Colombian Navy Research Articles

Delivering Military Ethics Education to the Colombian Armed Forces: Centre for Military Ethics’ Collaboration with Colombian Military Educational Facilities

ABSTRACT This article describes the progress and impact of the King’s College London Centre for Military Ethics since its collaboration with the Colombian military forces’ educational institutions. More specifically, the article focusses on expanding the military ethics course across different educational facilities of the Colombian Army and the Colombian Navy and Air Force. The impact of the education delivered using an online course designed to be completed without a tutor is analysed and presented. The final part of the article describes a way forward as far as the Colombian project is concerned, as well as the refinement of the course materials and launch of new tools.

Didactic model for the development of mathematical thinking in naval engineering students in Colombia

The learning-teaching process in math is fundamental for navy engineering students, where specific subjects have a strong theoretical foundation in basic sciences, more concise in mathematics related areas. This research has the objective to construct a didactical model based in context problem solving, modeling and mathematical visualization for the learning-teaching process of contents from the Ship Stability subject for navy engineering students in the Colombian navy University “Escuela Naval de Cadetes Almirante Padilla (ENAP)”. The work lies in the research-action approach of the qualitative research. Results show the model structure composed of four parts; the first one contains the model principles: the epistemological and didactical foundations and the objectives and goals of the constructed model. The second one is a characterization of the model is described, and the necessity for students. The third one, named, resolutive, has three phases (exploration, resolution, and action), that are subdivided in inter-related components one to another. Finally, the fourth part is a proposal for the practical implementation of the model. The model obtained generates a robust construction of mathematical context for problems related to ship stability in the naval context.

About the need for an assessment on the risk of pollution from the fuel on board the shipwreck of the former USS Peacock in the Bay of Cartagena de Indias

The tugboat USS Peacock was sunk near the tip of the Castillogrande peninsula in the Bay of Cartagena when it accidentally collided with the Norwegian-flagged merchant ship MS Hindanger on 23 August 1940. Almost split in two, it quickly sank, killing three crew members while 23 were rescued. Since it started to be monitored in 1992, it has been noted that fuel drops sporadically come out of the shipwreck and its position coincides with the measurements of the highest concentration of hydrocarbons in the bay. The Diving and Salvage Department of the Colombian Navy has been monitoring this situation that is still ongoing. Therefore, this article suggests a research project to evaluate of the amount of fuel that the shipwreck may have on board and to study the alternatives to remove it in order to allay the environmental risk.

Study of maneuverability and behavior in the sea of the Light Cabotage and Logistics Support Vessel (BALC-L)

Colombia's hydrographic wealth is of great importance for the development of the economic sectors throughout the country, and together with neighboring countries such as Peru and Brazil, different needs arising from the difficult access to their more remote populations are shared. This is why, humanitarian missions are carried out through the ships of the Colombian Navy (ARC), which are at the service of the most remote civilian populations, providing, for example, response to disaster situations or covering logistics support. However, in the framework of these operations, problems have arisen due to the absence of having adequate vessels for navigation in shallow waters. To combat the problem, the ARC and the Administrative Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (MINCIENCIAS) have designated resources for Science and Technology Corporation for Naval, Maritime and Riverine Industry Development (COTECMAR) and Colombian Naval Academy (ENAP) to carry out research for the design of a new prototype vessel called BALC-L (Light Boat Logistic Support Vessel) that will meet the needs of logistics and disaster response. This paper focuses on studying and analyzing the behavior of the BALC-L ship in shallow waters, coastal areas and deep-water operations by means of numerical simulation, in order to know its movements and operational limitations under these conditions. This research presents a theoretical introduction, numerical simulation results and the validation of the data obtained from maneuverability and behavior at sea.

Design and validation by the finite element method of the structural arrangement of a riverine low draft combat boat

Inland navigation in shallow waters with partially submerged objects and riparian vegetation might represent severe restrictions to patrolling operations of the Colombian Navy. Consequently, there is a need for a riverine combat and reconnaissance boat with the ability to operate in 0.4 m depth shallow waters and which structural arrangement is to be designed according to maritime classification societies and operational requirements of the navy. The aim of this work is to explain and to validate the 20 knots, 3.8 tons of displacement, 8.6 m length, 2.6 m beam and 0.35 m draft boat scantling by guidelines of the classification societies and hence, improving and validating by direct analysis the hull structural arrangement.

