The analysis of students’ education at the Engineering Department of the Maritime University of Szczecin has been presented in this paper with reference to steam and gas turbine propulsion used in marine industry. Changes in syllabuses have been taken into consideration due to the changes of studies organization at the University and requirements for marine crew education. Laboratory base used for practical training has been presented too

The authors analyze the methods of effective teaching of physics in the context of an increasingly weak preparation of students from the high school. They draw attention to the opportunities that in this field can offer new multimedia technologies, especially computers, applied to various forms of physical classes. The analysis is based on many years of experience in working with students of different specialties and in different countries

The paper presents key legal instruments governing the issues of the protection of the marine environment with respect to the management of ship-generated waste and cargo residues in European Union seaports. In view of the observed development of maritime transport, it is particularly important to organise the reception of wastes and cargo residues in seaports, in line with the principle of sustainable development. As a result of the harmonisation of the relevant legal regulations, Member States of the European Union and port and harbour authorities have taken a number of measures over the last few years to arrive at optimum solutions in this respect. The main objective of the paper is to analyse the existing system of environmental fees, the calculation criteria for such fees, and the techniques used in selected European Union seaports to submit ships’ waste notifications. The research is aimed, inter alia, at determining which of the solutions that are now used in Rotterdam, Antwerp and Klaipeda could possibly be optimal for the ports in Szczecin and Świnoujście.

Water and sediment in ships’ ballast tanks provide habitats for various organisms, and thus facilitate alien species introductions. Ballast tank water and sediment of 19 ships docked in the GRYFIA Szczecin Ship Repair Yard (Szczecin, Poland) located in an area connected with the River Odra estuary (Southern Baltic), were sampled in 2009–2011 to find out if the ships could be vectors of species introductions to the estuary, already known for the presence of non-indigenous taxa. This study showed the ballast water of the ships examined to house rotifers, copepods, cladocerans, and bivalve and cirriped larvae – common constituents of zooplankton assemblages in coastal waters. The ballast tank sediment supported meiobenthic foraminiferans, nematodes, harpacticoid copepods, turbellarians, bivalves, polychaetes, and chironomid and cirriped larvae. It is not possible at this stage to judge what meiofaunal taxa constitute an alien component in the estuary biota. Macrobenthos in the ships’ ballast tank sediment examined was represented mainly by nereid polychaetes. Although the unintended “biological cargo” examined proved quite diverse and abundant, it contained few identified alien taxa. It does not seem likely than any of them could pose a threat of a biological invasion in the River Odra estuary. However, numerous species remained unidentified, and therefore assessment of the risk of alien species introduction and invasion contains a large measure of uncertainty. On the other hand, the risk as such remains, since the density of ballast water-borne organisms in all ships exceeded the allowed limits

For several years, marine tourism market has been experiencing a renaissance and is one of the fastest growing segment of the tourist economy. Strong competition on the marine carriers market forced them to seek out innovative products, and in the wake of that, their specialization, as well. At the same time, there has been a tendency to change a model of resting from passive lying in the Sun on aboard of the ships for an active participation in theme and profiled marine voyages. That caters to various customers’ needs and preferences. Owners of cruise vessels outdo each other in inventing the original theme offers for specific groups defined within: religious faiths, musical tastes, sport hobbies, health needs, or sexual orientation and many others. In both, polish and foreign literature, there is a noticeable lack, when it comes to a scientific approach to this phenomenon. In this light, it seems reasonable to take this topic of the research. The main aim of this article is an estimation of tenders in terms of theme cruises offered by marine carriers and making their generic classification. The research was realized using a method of desk research, a critical and comparative analysis of available literature, offers of marine tourist carriers, and also other scientific reports. Moreover, the author shows a list of criteria that could be implemented in the statistical researches of demand on theme cruises

This article presents the method of inventory of flood in the real-time GIS system. The method includes: obtaining data, sending data to the server of data base, their analysis in GIS environment and presentation of results. For this purpose the Open Source type of applications were used. The last stage of the presented method is the cartographic development of the hybrid map (orthophotomap with thematic overlays). The authors gave the boundary conditions of these types of studies taking into consideration the data obtained from various sensors of high resolution image systems. The presented method in a complex way describes the development of fast-changing data from the moment of existence of the change, through their acquisition, analysis, to the cartographic development of the map of flood changes

The problems of embedding of message codes into Acoustic environment of speech are researched. The peculiarities of speech perception by human hearing are analyzed. As an example of acoustic message environment and codes of hidden messages embedded into it is reviewed a channel of mobile communication in the part of transformations which are implemented with acoustic signals. Approach to build a model of process of transmission of speech via non-linear channel basing on imagination about speech signals spectrum is developed. The proposals on methods of use of such models for analysis and interpretation of distortions of signals made by transformations, implemented in example channel are presente

The methods of synthesis of text models with information streams are researched. In the process of functioning of system of text models, which model systems of social objects the following are implemented: analysis of models of monitoring of information means, used by social objects, control of adequacy of models to objects and objects management. The synthesis of text models with information streams is implemented basing on use of semantic parameters. In process of text forms synthesis of models description and information streams appears necessity to output new text fragments, reflecting synthesis result. Such output processes are procedures based on use of logical schemas and grammar rules

