Ranking of sailing routes according to the potential number of groundings

The paper presents the selection of ship sailing routes in the coastal area according to the probability of grounding. Taking into consideration the dangers in the heading direction as well as the vicinity and length of the coastline parallel to the ship course, the paper will try to propose a model for choosing the sailing route with the smallest possibility of grounding. The estimation of the dangers on the routes will be based on the potential number of groundings; human factor will not be taken into account, assuming that a human error on each route will have the same probability of occurrence

Redirection aspects of Far East – Central Europe traffic flows: Facts, findings and future tendencies

The multimodal door-to-door transport chain connecting Central Europe with Far East origins predominantly calls the North European ports. However, already the geographic features are dictating the reasonable possibility of routes’ redirection via several alternatives through the Mediterranean Sea. This study represents the continuation of the research in terms of analysis and evaluation of the Southern European freight transport flow through the Northern Adriatic. The aim was to elaborate further on the justification of the possible redirection of cargoes via the Adriatic corridor. In these terms, the land segment of the transport chain from ports to the final destination was isolated and analysed. The authors were primarily guided by natural features, that are respective geographical locations and their mutual distances. For this purpose, container transport on two traffic flows was simulated, with emphasis on the land segment between the second (destination) port and the final destination. Considering the usual freight lines, the door-to-door container transport between origin and destination was selected. Both road and rail transportation modes were investigated. Besides general parameters, such as distances, time, and fuel consumption, the environmental impact for all scenarios was determined for both downstream and final fuel cycle processes. In these terms, basic environmental parameters for four possible scenarios were calculated: energy consumption, emissions of carbon dioxide, greenhouse gases, nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, non-methane hydrocarbons, and particulate matter. Results are indicating that, together with a significant reduction of sea transportation impacts on the environment, the eventual redirection contributes to emissions’ mitigation and the sustainability of transportation. These results are accompanied by several initiatives in the area.  Apart from potential benefits, the findings were discussed from the reliability point of view, i.e. the ability of Northern Adriatic ports and the land infrastructure to successfully take over this task, at least to a certain extent, and finally, in a reasonable future.Peer Reviewe

On Global Ionospheric Maps based winter-time GPS ionospheric delay with reference to the Klobuchar model: Case study of the Northern Adriatic

Modelling of the ionospheric Total Electron Content (TEC) represents a challenging and demanding task in Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) positioning performance. In terms of satellite Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT), TEC represents a significant cause of the satellite signal ionospheric delay. There are several approaches to TEC estimation. The Standard (Klobuchar) ionospheric delay correction model is the most common model for Global Positioning System (GPS) single-frequency (L1) receivers. The development of International GNSS Service (IGS) Global Ionospheric Maps (GIM) has enabled the insight into global TEC dynamics. GIM analyses in the Northern Adriatic area have shown that, under specific conditions, local ionospheric delay patterns differ from the one defined in the Klobuchar model. This has been the motivation for the presented research, with the aim to develop a rudimentary model of the TEC estimation, with emphasis on areas where ground truth data are not available. The local pattern of the ionospheric delay has been modelled with wave functions based on the similarity of waveforms, considering diurnal differences in TEC behavior from defined TEC patterns. The model represents a spatiotemporal winter-time ionospheric delay correction with the Klobuchar model as a basis. The evaluation results have shown accurate approximation of the local pattern of the ionospheric delay. The model was verified in the same seasonal period in 2007, revealing it successfulness under pre-defined conditions. The presented approach represents a basis for the further work on the local ionospheric delay modelling, considering local ionospheric and space weather conditions, thus improving the satellite positioning performance for single-frequency GNSS receivers

Global shipbuilding activities in the modern maritime market environment

The international trade, in the long run being influenced primarily by global economy, is hardly imaginable without maritime transport of goods. The investors in the shipping market, i.e. shipowners, foresee the key return of their capital investments through collection of the freight payments. Consequently, the position and ultimately survival of the owners is intensely influenced with the freight rate cycles, which in turn depend on demand and supply of ships. As historically proved, the higher the freight rates, the more orders for new ships are secured by shipyards. Most of the factors that impact shipowners’ decisions, especially those related to placing the orders, thus extend their influence towards shipyards’ operations and earnings. Competition among shipyards to ever attract more shipowners and secure more new orders or higher value orders, results in expanding their facilities, shortening delivery dates, making their ships’ design more appealing, lowering prices, etc. Observing fluctuations of the market and understanding impact factors on the freight rates’ segment and on shipbuilding segment therefore, is a crucial occupation accompanying executive decision making process for both, shipbuilders and shipowners. Recent state of the global shipbuilding industry is presented in this paper, based on the most recently available data on shipping market and on the global shipbuilding activities. Near-future outlook is given through analysis of the current market developments and industry potentials as well as with respect to the rivalry among competitors. Besides, clarification of market present state’s impact factors is herein given and significant conclusions for their current development and future perspectives are addressed, considering available information