Influencia del aprendizaje organizacional en la calidad de la educación de una IES

En las organizaciones, y en especial en las militares, se requiere que los conocimientos acerca de los procesos y tareas se puedan mejorar con la finalidad de corresponder ante los retos y desafíos que propone el mundo globalizado actual. Es así como se propone estudiar la influencia del aprendizaje organizacional en la calidad educativa en una IES, de forma concreta en la EFIM, a través de modelos de ecuaciones estructurales que permitan establecer la asociación entre estos constructos y su grado de influencia. Participaron 64 Directivos y Docentes de una Escuela de Formación Militar de la Armada Nacional de Colombia. El diseño metodológico se abordó a través del Análisis de Conglomerados Jerárquicos, Análisis factorial exploratorio y Método de Ecuaciones Estructurales. Como resultados de planteo un análisis de las correlaciones significativas entre calidad educativa y aprendizaje organizacional, determinando que existe una asociación significativa entre los dos constructos.

콜롬비아 해군과 한국전쟁 당시 그들이 유엔군에 기여한 공로(1951∼1955)

한국전쟁 동안 제해권을 장악하기 위해서 각국의 연합으로 편성된 U.N.연합군이 필요했다. 콜롬비아는 남미에서 유일하게 U.N.의 요청에 응하여 자매국인 대한민국의 제해권을 장악하기 위해 필요한 육군과 해군을 동시에 파병한 국가였다. 콜롬비아 해군의 참전은 해양사를 그 이전과 이후로 나눌 수 있을 만큼 중요한 분수령이었으며, 참전 자체를 귀중한 유산으로서 정의할 만한 것이었다. U.N.연합군에 대한 콜롬비아 해군의 공헌은 국지전에서 다국적군으로 이루어진 태스크 포스-95를 완성시킴으로서 소규모 함대를 파견해 해군의 규모를 이루는 업적을 달성했다고 평가된다. 콜롬비아 해군이 당시에 협력함으로 이끌어낸 성과는 오늘날 단순히 해양 군사 전략 및 정책적인 측면뿐만이 아닌 미국과 대한민국과의 군사적 협력 측면에서도 인정받고 있다.

Design and construction of a prototype bongo to carry out rescue maneuvers as an instruction aid in the Diving and Salvage School of the Colombian Navy

The diving and salvage school of the Colombian Navy offers training in rescue maneuvers, with the purpose that students acquire the skills and abilities required for effective surveillance, protection and attention of people and materials at sea that may involve dangerous situations or threaten human life. Therefore, the teaching and learning skills of student divers have to be improved.
 The purpose of the project is to design and build a bongo that will allow the students to effectively observe the applicability of the fundamentals of physics such as: Archimedes’ principle, Boyle’s law and Pascal’s principle, as a theoretical and practical tool that serves as effective training on rescue maneuvers in real time for students and under controlled conditions at the facilities of the Diving School of the Navy in the city of Cartagena. For its execution, exploratory research was carried out and a deductive method was applied, which began with the planning study and shipbuilding method used by COTECMAR, followed by the analysis and use of materials as a result of the experience of the Naval Base BN1 “ARC BOLIVAR” in this type of constructions. Construction manuals for rescue equipment of the United States Navy were also used as references. The existing BONGO ARC “CASA”, was used as reference and its information served as an input for naval architecture calculations and finally allowed the construction of the Bongo with the technical specifications required for training in this area of knowledge. The device was put into service for the Diving and Salvage School as a learning tool, maintaining proportional and aesthetic characteristics that provide ease, comfort, safety and efficiency during the instruction and decision-making process at a low cost and minimizing the risk of accidents

Design and construction of a prototype for the launch and recovery of a “SAAB SEAEYE FALCON” ROV for the diving and salvage department of the Colombian Navy