The paper introduces some aspects of maximum size ocean going ship’s safety during the sailing on Central American rivers. Based on solution of above problems, presented necessary hydrographical information concerning River Orinoco, Mississippi, Rio Magdalena and the most biggest of the World – Amazon River. Solutions of several river’s navigational and manoeuvres problems suggested by Traffic Engineering have also been presented. Independently, there are suggestions concerning improvements of the sea transport safety in the river’s estuary

This paper describes the process of drying of thermoplastic composites warp knows polyamide 6, an engineering polymer material. The results of absorption measurements of pure and polyamide 6 reinforced with cut glass fiber. Composite for injection molding processing conditioned in conditions similar to those prevailing in industrial warehouses and exposed to direct contact with water. Both, in one and in the second case of modified natural polyamide 6 cut glass fiber polymer material reduces the susceptibility to moisture absorption. Being the most important for the moisture content in the material has the first 10 hours of exposure of granules to various weather conditions

This study is an analysis of the possibility of harnessing backwater in open river channels to create waterways in the area of the river mouth. To accomplish this, simplified methods of analysing non-uniform flow have been assessed, with the use of Rühlmann’s, Tolkmitt’s and Bresse’s equations. It was demonstrated that Bresse’s method is the best of the three – the results obtained by using it to determine the range of backwater from the receiving body are much closer to true values than for the other two, and it is the only method that meets the physical criterion of backwater size with the boundary condition of Chezy depth tending to 0. The carried out analyses demonstrated that it is possible to create high-class waterways in lower reaches of rivers by modifying the geometry of their channels, namely the depth and slope of their bottom

The paper presents basics of the eye tracking methodology and results of preliminary test on multi-purpose marine ship’s navigation bridge simulator. The use of the eye-tracker on the navigation bridge makes it possible to objectively measure the ergonomics of the individual interfaces, as well as to evaluate the decision-making process itself, including the mental workload and stress. In the experiment, officers were faced with an unexpected and sudden situation leading to a collision. The simulated situation required the officer to act immediately and resolutely, taking into account all his/her knowledge about the ship, and interpreting the available data correctly. Outcome of this test was compared with gaze data and it was proved that experienced group with best results suffered lowest level of mental workload and was most efficient in decision making process. Based on those results a possibility of improving simulator training with the use of eye tracking data is discusse

In the years 2011–2012 Polish universities were obligated to implement education requirements in compliance with the National Qualifications Framework. First the universities defined intended learning outcomes, a basis on which curricula were drawn up. The most difficult part of the implemented system is the appropriate identification of method(s) to assess whether the expected learning outcomes have been achieved. This article discusses an examination system commissioned by maritime administration for seafarer examining, and indicates possibilities of using the developed solutions in the process of learning outcomes assessment at technical universities and academies

The article presents the analysis of possibilities of using the Digital Elevation (Surface) Models for creation of the 3D cadastre. The authors present the characteristics and meaning of the three-dimensional modelling of objects in the context of solving problems occurring with the traditional two-dimensional cadastre. The paper presents imperfections of the 2D cadastre and indicates possibilities of their removal based on altitude data acquired from the laser scanning. It determines the accuracy of data obtained with lidar techniques and indicates their limitations in specifying the exceeding. As a result of the carried out analysis and theoretical considerations, the authors have indicated the potential possibilities of the usage of Digital Surface (Elevation) Models for the construction of the three-dimensional cadastre system

Inland shipping is the most eco-friendly way to move goods. This transport mode creates smaller external costs in comparison with road transport. The paper presents both inland shipping market analysis and innovative solutions for river ships with the purpose of EU transport policy realization, including environmental negative impacts reduction, minimization of oil-fuel consumption and cleaner energy use through alternative fuels and new propulsion systems

The paper studied the behavior of the composition and structure of the diffusion of chromium coatings in sliding. It was found that the strain in friction generates the secondary structure of chromium coatings and as a result of the deformation effect wear is accelerated due to separation of the coating

Electronic equipment used in transport operates under various conditions. Due to characteristic nature of their application, they should be highly reliable. This paper presents a methodology of optimising a bistable operation process of those systems factoring in economic factors, i.e. the funding allocated to routine inspections. Its practical application was also discussed, which would entail computer aided maintenance software

Problems of sustainable economic development also apply to urban transport. The European Union emphasizes the creation of a sustainable transport system in which public transport will function more efficiently. Currently not all possible means of transport are used in public transport. Attempt to introduce transport water means in public transport does not always have a successful result. Existing solutions do not fully meet the postulates requested in passenger transport. The article analyzes the main technical and financial conditions and makes proposals necessary for the implementation of water public transport. Special attention in these proposals is paid to Szczecin agglomeration

Some possibilities of using computer simulation methods for LNG terminals operators have been presented in this article. A simulator in a training system is a very crucial tool because of practical application of the gained skills and knowledge. Maritime University is the only educational centre in Poland having the teaching base built on modern technical solutions allowing to train operators for LNG terminals