Maritime Transport Conference

AMMONIA: A CLEAN FUEL FOR A CLEANER FUTURE

2024-06-18T14:38:55+00:00

This paper explores the potential of ammonia as a clean fuel for the maritime industry, aiming to achieve the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) ambitious decarbonisation targets. A SWOT analysis is conducted to assess the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats associated with ammonia adoption as marine fuel.

Ammonia boasts advantages like zero CO₂ emissions, and higher energy density compared to hydrogen (reducing storage space needed). However, there are challenges such as the high reliance on fossil fuels for current ammonia production, the need for stricter safety protocols and crew training, and potential engine modifications for existing ships.

On the other hand, developing a global green ammonia supply chain presents a significant opportunity for economic development, particularly for countries rich in renewable energy sources. Technological advancements in storage solutions and ammonia's ability to act as a hydrogen carrier further enhance its appeal.

Some of the identified threats are the requirement of significant investments in infrastructure, ship modifications, and green ammonia production facilities. Standardized regulations and public acceptance regarding ammonia safety remain hurdles to overcome. The emergence of competing zero-carbon alternatives also presents a potential threat.

Safety considerations of using ammonia as fuel require studies to identify potential hazards and risks and what safeguards should be implemented to prevent or mitigate the major hazards. One of the key preventive measures is crew training. Standardized training programs focused on the properties, safe handling procedures, and emergency response protocols for ammonia as a fuel are crucial.

CHARACTERIZING THE AIS DATA OF PORT TUGS IN THE PORT OF BARCELONA

2024-03-20T08:45:12+00:00

Tugs are an important part in port activity and navigational safety issues. Port tugs ensure the safety of large vessels while they are entering, maneuvering, mooring and unmooring, and are of huge importance during other port operations. They are also used for other important port functions and activities, such as fire protection and search and rescue operations. To achieve efficient tug operations, investigating the features of tug activities is of crucial importance. This study aims to characterize Automatic Identification System (AIS) data for further maneuver services identification and characteristics analysis of tug activities in harbor areas.

The AIS data from seven tugs in the port of Barcelona, Spain, in March 2023 were characterized for future identification of maneuvers. The finding of this research will help to improve the planning, timing, and assessment of tug services for docking and undocking vessels and evaluation of tug fleet operation. In this study, Speed Over Ground (SOG), Navigational Status of tugs (NS), ping frequency and data gap information on different variables are analyzed. Initial findings describe SOG ranging from 0-13 knots and a scattered use of the NS definition throughout the fleet. Ping frequency and data gaps are also initially described depending on the variable and the outcomes indicate that it relies on external factors such as the equipment used, technical issues, human factors and dense traffic etc. Hence, investigating the attributes of tugboat operations can enhance the efficiency of tugboat fleets in port areas.

A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE YACHT MARINAS' VULNERABILITY TO SEA LEVEL RISE BY USING AN INTEGRATED VULNERABILITY INDEX

2024-03-12T11:13:05+00:00

This study aims to analyse the vulnerability of yacht marinas in Bodrum to sea level rise (SLR) compound impacts using seven spatial physical and eight socio-economic parameters. A new integrated marina vulnerability index (IMVI) was developed as a composition of the physical coastal vulnerability index (PCVI) and non-physical marina vulnerability index (MVI). To determine vulnerability values, coastal vulnerability index approach was used. A geo-database was created using spatial and tabular data collected from different data source. The PCVI parameters were converted to a 1-5 scale by using geographic information systems analysis (GIS) (subset, buffer, slope, reclass, map algebra), and PCVI values were calculated. The MVI parameters were converted to a 1-5 scale by using the natural break classification method, and MVI values were calculated. Both PCVI and MVI results were presented as maps and tabular values using a scale of 1 (Very Low Vulnerability) to 5 (Very High Vulnerability). The results provide comparative vulnerability analyses of seven marinas, using the PCVI and MVI, individually and, their combination with IMVI. The findings showed that the physical vulnerability of marinas was generally higher than their socio-economic vulnerability. While the physically very high vulnerability marinas are Turgutreis, Yalikavak and Ortakent, the marina with very low socio-economic vulnerability is Ortakent. According to IMVI results, Turgutreis, Yalikavak and Milta are the vulnerable marinas both physically and socio-economically. Consequently, this study potentially brings a new perspective to research on SLR-induced climate impacts not only for marinas but also for cargo ports.

PORT CHOICE AND SUSTAINABLE DECISION MAKING IN CONTAINER LINER SHIPPING: A BIBLIOMETRIC REVIEW AND CONTENT ANALYSIS

2024-03-20T08:59:28+00:00

Trade globalization, the increase in container ship size, and the competitive nature of the maritime industry have rendered port selection a complex decision – making process that involves many criteria. Port selection by container shipping lines is a strategic decision integral to their route and network planning, significantly influencing the operational and business performance of the organization. Contemporary scholarly literature, although addressing diverse facets of port selection by container shipping lines, lacks in offering a detailed and comprehensive analysis that encompasses a range of research methodologies, maritime and hinterland port elements, carbon reduction strategies, and available sustainability alternatives in container shipping networks. This paper presents a retrospective review of port choice from the perspective of container shipping lines by the combination of bibliometric and content analysis approaches. The bibliometric approach utilized by the bibliometrix package in the R software revealed the most relevant articles related to port choice. The bibliographic coupling approach in VOSviewer revealed five research clusters: (1) Port performance evaluation; (2) Environmental considerations in liner networks; (3) Port choice dynamics; (4) Port competitiveness; and (5) Strategic decision – making in global shipping networks. Content analysis of the most impactful articles in each research cluster provides findings forming a solid foundation of insights for the sustainable development of port choice from the perspective of container shipping lines.

DESIGN OF AN OPERATIONAL MODEL TO IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY OF CONTAINER CARRIERS IN PANAMA PACIFIC PORTS

2024-04-01T08:22:32+00:00

Los puertos de contenedores de Panamá en la costa del Pacífico están ubicados en la entrada del Canal de Panamá en su lado pacífico. Esta situación supone que todo el tráfico que ingresa al canal o se dirige a las terminales portuarias, comparte el mismo espacio. Esta situación puede provocar congestión y retrasos en la llegada del barco a la terminal. Desde el punto de vista del flete, el tiempo que el barco espera por un slot de escala es redundante en toda la cadena de transporte requerida. Si además existen obstáculos y tráfico no fluido en el lado de tierra (terminal); la cadena de transporte multimodal se verá afectada en términos de estadías y desconexiones.

Este artículo presentará las primeras etapas en el diseño del modelo de desempeño para mejorar la eficiencia del tránsito de carga. A través de un trabajo de campo realizado a través de cuestionarios enviados a los transportistas terrestres, junto con una serie de entrevistas a responsables del transporte y del área marítima. Nos muestran resultados que indican que el tiempo promedio máximo actual que tarda un transportista en cada proceso para poder entregar y/o recoger una carga es de 30 minutos. Esto sugiere que es necesario fortalecer los procesos, para lograr una reducción de tiempos.

URBAN WATERBORNE PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN THE WORLD: AN OWERVIEW OF PAST AND EXISTING STATE AND POSSIBILITIES OF DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY OF BELGRADE

2024-03-21T15:23:26+00:00

Large, medium and smaller cities on sea-river and inland waterways are increasingly looking for ways to expand their offers in urban, line passenger transport. In city of Belgrade, ever since 1941, the largest number of passengers were transported not by buses or trains, but by Sava river and Danube river boats. Crowded ships slowly but surely transported them to all destinations. The first steamboat entered the Sava on August 26, 1838. It was called "Sofia" and was intended to test the navigability of the river. Navigation on Sava began in 1844, but not to Belgrade. It was the Sisak-Zemun line. In the same year, a small steamboat that connected Bečkerek and Timişoara arrived in Belgrade via the river Tamiš.

In all cities, the lack of capacity in the road and railway network creates large costs. Congestion on urban land roads tends to continuously increase and grow. Belgrade is one such city with an interest in further developing its own potential in urban, public line transport.

In this paper, the key features of how urban, public water passenger transport networks are developed in the world with development opportunities in the Belgrade area are presented.

