Electric power to Ship !! Green environ measure at Port of Tacoma

The power plugs and sockets are perhaps one of the most utilised devices in modern day world.  Think of a few minutes of life without electricity !!
Goods which were alien to a particular region are now available in plenty – not only because of the purchasing power but more due to the revolution in transportation.  With efficient communication and logistics, even perishable goods are moved from one Country to another with ease.

The major part of these transportation happen through sea – by ships of various hues and sizes – the steamers, the bulkers, container ships, tankers and more.  Just as we put petrol for our two wheelers and Cars, the ships require source of power for moving.  Most ships use diesel engines to generate power for propulsion.  The power is transmitted to propeller shafts.  There are some modern vessels which use gas turbine also.    The diesel engines are classified by the speed (high, medium, slow), usage (automotive, locomotive, marine), opeation (2 / 4 stroke), cylinder arrangement (horizontal, vertical, radial) etc.,  The engines are mainly used for propulsion and for running the vessel besides the various application inside the ship which require power.   The field of diesel marine engines is quite vast and the engine itself is made up of several components.

Apart from the running needs, there are refrigerated containers (reefers) carrying cargo which require cooling.  There are also reefer ships which have reefer sockets to ensure that the temperature inside the container is effectively maintained.
The World should thank Rudolf Diesel, born in 1858 in Paris to German parents.  He designed many heat engines.  He patented method of and apparatus for converting heat into work.   In 1895, he invented and patented diesel engine.  His engine was the first to prove that fuel could be ignited without a spark.

Diesel engine is a compression-ignition engine which has internal combustion that uses heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected to the combustion chamber.  It is very efficient.  The fuel injector ensures that the fuel is broken down into small droplets, and that the fuel is distributed evenly.  The rapid expansion of combustion gases then drives the piston downward, supplying power to the crankshaft.

For moving a massive ship with so much of cargo placed on board, underdeck and above deck, it requires great amounts of energy to move.    Inside the Engine room spaces the machineries consisting of engines and other equipments.  While the main engine would propel the vessel burning diesel or heavy fuel oil, there will be auxiliary engines also.   Large ships typically more synchronized generators to ensure smooth operation.   The engine room would remain noisy, as even when docked, some engines would be on generating the much needed power for all its other operations.  Thus there would be no rest for those manning the engine room (though they would work in shifts)

Now there is yet another innovation – very recently the Port of Tacoma welcomed the first electric plugged cargo ship. Known as Orca-class vessels, the ships feature state-of-the-art redundant propulsion and steering systems that exceed state and federal environmental regulations, earning TOTE numerous awards in recognition of outstanding environmental achievement.    TOTE (Totem Ocean Trailer Express Inc) is a privately owned Alaska Corporation operating a fleet of Ro/Ro vessels to Alaska between the Ports of anchorage and Tacoma.   The Port of Tacoma is an independent seaport located in Washington.  The first ship called at the port in 1921.   It is reported that sparked by an EPA (Environment Protection Agency of US) grant worth nearly $1.5 million, two TOTE cargo ships will now plug into electrical power and shut down diesel engines while docked during weekly calls at their Tacoma terminal. The $2.7 million shore power project will reduce diesel and greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90 percent during TOTE’s 100 ship calls each year in Tacoma. That equals about 1.9 tons of diesel particulates and 1,360 tons of greenhouse gas emissions each year.

TOTE, a private shipping company that serves the Alaska trade, contributed about $1.2 million to retrofit the two ships to accommodate shore power connections and add some of the terminal infrastructure. The Port of Tacoma provided environmental permitting, grant administration and project management. The EPA grant was provided under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) of 2009 National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program. In addition to retrofitting two TOTE ships with certified ship-side technology, this project installed a shore-side connection system and power at the Port’s TOTE terminal.

The shore power plug installation would help in clean the air.  It is stated by plugging in, TOTE & Port would use clean Northwest energy instead of fossil fuels and has the major benefits of reducing greenhouse gas emission, creating healthier air and spurring job growth.  Besides retrofitting of vessels with certified ship-side technology, this project has a shore-side connection system and power at the port terminal.   This project supports the groundbreaking Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy, adopted in early 2008 by the Port and its regional partners.  Arising out of the growing concern about environmental pollution, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency  was established to consolidate in one agency a variety of federal research, monitoring, standard-setting and enforcement activities to ensure environmental protection. From regulating auto emissions to banning the use of DDT; from cleaning up toxic waste to protecting the ozone layer; from increasing recycling to revitalizing inner-city brownfields, EPA's achievements have resulted in cleaner air, purer water, and better protected land.

A very appreciable effort indeed – don’t ask what can be contemplated in a land eternally having shortage of electricity with frequent power cuts and lay offs.

