Human Factor Aspects in Sea Traffic Management

This paper presents a summary of human factor methods and results from the tests of the Ship Traffic Management (STM) system developed in the EU projects EfficienSea, MONALISA and ACCSEAS during the years 2009 to 2014. STM is a controversial concept with the possibility to move responsibility from the captain of the ship to the operator on land. However, the studies presented here showed a mostly positive and interested attitude towards the concept as it materialised in the prototype development. Focus for the studies presented have been on “professional acceptance” and safety and mostly qualitative data has been collected

Exploring non-technical miscommunication in vessel traffic service operation

Vessel traffic services (VTS) are maritime traffic monitoring systems used in port approaches, confined or congested waters. VTS operators (VTSOs) monitor a specific geographical area and support and direct ships that sail through the area, primarily making the navigating officer or pilot of each ship aware of the current traffic situation, local weather and geographical conditions. We used an interactive mid-fidelity simulation as a knowledge eliciting tool to explore the work situation of VTSOs. During the simulation, VTSOs from a VTS centre in Sweden ran a scenario based on a normal traffic situation in their local fairway. Results indicate that the VTSOs, even though they are well aware of crucial events in the fairway, at times choose not to inform navigating officers or pilots of these safety aspects apart from when subject to protocol. The present paper put forward elements behind this form of miscommunication and presents results indicating that the major contributing factor is the VTSOs’ anticipation of negative attitudes between working groups participating in the VTS system and the lack of sufficient regulation with regard to the role and responsibilities of VTSOs

Supporting Situation Awareness on the bridge: testing route exchange in a practical e-Navigation study

In a simulator study parts of the ACCSEAS project’s e-Navigation route exchange concept termed “intended routes” has been tested in a full mission bridge simulator using experienced bridge officers in port approach scenarios. By “intended routes” we mean a service where ships underway send a number of waypoints ahead of their present position, from their voyage plan; thus sharing their intentions with ships within radio range. Other ships “intended routes” become visible on the ECDIS screen on request and can be queried for where my own ship is when the other ship is at the cursor indicated point on the displayed “in­ tended route”. Observation, focus group interviews and questionnaires were used to capture qualitative data on professional acceptance, the concept, procedural changes, functions and interface. The tested service was very well received with high acceptance ratings.Author postprin

Sea Traffic Management – Concepts and Components

This paper gives an overview of all components making up the Sea Traffic Management (STM) concept. STM builds upon information sharing in the whole maritime transport chain, where informationis shared as early as possible about intentions and reached states. Sea System Wide Information Management will provide an infrastructure for a regulated and federated approach to informationsharing. The functional sub-concepts are described: Strategic Voyage Management, Dynamic Voyage Management, Flow Management and Port Cooperative Decision Making. We will elaborate on how they complement each other and which benefits each of them has in regards to safety, environment and efficienc