Flag state performance and the implementation of port state control in the European Union - A mixed methods approach

The implementation and enforcement of international maritime safety standards by Member States has always represented a key objective for both the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the European Commission (EC). In spite of a strong global legal framework for safety at sea, harmonisation has always been a challenge. Two points are relevant here: firstly, the level of implementation and enforcement with international regulations varies significantly among countries; secondly, it is a challenge to determine and/or quantify this level of compliance. Several attempts have been made by the maritime industry, academic studies and policy-makers to develop an appropriate set of criteria and/or measurements to benchmark the performance of Flag States. Currently, the White, Grey and Black list (WGB) list of the Tokyo and Paris Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) on Port State Control are the most widely used indicators. While the list was initially developed solely for targeting purposes, it has been recently criticised in recent academic publications and by the industry for being unsuitable to benchmarking Flag States with a small fleet and to be susceptible to a lack of harmonisation. Moreover, the author argues that, given the way the list has been used, it reduces the overall concept of Flag State Performance (FSP) to an overly simplified detention/inspection ratio. This dissertation begins with an investigation and examination of Flag State Performance by looking into its underlying concept and connected components. The main aim is to contribute to the general knowledge on the performance of complex systems according to policymakers. Subsequently, this dissertation makes an assessment of an inspection’s results as a tool to evaluate the performance, shortcomings and benefits of the complex system under examination. Four research questions have therefore been formulated: (1) What is Flag State Performance? (2) What are the contemporary issues of Port State Control (PSC)? (3) How do discrepancies in the Port State Control regime affect the inspection output? (4) To what extent is Port State Control a suitable instrument to measure Flag State Performance? The dissertation is divided into two main parts. Part I presents the main research questions, the methodological and theoretical discussion, the main findings; and a round-up discussion. Part II contains the four research papers based on data gathered throughout the study

On the multiplicity of Laplacian eigenvalues and Fiedler partitions

In this paper we study two classes of graphs, the (m,k)-stars and l-dependent graphs, investigating the relation between spectrum characteristics and graph structure: conditions on the topology and edge weights are given in order to get values and multiplicities of Laplacian matrix eigenvalues. We prove that a vertex set reduction on graphs with (m,k)-star subgraphs is feasible, keeping the same eigenvalues with reduced multiplicity. Moreover, some useful eigenvectors properties are derived up to a product with a suitable matrix. Finally, we relate these results with Fiedler spectral partitioning of the graph. The physical relevance of the results is shortly discussed

After 40 years of regional and coordinated ship safety inspections: Destination reached or new point of departure?

Port State Control (PSC) is the major global strategy for fighting substandard shipping since the signature of The Hague Memorandum in 1978. In the last years, the increased volume of trade, the enlarged number of main international conventions and the highlighted differences among the various Regimes have posed new challenges to the modern system of PSC, which may need to find its new course. This paper examines the point of view of key maritime stakeholders with regard to the EU PSC regime. Elite interviews (n = 14) were conducted with subject matter experts ranging from policy makers, to industry and seafarers’ representatives. The study aims to determine factors leading to difference in treatment among EU Member States. The study concludes that PSC in Europe seems to be the most efficient and reliable of the regional agreement on PSC. However, some discrepancies during the inspection process and outcome can be highlighted due to differences at the inspector and Member State level

TRACEr-MAR: Technique for the retrospective & predictive analysis of cognitive errors adapted to the maritime domain

This guidebook is the first of a series of WMU Papers in Maritime and Ocean Affairs. It introduces the Human Error Identification technique TRACEr-Mar (Technique for the Retrospective and predictive Analysis of Cognitive Errors adapted to the Maritime Domain). Modern socio-technical systems had witnessed a complex co-evolution and interaction of both social and technical aspects in the day-to-day reality. However, when an accident occurs in such complex systems, accident causation models always have to simplify the reality and may therefore be limited for fully understanding all the aspects involved in the failing of the maritime socio-technical system involved in that accident. In order to carry out an accident investigation that covers the needs of a particular investigator, different tools exist. A systematic accident analysis requires a full methodological framework consisting of a model to support the focus of the investigation, a related data taxonomy, a methodology for the application of the taxonomy and an outline of the analysis of the findings. This guidebook provides the necessary information for such a framework, TRACEr-Mar, as adapted to the Maritime domain. This framework focusses on human machine interfaces and the related decision making during maritime operations. The guidebook is addressed to practitioners and researchers determined to apply the TRACEr-Mar technique to maritime accident investigations

DNA profiling, telomere analysis and antioxidant properties as tools for monitoring ex situ seed longevity

