Abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) is considered a problem of global co... more Abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) is considered a problem of global concern which can cause considerable negative environmental and socioeconomic consequences. Due to use of slowly degrading plastic materials in fishing gear construction, ALDFG can remain in marine environment for decades. Enclosed marine environments are particularly vulnerable for all types of pollution and anthropogenic effects, including pollution resulting from ALDFG. However, the extent of this problem is often not estimated. We estimated the level of ALDFG accumulated in a semi-enclosed coastal marine environment in the Gulf of Riga and along coastal areas of the Baltic Sea which are particularly susceptible to different types of marine pollution, including ALDFG. We based our results on a pragmatic approach of using existing ALDFG estimates. The results showed a potentially considerable amount of derelict fishing gear accumulated over the last decade, specifically gillnets and entangling nets and trap gear (2762 netting sheets (CI: 969-4976) and 1379 lost traps (CI: 473-2337)). Therefore, this study highlights the need for the fisheries management to implement adequate ALDFG monitoring mechanisms and subsequent clean-up operations to limit continuous pollution and ghost fishing.
Latvian Journal of Physics and Technical Sciences, 2021
The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and corrosion behaviour of physical vapour depos... more The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and corrosion behaviour of physical vapour deposited (PVD) TiAlN and TiCN coatings of 50 µm mesh shaped AISI 316 stainless steel were estimated under simulated marine conditions (3.5 wt. % NaCl solution). The coatings were prepared by creating adhesive Cr-CrN interlayer with the thickness of about 0.3 µm. The obtained thicknesses of produced coatings were measured to be in a range between 2 and 3.5 µm. The presence of protective coatings leads to corrosion potential (Ecorr ) shifting to more positive values as compared to the bare stainless steel. This effect indicates higher protection efficiency of coated steel under marine conditions. The protective behaviour of produced coating leads to the decreased corrosion current density (jcorr ) by indicating up to 40-fold higher polarization resistance as compared to resistance of the naturally formed oxide layer over the stainless steel. The Nyquist and Bode plots were obtained with the he...
The article analyses ports competitiveness. Due to increased demand, competition, the internal co... more The article analyses ports competitiveness. Due to increased demand, competition, the internal complexity of the process and requirements for high performance in the service market, ports must be able to effectively organize their business activities by offering nowadays appropriate range of services. With the aim of promoting the port position in the market they need to identify their own performance indicators and to develop strategic objectives and solutions to improve their competitiveness. There is a need for regular evaluation of the effectiveness of port operations in order to facilitate future growth.
Ports in the transport economy have an important role to play in the competitiveness of ports. Th... more Ports in the transport economy have an important role to play in the competitiveness of ports. There is an increasing climate of competition, which causes ports to invest in development and to improve their transport corridors, governance principles and pricing policies in order to strengthen international competitiveness of ports and to ensure that their management practices are in line with the positive international experience. In order to increase the efficiency of transport, to promote the use of environmentally friendly technologies and to improve the international competitiveness of port transport corridors, it is important for ports to determine their own KPI indicators that would be used to assess port performance indicators. As ports are responsible for the quality assurance of port services, even if they do not provide such services, monitoring and assessing of the KPI must be part of the quality assurance process. The objective of this study is to define the port perform...
Proceedings of 5th International Scientific Conference Contemporary Issues in Business, Management and Education ‘2017, 2017
Liquefaction of natural gas provides great opportunities for its trade and transportation, making... more Liquefaction of natural gas provides great opportunities for its trade and transportation, making it cost-effective and accessible to places where installing pipelines is impossible or economically unjustified. Liquefied natural gas also opens opportunities for market diversification, if the region is tied to one supplier, as it is in Latvia, with potential positive effects on both the market price and the region's energy security. In view of the growing LNG trade and transport industry, the article studies the possibility to import natural gas in liquefied form. Neither Latvia or Estonia has largescale facilities to import natural gas in liquefied form. The only natural gas sources are natural gas imported from Russia through piping. Latvia and Estonia can import and store liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), which is the drained by-product of natural gas extraction and liquefaction process, ethane and butane. Lithuania has the only LNG import terminal in the Baltic countries. The ai...
Environment. Technology. Resources. Proceedings of the International Scientific and Practical Conference
There is little attention in the Baltics dedicated to the research of ports as economic subjects ... more There is little attention in the Baltics dedicated to the research of ports as economic subjects and their impact on environment. It is vital to strengthen the links between the ports and the Blue Growth while raising awareness of the Blue Growth and making it a cross-cutting issue of the sea-oriented priority areas by creating a special mechanism to support Blue Growth which so far has had insignificant links to port operations. The aim of the article is to analyze the trends and summarize the measures already taken for promotion and integration of the Blue Growth in the Baltic Sea region, and to develop guidelines for ports based on the general and the Baltic Sea Blue Growth strategy, to draw conclusions and to submit proposals for improvement and increase of the Blue Growth. Latvia needs to develop an action plan in order, without unnecessary errors, to quickly implement sustainable port infrastructure and reduce pollution of the sea. The task is to identify the best practices fo...
Abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) is considered a problem of global co... more Abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) is considered a problem of global concern which can cause considerable negative environmental and socioeconomic consequences. Due to use of slowly degrading plastic materials in fishing gear construction, ALDFG can remain in marine environment for decades. Enclosed marine environments are particularly vulnerable for all types of pollution and anthropogenic effects, including pollution resulting from ALDFG. However, the extent of this problem is often not estimated. We estimated the level of ALDFG accumulated in a semi-enclosed coastal marine environment in the Gulf of Riga and along coastal areas of the Baltic Sea which are particularly susceptible to different types of marine pollution, including ALDFG. We based our results on a pragmatic approach of using existing ALDFG estimates. The results showed a potentially considerable amount of derelict fishing gear accumulated over the last decade, specifically gillnets and entangling nets and trap gear (2762 netting sheets (CI: 969-4976) and 1379 lost traps (CI: 473-2337)). Therefore, this study highlights the need for the fisheries management to implement adequate ALDFG monitoring mechanisms and subsequent clean-up operations to limit continuous pollution and ghost fishing.
Latvian Journal of Physics and Technical Sciences, 2021
The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and corrosion behaviour of physical vapour depos... more The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and corrosion behaviour of physical vapour deposited (PVD) TiAlN and TiCN coatings of 50 µm mesh shaped AISI 316 stainless steel were estimated under simulated marine conditions (3.5 wt. % NaCl solution). The coatings were prepared by creating adhesive Cr-CrN interlayer with the thickness of about 0.3 µm. The obtained thicknesses of produced coatings were measured to be in a range between 2 and 3.5 µm. The presence of protective coatings leads to corrosion potential (Ecorr ) shifting to more positive values as compared to the bare stainless steel. This effect indicates higher protection efficiency of coated steel under marine conditions. The protective behaviour of produced coating leads to the decreased corrosion current density (jcorr ) by indicating up to 40-fold higher polarization resistance as compared to resistance of the naturally formed oxide layer over the stainless steel. The Nyquist and Bode plots were obtained with the he...
The article analyses ports competitiveness. Due to increased demand, competition, the internal co... more The article analyses ports competitiveness. Due to increased demand, competition, the internal complexity of the process and requirements for high performance in the service market, ports must be able to effectively organize their business activities by offering nowadays appropriate range of services. With the aim of promoting the port position in the market they need to identify their own performance indicators and to develop strategic objectives and solutions to improve their competitiveness. There is a need for regular evaluation of the effectiveness of port operations in order to facilitate future growth.
Ports in the transport economy have an important role to play in the competitiveness of ports. Th... more Ports in the transport economy have an important role to play in the competitiveness of ports. There is an increasing climate of competition, which causes ports to invest in development and to improve their transport corridors, governance principles and pricing policies in order to strengthen international competitiveness of ports and to ensure that their management practices are in line with the positive international experience. In order to increase the efficiency of transport, to promote the use of environmentally friendly technologies and to improve the international competitiveness of port transport corridors, it is important for ports to determine their own KPI indicators that would be used to assess port performance indicators. As ports are responsible for the quality assurance of port services, even if they do not provide such services, monitoring and assessing of the KPI must be part of the quality assurance process. The objective of this study is to define the port perform...
Proceedings of 5th International Scientific Conference Contemporary Issues in Business, Management and Education ‘2017, 2017
Liquefaction of natural gas provides great opportunities for its trade and transportation, making... more Liquefaction of natural gas provides great opportunities for its trade and transportation, making it cost-effective and accessible to places where installing pipelines is impossible or economically unjustified. Liquefied natural gas also opens opportunities for market diversification, if the region is tied to one supplier, as it is in Latvia, with potential positive effects on both the market price and the region's energy security. In view of the growing LNG trade and transport industry, the article studies the possibility to import natural gas in liquefied form. Neither Latvia or Estonia has largescale facilities to import natural gas in liquefied form. The only natural gas sources are natural gas imported from Russia through piping. Latvia and Estonia can import and store liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), which is the drained by-product of natural gas extraction and liquefaction process, ethane and butane. Lithuania has the only LNG import terminal in the Baltic countries. The ai...
Environment. Technology. Resources. Proceedings of the International Scientific and Practical Conference
There is little attention in the Baltics dedicated to the research of ports as economic subjects ... more There is little attention in the Baltics dedicated to the research of ports as economic subjects and their impact on environment. It is vital to strengthen the links between the ports and the Blue Growth while raising awareness of the Blue Growth and making it a cross-cutting issue of the sea-oriented priority areas by creating a special mechanism to support Blue Growth which so far has had insignificant links to port operations. The aim of the article is to analyze the trends and summarize the measures already taken for promotion and integration of the Blue Growth in the Baltic Sea region, and to develop guidelines for ports based on the general and the Baltic Sea Blue Growth strategy, to draw conclusions and to submit proposals for improvement and increase of the Blue Growth. Latvia needs to develop an action plan in order, without unnecessary errors, to quickly implement sustainable port infrastructure and reduce pollution of the sea. The task is to identify the best practices fo...
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Papers by Astrida Rijkure