The divers of the Colombian Navy carry out search and salvage operations of equipment that are submerged in maritime or fluvial areas. To be effective, the diving and salvage department must have appropriate equipment to ensure the completion of the inspections carried out; however, since underwater dive inspections are carried out in difficult access or dangerous places, it is necessary to use specialized equipment such as remote operation vehicles - ROV, where the urgent need to implement a launching system for the immersion and subsequent extraction of such equipment is identified.
 As a result of the existing problem, the project is built with the purpose of creating a prototype for the immersion and extraction of a “SAAB SEAEYE FALCON” ROV, thus facilitating inspections and reaching depths of 300 meters. For its construction, exploratory research was carried out and a deductive method was applied; modeling was performed using SolidWorks software as a tool for its construction that allowed identifying the best electromechanical structure, and the component to be used for its construction was identified through the study of pure and composite materials, which processes allowed designing and building a LARS prototype that met the operational objectives for which it was proposed.

¿Responden los micromoluscos a los cambios ambientales durante el Holoceno tardío en el sur del mar Caribe colombiano?

Holocene environmental changes in the southern Caribbean Sea and their implications on the composition of marine micro and malacofauna are unknown. We embarked an oceanographic expedition aboard the ship, ARC-Quindío of the Colombian Navy, to drill at three sites in the Gulf of Urabá using a platform gravity corer. To find possible correlations with paleoenvironmental changes during the late Holocene in the Gulf, we assessed the taxonomic composition (organic matter and calcium carbonate) and micromollusc abundance. The elevated richness and abundance of micromolluscs yields more calcium carbonate and less organic matter and answers to environmental changes in the late Holocene. We were able to define two contrasting environments in the Gulf of Urabá during the last 2800 years; an earlier environment dominated by marine waters and a more recent environment of a mixture of waters dominated by estuarine waters.

Computational models for anti-air and antisubmarine warfare simulation

This paper describes the generation and simulation process of computational models oriented to the analysis of the operational situations (OPSIT) of anti-air warfare (AAW) and antisubmarine warfare (ASW), with the purpose of evaluating the effectiveness of different combinations of threats, weapons, and sensors of the Colombian Navy. A detailed description of the OPSITs modeling process is presented by using the selected discrete events simulation tool. The experiments design process and the statistical analysis of the results is also described, using a statistical analysis tool. All this to provide the Colombian Navy with a tool it can use to evaluate the systems that could be part of future units.

A study of shallow water's effect on a ship's pivot point

Information regarding a turning ship's pivot point has been collected, taking practical notes and ship maneuvering manuals into account as well as experimental data and simulated results, together revealing consistent behaviour when varying water depth or some ship's particulars. Results from studies already carried out using the Colombian Navy's River Support Patrol Vessel (RSPV) are included here to estimate the pivot point and contrast results with theory and available observations. Linear manoeuvrability theory was tested and the results revealed poor agreement with kinematic equations. As to the depth variation effect, full-scale experiments confirmed that the pivot point's position, when in shallow water, always varied in the same way, thereby agreeing with available pivot point information.

Analysis of radar cross section assessment methods and parameters affecting it for surface ships

This article presents an analysis of the different modeling methods for predicting the radar cross section of surface ships. In the analysis, we studied the effect of different factors in vessel construction regarding the amount of electromagnetic energy returning to a radar source, such as the handling of shapes, use of different materials, and vessel size. We can see the different evaluation methods of the radar cross section and the software tools available to determine an appropriate methodology for adoption by the Colombian Navy and their subsequent integration with the design process and optimization of warships.

Ship maneuverability: full-scale trials of colombian Navy Riverine Support Patrol Vessel

Methodology and results of full scale maneuvering trials for Riverine Support Patrol Vessel “RSPV”, built by COTECMAR for the Colombian Navy are presented. This ship is equipped with a “Pump – Jet” propulsion system and the hull corresponds to a wide-hull with a high Beam – Draft ratio (B/T=9.5). Tests were based on the results of simulation of turning diameters obtained from TRIBON M3˝ design software, applying techniques of Design of Experiments “DOE”, to rationalize the number of runs in different conditions of water depth, ship speed, and rudder angle. Results validate the excellent performance of this class of ship and show that turning diameter and other maneuvering characteristics improve with decreasing water depth.