Regards – S. Sampathkumar

Housewife’s Day – Nov 3rd – Meaning of Maritorious and Uxorious

Today, 3^rd of Nov. is a Special Day in some ways.  Remembering something or somebody by attaching significance to a particular day is understandable.
Sometimes, birthdays of leaders are celebrated decades after their death.  There are Teachers’ day, Childrens’ day, Mothers’ day, Valentines day and so many other days – of higher and lesser significance.  Aping a different culture leads us nowhere.  The way of living in Indian society is different – the established traditional values of Indian culture are different – here our scriptures direct us to take care of parents and be with them throughout the lifetime and take care of them when they are old.  In countries where nuclear families are the norm, visiting them atleast on a significant day is considered important.

Those who have been in my mailing list for long, would remember that I had written something on Maritorious and Uxorious.  English is not our native language and quite often we do not understand or know the meaning of many words.  But if you do not know the meaning of  Maritorious, it perhaps is not indicative of only your language skills but something more. More so, if you know or have heard of the word “Uxorious”.  If you say yes, or have heard Uxorious more than Maritorious, read on.

The word ‘Maritorious’ is much less well known and perhaps less practiced – known to the extent that there does not appear any modern example of its use outside the books on words that cite it.   Do not try google search immediately for you could even land on surprising statement that “medals and prizes are given to meritorious students” – an obvious error without any merit.  Reportedly the only example of the word on record is in Bussy D’Ambois, a tragedy by George Chapman of 1607, in which he coins the word to make a bad pun: “Dames maritorious ne’re were meritorious”.  An interesting aside is that the same man is mentioned in John Keat’s poem.

If you do not know the meaning but is curious to know what it is ....................... the word means “ BEING FOND OF ONE’S HUSBAND”  and the word UXORIOUS is the one to describe a husband who is excessively fond of a wife.   Whish word is better known  speaks volumes of the relative fondness.  If to the modern generation, both the words are unknown, then it is reflective of modern world – the value of relationship.

3^rd Nov is termed as “Housewife’s Day”  - Housewife is a term used to describe a married female who is not employed outside.  Some dictionaries describe it as a married woman in charge of her household.    It is stated that all around the United States there are still women who stay at home, do chores and raise children.  They are rarely appreciated and Nov 3^rd is the time to celebrate them.  It goes on describing some ways of celebrating the day such as taking the woman out to eat, no meals needs cooked and no dished to be washed !!! – a day to relax and enjoy..  it is meant to be a day of honour for some who takes the pressures at home all the time.

The term homemaker is preferred by some.  See the TV shows..  some say homemaker defines the role in terms of activities rather than relation to the gender. 

Incidentally, there is something known as National Women’s Register – an organisation of women’s groups in UK, Australia, South Africa and Nederlands.   This was founded in 1960  and was initially named Housebound Housewives Register, which in 1987 became National Women’s Register.   In 1995 Maureen Nicol was awarded the OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours for services to women by founding the organisation.

Regards : S Sampathkumar.

Mayhem at Jaipur - the arrival of rookie Deepak Lokandersingh Chahar

77 years after its inauguration, it was mayhem at Jaipur. The name of  Deepak Lokandersingh Chahar is one everybody’s lips.    This 18 year old has created waves not mere ripples.  In his debut Ranji match at Sawai Man singh,  he walked into the record books and enabled a humiliating place for Hyderabad also.   This boy’s is from Agra, conventionally no cricketer has come from there.  He reportedly started playing during his father’s Jaipur posting in Air Force. 

Whether he will ever grow up to use the cherry for the Nation would be a long way and uncertain answer – but this performance would do him a world of good – if this is only a beginning, then things augur well him and for the Nation. 

In someways, it also goes with the mindset – T20 all the time – Hyderabad did not complete 16 overs even – why was this hurry ?  To understand things in their full perspective. Ranji Trophy is a premier domestic tournament involving different State and some city sides.  The tourney is named after the legendary Ranjit Singh (Kumar Shri Ranjitsinhji – Jam Sahim of Nawanagar).  Ranjit played in England and barely here.  The trophy was donated by Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala.  The competition was launched as the cricket championship of India way back in 1934, following a meeting  of Board of Control for Cricket.

The first tournament was won by Bombay who have held awesome control over the title, having won 39 times including 15 back to  back wins from 1958-59 to 1972-73.   For long it was the First innings lead that was the decider and many tall scores were recorded by teams batting first.    In 2005-06-, Uttar Pradesh lifted the trophy, and in 2007-08, it was Delhi; during 2006-07, 2008-09 & 2009-10, it was all familiar tale of Mumbai winning the title. 

