The Role of Marine Biology in Offshore Maritime Work

Marine biology is a branch of science that studies ocean life. Because maritime workers interact with marine ecosystems, they should be aware of how marine biology and ecosystems affect them.

What Is Marine Biology?

Marine biology is the study of life in the oceans and how organisms interact with each other and their environments. It also includes the study of other saltwater ecosystems, including estuaries and wetlands.

Marine biology is a broad discipline, but marine biologists often specialize in specific areas, such as one species, one geographical area, or one type of ecosystem.

Why Is Marine Biology Important to the Maritime Industry?

Marine sciences of all types, not just biology, are important because the oceans cover a large part of the globe. Most of the maritime industry takes place in marine ecosystems. The maritime industry affects oceans, and oceans affect the maritime industry and those who work in it.

The more scientists understand about the oceans, the safer the maritime industry will become and the less impact it will have on wildlife.

Marine Ecosystems

Marine biologists study organisms and the ecosystems in which they live, which can be important for the maritime industry. Ocean-going vessels and offshore platforms and other installations operate in many of these ecosystems.

Near-Shore Ecosystems

Ships that transport cargo, fishing boats, cruise ships, and other vessels must move through near-shore ecosystems. Some do all of their activities here while others pass through to get to the open ocean and back into ports.

Near-shore ecosystems include estuaries and salt marshes. An estuary is where the ocean meets a river. A salt marsh is where the ocean meets land.

Estuaries are particularly active areas for the maritime industry. Many ports are situated at the mouths of rivers. Changing water levels and submerged hazards pose risks to vessels in these areas.

Coral reefs are also considered near-shore ecosystems that form around tropical islands and undersea mountains and volcanoes. They can have very shallow waters that pose collision and grounding risks for vessels.

Open and Deep Ocean Ecosystems

Vessels have much more room to move once out of near-shore ecosystems and the hazards of shallow waters are no longer a concern. The open ocean ecosystem is vast and much less crowded with living species.

Few maritime industries interact with the deep sea ecosystem, which is dark and cold. Drilling rigs and vessels must go through this ecosystem to get to the seafloor to drill for oil or gas. Accidents that occur with equipment at these depths can cause a lot of damage.

How Does Marine Biology Affect Maritime Safety?

It’s important for the maritime industry to understand marine ecosystems and the animals in them. Maritime workers interact with these environments and each one impacts the other. The risks from animals are much less than other hazards of maritime work, but they should be considered.

Animal Collisions

The open ocean is a large place, making collisions between vessels and animals rare. Ocean-going vessels are very large, so when collisions do occur, it’s much worse for the animal.

Smaller vessels, like fishing boats, can be at risk from hazardous interactions with animals. For example, a whale can overturn a boat. These maritime workers should be aware of the migration patterns of large marine animals so they can avoid collisions.

Running Aground in Near-Shore Ecosystems

A bigger risk for maritime vessels occurs in near-shore ecosystems. It’s easy for vessels to run aground in shallow waters or where submerged objects, like reefs or rocks, can cause collisions.

Crew members must be aware of the local waters when navigating them to avoid these hazards. This is one reason pilots are used in many ports. These are locals who board ships to bring them safely into or out of hazardous areas.

Dangerous Animals in Overboard Incidents

A rare but very dangerous situation in the maritime industry occurs when a crew member goes overboard. Crew members also face risks in the water if a ship capsizes. The biggest risks are drowning and hypothermia, but animals can also be dangerous.

Sharks, stinging jellyfish, and other animals can harm or even kill workers as they await rescue from the water. Preventing overboard accidents is the first line of defense. However, workers should also understand the risks of being in open ocean waters and how to best protect themselves.

Dangers to Marine Biologists

Like other maritime workers, marine biologists face specific risks and dangers when in maritime ecosystems. They often do their work from research vessels. They can be injured in many of the same accidents other workers are.

These include working with heavy equipment, extreme weather and rough waters, navigation errors, collisions and capsizing, safety training accidents, and more.

How Maritime Work Affects Marine Biology

While marine ecosystems and organisms pose unique risks to maritime workers, the maritime industry is far more likely to harm the ocean environment. The maritime industry poses several risks to marine ecosystems and animals:

• Oil spills
• Other toxic chemical spills
• Collisions with animals
• Collisions with reefs
• Carbon emissions
• Loss of ecosystems to infrastructure
• Movement of invasive species
• Underwater noise pollution

The maritime industry will always be more harmful to marine ecosystems than the other way around. However, it is important to understand the related risks to workers. Marine biology research helps clarify the interactions, how they affect both sides and how workers can operate more safely.