INTEGRATING CONTINUOUS POLLUTANT MEASUREMENTS WITH TIME-LAPSE PHOTOGRAPHY TO EVALUATE INLAND VESSEL SURROUNDINGS' INFLUENCE ON WHEELHOUSE INDOOR AIR QUALITY

2024-03-20T09:25:26+00:00

The indoor air quality in the wheelhouse of an inland tanker was assessed through monitoring campaigns. The continuous-time measurements gathered data on NO₂, O₃, NO, CO, total volatile organic compounds (TVOC), and particulate matter (PM_2.5). The time series exhibited irregular concentration profiles characterized by narrow and broader peaks atop a gradually fluctuating baseline. These peaks denote sudden environmental changes, occurring within specific time frames and locations, indicating moments of poorer indoor air quality. The synchrony between peaks of different pollutants suggests that many of the narrow pollution peaks originate from exhaust emissions. Previous research has indicated that exhaust gas in outdoor air could infiltrate the wheelhouse via the ventilation system. However, multiple factors within the ship's vicinity (e.g., nearby industries, specific manoeuvres, or passing vessels) could also contribute to the occurrence of pollution peaks in the wheelhouse. To explore the synchrony between pollution peaks in the wheelhouse and events in the surroundings of the ship, a time-lapse camera capturing time-stamped images of the ship's front view has been installed. Analysis of these images in conjunction with the simultaneous occurrence of pollution peaks as observed in time series indicates the existence of multiple pollution sources influencing the indoor air quality in the wheelhouse. The various sources of pollution form an interlinked network of hazards that collectively influence indoor air quality. Each source has the potential to induce changes within this network and can, to a certain extent, affect other hazards. Furthermore, non-polluting elements within this network also contribute significantly to the variable behaviour of the network. For example, crew decisions regarding navigation and manoeuvers play affect the dynamics of this network.

The POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF THE DEPLOYMENT OF MARITIME AUTONOMOUS SURFACE SHIPS ON THE MARITIME FREIGHT TRANSPORT PROCESS

2024-03-20T09:48:29+00:00

Two global processes affect all developments in our lives already today, most likely their influence in both the short and long term will continue to grow and will force us to consider the challenges and consequences arising from them more and more. These two global processes are, on the one hand, climate change and, on the other hand, the rapid development of digital technologies and the related large-scale digital transformation. Digital transformation is not only a technological innovation, but, like climate change, affects all processes related to human activity, including in the maritime sector. According to the general opinion, climate change is considered as a negative phenomenon and digitization as a positive factor to reduce the negative effects of climate change. It is often even believed that new, mainly digital technologies, and automation are the main “magic wand” with which humanity can stop negative climate-related developments and prevent the worst that could happen. But are all accompanying risks that affect the overall picture always considered? The authors of this paper examine one of the important parts of maritime, which is the transportation of goods by sea, and try to point out not only the positive aspects but also the challenges of digitization, including in the context of environmental impacts. The results of the study conducted are not as clear-cut as one might think; the interactions between climate change and maritime digitization processes are more complex than it might seem at first glance, and in different situations they can affect each other in different ways. The authors of the paper go through the different stages of the process of shipping goods by sea and try to give an assessment of possible factors emerging during the digitization of maritime transport, mainly in the context of climate change impacts and combating them.

SAFETY AT SEA AND MARITIME ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION WITH SPECIAL REFERENCES TO TRAINING NEEDS FOR THE EMERGING NEW FUELS

2024-03-28T15:28:16+00:00

The ISM Code and the STCW Convention are considered to be the two most important IMO instruments that contribute to "safe, secure and efficient shipping". From the safety and marine environmental protection point of view they should be considered the two sides of the same coin.

The ISM is not just about compliance to obtain certification, it is about both ‘fitness for purpose’ and ‘compliance’ with rules and regulations.

The ISM is a procedural system that outlines how to manage operations, rather than dictating what to manage. It does this through a system of policies, procedures, processes and plans. Its provisions cover areas such as quality assurance including risk assessment and control through verification and certification.

Several emerging topics such as new fuels and decarbonization require a comprehensive review of the STCW as well as the ISM.

This paper primarily focuses on human elements and the impact of new fuels, ship emissions and means to achieve the IMO and the EU net zero targets. Specific references are made to key safety issues for inclusion in an e-learning course on ISM Code implementation, as it is, with a view to help companies, particularly smaller ones to develop high quality safety procedures.

POST-COVID EUROPEAN RECOVERY PLANS IN THE CONTEXT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF MARITIME TRANSPORT AND SEAPORTS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA

2024-03-04T11:18:52+00:00

With the appearance of the COVID-19 pandemic, the whole world faced its effects on various aspects of human life. This paper describes the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on maritime shipping and seaports in the European Union. The study compares cargo maritime transport and the volume of production activity of seaports in the EU and the Republic of Croatia before and after the removal of restrictions prompted by a pandemic. This paper aims to analyse the changes and the negative effects of the maritime transport market during that period. Therefore, the EU has adopted specific recovery plans to help its member states recover as quickly and easily as possible from this crisis caused by the pandemic.

This paper aims to overview the EU and Croatian national recovery plans in the context of sustainable maritime transport and seaport development after the COVID-19 pandemic.

CLIMATE GOVERNANCE: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PORT STATES, THE COASTAL STATES, AND THE FLAG STATES THROUGH THE VENN DIAGRAM.

2024-04-03T15:28:07+00:00

Climate change poses a unique challenge for global governance, particularly within maritime affairs. This study delves into MARPOL's role in enforcing environmental regulations under international law for effective climate governance. Shipping's substantial greenhouse gas emissions highlight the need for policies that transcend national boundaries, supervised by organizations like the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Port, Coastal, and Flag States each hold distinct responsibilities under international law, creating both challenges and opportunities for climate governance. Visualization through a Venn diagram can reveal overlapping authorities and potential gaps in regulatory coverage. Principles like no more favourable treatment and non-discrimination ensure fair enforcement across States. The complex governance landscape necessitates a deep understanding of international agreements and legal frameworks. Integrating theoretical foundations into a Venn diagram offers insights into relationships among maritime States, aiding in the coordination of climate efforts. Strengthened collaboration among these States is crucial for sustainable maritime climate governance and the protection of marine ecosystems from pollution.

The ROLE OF CELESTIAL NAVIGATION IN MODERN DAY AND FUTURE NAVIGATION

2024-02-11T18:40:45+00:00

This paper discusses the current and future role of celestial navigation and its application on board ships and in maritime educational institutions. Accordingly, the question is whether the governing bodies of the maritime industry should maintain their position unchanged or whether they should increase or decrease the importance of celestial navigation as part of the competencies of future officers. Celestial navigation, its evolution and the various methods of application, the possibilities of implementing future technologies, have all been the subject of many papers, but still no clear answer in which direction to go and what we can expect in years to come. The paper will systematically review and analyze existing legislation and recommendations, especially STCW (Standards of Training Certification and Watchkeeping and IMO (International Maritime Organization) acts. Also, the paper will provide an overview of various papers on this topic and the existing most used methods. An overview of what is considered a modern solution is also provided. The focus is on the advantages and disadvantages of celestial navigation in the context of the future environment in the maritime industry.

CONCEPTUALIZATION OF THE ERA OF AUTONOMOUS SHIPPING WITHIN MARITIME EDUCATION AND TRAINING FRAMEWORK

2024-02-19T10:43:25+00:00

The new developments on telecommunications, computing and sensors are triggering the ships to become more autonomous every day. The new projects leading to a fully autonomous way of transport are already building the fleets of the future, involving more efficient, sustainable and safer shipping operations. Against the expectations of the seafarer’s replacement by Artificial Intelligence and the Autonomous Systems, this technological emergence will be the opportunity for new businesses and job creation, which will require highly skilled crews and operators. Maritime Education and Training (MET) should progress towards updating subjects, incorporating new topics and upgrading teaching methodologies in order to develop highly skilled crews and on-shore operators while maintaining compliance with the STCW Convention standards. Previous research has already identified that technology related to autonomy is rarely addressed in the maritime curricula, and that the main gap in the preparation of new training lies in the updated STCW Code. Although some technological and research centres have incorporated concepts related to autonomy in their agenda, its integration has not been widespread across all Maritime Education and Training Institutions. The main objective of this article is to analyse this emerging content in relation to autonomous navigation, machinery systems, cybersecurity and remote-control systems, inter alia. These emerging contents will contribute to the development of a training course designed to establish new educational and proficiency standards to address the implications of this technology. The aim is to achieve a comprehensive conceptualization of the new era of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) within the Maritime Education and Training (MET) framework, facilitating the development and incorporation of MASS into maritime curricula.

