When sailing, it is important to take care of the surrounding environment, be it the coast, the open sea, lakes or rivers.
That's why taking care of the sea is a vitally important issue for any lover of the nautical world.
In today's article, we'll tell you some interesting facts about boats, and give you some tips on how to make your voyages as environmentally friendly as possible.
What fuels do ships use?
One of the biggest concerns is always the level of emissions from boats.
Modern recreational boats use diesel engines, so they will fill up with diesel A, a higher quality fuel than that used by professional boats.
Fuel research has led to the development of two more environmentally friendly formulas: Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and Biofuels. They have not yet become popular, but are expected to replace traditional diesel in the coming years.
For the time being, the recommendation for motorboats is to keep their maintenance and technical inspections up to date.
Finally, sailboats are the cleanest in terms of both emissions and noise pollution, so they are always an ideal option for respecting the environment.
What materials are ships made of?
For much of human history, boats have been built from a variety of woods, initially from those available, and nowadays from those that are more resistant to water and humidity.
Nowadays, we can find boats made of wooden slats, plywood, fibreglass-coated slatted board... They require little maintenance if combined with resins.
And although wood is still used, there are two other materials to consider...
One is aluminium, used mainly for long-distance cruisers and super yachts: it is rigid, strong, lightweight and very impact-resistant, as well as easy to repair.
The second and more popular, is composite construction, as it allows mass production at lower cost. These composites are usually: polyester reinforced with glass fibre, carbon fibre or kevlar, protected by a gelcoat (a special type of resin).
It is interesting to know the manufacturing materials to carry out a good maintenance of your boat, depending on the particularities of each one. If you have any doubts, you can always contact a professional.
Tips for sailing and taking care of the sea
If you are going out to enjoy the sea, here are some tips for cleaner sailing.
Please refer to our article on what it takes to be able to navigate for more detailed information.
Enjoy!
Tips on refuelling ships
Early morning is recommended, when the fuel is cold and has a lower density.
If the pump has been filled recently, it is advisable to wait a few hours for the deposits to return to the bottom of the tank.
Sewage from the ship
Image by Van3ssa Zheki Dany at Pixabay
If your ship has a toilet, galley or similar, it is important to know where all this waste goes.
Many ports have equipment for emptying holding tanks of sewage rather than disposing of it at sea (outside sensitive areas), so it is advisable to do this before departure or on arrival.
Waste management on board
It refers mainly to plastics that are likely to end up in the sea. It is really as simple as applying 3 basic rules: reduce, reuse and recycle.
Also, try to avoid bringing too much packaging on board as much as possible, as well as disposable utensils.
If you can't avoid it, get a bucket or a box where you can put everything you need to recycle when you get to land.
Where to anchor the boat
The recommendation is to use anchor buoys whenever possible, rather than anchors, which can damage the seabed.
If you have to stop in a place where buoys are not available, make sure you do so in a place that is safe for you and where you will not damage plants or animals. When picking up the anchor, stand on it so as not to drag it along the seabed.
Responsible fishing at sea
Before you go out, make sure you can find a suitable site where it is legal to fish.
Know what materials and equipment are authorized, the catch sizes, and also the periods of the year when you can fish.
Also, try to be a responsible consumer and avoid species with a low population in order not to have a negative impact on the ecosystem.
Happy fishing!
What is econavigation?
These are recommendations for sailing with the lowest possible fuel consumption and in a cleaner way. They include:
- Distribute the weight on board well, and remove any unnecessary weight.
- Respect optimum boat speeds, normally 20% to 25% below maximum speed.
- Switch off the engine when not in use (also reduces noise pollution).
- When in port, connect the ship to the power supply.
Blue Ocean, concerned about the environment
We hope you find this information and advice on how to take care of the sea while sailing useful from now on.
At Blue Ocean we are concerned about the care of the sea, which is why we routinely carry out inspections and maintenance of our boats.
If you are interested in renting a boat in Ibiza, don't hesitate to contact us, we will be happy to help you!
