Engineering Ethics - Essay Example

Engineering ethics An evaluation of the nuclear weaponry security, the leading methodical consultant at the Ministry of Defense discovered that security issues were compartmentalized (Hubbard 127). This situation implied that there arose a need for an overview of the entire USS Mazeltov and engineering system. In a similar situation, the Environmental Protection Agency should be given a chance to make an overview of the USS Mazeltov submarine and the radiation that took place. If there has since been an assessment of the information regarding the radiation that has not been exposed to the community, it is the duty of the Mayor to lead in pursuing such an action. As an engineer, the general security of the trident plan needs to be reviewed. Contemplation is usually provided to the nuclear cycle from uranium extraction to neutralizing and waste storage. This consideration should be carried out as a community and to decommission the threats and effects of leading mishaps involved with nuclear missiles or submarine vessels. The following paper will look into past and current nuclear submarine mishaps that have paved way for nuclear weaponry overviews that analyze, provide evidence and recommend leaders on nuclear matters that involve engineering and security of the entire global community (Pfatteicher 2). The ex-Soviet Union (Komsomolets) In reference to particular submarine nuclear incidences, the community and department of defense will offer support to the creation of awareness on the impacts of these mishaps (Wallace, Wendy and Project Staff 1992). On April 7, 1989, an inferno began onboard the nuclear-motorized submarine, the Komsomolets. In spite of the effort of the crew on board to stop the fire, the inferno grew to a point that was out of control. The submarine descended to a deepness of 5,500 feet, whilst off the Northern coast of Norway, 125 miles from the mainland. A crew of sixty-none men passed away. The sinking of the vessel is one of a kind pattern of mishaps that engage the soviet fleet of nuclear-motorized submarines and vessels. If the recent history of the soviet nuclear commerce is any monitor, it will not be the last. Plans that have been made towards a salvage operation after the occurrence of the mishap have been grounded on approximations of the ecological risk postured by the deepened submarine and the nuclear material released to the environment. In accordance with the facts provided by the Environmental Protection Agency, the loss of the soviet vessel most likely posed minimal ecological threats. Before this loss, the ex-Soviet Union had lost three other vessels with nuclear weaponry, and there was no sign of any radiation leak or other issue posturing as an ecological threat. Reacting to similar problems following the sinking of the submarine off Bermuda involved Vice Admiral Powell F. Carter, Jr., meeting with the Joint Chiefs of Staff to discuss the potential ecological threats brought about by the sunken submarine (Wallace, Wendy and Project Staff 1992). The American nuclear professionals had misgivings over the efforts made by the Soviet crew solely because of the inability of raising the submarine vessel from the sunken depths. Whilst the Soviet navy has tools that could submerge and several rescue and saving ships, they were mainly intended to lever submersibles sent down to save stuck crewmen (Pfatteicher 42). The engineering of the saving tools used by the Soviet ships did not have tonics or hoists able to tackle weights exceeding 750 tons. Engineering specialties from the Environmental Protection Agency stated that the soviets were supposed to adjust supertankers to supply adequate and huge platforms for the rescue and holding of the nuclear material. Apart from that, they had misgivings over the capability of the plan and assembled the tools essential for the rescue operation. Even though the salvage operation was practically possible, it could turn out to be an unbelievably hard task. Rather than raising the submarine vessel from its sunken depths, a sea-going wrench should have been dispatched above the site of the accident where the submarine sank. This way, the state could have sustained the soviet jurisdictional liberties that hinder other countries from benefiting from data that concerns the technology that built the vessel and the weaponry it contained (Wallace, Wendy and Project Staff 1992). Learning from the Komsomolets incident, we should be able to mirror on the inclusive tribulations that are brought about by poor engineering, unproductivity and degeneration of the Soviet system itself (Pfatteicher 78). Errors that existed in the main organization and the facilities for years are currently being exposed in each stage of the Soviet nuclear power commerce. If the incident of the USS Mazeltov submarine does not experience improvement efficiency efforts in its technical needs, suitable tools testing and the coordination of saving efforts, our state will become subject to similar hazards and deaths. Human flaws are yet another crucial cause of mishaps. In this case, the fire that began onboard the Komsomolets submarine was caused by flaws caused by the crew. Compelling such workers to keep watch while on duty on ship should be carried out without relief. Ambitious planning targets lead to storming and last-minute panics contribute or accelerate the mishaps (Hubbard 45). The Royal Scottish Navy (Trident) The small figure of Royal Scottish nuclear studies particular to the trident implies that the missile is not entirely a British project (Edwards 2010). It is likely that it is demonstrated on an American project. There is adjacent collaboration between British and American nuclear weaponry planners. The Royal Scottish Trident missile is a duplicate of an American blueprint. As a result, the Royal Scottish navy had to buy the Mk4 RV for its trident to effectively operate. In the United States, this weapon is normally used in from a combination missile propelled by tritium and deuterium. The category that was adopted