E-Procurement Framework for Shipping

The existing procurement process in shipping is paper-based and labor-intensive. Looking to cut costs and improve delivery times, while simultaneously enabling companies to take a more strategic approach to their jobs, an eprocurement framework is proposed to automate and streamline its procurement process by bringing it online. In this paper we present an intranet Web-based electronic procurement infrastructure. The shipping organizational process requirements was fully analyzed and evaluated. The ships as end-users were provided with access to the application taking into account the existing communication cost and restrictions. The logical Architecture is presented including the schema of the databases, the catalog management, the workflow of the purchase order plus the end-users interaction with the procurement system through Web browser. Then the physical architecture is described when security, load simulation and several well known technologies are applied. In all step the shipping environment and its specific characteristics are fully assessed. The application in its pilot implementation (marine engines spare parts procurement) shows that is scaleable, has a supplier integration strategy that met the shipping company’s core requirement, is relatively eas y to install, configure and use and can be integrated with ERP

European integration : the contribution of the West European Union

The birth of the European idea finds its descendance from the negative consequences created by the catastrophic menace of the Second World War. The West European Union (WEU), founded in 1954 as Europe’s defensive arm against the German or the Soviet threat, proved more helpful in the cause for European integration rather than towards the aim of its inception. Nevertheless, as the forces of history worked their way, the WEU played a role of no lesser importance. According to this frame of thought the WEU functioned as the archetype on which the EU was based, supporting on varying levels of cooperation and actions in an effective manner the very cause of European integration.peer-reviewe

Cyber security training strategy: dealing with maritime SCADA risks

Control systems on board ships collect sensor measurements and data from various operational activities and display all the relevant information; they also facilitate relaying of control commands to local or remote equipment. Distributed control systems (DCS) are typically used within a single process or generating plant; supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems are used for larger-scale environments. The SCADA system communications infrastructure tends to be slower and less reliable, and so the remote terminal unit in a SCADA system has local control schemes to handle that eventuality. Security in general and cyber security specifically were not the major concerns of early standalone maritime SCADA systems. Security was primarily achieved by controlling physical access to system components, which were unique and used proprietary communication protocols. For years, security in SCADA systems was viewed as just an implication of safety. Over the last decade, however, the situation has changed, and numerous standards/directives dealing with the cyber security of SCADA systems have emerged. Characteristics of maritime SCADA cyber security are discussed; related training needs are identified next. The pedagogical approaches are also presented in order to train seafarers in risk assessment, prevention and mitigation strategies related with maritime SCADA cyber security risks

Enforcing Safety and Security in the Eastern Mediterranean: The Greek Effort to Implement Vessel Traffic Services

The Greek government has established the strategic vision of improving navigation safety by providing reliable Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) and monitoring the various high density traffic areas of the Hellenic Republic. Our analysis will present the current state of VTS operations in the Aegean Sea and evaluate the need for further improvements. The main conclusion is that the Hellenic VTS can provide a helping hand for seafarers only in a small number of choke-points and covers a rather limited area. Future expansion of the system in other busy locations is needed in the near future, with the port of Thessaloniki standing out.El gobierno griego ha establecido la visión estratégica de mejorar la seguridad de la navegación proporcionando Servicios de Tráfico de Buques (VTS) fidedignos y controlando las varias zonas de tráfico de alta densidad de la República Helénica. Nuestro análisis presentará el estado actual de las operaciones de los VTS en el Mar Egeo y evaluará la necesidad de mejoras adicionales. La conclusión principal es que los VTS Helénicos pueden proporcionar una ayuda real a los navegantes sólo en un pequeño número de puntos críticos y cubren un área bastante limitada. Se requiere una expansión futura del sistema en otros lugares de gran actividad en un futuro próximo, excluyendo el Puerto de Tesalónica.Le gouvernement grec a établi la vision stratégique consistant à améliorer la sécurité de la navigation en assurant des Services de trafic maritime (VTS) fiables et en surveillant les différentes zone de trafic à forte densité de la République hellénique. Notre analyse présentera la situation actuelle des opérations de VTS en mer Egée et évaluera la nécessité d’apporter des améliorations supplémentaires. La principale conclusion est que les VTS helléniques peuvent apporter une aide réelle aux marins uniquement dans un petit nombre de points critiques et qu’ils couvrent une zone relativement limitée. Il sera nécessaire, dans un avenir proche, de prévoir un futur élargissement du système dans d’autres lieux de forte activité, à l’exclusion du port de Thessalonique

Is It Time for the Maritime Industry to Embrace 3d Printed Spare Parts?

New technology comes with benefits for companies that choose to adopt. Additive manufacturing (AM) or 3d printing as it is commonly known has been already implemented in various sectors (industrial and consumer products, medical, automotive, aerospace, etc.). The shipping industry is characterized as conservative to changes. As AM is starting to consolidate in the industry, can offer lessons guiding changes. Application in industries with similar to shipping characteristics (industries with moving assets), reveals the potential of applying it in the shipping industry. The availability of spare parts is important for the vessel maintenance. Additive manufacturing could shorten the space parts supply chain in the maritime industry, since the part could be made near the place it is needed