Elsa Vessel

[Diante Scharsch]

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Vascular diseases are among the most important public health problems in developed countries. Given the size and complexity of modern angiographic acquisitions, segmentation is a key step toward the accurate visualization, diagnosis and quantification of vascular pathologies. Despite the tremendous amount of past and on-going dedicated research, vascular segmentation remains a challenging task. In this paper, we review state-of-the-art literature on vascular segmentation, with a particular focus on 3D contrast-enhanced imaging modalities (MRA and CTA). We structure our analysis along three axes: models, features and extraction schemes. We first detail model-based assumptions on the vessel appearance and geometry which can embedded in a segmentation approach. We then review the image features that can be extracted to evaluate these models. Finally, we discuss how existing extraction schemes combine model and feature information to perform the segmentation task. Each component (model, feature and extraction scheme) plays a crucial role toward the efficient, robust and accurate segmentation of vessels of interest. Along each axis of study, we discuss the theoretical and practical properties of recent approaches and highlight the most advanced and promising ones.

The research vessel MV Elsa broke loose of her anchors in the Ladder Bay of the island Saba, in the territorial waters of the Caribbean. The vessel drifted on the coast, where the waves and rocks perforated the hull. Soon the Elsa made water and sunk. The wreck posed a major threat to the national marine reserve and its protected coral and fish species. Following general P&I and claim procedures, the Government of the Netherlands decided to scrap and remove the wreck.

The Caribbean are famous for there extreme climate and powerful hurricanes. The wreck removal was hampered by strong currents, waves and rocks. High safety standards, tight organization and permanent supervision on site were key to complete the project. Walhout Civil BV was contracted as a representive and supervisor of the Dutch government Rijkswaterstaat, on the island of Saba and Curaao. Our consultant has established successful collaboration between the contractor, Caribbean authorities, stakeholders and environmental organizations. Salvage company KOOLE Mammoet Salvage BV successfully scrapped the wreck. A summary of our activities:

The Saba National Marine Park is a marine reserve with a size of more than 1,300 hectares around the coast of Saba. Due to the tropical climate of the Atlantic Ocean, the area is a true paradise for seabirds. There are several coral reefs and submarine atolls with volcanic origins. There are special flora and fauna in the reefs, like the protected coral Acropora Palmata, various seagrasses, turtles, fish, seahorses and sharks.

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In this page you can find informations about the vessels current position, last detected port calls, and current voyage information. If the vessels is not in coverage by AIS you will find the latest position.

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Weeks of attacks by Iranian-backed Houthi militants on vessels in the Red Sea have disrupted shipping in the Suez Canal, the fastest sea route between Asia and Europe, carrying around 15% of global sea trade.For the European economy, already skirting a mild recession as it tries to shake off high inflation

Kama Hele was built by Alex, who first began constructing sailing yachts and fishing boats in Australia in 1949. "Kama Hele" means "Traveler" as well as "A strong branch off of the trunk of a tree," an apt description of the escort boat that has accompanied Hokule'a on its last three voyages.

Alex and Elsa's first encounter with The Polynesian Voyaging Society began in a roundabout way in 1972, when they moved to Taiwan to build a 65 foot ketch, Meotai. Meotai was launched in 1974 and eventually purchased from the original owner by Honolulu business man Bob Burke who would use her as Hokule'a's escort vessel in the first historic voyage to Tahiti.

In 1976, when Hokule'a' arrived in Tahiti, Alex and Elsa were there aboard an earlier Jakubenko built sloop called Ishka. "I saw the tremendous reception that the Tahitians gave the canoe," Alex remembers, "you would have to be there to believe it. Within twenty-four hours there were at least twenty new songs about the canoe. The voyage gave the people so much pride and excitement that both Elsa and I wanted to do something to help. But at the time, we had no idea what."

Later that year, the couple returned to Hawaii where Alex worked at Ke'ehi Dry dock where Hokule'a was brought for overhaul after the 1976 voyage and for repair after she capsized on her 1978 trip to Tahiti.