Background and Aims The germination test currently represents the most used method to assess seed viability in germplasm banks, despite the difficulties caused by the occurrence of seed dormancy. Furthermore, seed longevity can vary considerably across species and populations from different environments and studies related to the eco-physiological processes underlying such variations are still limited in their depth. The aim of the present work was the identification of reliable molecular markers that might help monitoring seed deterioration. Methods Dry seeds were subjected to artificial aging and collected at different time points for molecular/biochemical analyses. DNA damage was measured using the RAPD (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA) approach while the seed antioxidant profile was obtained using both the DPPH (1,1-diphenyl, 2-picrylhydrazyl) assay and the Folin Ciocalteu reagent method. Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) provided profiles of free radicals. Quantitative RealTime-Polymerase Chain Reaction (QRT-PCR) was used to assess the expression profiles of the antioxidant genes MT2 (Type 2 Metallothionein) and SOD (Superoxide Dismutase). A modified QRT-PCR protocol was used to determine telomere length. Key Results The RAPD profiles highlighted different capacities of the two Silene species to overcome DNA damage induced by artificial aging. The antioxidant profiles of dry and rehydrated seeds revealed that the high-altitude taxon Silene acaulis was characterised by a lower antioxidant specific activity. Significant up-regulation of the MT2 and SOD genes was observed only in the rehydrated seeds of the low-altitude species. Rehydration resulted in telomere lengthening in both Silene species. Conclusions Different seed viability markers have been selected for plant species showing inherent variation of seed longevity. RAPD analysis, quantification of redox activity of non enzymatic antioxidant compounds and gene expression profiling provide deeper insights to study seed viability during storage. Telomere lengthening is a promising tool to discriminate between short- and long-lived species

Demografía de brúquidos (coleoptera: bruchidae) asociados

Bruchids feed primarily on legume seeds, which include some economically important crops such as the bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) and tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.) among others. Whereas the first is the main source of protein in the human diet; Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp because of its nutritional properties could replace the bean, pests, in particular bruchids, are a major problem and cause considerable postharvest losses. For this reason, it is necessary to determine population parameters of Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say, 1831), Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabricius, 1775) from two different hosts and Zabrotes subfasciatus (Boheman, 1833) fed with V. unguiculata through a demographic study under controlled conditions. Population parameters were estimated with the cohort life table technique, the Log rank test (pLos brúquidos se alimentan principalmente de semillas de leguminosas, entre las cuales se encuentran algunos cultivos de importancia económica como el frijol (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), garbanzo (Cicer arietinum L.), lenteja (Lens culinaris Medik) y tamarindo (Tamarindus indica L.) entre otros, considerando al primero como la fuente principal de proteína en la dieta humana; sin embargo, Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp, por sus propiedades nutritivas podría sustituir al frijol, pero su principal problema es la presencia de plagas, en particular los brúquidos, los cuales ocasionan pérdidas  considerables en postcosecha, por lo que fue necesario conocer los parámetros poblacionales de Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say, 1831), Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabricius, 1775) procedente de dos hospederos diferentes y Zabrotes subfasciatus (Boheman, 1833) alimentados con V. unguiculata por medio de un estudio demográfico bajo condiciones controladas. Los parámetros poblacionales se estimaron con la técnica de tablas de vida de cohorte, la prueba de Log rank (

Differential cross section measurements for the production of a W boson in association with jets in proton–proton collisions at √s = 7 TeV

Measurements are reported of differential cross sections for the production of a W boson, which decays into a muon and a neutrino, in association with jets, as a function of several variables, including the transverse momenta (pT) and pseudorapidities of the four leading jets, the scalar sum of jet transverse momenta (HT), and the difference in azimuthal angle between the directions of each jet and the muon. The data sample of pp collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV was collected with the CMS detector at the LHC and corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 5.0 fb[superscript −1]. The measured cross sections are compared to predictions from Monte Carlo generators, MadGraph + pythia and sherpa, and to next-to-leading-order calculations from BlackHat + sherpa. The differential cross sections are found to be in agreement with the predictions, apart from the pT distributions of the leading jets at high pT values, the distributions of the HT at high-HT and low jet multiplicity, and the distribution of the difference in azimuthal angle between the leading jet and the muon at low values.United States. Dept. of EnergyNational Science Foundation (U.S.)Alfred P. Sloan Foundatio

Juxtaposing BTE and ATE – on the role of the European insurance industry in funding civil litigation

One of the ways in which legal services are financed, and indeed shaped, is through private insurance arrangement. Two contrasting types of legal expenses insurance contracts (LEI) seem to dominate in Europe: before the event (BTE) and after the event (ATE) legal expenses insurance. Notwithstanding institutional differences between different legal systems, BTE and ATE insurance arrangements may be instrumental if government policy is geared towards strengthening a market-oriented system of financing access to justice for individuals and business. At the same time, emphasizing the role of a private industry as a keeper of the gates to justice raises issues of accountability and transparency, not readily reconcilable with demands of competition. Moreover, multiple actors (clients, lawyers, courts, insurers) are involved, causing behavioural dynamics which are not easily predicted or influenced. Against this background, this paper looks into BTE and ATE arrangements by analysing the particularities of BTE and ATE arrangements currently available in some European jurisdictions and by painting a picture of their respective markets and legal contexts. This allows for some reflection on the performance of BTE and ATE providers as both financiers and keepers. Two issues emerge from the analysis that are worthy of some further reflection. Firstly, there is the problematic long-term sustainability of some ATE products. Secondly, the challenges faced by policymakers that would like to nudge consumers into voluntarily taking out BTE LEI

Penilaian Kinerja Keuangan Koperasi di Kabupaten Pelalawan

This paper describe development and financial performance of cooperative in District Pelalawan among 2007 - 2008. Studies on primary and secondary cooperative in 12 sub-districts. Method in this stady use performance measuring of productivity, efficiency, growth, liquidity, and solvability of cooperative. Productivity of cooperative in Pelalawan was highly but efficiency still low. Profit and income were highly, even liquidity of cooperative very high, and solvability was good