The Hellenic Navy (HN) (Greek: Πολεμικό Ναυτικό, Polemikó Naftikó, abbreviated ΠΝ) is the naval force of Greece, part of the Greek Armed Forces. The modern Greek navy has its roots in the naval forces of various Aegean Islands, which fought in the Greek War of Independence. During the periods of monarchy (1833–1924 and 1936–1973) it was known as the Royal Navy (Βασιλικόν Ναυτικόν, Vasilikón Naftikón, abbreviated ΒΝ).The total displacement of all the navy's vessels is approximately 150,000 tons.The motto of the Hellenic Navy is "Μέγα το της Θαλάσσης Κράτος" from Thucydides' account of Pericles' oration on the eve of the Peloponnesian War. This has been roughly translated as "Great is the country that controls the sea". The Hellenic Navy's emblem consists of an anchor in front of a crossed Christian cross and trident, with the cross symbolizing Greek Orthodoxy, and the trident symbolizing Poseidon, the god of the sea in Greek mythology. Pericles' words are written across the top of the emblem. "The navy, as it represents a necessary weapon for Greece, should only be created for war and aim to victory."...............The Hellenic Merchant Marine refers to the Merchant Marine of Greece, engaged in commerce and transportation of goods and services universally. It consists of the merchant vessels owned by Greek civilians, flying either the Greek flag or a flag of convenience. Greece is a maritime nation by tradition, as shipping is arguably the oldest form of occupation of the Greeks and a key element of Greek economic activity since the ancient times. Nowadays, Greece has the largest merchant fleet in the world, which is the second largest contributor to the national economy after tourism and forms the backbone of world shipping. The Greek fleet flies a variety of flags, however some Greek shipowners gradually return to Greece following the changes to the legislative framework governing their operations and the improvement of infrastructure.

This is a bilingual blog in English and / or Greek and you can translate any post to any language by pressing on the appropriate flag....Note that there is provided below a scrolling text with the 30 recent posts...Αυτό είναι ένα δίγλωσσο blog στα Αγγλικά η/και στα Ελληνικά και μπορείτε να μεταφράσετε οποιοδήποτε ποστ σε οποιαδήποτε γλώσσα κάνοντας κλικ στη σχετική σημαία. Σημειωτέον ότι παρακάτω παρέχεται και ένα κινούμενο κείμενο με τα 30 πρόσφατα ποστς....This is a bilingual blog in English and / or Greek and you can translate any post to any language by pressing on the appropriate flag....Note that there is provided below a scrolling text with the 30 recent posts...Αυτό είναι ένα δίγλωσσο blog στα Αγγλικά η/και στα Ελληνικά και μπορείτε να μεταφράσετε οποιοδήποτε ποστ σε οποιαδήποτε γλώσσα κάνοντας κλικ στη σχετική σημαία. Σημειωτέον ότι παρακάτω παρέχεται και ένα κινούμενο κείμενο με τα 30 πρόσφατα ποστς.........

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Solar energy projects...[ 1386 ]

US to provide nearly $2bn for two solar energy projects

Solar troughs at a power plant built by Abenoga Solar (Picture
from Agbenolasolar.com)

The solar power plant planned for Arizona may be the biggest in the world

BBC., Saturday, 3 July 2010 23:49 UK

Nearly $2bn (£1.3bn) in loan guarantees will be given to two companies to kick-start the US solar energy industry, President Barack Obama has announced.

One of the firms, Abenoga Solar, says that it is planning to build the largest solar power plant in the world in Arizona.

Mr Obama said the projects would provide more than 5,000 new jobs.

The Arizona plant should power 70,000 homes and cut carbon dioxide emissions.

The money will come from government stimulus funds designed to boost the economy during the recession.

Outlining the "Solana" project at Gila Bend near Phoenix, Abenoga said it would have an area of 1,900 acres, using thermal storage-equipped parabolic trough technology, with 280 MW of power output capacity.

According to the company's website, 1,500 new jobs will be created during the plant's construction with 100 positions for staff to maintain it.

'Aggressive' The second company, Abound Solar Manufacturing, will manufacture state-of-the-art thin film solar panels, the first time anywhere that such technology has been used commercially, the BBC's Jane O'Brien reports from Washington.

Plants will be built in Colorado and Indiana, creating 2,000 construction jobs and 1,500 permanent jobs, the Associated Press reports.

President Obama had promised during his election campaign for the White House to create manufacturing and construction jobs in the green power industry.

