Providing Meteorological and Hydrographic Information via AIS Application-Specific Messages: Challenges and Opportunities

AIS Application-Specific Messages (ASMs) transmitted in binary format will be increasingly used to digitally communicate maritime safety/security information between participating vessels and shore stations. This includes time-sensitive metrological and hydrographic (met/hydro) information that is critical for safe vessel transits and efficient ports/waterways management. IMO recently published a new Safety-of-Navigation Circular (SN.1./Circ.289) that includes a number of meteorological and hydrographic message applications and data parameters. While there are no specific display standards for AIS ASMs on shipborne or shore-based systems, IMO Has also issued general guidance for the presentation/display of ASMs (SN.1/Circ.290). It includes specific mention of conforming to the e-Navigation concept-of-operation. For any new IHO S-57 or S-100-related product specifications dealing with dynamic met/hydro information, IHO and its Member States should use the same data content fields and parameters that are defined in IMO SN.1/Circ.289. Also, there is a need to consider the implications of IMO guidance regarding the presentation/display of AIS ASMs on ECDIS

Evaluation of the Wadden Sea Particularly sensitive Sea Area. On behalf of the Common Wadden Sea Secretariat.

The purpose of this document is to present the high level outcomes for the evaluation of the effectiveness of the Wadden Sea PSSA, seven years after its designation by the IMO. Key changes with regard to IMO and EU shipping policy are identified and described, followed by a review of ‘expert’ opinion focused on the issues relating to PSSAs. The development of an evaluative framework and the resulting findings are introduced and discussed in context. Using existing data against this evaluative framework we conclude that six key elements require action in order to fully describe the efficacy of the designation, and our recommendations to address these concerns are presented.<br/

MSUO Information Technology and Geographical Information Systems: Common Protocols & Procedures. Report to the Marine Safety Umbrella Operation

The Marine Safety Umbrella Operation (MSUO) facilitates the cooperation between Interreg funded Marine Safety Projects and maritime stakeholders. The main aim of MSUO is to permit efficient operation of new projects through Project Cooperation Initiatives, these include the review of the common protocols and procedures for Information Technology (IT) and Geographical Information Systems (GIS). This study carried out by CSA Group and the National Centre for Geocomputation (NCG) reviews current spatial information standards in Europe and the data management methodologies associated with different marine safety projects. International best practice was reviewed based on the combined experience of spatial data research at NCG and initiatives in the US, Canada and the UK relating to marine security service information and acquisition and integration of large marine datasets for ocean management purposes. This report identifies the most appropriate international data management practices that could be adopted for future MSUO projects

The IMO Reference Data Model: One Solution Fits Most!

In 2019, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) made it mandatory to support the electronic clearance of ships entering foreign ports. In preparation, the IMO Facilitation Committee started to develop a reference data model to harmonise the most important standards for ship clearance. The first version was published in 2020. The model is already extending into other areas of ship-port data exchanges and it is now increasingly seen as a tool to coordinate development of new electronic data exchange standards for ship operations. The lack of such coordination has, up until now, been a significant problem—much better coordination is essential in the relatively small and highly international market that shipping represents.acceptedVersio

The role of metaphor in shaping the identity and agenda of the United Nations: the imagining of an international community and international threat

This article examines the representation of the United Nations in speeches delivered by its Secretary General. It focuses on the role of metaphor in constructing a common ‘imagining’ of international diplomacy and legitimising an international organisational identity. The SG legitimises the organisation, in part, through the delegitimisation of agents/actions/events constructed as threatening to the international community and to the well-being of mankind. It is a desire to combat the forces of menace or evil which are argued to motivate and determine the organisational agenda. This is predicated upon an international ideology of humanity in which difference is silenced and ‘working towards the common good’ is emphasised. This is exploited to rouse emotions and legitimise institutional power. Polarisation and antithesis are achieved through the employment of metaphors designed to enhance positive and negative evaluations. The article further points to the constitutive, persuasive and edifying power of topic and situationally-motivated metaphors in speech-making

A study on the effects of e-navigation on reducing vessel accidents

The dissertation aims to evaluate how and to what extent e-navigation contributes to reducing accidents for SOLAS ships as well as non-SOLAS ships, hoping that the results are referred to IMO Member States when they are implementing enavigation along with the maritime sectors such as shipping companies, crews on board ships and manufactures developing e-navigation related systems. The study focuses on the potential effects of e-navigation based on tool kits of the IMO e-navigation for SOLAS ships and services of SMART-navigation, which is the Korean approach to implementing the e-navigation concept for both SOLAS ships and non-SOLAS ships. The processes and the methodologies that are used by the IMO to assess the effects of e-navigation are investigated. The vessel accidents for all ships in Korean waters and all Korean-flagged ships worldwide during the 5 years from 2009 to 2013 are analyzed. The formula is proposed to calculate the effects of e-navigation on reducing accidents, which can also be used by other Member States of the IMO when they implement e-navigation in their waters. The direct causes of accidents, which are reducible by the risk control options (RCOs), and the RCOs, which are applicable to non-SOLAS ships, are identified. Additionally, an expert questionnaire survey is carried out with a view to supporting the validity of identifying the RCOs and the direct causes. The results are collated and evaluated for the potential effects of e-navigation on reducing accidents, in relation to type of accidents as well as type of ships, for comparison with the results obtained by the IMO and for reference of other Member States. The concluding chapter examines the results of analysis of e-navigation\u27s tool kits and methodologies to assess their effects on reducing accidents, and discusses the potential rate of accident reduction through e-navigation. A number of recommendations are made concerning the need for further investigation in quantifying the coefficient applied to the proposed formula for evaluating the effects of e-navigation