STCW REQUIREMENTS IN A REGULATORY AND TECHNOLOGY LANDSCAPE CHANGE

2024-03-20T08:43:08+00:00

STCW 78 as amended is the most comprehensive source of information regarding mariners' knowledge, understanding, and professions (KUPs), and is a reliable reference for curriculum design in maritime education and training institutions (METIs). However, the changing regulatory and technological shipping landscape requires continuous assessing the adequacy of current training requirements. Therefore, this study reviews safety, quality, and environmental management systems (SQEMS) from two large shipping companies. From the review, the expected seafarers’ skills are deduced, then compared with the STCW 78 as amended requirements. The results of this comparison reveal some insufficiencies in the KUP requirements mainly due to the STCW attitude, approach, and focus. STCW attitude refers to the low reactivity of STCW, lack of details in expressing KUPs, and unbalanced details for different KUPs. The STCW approach to defining KUPs for different ranks is based on the ship's functions. Although this approach is comprehensive, its rigidity results in some skills in the interface of different ship functions being overlooked or not being sufficiently emphasized. STCW focus is primarily on safety, by highlighting the details of safety-related codes and conventions, procedures, and equipment, while in response to environmental features, it mentions only "protection of the marine environment", without explicit reference to environmental conventions, machinery, inspections, or procedures. Consequently, the study highlights KUPs weaknesses and recommends changes to improve training.

DEVELOPMENT OF SEAFARERS' ONBOARDING SCALE: A PILOT STUDY ON SHIP FAMILIARIZATION

2024-03-20T09:03:48+00:00

The fourth industrial revolution and employers’ focus on profit have led to numerous changes in seafaring. Working in a fast-paced, demanding and challenging work environment requires a variety of skills. Therefore, the need to transfer knowledge to less experienced crew members as part of personnel development has increased the importance of the onboarding process. Considering that previous studies have not investigated the onboarding process of seafarers, this pilot study aimed to develop an instrument that would measure ship familiarization as an important part of the onboarding process of seafarers. 102 responses were collected and the results of the exploratory factor analysis revealed two dimensions. Namely: Efficient onboarding and Stress on board which together explain forty-nine percent of the variance. The reliability of the two subscales was satisfactory. Future studies should delve into other parts of seafarers’ onboarding and be conducted on larger and more diverse samples which would allow for more solid conclusions.

The DIAGNOSIS OF STRESS AND FATIGUE IN MARITIME WORK ON BOARD

2024-03-12T10:49:56+00:00

All seafarers wishing to work on a ship must undergo a medical examination prior to embarkation, according to the Maritime Labour Convention, (MLC,2006), and the Standards of Training, Certfication, and Watchkeeping (STCW), in compliance with STCW Regulation I/9 and Section A-I/9. In Spain, this focuses mainly on physical tests of the individual and not so much on his or her mental health. This paper shows the results of a survey on "stress and fatigue in maritime shipboard work". Despite having suffered from both stress and fatigue in the last campaign on board, 49.79% of the respondents acknowledge that they have never been diagnosed with stress, and 52.04% reveal that they have not been diagnosed with fatigue. On the other hand, 55.50% of the participants in this consultation consider it necessary to diagnose stress in the medical examination and 61.40% believe that tests relating to the diagnosis of fatigue are necessary in these examinations. In view of these data, the competent authorities, as well as the different contracting companies, are urged to promote both prevention and mitigation of the possible consequences of suffering from both stress and fatigue in order to avoid unintended consequences such as maritime accidents as a result of stressed and/or fatigued crews, i.e. to include tests on the crew member's mental health before, during and after embarkation in medical examinations, as well as protocols for action by the companies in terms of training and information on these two problems.

REPOSITORY AND KNOWLEDGE BASE ON INFECTIOUS DISEASES FOR SEAFARERS

2024-03-26T11:15:14+00:00

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about unprecedented challenges, including lockdowns, difficulties in
verification, staff swaps, and restricted international travel. These factors underscore our global
unpreparedness for such crises. While these challenges have significantly affected life on land, their impact on
maritime activities has been even more pronounced.
Life at sea has been particularly strained due to the inability to disembark, prolonged voyages resulting from
organisational replacements, limited access to hospitals during sea travel, and challenges in early illness
diagnosis and effective isolation. These hurdles have collectively made navigating the pandemic exceptionally
difficult for maritime communities.
Within the framework of the DESSEV project, funded by the European Union Erasmus+, a DEcision Support
System (DSS) addressing epidemic threats on sea-going vessels has been developed. This initiative includes
the establishment of a learning repository and knowledge base on infectious diseases. The repository
encompasses WHO recommendations, IMO guidance, and procedures from select countries for managing
individuals with symptoms or an imminent case of infection on board. Additionally, the repository includes
detailed medical cases presented in the form of scientific articles, all of which are accessible free of charge on
the project website, www.dessevproject.eu.
A second key objective of the project was the creation of a database on infectious diseases. This database
comprises 22 infectious diseases described with 35 symptoms, grouped into 8 categories. The accumulated
knowledge serves as the foundation for the development of IF...THEN... rules in the form of decision trees.
This article presents the tangible results achieved through the DESSEV project. It provides insights into how
the project has contributed to addressing the unique challenges faced by crews of sea-going vessels during the
pandemic, offering a valuable resource for maritime communities and public health professionals.

SHIFTING FROM GLOBAL MARITIME PROFESSIONAL TO GLOBAL MARITIME CITIZEN

2024-03-20T09:19:03+00:00

The evolution of maritime education and framework started with the foundation framework established by the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), which focuses primarily on the technical competence of seafarers. Then, the International Association of Maritime Universities (IAMU) built on the STCW Code framework, producing the Global Maritime Professional Body of Knowledge (GMP BoK) in 2019 with the mission of producing a holistic and resilient education for seafarers in the new age of the maritime industry. This study was developed to advance the two frameworks further, thus completing the evolution from being a competent professional to a global maritime professional and eventually to becoming a Global Maritime Citizen. The development of an elective course for the Global Maritime Citizen Program utilized a conceptual design by the triangulation of the three frameworks, namely the STCW Code, GMP BoK, and the Global Citizenship Education (GCED) framework. The structure of the elective course was patterned after the International Maritime Organization (IMO) model course, which was founded on an outcome-based education. The developed elective course could pave the way for the incorporation of the GCED framework in the development of maritime higher education curricula. This would not only produce graduates who are technically competent and holistically proficient but also prime movers in the accomplishment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (USDG), affecting the maritime industry in a positive and innovative way.

ADVANCING COMPETENCY ASSESSMENT

2024-03-26T11:10:08+00:00

The intricate landscape of assessing seafarers' competencies demands a comprehensive approach that ensures they possess the necessary skills to handle safety-critical duties, given the immense responsibility—people's lives, marine ecosystems, and properties valued in millions—entrusted to them. While Competency-Based Assessment offers consistent and objective evaluations through computer-based assessment, it faces limitations in assessing higher cognitive skills and meeting the Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW) criteria. This research explores the potential of integrating authentic assessment with computer-based assessment to address these limitations. Through a systematic literature review, the study highlights the strengths of authentic assessment, such as its grounding in real-life scenarios and learner-centered methodologies. These characteristics can be leveraged to align computer-based assessment questions and tasks with STCW requirements. Moreover, authentic assessments empower learners through contextualized evaluations, bridging the gap between skill sets and workplace applications. Integrating authentic assessment enhances the quality of computer-based assessment questions and tasks, providing a more rigorous evaluation of seafarers' competencies. While challenges in implementation need to be addressed, the potential synergy between authentic assessment and computer-based assessment presents a promising approach. This study proposes an enhanced assessment methodology that combines the strengths of computer-based assessment and authentic assessment, navigating the complexities of assessing seafarers' competencies while addressing the inherent challenges in competence-based assessment. This integrated approach holds promise for ensuring that seafarers possess the necessary skills to fulfil their safety-critical responsibilities.

