There is no way the Greeks will be able to control their economy and meet the terms of the bailout by the EEC and the IMF. They can't even enforce the No Smoking regulations !
The new law bans smoking in eateries since 7/1/09.
Look how many cigarettes are in the ashtray in this restaurant ... 
Hey!
Look in the ashtray, the ashtray - the ashtray!
Monday, 2 August 2010
Greek smoking ban
Sunday, 1 August 2010
Offshore wind turbines revisited.
Further to my post about these bird mincers, nowhere can I find actual costs of maintenance. All I find is statements such as this:
6.5.3 Serviceability
The service demand of the present generation of offshore wind turbines in terms of man-hours is in the order of 40 to 80 hours [7].� Service visits are paid regularly, (except in the more demanding first year) about every six months.� A more major overhaul will be undertaken every five years, and will take around 100 man hours to complete. [1].
100 man hours after 5 years of operation in a salt water environment. Utter Hogwash. It will take more than 100 man hours just to reach the turbine in question.
Note: No hard and fast methods, just theoretical assessments.
My Scenario
Firstly you will have to open up the casing to gain access to the operating machinery. No small task if the covers are not secured by stainless steel fastenings and even then working several hundred feet above sea level has it's own risks.
Once the casing has been opened, the inspection has to be carried out.
What do you find? Oh dear, one of the main rotor shaft bearings has become damaged and requires replacing. Just by chance you have the exact spare lying around on your support vessel. Remember now you have budgeted for 100 hrs. Oh dear and now it's raining. All that water is now filling up inside the casing which houses the machinery which comprises of a 6.6KV generator (6,600V) which abhors water. Better try and rig up a cover to protect it. Must have one in the boat somewhere. (If anyone of you have seen what a 6.6kv discharge is like, it comprises a plasma arc at the same temperatures as the surface of the sun.)
So far we have the crew of the vessel, probably 4, at an hourly rate of say £50 per hour. A maintenance crew of 4 on average of £100 per hour. Trip to the turbine 3 hours. opening the casing 1 hour. Inspection 1 hour. Locating and lifting the bearing onto the turbine 1 hour. Securing the turbine from the effects of the weather, 1 hour. Probable time to renew bearing 24 hours. (Wildly optimistic). Insulation testing and closure 2 hours. Return to port 3 hours.
This of course does not address the problem of why the bearing failed in the first place.
And all this is in the summer months. Almost impossible for 6 months of the year.
I'm just an ex marine engineer. So what do I know?
Friday, 30 July 2010
Thursday, 29 July 2010
It's not just Police that harass Photographers (part two)
I recently posted how another blogger was removed from a South Eastern train for photographing two "Rail Enforcement Officers". See Here.
Oh quelle surprise. Look what appeared in his Blog comments.
At first sight it would seem to be an anonymous Blogger venting bile.
However. The IP address that the comment came from
The CW-GO-AHEAD-GROUP is part of the group that runs the train company.
I wonder who it is?
I did send South Eastern this missive. I wonder if they will reply?
I’m somewhat perturbed about an incident doing the rounds of the Blogosphere where two of your REO’s detained one of your customers unlawfully, for taking photos of them. This could be construed as “false imprisonment”
“The crime of false imprisonment can be committed when the victim is restrained physically, like being locked in a car. It can also be committed simply by words, as where intimidation or commands are used, if the victim submits.”
I presume that the REOs that you train will be reminded of their duty to obey the law the same way that you would expect your fare paying passengers to do so.
And this little missive from the Go-ahead-group doesn’t help your cause.
“You could of course go and get a life.
Instead of looking for trouble, why not spend the time doing something worthwhile, like hanging yourself?”
Allegedly sent from Go-ahead group. I’ll give you the IP address for your interest. 194.205.143.128-159.
Yours Sincerely in anticipation of a reply
FE
Another Silly season story.
Flip-flops 'injure 200,000 a year' costing the NHS an astonishing £40m.
Give me strength. Have they nothing else to gripe about?
Go on and read the rest of the drivel here. If you can be bothered.
I suppose they'll be another "Fox attacks Child" story come along in a minute.
Oh Noes.
Girl, 13, attacked by fox which ripped open her tent while she camped with friends in garden
I think I'll go and lie down in a darkened room.
Wednesday, 28 July 2010
It's not just Police that Harass Photographers.
Another story of how jumped up Jobsworths can harass your average citizen by making the law up as they go along.
This time it is in my own county of Kent and the culprits are "Rail Enforcement Thugs Officers. Obviously a cheap version of the British Transport police without the knowledge or adequate training.
This time it is about a Blogger, Olly Cromwell who falls foul of these cretins, by daring to take pictures of the REO's for his blog, on a Railway station. Both he and his partner are removed from the train by these idiots before finally being "freed" by The British Transport Police. Just click on the Olly Cromwell link for the whole story plus updates.
It's about time the forces of law and order actually obeyed the law of the land. Not just made up law to suit themselves. I thing Anna Raccoon has the right remedy.
Rail Enforcement Officer
Job Description
35 hours weekly not including Sundays, Early and Late shifts, weekend and bank holiday working as required
Description
Job Purpose: To work as a member of the Safer Travel Team, in conjunction with British Transport Police Officers, RPO's and other Southern employees to deter crime and anti social behaviour. To offer outstanding levels of customer service to passengers whilst supporting Southern staff as required. To provide assistance with crowd control and respond to emergencies, providing assistance as required to the police and other emergency services. Ensure compliance with the Criminal Law, the Conditions of Carriage and the railway byelaws by people on the railway, minimising fare evasion and supporting other team members in their responsibilities. Act as an authorised collector within the Southern Penalty Fare Scheme an issue tickets to travel. Issue Penalty Notices for Disorder and Fixed Penalty Notices in accordance with the law.
Bans and Burqas
Interestingly in light of the furore about bans for face veils and Burqas I came across a poll in the Muslim Women's Network asking the following question.
Should the Face Veil/Burqa be banned?
What surprised me was the answers.
Yes 63.2%
No 36.8%
All I can say is I am surprised. Obviously the women are not as fond of it as we are led to believe.
Offshore bird mincers
I've just been reading a 114 page document on the development of offshore wind farms. Now as my one reader knows, I was a marine engineer for 43 years. One fact I quickly came to realise is that sea water is highly corrosive. therefore I was interested to see what the projected maintenance costs would be over the life of these turbines and supporting structure.
What a wealth of information awaited me in the document.
This:
2.21.Operating and maintenance
The main concern with the regards to maintenance work is the high costs involved with access to the turbines for maintenance and inspections. Furthermore the maintenance can only be conducted during the right weather conditions, which means that the wind turbines can be unproductive for a number of days.
O&M will become more of an issue as we approach the Round 2 and beyond wind
farms, which will be significantly, further offshore. The industry should embark on study to identify as many steps as possible that can lead to a reduction in requirement for access.
Basically it would appear that they haven't a clue. It was just about the smallest paragraph in the document.
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