La marea roja causada por el dinoflagelado Alexandrium tamarense en la costa Pacífica colombiana (2001)

From April 26 th to May 15 th 2001, a large algae bloom was observed off Tumaco Bay on the Pacific coast of Colombia. This was the first harmful algae bloom (HAB) reported in the region, and reached Gorgona Island, about 120 km north. A year later, starting March 2002, an offshore HAB developed from Cabo Corrientes North to Solano Bay. The typical abundance during the blooms reached 7.5 x 10 6 cells l -1 for the 2001 event and 1.6 x 10 6 cells l -1 for the 2002 event. During both events, low temperature and high salinity were recorded. Typical measurements in the area are 27-27.5°C and 30-31.5 psu. Values observed during the two events were 24-24.6°C and 33-34 psu; 3°C below normal and more than 2.5 psu above average values. These conditions are indicative of local upwelling processes at the time of the events. On both occasions, cells corresponding to the Alexandrium catenella/fundeyense/tamarense complex represented 99-100% of the biomass. It was difficult to differentiate the cells from A. catenella, but the presence of short chains of only 4 cells (single cells represent- ed most of the biomass) was suggestive of A. tamarense. Shape, dimensions, and detailed structure of the apical pore complex, first apical plate, posterior sulcal plate, and position of the ventral pore on plate 1' of cells were consistent with the description of A. tamarense, which has not been reported in the tropical East Pacific. The Control Center of Pacific Contamination of the Maritime General Direction of the Colombian Navy has been monitoring the area since 1994 without finding this species or HABs. This leads us to consider the two events as caused by recently introduced species, where local upwelling processes favor permanent and cyclic HABs. However, during these two events, there were no reports of effects on marine biota or of human poisoning, prob- ably because the blooms occurred some distance offshore and far from exploited shellfish beds.

Pronóstico del viento en el Mar Caribe a partir de los modelos MM5 y UKMO

During the scientific project "Validation of the ocean circulation model applied to Search and Rescue operations", developed by the Centro de Investigaciones Oceanográficas e Hidrográficas (Colombian Navy) is necessary to check the accuracy of the input data. The degree of confidence of the products of the UKMO forecast model (United Kingdom Meteorological Office) is studied through comparisons between the output fields of both, this model and MMS model, used in Instituto de Hidrología, Meteorología y Estudios Ambientales (IDEAM), as well as with the field observations available from two oceanographic cruises carried out during 2003 in the Caribbean Sea. The analyzed parameter is the wind, being a main factor that affects the oil slick fate and floatable artifacts' motion at sea. The objective analysis error with respect to the short-term prediction, the absolute error of the wind forecast and what quantitative consequences this error may produce on the operative use of a forecast oceanographic system for the entire Caribbean are determined.

Evaluación del impacto por derrame de hidrocarburos en la Ensenada de Tumaco. Comprobación de la efectividad de los planes de contingencia

On February 26,1996, in the offshore oil terminal of San Andrés de Tumaco, a port located on the Pacific Coast of Colombia, there was an accidental spill into thesea of aproximately 1500 crude oil barrels while loading the oil tanker «DEADALUS», this spill was caused by the rupture of the main underwater pipeline. The accident made it necessary to execute the contingency plan of the Colombian Oil Company «ECOPETROL». This was done locally to begin with, and then itwas done nathionwide, due to the magnitude ofthe oil spill, which affected the beaches of the Cascajal and Salahonda islands, 20 kms north of Tumaco. The Colombian Navy and the General Offshore Sénior Management throught the Harbor Mastér Bureau and the Pacific Pollution Control center took an active role in the deveíopment of the contingency plan, thus making it possible to accurately predict the movement of the sliCk and and mitigate the concequences of the spill. The actions included are: visual inspections by sea and air, a follow up of the spill and the establishment of an Operations Center to supervise and control the plan, visits to, and reconnaissance of the affected areas, chemical and biological analyses of water samples collected at the affected areas, implementation of a plan to monitor pollution leveis at the Tumaco inlet for a full year, starting on the day ofthe accident, information to answer the enquiñes from various national bodies. This isa summary of actions carried out, monitoring and evaluation processes preliminary results, and lessons that werw learn during the accident.