05 OCT 2021 Take a look around you. Perhaps you’re snacking on a banana, sipping some coffee or sitting in front of your computer and taking a break from work to read this article. Most likely, those goods – as well as your smartphone, refrigerator and virtually every other object in …
Read More »IT’S TIME TO STOP TAKING SHIPPING AND SEAFARERS FOR GRANTED
30 SEPT 2021 Today 30th, and every year last Thursday of September, is World Maritime Day, a United Nation’s day of observance to recognize the maritime industry’s contribution to the global economy. You probably don’t care, but you should. Especially this year. As the old saying goes, approximately 90% of global …
Read More »DECOMPRESSION SICKNESS MAY BE CAUSED BY FAULTY IMMUNE RESPONSE
23 SEPT 2021 It is infinitely beautiful below the ocean’s surface. So beautiful that every year some divers are tempted to go a little too deep and stay there a little too long. Decompression sickness (DCS) has been a known condition for more than a century. The disease – sometimes referred …
Read More »PERSISTENT BULLIES SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM SHIPS
09 SEPT 2021 A zero-tolerance approach to bullying should be in place on all vessels, with abusive crew members removed from the ship if they repeatedly harass a colleague, according to some mental health experts. Former chief engineer Stephan Vecchi believes the maritime industry must have a strict two-strike policy …
Read More »PART I: FISH FARMING IS FEEDING THE WORLD, BUT AT WHAT COST?
05 SEPT 2021 Gunjur, a town of some fifteen thousand people, sits on the Atlantic coastline of southern Gambia, the smallest country on the African continent. During the day, its white-sand beaches are full of activity. Fishermen steer long, vibrantly painted wooden canoes, known as pirogues, toward the shore, where …
Read More »SCIENTISTS MONITORING NEW CORONAVIRUS VARIANT WITH UNUSUALLY HIGH MUTATION RATE
02 SEPT 2021 Scientists in South Africa are monitoring a new coronavirus variant with an unusually high mutation rate, and whose frequency has gradually increased in recent months, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases said Monday. The variant, known as C.1.2, was flagged last week by the KwaZulu-Natal Research and Innovation and Sequencing …
Read More »SCIENTISTS IDENTIFY THE IDEAL LEVEL OF EXERCISE INTENSITY FOR BOOSTING FITNESS
01 SEPT 2021 We all agree that exercise is good for you: but how hard and how often should you push yourself to get the best results? A large study looking at the link between habitual physical activity and fitness levels shows that “moderate-vigorous physical activity” is the most efficient …
Read More »HOW DID SOMALI PIRATES GET PAID?
29 AUG 2021 Rob Phayre, a former ransom delivery specialist who helped ship owners retrieve vessels and crews from pirates, has written a new novel based on his experiences off Somalia. He recently corresponded with The Maritime Executive about the nature of the work and the root causes of Somali piracy. TME: …
Read More »TYPE 2 DIABETES INTO REMISSION, A SIMPLE DIET, ACCORDING TO SCIENCE
23 AUG 2021 Until recently, type 2 diabetes has mainly been managed by controlling risk factors – such as high blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar (glucose) levels – usually by prescribing drugs. But this approach doesn’t address the underlying causes of type 2 diabetes – such as problems with the hormone …
Read More »EARTH’S ROTATION IS SLOWING DOWN, AND IT COULD BE WHY WE HAVE OXYGEN FOR LIFE
09 AUG 2021 Ever since its formation around 4.5 billion years ago, Earth’s rotation has been gradually slowing down, and its days gotten progressively longer as a result. While Earth’s slowdown is not noticeable on human timescales, it’s enough to work significant changes over eons. One of those changes, new …
Read More »