News
Bush to Add Three Marine Protected Areas
President Bush intends to designate three areas the size of Washintgon and Oregon combined as national marine sanctuaries, limiting fishing, mining, oil exploration and other commercial activity. The areas include parts of the Mariana Trench. The Presdient's action requires no Congressional or other approval. Source: New York Times
Shaky Long-Range Outlook for Floating Rigs
The demand for deepwater-capable floating drilling rigs remains at a very high level, thriving on oil and gas companies' continued interest in deepwater exploration around the world. However, it seems as though fewer long-term contracts are being signed between rig owners and oil companies. Also, not as many newbuild orders are being made, in addition to current orders being canceled or options not being exercised. Source: EnergyCurrent
Slow Coral Growth in Great Barrier Reef
Coral growth since 1990 in Australia's Great Barrier Reef has fallen to its lowest rate for 400 years—a troubling sign for the world's oceans. This could threaten a variety of marine ecosystems that rely on the reef and signal similar problems for other similar organisms worldwide, Glen De'ath and colleagues at the Australian Institute of Marine Science said. "These organisms are central to the formation and function of ecosystems and food webs, and precipitous changes in the biodiversity and productivity of the world's oceans may be imminent," the researchers wrote in the journal Science. Source: The Australian
First Underwater Turbine Installed in Mississippi River
The nation's first commercial hydrokinetic turbine, which harnesses the power from moving water without the construction of a dam, has splashed into the waters of the Mississippi River near Hastings, Minnesota. The 35-kilowatt turbine is positioned downstream from an existing hydroelectric-plant dam and—together with another turbine to be installed soon—will increase the capacity of the plant by more than 5 percent. The numbers aren't big, but the rig's installation could be the start of an important trend in green energy. Source: Wired News
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Society News
Renewable Energy Committee Gets Wiki
A new wiki for the MTS Renewable Energy Professional Committee has been created with great links to the best sources of informaion on ocean renewable energy. It also includes a discussion board with some ready-made categories like jobs, news, etc.
New Discovery Channel Show Features MTS Member
A Discovery Channel 11-part series featuring MTS member Odyssey Marine Exploration will premier January 15. "Treasure Quest" combines the exciting search for valuable treasuer with cutting-edge technology and the captivating stories of the historic ships and those who sail them. Online, viewers can dive deeper into the shipwrecks featured in "Treasure Quest" at http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/treasure-quest/treasure-quest.html.
Duke Student Section Changes Leadership
Jacob Sobin, the instigator of the recent creation of a Duke University Student Section, has graduated and passed his leadership duties onto a new president: Andrew Thaler, a Ph.D. student with the Duke Marine Lab. Each of the three entities with members at Duke has a representative: Erin LaBrecque, also a Ph.D. student, is the Marine Lab chair; David Honig, a Ph.D. student at the Nicholas School/Marine Lab, is the Nicholas School Chair; Ashish Gholap, a master's student in the Pratt School of Engineering, is the Pratt School Chair. Undergraduates are represented by Undergraduate Chair Lauren Shwisberg, a freshman at Pratt.
Houston Section Meeting to Focus on the State of the Energy Industry
David Holt with HBW Resources will discuss the "State of Energy Industry and Policy" at the January 22, 2009, Houston Section luncheon. These monthly luncheons are held at 11:30 a.m. at the Omni Palace, 12121 Westheimer, Houston, Texas. Registration is required by the Tuesday preceeding the Thursday of the meeting dates. Visit the Houston Section website for more information.
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