EXPLORING THE POTENTIAL AND APPLICATIONS OF ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING IN REPAIRS DURING THE OPERATION OF A SHIP

2024-03-20T09:23:04+00:00

Future trends in marine technology include recent advances in v4.0 Industry such as 3D printing. The benefits of additive manufacturing are piece optimisation, weight reduction and ease prototyping. As a result, this technology has the potential to outperform the conventionally manufactured pieces due to their properties.

Thus, one of the advantages of this technology is the ability to design and print specific pieces while the ship is in operation, thus allowing it to make a temporary repair until a replacement can be obtained or even a permanent repair depending on the properties required for correct operation.

In this context, the proper material choice is of the utmost importance, therefore in this work we analyze which materials are most suitable to make prototypes aboard.

In order to illustrate possible cases, a critical analysis of some ship's components is carried out in order to study the required properties and identify the best materials for repairing and maintenance aboard.

PERFORMANCE EVALUATION IN THE PORT SECTOR: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW

2024-03-19T08:33:31+00:00

This study aims to map characteristics of port performance evaluation articles that addressed port efficiency, to verify the types and functions of the metrics presented in the studies and presents evolution of performance evaluation in the port sector. Thus, a Bibliographic Portfolio was selected consisting of 149 scientific articles on the topic investigated. Data collection and analysis were carried out using the intervention instrument ProKnow-C. The results indicate that the majority of the portfolio presents port performance benchmarking (112 articles) and only 37 articles evaluate the performance of ports individually. It can be noted, although the control and communication functions of metrics are widely used in evaluation port performance, the improvement function is minimally explored. Likewise, it is noted that metrics that focus on predicting results are not widely used. However, despite the strong tendency to measure and compare port performance, it is possible to visualize that several studies in the area have presented concerns with management with regard to support for taking decision-making process, the importance of feedback from performance evaluation systems aimed at continuous improvement in the port sector, identifying bottlenecks and proposing improvements, forecasting productivity and costs, strategic management and evaluating performance from the perspective of stakeholders. The contribution of this study is made in a theoretical and practical way through the presentation of a thorough review of the discipline under study and addressing how to position the use of metrics to evaluate the ports performance, demonstrating their functions and types, and pointing out opportunities for future research.

A TERNARY DIAGRAM APPROACH TO INVESTIGATE THE COMPETITION WITHIN THE BOHAI SEA RIM MULTI-PORT GROUP

2024-04-08T08:21:05+00:00

Bohai Rim is the third "growth pole" in China's economic development. Tianjin Port, Dalian Port, and Qingdao Port in the Bohai Rim multi-port system compete fiercely for the position of the shipping center in northern China. Compared with the ternary diagram method, the comprehensive concentration index (CCI), Lerner index (LI), and spatial shift-share analysis (SSSA) are applied to investigate the concentration, inequality, and competitive dynamics of the Bohai Rim multi-port system during 1981–2021. This contribution aims to analyze the evolution path and dynamic mechanism of the Bohai Rim multi-port system. The method allows the development to be divided into three stages: the dominant stage of Tianjin Port from 1981–1990, the stage of efficiency competition from 1991–1996, and the ascending stage of Qingdao Port from 1997–2021. The results indicate that: i) the concentration of the Bohai Rim multi-port system is low, and balanced growth is ensured in the non-monopolistic competitive environment; ii) the internal competitiveness of the Bohai Rim multi-port system has gradually shifted from Tianjin Port to Qingdao Port, while the container transport in Dalian Port has slowly developed. iii) the container throughput of Dalian Port has declined since 2015, with weak competitiveness. The results suggest that Qingdao Port should be developed into the northern China shipping center. The method applied here may also be useful for similar multi-port systems elsewhere.

PERFORMANCE EVALUATION FROM THE INFRASTRUCTURE PERSPECTIVE IN PORTS AND CONTAINER TERMINALS

2024-03-20T09:35:22+00:00

The increasing global demand for maritime transportation and the significant rise in vessel sizes present an urgent challenge for port infrastructure. The emergence of larger vessels, driven by the pursuit of efficiency and cost reduction, underscores the pressing need for adaptation and modernization of ports to accommodate these new classes of ships. This scenario poses a challenge to port managers and government authorities to rethink and adjust their operational strategies, considering not only the physical capacity of terminals but also the efficiency and flexibility required to address the growing logistical complexity. In this context, it is identified the need to fill an existing gap, the understanding of the impact of infrastructure-related variables on the performance evaluation of ports and containerized cargo terminals.

The focus is on immediate adaptation and preparing ports for future challenges in containerized cargo movement. The guiding research question is: "How do infrastructure-related variables influence the performance of these facilities?" The overarching objective is to analyse and identify critical variables in the infrastructure dimension affecting performance, with the aim of highlighting opportunities for improvement in efficiency and competitiveness in containerized cargo movement.

The research confines its scope to the internal areas of ports, emphasizing facilities and processes related to infrastructure and superstructure. Variables such as storage capacity, physical arrangement, number of berths, STS cranes, as well as the use of automation technologies in container handling are considered. The analysis also encompasses specific investments in this dimension.

The study's justification underscores the importance of raising awareness among port authorities and the Brazilian government regarding the need to optimize port operations. Efficiency in containerized cargo movement is crucial for global competitiveness, and understanding infrastructure variables will empower port managers to make informed decisions. The study aims to drive operational efficiency and prepare Brazilian ports to tackle emerging challenges in the sector.

CONSTRUCTIVIST MODEL TO SUPPORT THE MANAGEMENT OF EXTERNAL INNOVATION IN THE PORT SECTOR

2024-02-19T10:50:11+00:00

The maritime transportation mode is the primary means for global goods movement, transforming ports into pivotal logistics centers in the operationalization of the supply chain. Due to its significance, terminals are constantly pressured to seek improvements in operational efficiency, relying on innovations as a necessary alternative to achieve their objectives. In this research, a case study was conducted at the private port in the city of Navegantes, located in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil, being one of the national leading in container handling volume. The research aims to develop a performance evaluation model to support the management of external innovation in the port. The intervention tool used was the Multicriteria Decision Aiding-Constructivist (MCDA-C) methodology, which, through primary and secondary data, enables the construction of a customized model according to the decision-maker's preferences and organizational context. The results presented by the model highlighted opportunities for improvement in the port's relationship with other external actors, as there is no formal and organized procedure for seeking external cooperation for the development of innovative solutions. At the same time, the management understands the importance of innovations for the sustainability of the company, investing, albeit in a decentralized manner, in improvements of both internal and external origin. The research contributes to the growth of the literature on the subject, in addition to offering practical contributions to the port of Navegantes in the form of a model capable of supporting innovation management, generating knowledge, highlighting critical points, and outlining improvement plans.

NAVIGATING THE FUTURE: ANALYSING MARITIME AUTONOMOUS SURFACE SHIP PROJECTS AND ANTICIPATING FUTURE NEEDS

2024-02-22T09:20:03+00:00

Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) represent a transformative paradigm in the maritime industry, leveraging advanced technologies to revolutionize vessel operations. Despite the proliferation of MASS projects, there remains a critical gap in understanding their architecture, operational requirements, and socioeconomic impacts comprehensively. This review aims to address this gap by systematically analyzing existing MASS projects to identify key projects results and areas of focus. The results reveal discrepancies and some omissions in current projects, emphasizing the importance of a holistic approach in research and prototype projects to develop MASS effectively. By highlighting essential areas of focus for further research and prototype projects, this study contributes to advancing the understanding and implementation of MASS technologies. Ultimately, this research informs policymakers, researchers, and practitioners, facilitating the seamless integration of MASS into maritime operations and enhancing efficiency and safety in the maritime domain.

MANOEUVRING PREDICTION TECHNOLOGIES IN SHIP HANDLING FOR TRAINING AND USE ON-BOARD

2024-02-24T09:59:18+00:00

In ship handling practice several manoeuvring prediction technologies are used to have a better insight into the development of ships motion. There is a historic development from very simple methods based only on the measurement of current ship motions up to high-tech innovative technologies where complex models of ship manoeuvring dynamics are used to forecast the response on commanded ruder, engine or thruster application or even external effects as wind and shallow water immediately for a suitable time period of the future motion.

