that reason. During electric power calculations the division into ships with electric power created by shaft and diesel generators and vessels with diesel generators only was done

The quality of bilge waters collected in the machinery space during normal conditions and difficulties with the bilge water systems have been considered. Analyzed systems concern contemporary cargo vessels in which the reciprocating diesel engines constitute the ships propulsion. The proposal of the bilge water system, as part of the existing bilge water installations, has been presented. That system will increase the bilge water efficiency that is pumped out overboard of the ship, decreasing the number of the international law violations. More over the proposed bilge water system can lead to decreasing the operational ships costs and raise the operational effectiveness of the engineers department

The article presents results of operation investigations regarding one of the most important receivers of mechanical energy on dredgers: propellers. Operation investigations covered measurements of characteristic parameters of loading propellers on dredgers in two basic conditions of their work: dredging works and sailing at sea. Presented results are based on 10 dredgers (8 trailing suction hopper dredgers and 2 bucket dredgers). In the paper characteristics of spread of propellers loading, i.e. average value, standard deviation and coefficients of variations of loading spred are presented. Examples of load distribution propellers on chosen dredgers during some period of time are shown as well. Conclusions are formulated regarding average value of propellers loading and coefficients of variations of loading spred. Results presented in the paper will be used as a base for creation of random models describing real conditions of operation of dredgers’ power plants.

In the paper has been make an attempt to replace the conventional system of fuel dose control and injection passing angle with the elecrtronic control system, which has been realized this manner, that selected hydraulic accumulator, injector CR type and fuel dose controller has been attached to the marine engine. It has been as-sumed, that by controlling the current impulse of controller it is possible to model whichever size of fuel dose, injected to the combustion chamber and to control the injection lasting time. It has been presented the simplistic scheme of test stand and it has been described the basis of fuel dose controlling valve operation in the injector. The wave phenomenon and the flow loss in the fuel pipe of high pressure have been presente

The paper presents description of biogas utilization as a renewable energy source used for fueling cogeneration generating sets with IC engines. There are presented similarities of such systems to marine power plants and connected with this some propositions about utilization marine knowledge and experiences for developing polish decentralized engineering with biogas power plants

The paper presents cutting forces simulation method for valve seats machining. Cutting forces affecting on tool used for valve seats machining and mathematical relations used for simulating forces were described. Tool used for valve seats machining was presented and machining process was described. Analysis of tool setting against machined valve seat impact on area of the chip on tool blades was made by simulation. Simulated cutting forces for different tool settings against machined valve seat were presented. Test stand for verifying simulated cutting forces against measured cutting forces was characterized. General conclusions arising from simulations and further research plans were presente

The paper presents case of tool damage during valve seat machining process. The tool for valve seats machining was described, details of tool damage were characterized. Damage was illustrated by wrongly machined (destroyed) valve seat, cutting forces for correct valve seat machining and cutting forces for tool destruction case. For analysis was used LVDT contact sensor. General conclusions arising from tool damage process observation were presente

This paper deals with experimental selection of a cooling system of a brushless synchronous generator with permanent magnets and an additional excitation, designed and built in Department of Ship Electrical Power Engineering in Gdynia Maritime University. Three cooling system were tested: with an aluminium radiator and natural cooling with the aluminium radiator and an external fan and the aluminium radiator and two external fans. Results of thermal tests are presented for a machine with built-in thermocouples. The selection of cooling system for the investigated machine is based on the experimental results

In the paper has been described the Common Rail system, which operation is presented on the example of engine RT-flex 60C type. Three basic circuits have been dispersed in this system: low pressure circuit, high pressure circuit and electronically controlled system, but only low pressure circuit and high pressure circuit were discussed. Wave phenomena and fuel loss in the fuel pipe have been presented as an example of complex processes, which occur in the fuel apparatus of high pressure. For the description of shock waves disperse there has been considered the wave flow in thecentre, which fills the long pipe with variable section. The Euler’s equation, adiabatic equation and continuity equation were used to describe such flow. Advantages and disadvantages of the storage systems with fuel injection unit have been discussed in the resume

The paper presents proposal of scope of control surface for marine power plant of merchant ship, being an element of ship’s energy system and consists of devices and energy plants exchanging fuel energy into other kind of energy, auxiliary devices and others irrelevant to the energy conversion processes, but indispensable because of international safety at sea and environmental protection provisions. Accepted scope of control surface allows to derive useful energy, or total generated minus energy consumed for autonomous shipping, this is why the suggested term “autonomous ship’s power plant”. This way makes possible (among others) valuation of results of waste heat recovery system used on boar