Mostly the States are represented – Tamilnadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Rajasthan etc., however there are teams such Mumbai, Hyderabad, Calcutta also, then there is also Railways and Services.  Till 2003, there were five Zones and the initial matches were on league within the zone.  The top two teams used to qualify and then was the national knock-out competition.  Scoring a Ranji century was a great honour and a five wicket haul would do any bowler proud as most matches were played on lifeless tracks. 

I once travelled with a famous left hander who played for Tamilnadu with distinction in the late 70s.  He told that me those days in obscure venues, even decent food would not be served; the match fees would cover only their board and lodging and it was difficult getting leave sanctioned by their offices (this man was employed by a bank).  Those were the days when Ranji players would get good employment in banks and other PSUs but not much of money at all.  The game was played hard and the grind was borne out of passion than any money – things have changed a lot now a days. 

From 2006-o7 onwards Super league and plate league came into vogue.   The finalists from Plate league advance to Super league next year whilst the lowest of the Super league get relegated.  Again that was changed subsequently.    Now at the league stage, there is point system of 5 for outright win, Bonus point for innings win, 3 for 1^st innings lead and so on. 

Though not to be distorted out of proportion,  for long time the record for most career runs in Ranji was held by Amarjit Kaypee (7623), a handsome player who could never break to the Indian Team.  His record stands broken by Amol Mazumdar (7929) who also never won an Indian Test cap.

The highest individual score is that of BB Nimbalkar (443 no) for Maharashtra against Kathiawar way back in 1948-49.  VVS Laxman is amongst the top 5 having scored 353.

Again a quality left arm spin bowler who took  637 ranji wickets – Rajinder  Goel could never represent the country, perhaps overshadowed by the mighty Bishen Bedi.  Goel played in an unofficial test against Ceylon.  There were others like Padmakar Shivalkar, Rajinder Singh Hans and to some extent Dilip Doshi who all lived in the shadows despite performing exemplarily well.  Srinivasa  Venkatraghavan had 530 wickets in Ranji.  Pradeep Sunderam of Rajasthan and Premangsu Chetterjee of Bengal have taken all the ten wickets in a single innings. 

Ironically, Hyderabad holds the record for highest runs in an innings – 044/6 amassed against Andhra in 1993/94.  and  at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur neither Ravi Teja or Kanitkar who asked them to bat would have dreamt of this situation.  Akash Chopra who writes so descriptively and analytically has confessed that the surrender was shocking.  In his own words, ‘when they were three down, I remember a team-mate in the slips told me we might need to bat by around tea. I told him it was too early to say that. Ranji Trophy has taught me otherwise on many occasions.’

Real words of wisdom arising out of experience.  Many times after the juice is lost, big partnerships have progressed taking the match totally away. This land is known for pitches where batsmen thrive making runs in buckets; many a times blade of bat seemingly become broader and broader as bowlers – spinner or pacer sweat it out. 

The wickets falling in such a manner, even if some rash shots had been played is rather surprising.  Not to take the credit away from the debutant Deepak Chahar, who had bowled exceptionally good swing bowling, this is an aberration in modern day cricket.  This right hander’s performance is admirable but will have to be sustained against other opponents elsewhere also to become a prodigy at a larger level.  Chahar had three bowled, three caught at the wicket, one lbw and another caught. Indian tracks have not exactly been bowler friendly green tops, at times there have been some bad wickets – this one was not as demonstrated by a good innings by Akash Chopra.   On record, on the same wicket, Rajasthan were 220 for 2 in 72 overs with Kanitkar remaining unbeaten with a century.

Pankaj singh bowled 8 overs conceded 11 and took 2 but for once looked an ordinary performance as at the other end was Chahar who had figures of  7.3 – 2 - 10 – 8. 

Even this brilliant performance is not record shattering.  Maharashtra’s Vasant Ranjane took 9 for 56 on his debut in 1956-57 but Saurashtra could muster 83 at Khadakvasala.  Here none of the Hyderabad batsmen could get to double figures. 

Does this mark the arrival of a good swing bowler for the Nation ??

Regards – Sampathkumar S.

A visit to Sree Sarada Sevashram at Mannivakkam off Vandalur, Chennai

Dear (s)

the real hero standing tall

Today read a news item that Volkswagen Group company Bugatti Automobiles has launched its  super premium sports car 'Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport'.  The young generation wants more and want the very best, raising the benchmark all the time.  This luxury car is perhaps the most expensive car to hit the Indian roads.  Bugatti is a great name in America, Europe and the Middle East and the Indians should not be left behind in enjoying the best of the world.

The  Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport is  priced at Rs 16 crore onwards; earlier the most expensive cars in India have been the Rolls Royce Phantom and the Maybach, which are priced around Rs 5 crore..  The Bugatti Veyron is also the fastest car that is allowed to be driven on normal roads with a top speed of 407 kmph with acceleration of 0-100 in 2.7 seconds.  Amazing.    They sell around 80 units a year globally and India will soon be on this map, which is no mean achievement. 

