This paper investigates the impact of emerging technologies on seafarers' roles, focusing on how various Asia-Pacific countries are adapting their policies and skills development in the digital era. Using a descriptive research methodology—comprising observation, literature review, and content analysis, the paper explores the challenges and opportunities associated with the adoption of advanced maritime technologies and also examines the evolving landscape of seafarers' skills and policies amidst emerging technological advancements in the maritime sector, with focus on their implications for regional strategic policy development and training frameworks within the Asia-Pacific region. As digitalization, automation, and innovative maritime technologies reshape maritime operations, the demand for a highly skilled, adaptable, and technologically proficient seafarer workforce becomes paramount. The study explores current skills gaps, policy challenges, and opportunities for harmonizing regional standards to support sustainable maritime growth. Furthermore, it proposes a comprehensive strategic policy framework and a modular training program tailored to the unique needs of Asia-Pacific maritime nations, fostering resilience, safety, and competitiveness in the face of rapid technological change. Moreover, the findings also inform policymakers, industry stakeholders, and maritime education providers on effective strategies to equip seafarers with future-ready skills, ensuring the region's maritime sector remains robust and responsive to ongoing technological transformations. Ultimately, the study provide a roadmap for regional stakeholders especially in the Asian countries to harness emerging technologies effectively, ensuring a resilient, competent, and future-ready maritime workforce in the Asia-Pacific maritime context towards success in a dynamic world.
Environmental engineering programs are extremely important having in view the projected job growth and the increase in global demand for solutions to face environmental challenges. Universities all over the world respond to this need by providing specialized environmental engineering degrees. It is also the case of Constanta Maritime University which is coming to reply to this request by developing the Engineering and Environmental Protection in Industry program. This is a result of the fact that there is a strong need that each of us should be informed about the environment situation, through out environmental awareness. This concept leads to public health and well being of the environment. On the other hand, we assist to population growth- process direct linked to higher energy demand. In this context, the use of renewable energy sources is of great importance since their impact on the environment is considerable less then traditional ones. This paper exposes a planned and carried out activity by Constanta Maritime University and its 4 partners- high schools with energy profile in the country. The activity called “I choose to become a specialist in renewables” is, in fact, a competition aiming to rank essays reflecting the vision of high school students regarding this profession, to analyze a survey conducted to assess the level of environment awareness of the young participants and to facilitate a discussion between the respondents and teachers specialized in the field. The findings are encouraging: the scientific board of the competition found motivating ideas in the presented essays and the survey revealed that the students coming from high schools with such a profile shows maturity and understanding of current environmental issues.
The publication examines the challenges facing the countries of the Black Sea region and the key role of human resources in the development of the blue economy, analyses how they can be effectively adapted to the new realities related to technologies, skills and policies. The data are based on our own researches, the reports and discussions of the annual National Round Table "The Sea - Border or Door". They show how the challenges can be addressed in order to improve cooperation processes, ensure citizen participation in management processes, increase knowledge about marine resources and accelerate the process of blue growth in the region.
The presented paper analyses the steps by which radio direction estimation algorithms are used to visualize the direction from which a radio signal originates. This study aims to use ULA (Uniform Linear Array) and URA (Uniform Rectangular Array) antennas and integrate them into a simulation in order to find the direction of origin of the signals, what the contrast between the phase and time differences is when the signal reaches the antennas and how the systems for estimating the directions of arrival (DOA) affect the signal at the receptor . The difference between ULA and URA antennas is exemplified by using them in a more complex system that can be implemented physically and not just digitally. These two arrays of antennas have several particularities such as the DOA algorithms used by each antenna, its angled directions and their representation from a matrix point of view. The simulation was conducted as a preliminary study for a hardware implementation of this system using a USRP N 310 software defined radio platform. Key words : radio, simulation, direction of arrival, antenna, algorithm.
In the present paper, we will tackle the water quality problem in the lentic environment of one of the most well-known lakes in Constanta, Tăbăcărie. The pollution degree will be evaluated to identify the qualitative composition of the microbiota from the analysis sites, respectively, the chlorophyll indicator and the physical-chemical parameters (ammonium and phosphate ions, dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and pH).
