December 2, 2016

Maritime environmental challenges

The maritime environment in which shipping operates is fragile and needs to be understood and it needs to be protected. Part of the marine environment is the inter-tidal zone (see the diagram above), an area where humans have greatest contact with the sea. It is here that many swim, surf, […]
December 2, 2016

Environmental aspects which could be affected by maritime operations

The shipping industry operates in an environment that is subject to weather conditions that range from calm water to enormous swells, strong wind and heavy rain; it operates in temperatures that range from well below zero in the Arctic areas to the heat and humidity of the tropics. Thus the […]
December 2, 2016

Maritime weather forecasting, shipping routing and other operations

  Meteorological effects on shipping Study Sections 11.4.1 and 11.4.2 in the Grade 11 section. Meteorological data that will affect a ship during her voyage Strong wind and heavy seas are among the more serious dangers that face seafarers. The highest wave height recorded along the South African coast is around […]
December 2, 2016

The fishing industry in southern Africa and the southern islands

Although fishing vessels operate out of all southern African ports, most of the southern African fishing industry is based at ports along the west coast from Walvis Bay in Namibia to Hout Bay near Cape Town, and also operate from Kalk Bay on False Bay, Hermanus and Gansbaai on the […]
December 2, 2016

Promoting responsible attitudes towards the marine environment

Many people are unaware of the need for marine conservation. Some only show an interest when a shipping accident has caused an oil spill; others are concerned about matters such as pollution (not only oil pollution but also the dumping of non-biodegradable items in the sea), overfishing and poaching. All […]