In 1980, Alex and Elsa began to escort Hokule'a with Ishka. While towing the canoe to Hilo for her departure to Tahiti, Ishka and Hokule'a were struck by a terrible storm. Even with Ishka's engines going at full speed, she could not make headway and, for a time, the two vessels were in danger of being wrecked off the Hamakua coast of the Big Island. Fortunately, good seamanship on both escort and canoe saved the day. "If it were not for Ishka and Alex, Hokule'a might not be here today," says navigator Bruce Blankenfeld. This near disaster would provide valuable experience once Alex began to build Kama Hele.

Sailing aboard Ishka, Alex and Elsa were with Hokule'a all the way on the 1980 voyage to Tahiti and back during which Nainoa, under the watchful eyes of Mau Piailug, navigated the canoe for the first time.

During the next ten years, while other escort vessels followed in the wake of Hokule'a, Alex turned his attention to building steel trawlers. But he kept thinking about his experiences and the unique needs of the escort mission. In 1991, When Nainoa asked him if he would escort Hokule'a on the voyage to Rarotonga for the Arts Festival there in 1992, Alex said yes. But he would do so with a completely new vessel, one custom built for escort duty.

In 1991, Alex laid the keel for what he hoped would be the "ultimate escort vessel" - Kama Hele. Working with a basic design by marine architect Bruce Roberts, Alex made many changes to adapt the vessel for her duties with Hokule'a. "When I thought about the design of this vessel," Alex says, "I tried to remember everything that we did right with the earlier vessels and ways to improve on our mistakes. The vessel had to meet all the requirements of escorting the canoe so that it would never fail in her mission, and that meant being able to take a tow in all kinds of weather." In addition, the escort had to be small enough so that she would not overshadow the canoe yet large enough to carry sufficient fuel for the duration of the trip. "She should also," Alex explained, "have plenty of room for her crew and, if necessary, for the crew of the Hokule'a. And she must be fast enough so as to never slow down the canoe."

The vessel that took shape in Alex's yard - Hawaiian Steel Boatbuilding - was a 45 foot sloop with a graceful sheer line from bow to stern. She was equipped with fuel tanks that could carry 1700 gallons of diesel, enough to allow her to steam up to 5000 miles without refueling. She is powered by a Detroit 371 diesel engine that Alex describes as "old fashioned, the kind they use in tanks or landing craft. But it will go forever and it is simple to maintain." The engine turns a propeller that is 29 inches in diameter, at least three times the normal size, one that Alex took from a 44 foot tugboat. Kama Hele carries a desalinator that is capable of producing 40 gallons of fresh water a day, more than enough for the crew of the canoe and escort combined. She is fully equipped with the latest radio and navigational gear. "The wiring was a difficult job and I needed help for that," Alex explains, "so Jerry Ongies came down and spent a lot of time making sure that everything was done just right." Also assisting Alex to meet his launch deadline were Paul Fukunaga and Jeff Merrik.

In 1992, on schedule, the new 45 foot sloop Kama Hele departed with Hokule'a and set her course south to the Cook Islands, returning to Hawaii after a successful voyage. In 1995, Kama Hele once again headed south, this time in the company of two canoes, Hokule'a and Hawai'iloa, on yet another voyage to Tahiti where they would join up with a fleet of canoes from the Cook Islands, Aoteroa (New Zealand) and Tahiti, as well as one other canoe, Makali'i, from Hawaii. Departing Tahiti on the return trip, Kama Hele proved her mettle as a mini tug by towing two canoes simultaneously, Hawai'iloa and Teaurere, from Tahiti to the Marquesas - all the way into strong headwinds. From the Marquesas to Hawaii, Kama Hele escorted Hawai'iloa and shortly after reaching port, she turned around and escorted the Cook Island canoe, Taki Tumu back to Rarotonga.

"You might be able to find someone to go on escort duty who had a good boat," says Bruce Blankenfeld, "but you would not find a captain like Alex. When he says he will do something, you can be absolutely certain that it will be done."

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