There cannot be any qualm in somebody spending their well-gotten riches in the manner they like.  It is their life, their wealth and their way of life.

The modern world is very demanding –even school kids know what they want – mostly going by comparison and they do not settle for anythingless than what they dream of.  They have clarity in thoughts and expression, express their demands, vociferous and adamant and would settle for only the exact thing that they thought of.   Generation shift – again there cannot be much complaints.

India lives in rural villages which are still under developed – children there are poor, are not accustomed to the luxury elsewhere available.  Many struggle to get quality food, lack basic amenities.  Even in big cities there exists poor  disproportionately  and they do not have access to basic care.   The middle class community is slowly vanishing – they spend their life dreaming of becoming rich all the time – chasing the vanity, spending all the available money and ending up spendthrifts not able to balance their wants and needs. 

the inmates.......

If life span could be broken to periods- after the age of youth,  the earlier generation was trying to save their earning for posterity as the threat of future was looming large.  Now they want to enjoy themselves too..  there is so much greed and avarice and people want everything for themselves.   In  the city, everywhere you turn, you can top achievers smiling, walking or profile of them speaking on cell phones - they are the ones of Actors, Politicians, Contractors and other rich men.  Now that seems to the defintion of achievers.  In olden days, a lawyer, a Police man, Collector, Doctor, School Teacher, Professor were the ones most respected (not in the same order) - things have changed a lot and you need to be running at a pace to remain constant at the same place.

There are still some who think of others and do something for the betterment of the underprivileged.  Life at 40 can be very exasperating. The man, we met on Sunday is very different.  At the prime of his youth, he joined Ramakrishna Ashram, elected his way of life – went to Himalayas – learnt Yoga and stayed there for some years only to return back to the city to establish and run an Ashram for Orphans and less privileged children. 

the playing field

kudil where Swami stays

the requirements listed out

SYMA organised a trip to the abode of this Sanyasi at Mannivakkam, near Vandalur, not far away from the hustlings of the city.   At Sree Sarada Sevashram, we were afforded a very warm welcome by the young Sri Sadhu Yoga Kumar.  A group of youngmen, G Raghuraman, N Chandrasekaran, Vijaya Selvaraj and B Kumara Gurubaran who have been assisting and running the affairs of the Sevashram were also present.  They are the people inspired by the great souls who have lived in this great country have founded and are running Sree Sarada Sevashram which follows the ideals of Bhagwan Sri Ramakrishna and Swami Vivekananda. Their aim is to make lives purposeful. This home set up in a not so sprawling but enough premises is situated at  Mannivakkam and has been functioning since 2006. Sree Sarada Sevashram is a home of peace and tranquility; one for the betterment and happy life of Orphans, Poor and destitute children. Inside the home all inmates are of the same family; the Ashram provides food, shelter and valuable education to our children, and ensure that they become very good citizens in future. It is not merely providing food or shelter, it is farming their lives and making them live happily in

realization of a great future. The children in the Ashram follow a disciplined life. They have their daily prayer, practice Yoga, meditation, agnihothram, Bhagwad Gita chanting and attend spiritual classes. They are inculcated the high ideals of Great Yogis of India like Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa, Sri Sarada Devi, Swami Vivekananda and the like.

Everything is so clean and neat there. Swamiji is clear in his ideals and

thoughts and says with compassion that they don’t really require more than what is needed. The requirements are clearly spelt out and a list of the same is there on the walls of the Ashram. SYMA members spent time interacting, playing and entertaining the children there.  We did assist them in some small measure by providing some provisions, pillows, mats, pillow covers, bed sheets, notebooks, pens, buckets, and money for feeding all the children for a day.  It was a happy time for all of us who had been there.  We also distributed chocolates and sweets to the children.

Request you also to visit the Ashram whenever your time permits.  You can also partake in running the Ashram by providing contributions. The communication address of our Ashram is :

SREE SARADA SEVASHRAM , Regd. No. 751/IV – 2006 , No.1/3 North Mada Street, Mannivakkam, (Near Siva Temple), Chennai – 600 048 , P: 044 2275 0012 ; M 99402 08225

Yours Truly with Sadhu Yoga Kumar.

More than the money, the Ashram Management and Children would be too happy if more people visit them. It was really a satisfying day and we returned with hearts imbued with a sense of fulfillment of having done at least a very small part to an Organisation, which is being run with utmost care and dedication.   For more details of the Organisation, please see :  http://sreesaradasevashram.blogspot.com/

Sarve Janas sukhino bavandhu.

Regards – Sampathkumar S