In the paper the already known technologies will be compared with potential new methods from single up to multiple prediction and step ahead prediction with unrivalled extension of the decision horizon.

The SAMMON software system for “Simulation Augmented Manoeuvring Design, Monitoring & Conning” will be used to analyse the different prediction methods This system has been developed and matured over years, and promising experiences were made at the Maritime Simulation Centre Warnemuende MSCW.

The software is based on the innovative “Rapid Advanced Prediction & Interface Technology” (RAPIT) to simulate the ships motion with complex dynamic math models and to display the ships track immediately based on Fast Time Simulation in an Electronic Sea Chart.

Using this technology provides insights into the potential benefits in safe and efficient ship operation of the prediction methods discussed both for simulator training and future on-board application.

The benefits for increasing the effectiveness of lecturing and simulator training using these methods are obvious specifically for complex manoeuvring systems and will be made visible in this paper by using ships both with twin screw and azimuth propulsion for discussion of manoeuvring effects.

MODELING THE TRAJECTORY TRACKING ACCURACY OF AN AUTONOMOUS CATAMARAN PATROL VESSEL UNDER DIFFERENT POSITIONAL DATA DISTURBANCE CONDITIONS

2024-03-26T11:04:46+00:00

A sharp increase in the importance of autonomous vehicles can be foreseen in future maritime transport. One important area of application of autonomous waterborne vehicles is the monitoring of the safety of sea routes and sea areas. In this case, an important subtask is following the desired coordinates and movement trajectories as accurately as possible, despite natural disturbances and malicious cyberattacks.

In this work, we discuss the model-based ship navigation with increased disturbance resistance to assure the desired control of a catamaran robot ship in different conditions of natural disturbances and missing global positioning data due to possible cyber-attacks. The considered example autonomous surface vessel (ASV) is a catamaran ship of 2.5 m length, developed at Tallinn University of Technology. Different from the previous studies, in this work we have completed the hydromechanical ship model with wind force model in order to simulate the influence of nonlinear environment conditions to the accuracy of ship navigation. The main result, illustrated by detailed numerical calculations, is that the availability of an accurate mathematical model of ASV together with accurate data from local sensors (in particular ship direction and wind speed sensors) can compensate for the lack of a GPS signal under cyber-attack conditions. In addition, we demonstrate with a numerical simulation how data fusion methodology, supplementing the wind effect measurements with local ship sensor data, can achieve even better navigation accuracy.

INTELLIGENT FAULT DIAGNOSIS OF MARINE EQUIPMENTS

2024-04-01T08:16:11+00:00

The automatic and intelligent diagnosis of faults in marine equipment is a task that is considered to be of great importance considering the numerous tasks that are associated with professionals working on ships. The possibility of including automatic and intelligent processes on a ship makes it possible to monitor equipment more effectively and make more informed decisions. This approach has received a lot of attention in the academic and industrial fields as it can offer considerable economic and safety advantages. Some fault diagnosis approaches can be found in the literature, where mathematical and control theory models are taken into account. However, in complex processes not all their characteristics are always known exactly, so mathematical modelling of processes is an extremely difficult task. Fault diagnosis can therefore be based mainly on data or heuristic information. The inherent characteristics of fuzzy logic theory make it suitable for processing this type of information, which is why it will be used to model processes and diagnose faults in a marine equipment valve. The fault diagnosis architecture proposed in this paper is based on analysing the discrepancy signals obtained between the outputs of the fuzzy models and the process data under study. These discrepancies, the residuals, are indicative of equipment fault. The proposed fault diagnosis architecture uses an intelligent decision-making approach to indicate the occurrence of faults. In this paper, this architecture will be used to diagnose abrupt faults in a marine equipment valve.

The THREAT OF ILLICIT DRUG TRAFFICKING IN THE MARITIME SERVICES OF COLOMBIA

2024-04-01T08:32:55+00:00

In Colombia, the General Directorate of the Sea plays the crucial role of regulating and granting commercial exploitation licenses to companies that provide maritime services. These services not only drive national development but also strengthen sovereignty in maritime spaces through various activities. However, the maritime progress of the country is threatened by the tactics of Transnational Criminal Organizations, especially concerning illicit drug trafficking by sea. This article proposes to conduct a spatial analysis of maritime service clusters in Colombia that are closest to seizures of illicit drug trafficking by sea. To enrich this perspective, a bibliometric analysis is carried out linking the search equations "maritime services" and "security." The results of this investigation are presented through geographical and bibliographic maps, shedding light on the direct connection between maritime services and the threat of illicit drug trafficking. This approach represents an original contribution to the field, as there are few works exploring the intersection of these two themes and employing geographic information systems. Additionally, the application of these findings could be extrapolated to maritime commercial route data, allowing the identification of vulnerabilities caused by Transnational Criminal Organizations. This, in turn, would provide valuable information to maritime security authorities for implementing specific strategies at identified critical points.

RISK GOVERNANCE FOR SEAFARERS SAFETY AND HEALTH PROTECTION

2024-03-04T10:50:48+00:00

The objective of this paper is to assess seafarers’ safety and health management during the COVID-19 pandemic in the context of one Small Island Developing State. This assessment is done using the International Risk Governance Council, Risk Governance Framework as a benchmark for good risk governance. Seafarers are important to the global economy but are often treated unfairly. The recent global pandemic put a spotlight on long-stranding safety and health concerns which were exacerbated during the period leading to what was called the crew change crisis. This paper uses a qualitative approach employing interviews and a focus group with key participants, to explore Jamaica’s response to the crisis, the effectiveness of this response and the lessons to be learnt. The findings showed that Jamaica’s response was reactive and there were tensions between protecting the country’s borders and assisting seafarers. The findings also showed that the effectiveness of Jamaica’s response hinged on protecting the vulnerability of the country’s supply chain rather than seafarers’ safety and health as an end in itself. The paper argues that Jamaica’s response might have been more proactive, providing a win-win outcome, if a systematic approach such as that offered by the Risk Governance Framework was adopted, particularly in the initial stages. The paper is significant as it suggests a policy direction that countries such as Jamaica can take in managing risks of a particular nature in a safety-critical occupation such as seafaring, where it is not normally applied.

The EFFECTS OF COVID-19 ON MARITIME ACCIDENTS

2024-03-20T08:48:59+00:00

A few years ago, we experienced, worldwide, a pandemic caused by the COVID-19 virus, which had various effects, both physically, emotionally and mentally. During the pandemic, various measures were established to reduce the high contagion among people caused by the virus, restricting contact between people and their activity. Fishing was declared an essential activity and, therefore, could fully develop its commercial activity.

In this work we propose to analyze the effects that carrying out fishing activities may have had on maritime accidents in a context marked by uncertainty, the decrease in certain activities, and fear, emphasized by an extreme volume of information. and great media coverage. Under pre-pandemic conditions, the majority of serious maritime accidents in Spain were associated with fishing vessels, and we look here to see if there is an effect of the pandemic restrictions on the number and typology of maritime accidents.

The AUTOREGRESSIVE INTEGRATED MOVING AVERAGE (ARIMA) MODEL AS A TOOL FOR PREDICTING ACCIDENTS IN THE MARITIME DOMAIN: THE CASE OF THE GALICIAN FISHING FLEET

2024-03-26T10:58:33+00:00

The Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model has proven to be a powerful statistical prediction technique due to its simplicity and wide acceptance. Its main application lies within the realms of economics and social sciences, although not limited to these. This study explores its utilization in the context of maritime safety within the Galician fishing fleet. Specifically, its application is proposed for predicting the vessels involved in accidents quarterly index.

The Galician fishing environment, of significant socioeconomic relevance to the region, is affected by serious accidents compromising its sustainability. The vessels involved in accidents index, derived from investigation reports by the Maritime Accident Investigation Commission (CIAIM) and fleet data collected by the European Fishing Vessel Register, depicts the annual evolution of these accidents in relation to the decreasing fishing capacity of the fleet. Analysis of quarterly values for the period between 2011 and 2021 indicates that accidents are recurrent and persistent in nature.

Using the proposed ARIMA model, index values for the quarters of 2022 were forecasted and the model's effectiveness was validated by comparing the obtained results with actual observed data.