Biogas is an increasingly important renewable energy resource in a world facing environmental challenges and the urgent need for sustainable solutions. Produced through the anaerobic decomposition of organic materials, biogas offers an efficient means of valorising organic waste. The production process yields a gas mixture, primarily methane and carbon dioxide, that can be converted into electricity, heat, or fuel, thereby contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, it supports a sustainable resource cycle, making this technology a highly promising solution for the future of green energy. This study presents a comparative analysis of the operational performance of the Moara-Suceava biogas plant when using agricultural residual biomass (corn and animal waste) versus organic waste from the food industry. The results indicate that, although larger quantities of raw material are required to produce the same volumetric amount of biogas from food industry waste, the latter yields higher lower heating values (5.81–6.20 kWh/Nm³) compared to agricultural residual biomass (4.50–4.91 kWh/Nm³).
The Black Sea basin is a territory that is distributed between countries with different status and level of economic and social development, in which various historical, cultural and social transformations have been and continue to be realized, in which challenges and risks of a different nature are encountered. Nowadays the territory around the Black Sea is identified as the "Black Sea Region". That is the reason for which it is important to create models through which various risks are managed - economic, social, natural, technological. The research is aimed at preventing natural and technological risks in coastal zones and the water area, as a prerequisite for sustainable development, associated with the ever-complicating technical and technological processes. The development proposes the use of specialized software for risk assessment and analysis and prevention management, the application of which creates a prospect for safer socio-economic development and sustainable growth and the assets we assess and seek to improve.
The need to replace traditional refrigerants in marine refrigeration equipment with low-GWP alternatives is growing due to international climate regulations. This paper discusses the current status and potential of R290 (propane) as a long-term substitute in marine air conditioning systems. Compared to other refrigerants, R290 offers higher energy efficiency, low environmental impact, and compatibility with existing system designs. Challenges related to flammability are addressed through compliance with safety standards and technical solutions approved by major classification societies. Calculations of performance parameters under different climatic conditions support the feasibility of switching to R290 as a sustainable alternative.
The maritime and offshore sectors are under increasing pressure to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in line with European Union regulations. Starting from January 2025, the revised EU Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) framework extends its scope to offshore vessels above 400 Gross Tonnage. In this context, energy efficiency has come increasingly into focus of operational team of offshore vessels equipped with Dynamic Positioning (DP) systems. Aiming to identify the strategies to optimise fuel consumption and to improve energy efficiency in DP operations, the authors adopted a simulation-based approach using Kongsberg K-POS simulator. This research study analyses the performance of a DP-equipped vessel under varying environmental conditions, system settings, and operational modes. The results highlight several practical pathways for reducing energy consumption: lower gain, the use of green mode, and the optimisation of vessel heading relative to external forces. The conclusions confirm that strategic adjustments to DP system parameters and vessel orientation can yield meaningful reductions in fuel consumption and emissions, thereby lowering operational costs and supporting compliance with EU MRV requirements. This research demonstrates the utility of simulator-based analysis in evaluating energy efficiency strategies and provides practical insights for offshore operators seeking to improve sustainability and compliance to EU regulations.
This study provides an overview of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Romania between 1970 and 2023, highlighting long-term trends, sectoral contributions, and their implications for climate policy. Using data from the Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR), annual values of CO₂, CH₄, N₂O, and F-gases were analysed across eight major anthropogenic sectors. Results show that Romania experienced a peak of approximately 280 MtCO₂eq in 1988, followed by a sharp decline after the political and economic transition in 1989. By 2023, emissions decreased to around 105 MtCO₂eq, representing a 62% reduction. This decline was largely driven by the restructuring of heavy industry, closure of inefficient energy facilities, and adoption of EU-aligned environmental policies. However, transport, agriculture, and waste sectors gained increasing relevance as industrial and power-related emissions fell. Despite progress, sustained challenges remain for achieving Romania’s climate neutrality targets by 2050, particularly in transport decarbonization, agricultural emissions control, and methane capture from waste management.
Detection of underwater mines is very important for military, maritime security, and environment safety applications. However, the development of machine learning models is limited heavily because of the lack of quality labeled sonar datasets, especially in military contexts as the data there is highly confidential and expensive. The problem with current synthetic datasets is that they fail to properly replicate how complex operational underwater environments are which leads to major performance gaps when deployed in the real world. This work shows the design and validation of a low-cost sonar prototype, specifically developed for synthetic dataset generation to work on the issue of the scarcity of data in applications of mine detection underwater. The sonar prototype was built using an Arduino Uno microcontroller, Texas Instruments TUSS4470 ultrasonic analog front end along with a 200khz waterproof transducer in a controlled water tank environment. For echo analysis the system generates 16 cycle bursts and captures approximately 850 samples at 13 μs intervals. The signal processing consists of zero-phase low-pass Butterworth filtering, short-time energy analysis, and adaptive thresholding which is for echo detection. Under varying conditions (like, salinity 0-35 ppt and temperature 10-30°C), the sonar prototype operated successfully and was able to produce high fidelity acoustic datasets. These datasets are suitable for training machine learning models. The sonar prototype provides a proper platform for the generation of acoustic datasets that are realistic under varying environmental conditions and offers a lot of potential for improving the training of machine learning models and generalization in applications of detecting underwater mines.