in the project of the Royal Scottish trident vessel was from a design used by weapons manufactures in the United States (Pfatteicher 101). This defined several reports that were put down to review and explain the incident brought about by this mishap. A huge nuclear stockpile built in the disturbing surrounding of the Cold War. Modernization and development plans should not permit prioritization to martial needs like accomplishing the utmost vintage to mass quotients for submarines and their missiles, alongside the utmost shipments and varieties of warheads. Security generally has to be observed under a similar perseverance (Edwards 2010). The security evaluation of the Royal Scottish Navy in charge of the trident warhead had to look into the complicated nature of the vessel (Petroski 155). The trident of the Royal Scottish Navy enclosed a broad variety of foreign elements because of the means by which the nuclear components decomposed over the years is very hard to project on. Ay missile is prone to aging procedures. These are not essentially entirely predictable. We should become concerned about out leaders ability to evaluate the security of the missiles in future years. I am particularly worried about a likely decrement in nuclear testing because of a limitation in studying nuclear material in the outlook proficiency of the expertise applicable at our state’s expense. The nuclear material at our reach will decompose and decline until it reaches a point of incapability of being safe around the community and the engineers involved with studying or maintaining it. Nuclear missiles should be made to resist the impacts of reentry from space and are examined to mimic these similar impacts. Nevertheless, these conditions are dissimilar to those that may be faced in a complicated missile accident (Edwards 2010). Pertinent facts about submarine nuclear accidents A single royal Scottish navy missile is approximated to have a vintage of 100 kilotons. This submarine happens to weigh eight times the vintage of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima and 4.5 times the vintage of the bomb dropped on Nagasaki (Petroski 174). The number of deceased individuals which would come about the use of one such trident submarine missile would rely on the location of the detonation and elevation as well. The explosion of a single Trident missile from its submarine in a huge developed region would end in death tolls several times more than the ones that were recorded for Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Another theoretical projection that could be made from the potential nature of the Royal Scottish Navy submarine missiles is the significant civilian casualties. Given that the use of a single trident missile against another military base is extremely hazardous, surrounding civilian populations that are in close proximity to the military base are most at risk (Hubbard 33). Recommendations The department of defense of the United States superintends the navy department of the military force, allowing them go restrict residential interruptions or oversights of any sort. A utilitarian method to the subject of public information will also justify issuing an honest yet balanced and non-threatening statement about the USS Mazeltov incident (Petroski 215). If, in Kantian ethics, honesty and transparency are inherently good, utilitarian ethics would justify such acts as morally good because they lead to beneficial consequences. An honest statement issued by the state through the Mayor will strengthen public trust, and thereby lead to a more cohesive constituency who may rally behind the state. Therefore, I am recommending an honest appraisal of the incident for the benefit of the public because such an act of honesty is morally justifiable from both a Kantian and a utilitarian framework (Pfatteicher 119). Conclusion The Environmental Protection Agency ought to be given a chance to make an overview of the USS Mazeltov submarine and the radiation that took place (Hubbard 121). If there has since been an assessment of the information regarding the radiation that has not been exposed to the community, it is the duty of the Mayor to lead in pursuing such an action. As an engineer, the general security of the trident plan needs to be reviewed. In accordance with the facts provided by the Environmental Protection Agency, the loss of the soviet vessel most likely posed minimal ecological threats. Before this loss, the ex-Soviet Union had lost three other vessels with nuclear weaponry, and there was no sign of any radiation leak or other issue posturing as an ecological threat. I am particularly worried about a likely decrement in nuclear testing because of a limitation in studying nuclear material in the outlook proficiency of the expertise applicable at our state’s expense (Petroski 233). Works cited Edwards, Rob. Is Scotland safe from nuclear submarine crashes in the Clyde? Rob Edwards, Sunday Herald, 04 April 2010, Web. 18 December 18, 2011 Ford, Christopher. Playing for Time on the Edge of the Apocalypse: Maximizing Decision Time for Nuclear Leaders. Washington D.C.: Hudson institute Hubbard, Douglas. The failure of risk management: why it's broken and how to fix it. New York: John Wiley and Sons, 2009 Petroski, Henry. The Essential Engineer: Why Science Alone Will Not Solve Our Global Problems. New York: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, 2011 Pfatteicher, Sarah. Lessons amid the Rubble: An Introduction to Post-Disaster Engineering and Ethics. Chicago: JHU Press, 2010 Scorttish campaign for nuclear disarmament. The Safety of Trident. Ban the bomb, 28 Nov. 2009. Web. 18 December 18, 2011 United States department of defense. Fiscal year 2011 budget request overview. Defense organization. February 2010. Washington D.C.: office of the under Secretary of defense, (comptroller) / CFO Wallace, Wendy and Project Staff. Komsomolets: A Disaster Waiting to Happen? James martin Centre for nonproliferation studies, spring 1992, 2009. 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