The outcomes support the utility of ARIMA model as a tool for predicting maritime accidents and pave the way for future research in the field of safety. In the studied case, this predictive capacity supports proactive safety management on board while providing a solid foundation for the adoption of preventive initiatives in both public and private sectors within the industry.

REDUNDANT AND SUPERVISED SERIAL AND PARALLEL CONTACTS TO INCREASE RELIABILITY ON A VESSEL

2024-04-02T07:27:15+00:00

One of the goals of control systems in autonomous ships and unattended engine room
of a ship is the minimization of potential breakdowns, because there is no crew onboard to solve
these situations. This is especially important in IMO type three autonomous ships, i.e., remote
controlled vessels with no crew onboard that are operated from land.
For the correct control of an electrical installation, it is essential that connections for electrical
manoeuvres do not fail. These connections are the ones that connect different auxiliary
electrical generators and various automation equipment. There are two main connections for
electrical manoeuvres: serial contact connection and parallel contact connection. In a ship
engine room, we can find many serial and parallel connection contacts. Some of them are
important to ensure correct operation. Others are essential for critical equipment, main engine
or electric auxiliary. A suitable design of the electrical installation has to minimize the risk of
failure but it also has to allow the early detection of problems and guarantee the continuity of
the operation even if a failure takes place.
In this work, several types of serial and parallel contact connections are proposed with the aim
to ensure correct operation at different levels of the electrical systems in the engine room,
preventing failures and allowing early alarms to detect potential future problems. For each type,
serial and parallel, three different configurations are presented, each one more robust than the
previous one, depending on the requirements and criticality of the particular electrical system
to be controlled. The advantages and shortcomings of each configuration are presented and
discussed.

LOW-COST VESSEL MOTION MONITORING: INERTIAL MEASUREMENT UNIT VALIDATION AND CALIBRATION

2024-04-04T09:20:06+00:00

The importance of the study of ship motion characteristics lies not in the motions themselves, but rather the effects caused by these dynamic motions. Motions are significantly influenced by a multitude of factors, including external disturbances such as waves or wind as well as vessel’s design and construction parameters. This work presents an initial analysis of the vessel motions based on the rotational movements roll, pitch and yaw. This motion monitoring will be done by using a do-it-yourself low-cost apparatus, designed and assembled at the University of Saint Andrews. It combines an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), with a GPS and an external battery to operate independent of the vessel.

The results of motion monitoring trials are presented in this work, confirming that the low-cost IMU used are appropriate devices for vessel motion monitoring. This finding represents a significant advancement over the more artisanal methods utilized thus far, while also entailing a significant cost reduction compared to other inertial measurement devices with costs up to 20 times higher.

SPATIAL ANALYSIS OF FIRE HYDRANT PLACEMENT IN THE ENGINE ROOM USING THE VORONOI DIAGRAM

2024-03-21T15:31:21+00:00

Building new ships for navigation requires a proper layout of the different machinery and life-saving appliances. This should conform to the international standard set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to ensure the seaworthiness of the vessel and safety at sea. Fire hydrants and hoses are two of the most essential firefighting appliances installed onboard. In this study, the proper placement of the fire hydrants was determined using the Voronoi diagram. Considering the maximum length of the fire hoses in the engine room, as stated in the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS 1974), the critical points were plotted using a Cartesian Coordinate System drawn into scale. Distance formula and Voronoi diagram were applied to determine the optimal points for the least number of hydrants covering a much larger area. It was concluded that with different dimensions and orientations of the deck, different placements of the hydrants could be generated. Regardless, the Delaunay Triangulation will always prove the optimum distance between hydrants. This study is of great significance in optimizing the ship design without compromising safety as the shipping industry moves towards a green revolution while adopting the mantra of efficiency.

TRANSVERSE PLATE FLOORS DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS IN FATIGUE SCENARIO FOR ALTERNATIVE CONFIGURATIONS IN PANAMAX CONTAINER SHIPS

2024-03-21T15:24:09+00:00

The objective of the survey is to evaluate within the field of structural fatigue behavior, various alternative configurations of transverse plate floors in Panamax container ships. Analysis purpose could be within the current regulatory framework, a possible contribution of recommendations in the development standards for the design of this type of structures in one of the vessels with the greatest presence in the international market. The recommendations and possible alternative designs are analyzed through numerical simulations with “Ansys” software and real scale tests. The aim is to understand the fatigue behavior of these alternative designs in the face of axial stress and bending scenarios. The development has been structured mainly in two stages. First stage: once the permissible limits have been established by the regulatory framework, we establish a set of alternative designs for the enveloping structure of the transverse plate floors which is made up of the longitudinal, bottom, double bottom and side girders. Second stage: to establish a set of alternative transverse plate floors corresponding to each of the enveloping structures generated in the previous stage, and proceed with the study of all these alternative designs. All the proposed alternatives, a large amount of data and alternative sections has been obtained through numerical simulations with “Ansys” software. In principle some of them show according with simulations interesting structural properties and better behavior in fatigue scenarios with respect to the initial typical distribution

SOLVING MARITIME COMMUNICATION CHALLENGES WITH DIGIMAR: A PRACTICAL APPROACH

2024-03-04T10:59:50+00:00

The European Maritime Safety Agency uses a systematic approach to analyse safety investigations conducted through the European Marine Casualty Information Platform. In analysing the data of accidents reported over the last ten years, nine overarching safety issues have been identified, with "working methods" being a key concern. Two of the areas identified as problematic under this safety issue are bridge resource management coordination and external communication, which are critical areas as communication between bridge team members and ship-to-ship or ship-to-shore communication issues can lead to collisions and groundings. Language barriers, misunderstandings, and ambiguities may contribute to communication failures with pilots, tugboats, and VTS. Based on qualitative analysis of selected marine accidents, this paper presents the problem of poor communication between bridge team members, with pilots, shore services, and others. In response to the challenge of communication at sea, a current Erasmus+ project DigiMar, which deals specifically with maritime communication, is also presented. The project aims to improve communication skills and safety in shipping through a freely accessible digital teaching tool for routine communication at sea. Using open-access, research-based, and ICT-supported teaching tools, the project will focus on self-directed teaching using instructional videos and chatbots that address routine communication at sea. The learner-centred approach will simulate authentic professional situations and move from simple to complex scenarios. The project also aims to develop the digital skills of different target groups, including university teachers, and thus promote lifelong learning in higher education.

MONITORING THE UTILIZATION OF THE VHF MARITIME MOBILE BAND IN THE NORTHERN ADRIATIC USING SOFTWARE-DEFINED RADIO SCANNER

2024-02-24T10:01:29+00:00

The Very High Frequency (VHF) maritime mobile band is regulated by the Appendix 18 of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Radio Regulations, which contains a list of channels and their designated frequencies. Shipboard VHF stations shall at least maintain a proper radio watch on the VHF channel 70 for Digital Selective Calling (DSC) purposes and on the radiotelephone VHF channel 16 for distress, urgency and safety communications, as well as for routine calling. In addition to the mentioned channels, the ships should also keep watch on the channels allocated for the reception of various information important to the safety of navigation, depending on the national rules valid in different navigational areas. In order to be able to maintain watch on all the mentioned channels simultaneously, it is necessary to have a suitable receiver(s). Considering all the above, this paper provides an analysis of the use of a low-budget Software-Defined Radio (SDR) receiver for monitoring all transmitting frequencies in the VHF maritime mobile band, from a fixed location in the northern Adriatic. The results of the analysis show the frequency of (non)use of the VHF maritime mobile band in the line of sight of the fixed maritime VHF antenna, with special reference to the channels assigned to the Croatian Vessel Traffic Service (VTS Croatia). The above analysis can serve to consider the possibility of using small low-budget SDR devices in maritime communications in general.

ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE OF BRAZILIAN PORTS WITH CAPACITY FOR MODERNIZATION TO RECEIVE AND OPERATE POST-PANAMAX SHIPS

2024-02-24T09:57:06+00:00

It is widely known that ports are important infrastructures for the economic development, serving as pivotal entry points for commerce and having, significant strategic importance for countries. The Brazilian maritime sector comprises 35 public ports and 174 Private Use Terminals, and exist a pressing requirement for their modernization and adaptation, especially in view of the increasing size of post-Panamax ships. Out of these 209 ports, just a few have channel depths conducive for accommodating ships with drafts exceeding 15 meters. This highlights the imperative for upgrades to meet the evolving demands of the maritime industry. The objective of this study is to analyze the environmental performance of ports deemed suitable for the development to facilitate the reception and operation of post-Panamax ships. Consequently, emphasis was placed on ports located along the coastal region or major rivers. As a result, as part of this research a selection of 38 ports were scrutinized. The analysis of the selected ports was carried out through the Índice de Desempenho Ambiental (IDA), the most notorious environmental performance indicator used by the Brazilian Government to evaluate the environmental performance of ports, comprising 38 indicators into 4 categories: economic-operational, socio-cultural, physical-chemical and biological-ecological. The results confirm that there are some indicators that are very positive such as the existence of environmental licensing or the provision of qualified environmental professionals. However, there are some indicators with a low performance that should be addressed such as the implementation of emergency response plans and the provision of onshore power supply.

DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL PORTS IN ZADAR AREA

2024-03-04T11:02:00+00:00

In ancient times, the Mediterranean was a shipbuilding centre of the world; port activities in larger bays and harbours along the Adriatic coast had been developing since prehistory. Remains of ancient ports found along the Adriatic coast testify to the rich history of this area.

The paper analyses development of ports of local importance in the area of the town of Zadar. Currently, there are six ports classified as ports of local importance in Zadar area. The aim of the paper is to emphasize the development potentials of these ports. The paper begins with a review of relevant legal frameworks, followed by a detailed analysis of the current situation in each of these six ports. The analysis was focused on locational, navigational and meteorological conditions, berthing equipment, as well as facilities available in ports. The paper gives a comprehensive overview of the current state and development potentials of the mentioned ports, offering concrete guidelines for achieving sustainable and prosperous development.

For the purpose of data collection, a field research was conducted in port areas. The research included gathering data on weather conditions, tides, wind directions, as well as interviews with local population in order to include their needs in the research. Additionally, depth measurements along the coasts of the ports were taken since precise data did not exist. A drone was used to gather visual documentation.

Based on the conducted analysis, development direction and potential limitations have been identified for each port. The suggested development strategies include infrastructure improvement, equipment modernization, technological advancement, and implementation of sustainable solutions for waste management and environmental protection.

It has been concluded that development challenges these ports are facing with refer to navigation safety, the condition of infrastructure and environmental standards. Common limitations and challenges in the development of analysed ports indicate the need for significant infrastructure modernisation and adherence to environmental standards. Planning, a strategic approach to development and collaboration with the local community are crucial for overcoming these challenges.

RANKING OF ADRIATIC SEA CONTAINER PORTS USING DEA

2024-02-19T10:45:34+00:00

Ports are important transport hubs and facilitate the movement of goods for businesses in local communities and global markets. Ports on the Adriatic Sea play a special role in European transport due to their shorter distance to Asian and African markets. The ranking of ports is important not only to assess their efficiency, but also to create a competitive environment and enable port managers and policy makers to recognise and take into account their strengths and weaknesses, leading to an improvement in the performance of ports in general. Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is a non-parametric method for evaluating and ranking entities. Cross-efficiency is one of the ranking methods that is able to evaluate all decision-making units (DMU), including efficient and inefficient units. This method has been developed in this article for the presence of uncontrollable inputs and undesirable outputs in an uncertain environment. Therefore, the article deals with the ranking of Adriatic container ports from an economic and environmental perspective using the new improved cross-efficiency method.

CHARACTERIZATION OF TUGBOATS ACTIVITY WITHIN SPANISH PORTS

2024-03-26T10:46:26+00:00

The maritime industry's vital role in global trade contrasts with its significant greenhouse gas emissions. Pollution emitted from ports comes from different sources, one of which is merchant ships constantly docking and undocking and other auxiliary port vessels working continuously throughout the year (e.g., pilotage vessels, bunkering barges, vessel-generated waste collection services, mooring and unmooring services and port tugs). Port tugboats sail between terminals and provide docking, undocking and removing merchant ship services. This leads to a high variability on tugs’ manoeuvres. The first and most representative characteristic of a tug’s manoeuvre is the vessel in need of the service (e.g., ship particulars, cargo carried or mooring zone, among others), which usually defines the type of manoeuvre and the number of tugs needed. This study presents the initial phase of the research project TUG-EMI (Optimizing in-port tugboats emissions) aiming at reducing in-port emissions by optimizing tug’s manoeuvres. At this stage, the project focuses on characterizing tug manoeuvres within Spanish ports by combining a general overview of tug characteristics and prescriptions of port tugboat services in Spain, incorporating insights from stakeholder interviews. Tug shipmasters and chief engineers with a large experience are interviewed, aiming to obtain detailed information of how manoeuvres are performed and how to characterize them.

LNG VERSUS CONVENTIONAL FUEL POWERED VESSELS: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF ROPAX SHIPS

2024-04-02T07:43:08+00:00

Decarbonization and environmental respect have become pillars of European government policies. As a result of this direction and given that 80% of global freight transportation is carried out by ships, maritime transport emerges as one of the target sectors for these eco measures.

Numerous initiatives, projects, and new technologies focused on this field exist. This paper examines the potential reduction of CO2 emissions by using LNG as a fuel either in combination with or instead of conventional fuel on RO-Pax ships.

Taking advantage of the fact that we are facing a 'mature' technology already being applied in many ships. Emissions from a fleet of about 30 ships have been studied during the years 2019, 2020, 2021,2022 and 2023 where progressively adding LNG powered vessels from 4 up to 11 during 2023. Based on their annual consumptions’ reports (HFO, MGO and LNG) total tons of polluted CO2 have been quantified together with the ratio tons of CO2 per sailed mile.

On the other hand, known daily burned marine fuels of one of those vessels sailing Balearic Islands-Mainland Spain route and due to high increase of gas prices during 2021 and beginning of 2022 (about 350%) a study was conducted: consuming LNG for 265 days whenever possible and avoiding this fuel for 143 days. Therefore, based on the same ship/route, a particular comparison of CO2 emissions per nautical mile is obtained.

Finally, using above results, hypothetical study is carried out in which emissions are estimated based on the sailed miles during years 2017 to 2021: Potential emissions in case of LNG versus conventional fuel powered. The 5-year result shows about 17.08% potential reduction. Approximately 32700 tons of CO2 only for 1 vessel highlighting the huge importance of the LNG powered vessels to reduce the environmental impact and the great importance of the investments on Research, Development and Innovation.

ON-BOARD EMISSION MEASUREMENTS ON SHIPS: LESSONS LEARNED, PRACTICAL CHALLENGES, AND OPPORTUNITIES

2024-02-23T10:04:06+00:00

In the future, the need for on-board emission measurements in ships will increase. For example, the FuelEU Maritime regulation obliges certain emission components of renewable fuels to be measured. In some instances, the shipowner can utilize measured emission factors instead of constant values, provided the measurement values are better. This has a growing economic importance in terms of regulations or emissions trading. The same applies to subsequent updates of regulations. The emission measurement laboratory of the South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences called Kymilabs has almost 30 years of experience in measuring ship emissions. Until now, on-board emission measurements have been conducted in addition to research activities due to the statutory obligations of shipowners or equipment suppliers regarding occasional or system commissioning measurements. The systems of newer ships enable the recording of voyage data on a larger scale, so the usability of the measurement results increases considerably for shipowners or scientists. The emission measurement standards set many boundary conditions. Still, successful measurements in ships also require solving many practical but remarkable challenges related to technical execution, measuring equipment, equipment cleanliness, and the ship as a functional and social environment. The objective of this paper is to analyze the gathered experiences and tacit knowledge about issues that should be considered when implementing emission measurements. This is a crucial factor when planning measurements, analyzing, or learning about the results, and it has a significant impact, e.g., developing regulations or requirements and other boundary conditions based on the research work. This paper creates an overview of the technical, experimental, and social aspects related to the measurement process, with the aim of increasing a comprehensive and holistic understanding of the issues that directly or indirectly affect measurement results.