In this paper, we propose to analyse the air quality in the urban environment, respectively in the city of Constanta. The sources of pollution are multiple, both for the air outside and for the air inside: solid and liquid particles, gas emissions from vehicle exhaust, from industrial sources, cleaning products. All these sources of pollution constitute a real danger for human health, some being even toxic. 4 locations were chosen for measurements and the concentrations of PM2.5, PM10 particles were measured, after which the risk level was established in the period April-May 2024, comparing the data with those provided by the National Environmental Protection Agency. The analysed results show that the quality parameters for PM2.5 and PM10 particles in the outside air have a moderate impact on the environment, while for the premises they are within accessible limits.
Cyberattacks on a human resources company's Wi-Fi networks can expose client data and internal systems, damaging the company's reputation. This article outlines the major attack types and the implemented security measures by the company against cyberattacks, in the context of Wi-Fi network protection. A scenario of an attack is presented, aiming to prevent and minimize cyber risks and attacks. The measures discussed lead to improved security of networks and systems, strengthened data protection, and the development of a system capable of facing the constantly evolving cyber threats. They reduce risks of unauthorized access, financial losses, and reputational damage. To maintain a high level of security, employee education and constant monitoring are crucial. Furthermore, the managers of a human resources company can use the results of this study to protect clients, employees, and the company's confidential data, thereby improving business efficiency.
The purpose of this work is to highlight some harsh realities with which modern society is confronted, discussing the growing discrepancy between the evolution of artificial intelligence capabilities to intervene in people's lives and the set of laws that regulate, and especially, impose some practical barriers within the development framework of this technological domain. Laws and draft laws tangential or of immediate applicability will be analysed in what follows, they will be commented on and interpreted. Likewise, we will address the micro and macro perspective, both national and international, and conclude with proposals for laws that, from our point of view, need to be subject to debate in order to reach a consensus. The importance of the issue is often debated in academic circles, as well as in everyday discussions. So, how far do we let artificial intelligence make our lives easier? What is the limit between "enough" and "too much"? Is it worth giving up our individual freedom to increase comfort and security? To these questions and many others, we will try to provide answers with the help of this writing, inviting those who wish to engage in constructive argumentation.
The first goal of this study is to examine the performance of a semi-empirical model used for calculating specific energy consumption (SEC) in reverse osmosis desalination. We have introduced a simulation tool (SECSM) to compare this semi-empirical model (SECSEM) and the SECSM. It's worth noting that the simulation model is open source and can be easily integrated easily with other software tools. For this comparison, we explored a temperature range T (10°C - 22°C - 35°C), recovery rate R from 30% to 65%, and a pump efficiency range of γ_HPP ~78% to 98%. An increase in these parameters leads to a decrease in SEC (both SECSEM and SECSM) for systems without energy recovery devices (ERD). However, the introduction of an ERD results in a variable change in SECSEM. Under specific conditions of 35°C, a pump efficiency of 98%, and an R of 65%, the SECSEM reaches its minimum values. In the case of the two-stage unit (TS), the SECSEM and SECSM models converge to the same value of 0.28 KWh/m³. Meanwhile, for the single-stage unit (SS), the values are 0.4 KWh/m³ and 0.39 KWh/m³, respectively. Regarding the unit equipped with the BW 400 34 and SW HF 085 31 membranes, in both SS and TS configurations, the energy consumption for both models converge towards the values 0.71 KWh/m³, 0.70 KWh/m³, and 0.95 KWh/m³, 0.94 KWh/m³ respectively. In the second part of this paper, a comparative study to validate this semi-empirical model without ERD against experimental data was conducted. The SECSEM showed values very close to the experimental results. The findings are discussed below.