"We're going to to keep competing aggressively to make sure the jobs and industries of the future are taking root right here in America," he said on Saturday.

The renewable energy industry in the US faces tough competition from developers in China.

Mr Obama also acknowledged the loans would not be an instant solution.

Around 125,000 jobs were lost in the last month, the government reported.

NASA image of the Day, July 3rd ...[ 1385 ]

The latest NASA "Image of the Day" image.

Launched on the Fourth of July

Space shuttle Discovery and its seven-member crew launched at 2:38 p.m. EDT on July 4, 2006 to begin their journey to the International Space Station during the STS-121 mission.

The shuttle made history as it was the first human-occupied spacecraft to launch on Independence Day.

During the 12-day mission, the crew tested new equipment and procedures that increase the safety of the orbiters. It also performed maintenance on the space station and delivered supplies, equipment and a new Expedition 13 crew member to the station.

This mission carried on analysis of safety improvements that debuted on the Return to Flight mission, STS-114, and built upon those tests.

Image Credit: NASA

Σάββατο, 3 Ιούλιος 2010 7:00:00 πμ

Submarine cocaine-carrier seized by Equator..[ 1384 ]

Ecuador authorities seize drug-smuggling sub

By the CNN Wire Staff

July 3, 2010 -- Updated 2338 GMT (0738 HKT)

Ecuadorean law enforcement officials seized this submarine near the Colombia border.

(CNN) -- A fully functional submarine built for the primary purpose of transporting massive amounts of cocaine has been seized by Ecuadorean authorities with the help of U.S. drug enforcement agents.

A drug-trafficking organization built the sea-worthy vessel that is now being held near the border of Ecuador and Colombia, and one individual has been taken into custody, authorities said. The investigation into the group and the submarine, which was seized Friday, is ongoing.

"This is the first seizure of a clandestinely constructed fully operational submarine built to facilitate trans-oceanic drug trafficking," the Drug Enforcement Administration said in a statement.
The vessel utilized twin screws and was diesel electric-powered, the agency said. It was about 30 meters (98 feet) long and nearly 3 meters (nine feet) high from the deck plates to the ceiling. It has a periscope and an air-conditioning system.

"Traffickers historically employed slow-moving fishing boats, sail boats, pleasure craft go-fasts," said Jay Bergman, Andean regional director for the agency. "The advent of the narco-submarine presents new detection challenges for maritime interdiction forces. The submarine's nautical range, payload capacity and quantum leap in stealth have raised the stakes for the counter-drug forces and the national security community alike."

The submarine was constructed in a "remote jungle environment in an effort to elude law enforcement or military interdiction," the agency said.

Acting on intelligence, Ecuadorean authorities were able to seize the vessel for before its maiden voyage, the statement said.

CNN's Carol Cratty contributed to this report.

Manhunt for crime in Birtley, near Gateshead.., [ 1383 ]

Manhunt after fatal shooting attack

The London Evening Standard.,04.07.10

A police manhunt is under way for a gunman who is believed to have shot his ex-girlfriend before killing her new lover.

The scene of a double shooting in Birtley, near Gateshead, where a man was killed

Northumbria Police named Raoul Thomas Moat, 37, from Newcastle, as the man they want to find in connection with the incident. He was released from Durham prison on Thursday having served a sentence for assault.

Detective Superintendent Steve Howes, who is leading the investigation, said the attack at a house in Scafell, Birtley, near Gateshead, was motivated by a grudge against the couple.

He warned members of the public not to approach Moat, who is on the run and is believed to be armed.

It is understood that Moat was previously in a relationship with the injured woman, who was in the house in Scafell with her current partner when the shooting took place.

Police found a man lying on a grassy area opposite the house. The man, who is believed to be in his late 20s or early 30s and has not been named, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The injured woman is thought to be in her 20s and has been named locally as Samatha Stobbart. Sources said she was injured when a shot was fired through the living room window of her home.

This incident is said to have prompted her partner to leave the house and he was shot dead around 50 metres from the front door.

A news website quoted Ms Stobbart's grandmother Ann Hornsby as saying: "Sam's had a couple of operations so far to stop the bleeding. She's been shot twice, once in the stomach and another time in the chest. I just don't want Samantha to die."

Det Supt Howes said: "I would like to stress that this is not a random attack and that the people involved are all known to each other. We believe the offender targeted his victims because of a grudge he held against them."

He said a significant number of officers were involved with the search for Moat