DEVELOPMENT OF RO-RO TRANSPORT IN THE MEDITERRANEAN

2024-02-21T08:31:10+00:00

Abstract

The Mediterranean is a sea basin surrounded by developed and developing countries and is a region with maritime trade potential. In this region, container and Ro-Ro transport is gaining importance gradually and the quantity and capacities of ports suitable for Ro-Ro transportation are increasing. Ro-Ro transportation is an environmentally friendly mode of transportation since it has the flexibility to integrate into many transportation modes and emits fewer emissions. Ro-Ro transport is preferred over container transport as it does not require much handling system investment, has short loading and unloading times, and is more suitable for intermodal transport. It is also a good option for the transport industry at a time when the whole world wants to reduce its emissions. 400 trucks could be pulled out of traffic with just one ship. While there are developed Ro-Ro and container terminals in the north of the Mediterranean, the number and capacities of those in the south are low. It is expected that there will be a significant increase in container and Ro-Ro transport in the Mediterranean in the coming years.

This study aims to identify new Ro-Ro transport routes in line with the economic needs in the Mediterranean and to provide recommendations for Ro-Ro terminals and fleet development concerning these routes.

This study will start with the assessment of the transport needs in the region and their suitability for Ro-Ro transport and will continue with the determination of new transport routes accordingly. As a result, recommendations will be presented regarding the capacity increase in existing lines and the configuration of new lines.

Key Words: Ro-Ro; Container Transportation; Shipping in the Mediterranean; Container and Ro-Ro Terminals

WORK AND REST HOURS OF DECK CADETS VIS-À-VIS THEIR PRODUCTIVITY ONBOARD TRAINING SHIP IN A STRUCTURED ONBOARD TRAINING PROGRAM

2024-03-20T09:54:42+00:00

Onboard Training (OBT) has been recognized as one of the most effective means of practical training for seafarers as part of Maritime Education and Training. The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers 1978, as amended prescribes 12 months as the minimum mandatory seagoing service for candidates for officers in charge of a navigational watch. Within this period, cadets are required to complete their OBT requirements which may include Training Record Book tasks, project work, among others. In terms of cadets’ work and rest hours onboard the ship, the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006) stands as a pivotal governing international instrument including the working and living conditions of seafarers, in general. This study aimed to determine the relationship between the amount of work and rest hours to the productivity of deck cadets in a structured OBT program onboard a training ship. Through quantitative research, the researchers gathered the records of work/rest hours of 53 deck cadets during their training program and analyzed their OBT documents to determine their progress. Results showed that the cadets were able to accomplish their OBT requirements within the allowable work hours as stipulated in MLC, 2006. Further, the researchers concluded that there is no relationship between the number of rest hours and their productivity, which was attributed to the merits of a structured OBT program. This study recommends to look for opportunities to improve the structured OBT program onboard training ships, and furthermore, investigate the same onboard commercial vessels setting.

LINKING LEADERSHIP INTEGRITY - DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND STRESS (DAS) AMONG SAILING INDIAN MARINE ENGINEERS DURING COVID-19

2024-03-11T15:08:15+00:00

Modern-day leadership demands competencies to embrace challenges and uncertainties as a part of a working career. Uncertainties bring in many unknown outcomes and a loss of direction to any team. This is much acknowledged when the unknown outcomes are affecting the team spirit and, in turn, organisational sustainability. Leadership integrity is a watershed to handle such uncertainties with positive outcomes. Like in any other business domain, uncertainties are part of the business in shipping. However, there are specific instances in the nature of COVID-19 that came with many challenges, like extended work contracts, no shore leaves, infrequent crew change, quarantine rules before sign-in, online surveys, etc. Such an uncertain and challenging work environment on board a ship (which itself is an organisation) results in anxiety, stress and depression. In this context, leadership integrity provides much-needed direction and can create a healthy work environment in any organisation. It is in this context that this paper tries to measure this hypothesis in an explorative study, particularly among active marine engineers who worked on board ships during the COVID-19 pandemic. Such knowledge facilitates the understanding of organisational behaviour during challenging times and provides a timely prescription for organisational success during uncertainties and challenging times with much significant focus on the integrity of leaders.

COVID-19 AND AFTER: ABOUT HUMAN FACTORS AND WELFARE IN SHIPPING

2024-02-29T14:04:00+00:00

The COVID-19 crisis locked sea workers on their ships for extended periods. They have been deprived of their right to repatriation or shore leave. Their employment agreements were extended, medical assistance failed, and financial challenges affected them. The crisis revealed the lack of care for seafarers, which may have mid-term and long-term consequences for this population. The study elaborates on 54 in-depth interviews and confirms challenges such as downgraded working conditions, including high work-related stress and few opportunities for recovery, prioritization of commercial interest over well-being, limited or no signs of improvements in seafarers' well-being, and insufficient care for seafarers.

Additionally, the data indicates seafarers have been particularly resilient and adaptive during the crisis. However, the absence of care and respect combined with the insufficient recognition of their role after the crisis may seriously augment the intention to quit the occupation. Cooperation between the industry and authorities was deemed insufficient to protect seafarers' well-being and health globally. In conclusion, the COVID-19 crisis revealed the shipping industry's latent deficiencies in caring for seafarers. Interviewees agreed that the future of shipping depends on establishing a culture of care.

QUANTIFYING AND IDENTIFYING CAUSES OF ABSENTEEISM IN MARITIME STUDIES: A CASE STUDY AT BARCELONA SCHOOL OF NAUTICAL STUDIES

2024-03-20T09:05:35+00:00

Absenteeism at the university level can be attributed to a multitude of factors. Some of these factors are academic self-perception, attitudes towards teachers, or academic performance. Others are more closely associated with work-related absenteeism, including stress, group size, commitment, and job satisfaction. In Spain, an increase of absenteeism has been noted at university level, particularly after the Covid crisis, making it one of the primary challenges that require attention. Due to the particularities and specific requirements of the Maritime Education and Training (MET) system, this study aims to quantify the current level of absenteeism and identify its main causes at the Barcelona School of Nautical Studies (FNB-UPC). This study represents the initial phase of the teaching innovation project ASAP-UPC, which focuses on redesigning teaching methodologies to minimise absenteeism in polytechnic study programs. Students and lecturers are asked about their interest in attending classes, skill development throughout their FNB-UPC experience, and their perception of the skills required for a maritime career. Information is gathered through both online surveys and in-person interviews. Results indicate that absenteeism occurs not only in class attendance but also in participation in various university activities, partly due to the change in habits caused by the pandemic. A significant number of students express dissatisfaction with in-person classes, claiming that they are overly theoretical and lack the expected balance between theory, experimental practice, and problem-solving components. These findings hold significance for FNB-UPC lecturers and decision-making bodies, as they highlight areas that can be improved to offer a more useful experience to our students. Moreover, the outcomes of this research can potentially be applied to other Maritime Education and Training Institutions (METIs).

TEACHING AT MET HEI DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC – CASE STUDY REPUBLIC OF CROATIA

2024-03-26T11:06:53+00:00

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, e-learning at Maritime Higher Education Institutions (hereinafter: MET HEI) was almost not present at all, especially at the STCW courses. The situation was similar at other higher education institutions. There are numerous obstacles for the implementation of e-learning and information-communication technologies at Higher Education Institutions (hereinafter: HEI). One of them is the teachers' willingness to use the afore-mentioned technologies. However, the organisational changes that happened due to the COVID-19 pandemic had the impact on almost all crucial aspects of higher education primarily on the process of gaining competences and their evaluation. The teachers were facing the challenges of digital skills usage, whereas questions of acquiring competences via e-learning, especially at STCW courses, were rising as well. In a very short period of time, the teachers had to adapt contents of their courses and their teaching methods in order to enable e-learning. However, all teachers today, those teaching general courses as well as the STCW courses have the e-learning experience, face-to-face teaching experience and blended teaching experience. The teachers' experience and feedback can contribute significantly to making the guidelines for e-learning and the usage of information-communication technologies at MET HEI. Furthermore, even the students' experiences and views can have significant contribution.

The results of the research referring to the teachers and students' attitudes and views on teaching during the COVID-19 at MET HEI in the Republic of Croatia were shown in this paper. Survey method was used in the research. The results of the research comprise the analysis of the students and teachers' attitudes referring to the challenges they were facing with, as well as to the e-learning platforms they were using, and advantages, and disadvantages of e-learning at MET HEI.