This paper analyses the evolution of science in time and regards the relationship between science and religion from early times until present times. It shows that the origins of early science are to be found in monasteries and churches and the first universities were founded around these religious institutions. Later on, due to various motivations, mainly because of the abuses of the medieval church and of its representatives, but also due to rationalism which claimed to have all answers to scientific issues, the science continuously diverges from the religious belief. The present-day stage of the science, however, and the complicate issues science is struggling today with to solve, cannot anymore be explained by the blunt rationalism. Entering such serious predicaments, such as presented in this paper, the usual tool of the science which is the human reasoning is completely insufficient to explain many of the weird phenomena of Nature, and it seems that man should abolish this way of the blunt rationalism and should access mainly unknown forces like love or true faith.
The concept of global order has been a recurring theme of analysis and debate in academia and civil society. This paper proposes a comparative analysis of the contributions of two reference writers regarding the concept of global order. By approaching the works of Henry Kissinger and Immanuel Wallerstein, the authors investigate how Kissinger and Wallerstein perceive and conceive the dynamics and evolution of global order. The research methodology is based on the comparative analysis of the writings of Kissinger and Wallerstein, with an emphasis on theories of realism and their implications for national security and the nation-state. Through this comparative approach, the authors of the article propose to highlight the convergences between the two viewpoints, allowing for a broader understanding of the perspective on the concept of global order. This article aims not only to retrospectively analyse the thinking of Kissinger and Wallerstein but also to formulate some perspectives on the imperious ability of the global order. Thus, the authors of the article may provide an answer to key concerns regarding the viability and sustainability of the current global order, the exploration of reforms, and adaptation to new global realities. This approach contributes to the academic debate and aids the formulation of relevant conclusions concerning possible developments and necessary adjustments within the existent global order.
In today’s society, mental health is a topic frequently discussed. With the extent of changes in our daily lives in recent years, driven by factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the increasing integration of technology into our daily routines, and social pressures, attention to the mental well-being of every individual in society has grown. While some sceptics view it as a topic that is given more attention than it deserves, we must acknowledge the impact that this highly subjective factor has both on every individual within the community we live in and on society as a whole. Mental health has a profound effect on the development of personal life, but it also clearly influences individual performance in academic and professional settings. The well-being of each person and of society, in general, is closely linked to thriving mental health; however, this topic remains stigmatized and often insufficiently addressed.
The skull is a bony cavity that protects the brain. The skull is composed of four types of bones, namely, the cranial bones, facial bones, ear ossicles and hyoid bone, but two parts are more important: the skull and the mandible. In humans, these two parts are the neurocranium (brain shell) and viscerocranium (facial skeleton), which includes the mandible as its largest bone. The human cranium, the part that contains the brain, is globular and relatively large in comparison with the face. In most other animals the facial portion of the skull, including the upper teeth and the nose, is larger than the cranium. In humans the skull is supported by the highest vertebra, called the atlas, permitting nodding motion. In this paper we present the influence of neurosurgical procedures and materials to treat skull defects.
The implementation of UN [1] Sustainable Development Goals, specifically Goal 14, and the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021- 2030, (UNESCO, 2021), has generated global interest in ocean literacy, albeit without corresponding formal impetus for formal adoption of the concept - as is the case for many developing countries. This paper explores the inextricable links between Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 14, 4 and 17. Ocean literacy is needed as a fundamental human science requirement for student and youth learning, across geographies, languages and curricula. Evidently, there are global examples of successful OL [2] initiatives which have been shown to be effective tools in creating unique, immersive, life-impacting learning experiences about the marine environment for both learners and educators. (Mann-Borgese et al., 2018) (Fauville et al., 2018a) Cognisance is also given to the current period of the UN Decade of Indigenous Languages 2022 – 32 (Martin, 2017), aptly displayed in the translation of the International Ocean Literacy Survey [3] (IOLS) framework into 16 international languages. (Fauville et al., 2018) The introduction of learner-friendly material, including in story-telling formats, is proposed as an effective learning tool for young learners. One such example is a cartoon publication in story format, illustrating ocean-literate choices based on IMO principles, translated by this paper’s author, into Africa’s most widely spoken Sub-Saharan language, Swahili,[4] – with relevance of indigenous languages. (Salawu, 2006). This submission advocates for learning systems that define relevant content and introduce ocean pedagogies aimed as empowering learners by establishing ocean literacy as a fundamental human science. The ability to effect positive and self-driven personal behaviour creates the best defence for ocean and planet sustainability by enhancing learners’ familiarity with ocean literacy principles, creating or strengthening the people-planet relationship, affect paradigm shifts in anthropogenic activities and inclusion of alternative marine environment education. (Watanabe, 2020). A collaborative approach amongst all stakeholders is necessary for the sake of the planet, people and progress.