Navigation with ECDIS: Choosing the Proper Secondary Positioning Source

The completion of ECDIS mandatory implementation period on-board SOLAS vessels requires certain operational, functional and educational gaping holes to be solved. It especially refers to positioning and its redundancy, which represents fundamental safety factor on-board navigating vessels. The proposed paper deals with primary and secondary positioning used in ECDIS system. Standard positioning methods are described, discussing possibilities of obtained positions’ automatic and manual implementation in ECDIS, beside default methods. With the aim of emphasizing the need and importance of using secondary positioning source in ECDIS, positioning issue from the standpoint of end-users was elaborated, representing a practical feedback of elaborated topic. The survey was conducted in the form of international questionnaire placed among OOWs, ranging from apprentice officers to captains. The result answers and discussion regarding (non)usage of secondary positioning sources in ECDIS were analysed and presented. Answers and statements were elaborated focusing not only in usage of the secondary positioning system in ECDIS, but in navigation in general. The study revealed potential risks arising from the lack of knowledge and even negligence. The paper concludes with summary of findings related to discrepancies between theoretical background, good seamanship practice and real actions taken by OOWs. Further research activities are pointed out, together with planned practical actions in raising awareness regarding navigation with ECDIS

Contribution to the Research of the Effects of Etna Volcano Activity on the Features of the Ionospheric Total Electron Content Behaviour

This research represents a contribution to the theory on the coupling of the volcanic activity and the ionospheric dynamics, represented by total electron content (TEC) patterns and their behaviour. The ionospheric response to the activity of the Etna volcano has been analysed using global navigation satellite system (GNSS)-derived TEC values, employing data from International GNSS Service (IGS) reference station near the volcano and on two distant IGS locations. Volcanic activity has been modelled using volcanic radiative power (VRP) data obtained by the Middle InfraRed Observation of Volcanic Activity (MIROVA) system. The estimated minimal night TEC values have been averaged over defined index days of the VRP increase. During the analysed period of 19 years, the volcano activity was categorised according to pre-defined criteria. The influence of current space weather and short-term solar activity on TEC near the volcano was systematically minimised. The results showed mean/median TEC increases of approximately +3 standard deviations from the overall mean values, with peak values placed approximately 5 days before the VRP increase and followed by general TEC depletion around the time of the actual volcanic activity increase. Additionally, TEC oscillation pattern was found over the volcano site with a half-period of 6.25 days. The main interpretation of results indicates that the volcanic activity has modified the ionospheric dynamics within the nearby ionospheric region before the actual VRP increase, and that the residual impact in the volcano’s surrounding area refers to terrestrial endogenous processes and air–earth currents. Those changes can be detected during criteria predefined in the research: during quiet space weather conditions, observing night-time TEC values and within the limits of low short-term solar influence

Northern and Southern European Traffic Flow Land Segment Analysis as Part of the Redirection Justification

Natural geotraffic flows act as one of the most important factors directly affecting redirections of the world transportation routes. In terms of door-to-door multimodal transport chain, several routes from Far East toward European destinations exist, with Northern European route acting as prevailing one. The proposed paper elaborates possibilities of redirection of the traffic flow by directing cargoes to an alternative route through the Adriatic Sea. The aim is to justify realisation of mentioned possibility in terms of land transportation segment analysis, i.e. by analysing cargo transportation from ports to final destinations in Central Europe, placed in natural gravitational hinterland of ports of Northern Adriatic Port Association (NAPA). Geo-traffic and logistics’ analyses of NAPA ports are presented in the paper. Container traffic and its trend as compared with Northern European ports are analysed. The development plans of inland connections are presented in function of justification of the traffic flow redirection. A model for the selection and evaluation of the optimal container transport route by using the multiple criteria analysis (MCA) has been introduced and developed. The model was applied for the selection of the representative service connecting Far East (origin) and the central Europe (destination) by detailed analysis of the land transportation segment. The PROMETHEE method was used for the model testing and evaluation. Summarised results are presented and discussed tending to confirmation of the traffic flow redirection justification

Contribution to the Research of the Effects of Etna Volcano Activity on the Features of the Ionospheric Total Electron Content Behaviour

This research represents a contribution to the theory on the coupling of the volcanic activity and the ionospheric dynamics, represented by total electron content (TEC) patterns and their behaviour. The ionospheric response to the activity of the Etna volcano has been analysed using global navigation satellite system (GNSS)-derived TEC values, employing data from International GNSS Service (IGS) reference station near the volcano and on two distant IGS locations. Volcanic activity has been modelled using volcanic radiative power (VRP) data obtained by the Middle InfraRed Observation of Volcanic Activity (MIROVA) system. The estimated minimal night TEC values have been averaged over defined index days of the VRP increase. During the analysed period of 19 years, the volcano activity was categorised according to pre-defined criteria. The influence of current space weather and short-term solar activity on TEC near the volcano was systematically minimised. The results showed mean/median TEC increases of approximately +3 standard deviations from the overall mean values, with peak values placed approximately 5 days before the VRP increase and followed by general TEC depletion around the time of the actual volcanic activity increase. Additionally, TEC oscillation pattern was found over the volcano site with a half-period of 6.25 days. The main interpretation of results indicates that the volcanic activity has modified the ionospheric dynamics within the nearby ionospheric region before the actual VRP increase, and that the residual impact in the volcano’s surrounding area refers to terrestrial endogenous processes and air–earth currents. Those changes can be detected during criteria predefined in the research: during quiet space weather conditions, observing night-time TEC values and within the limits of low short-term solar influence

Editorial for the Special Issue “GNSS, Space Weather and TEC Special Features”

The paper gives a concise overview of the scientific contribution of 17 original scientific papers published in the Special Issue : GNSS , Space weather and TEC Special features in the scientific journal "Remote Sensing"

Advanced Numerical Method for Determining the Wetted Area of Container Ships for Increased Estimation Accuracy of Copper Biocide Emissions

Research into the consequences of the accumulation of copper biocides in the marine environment has intensified since the ban on the use of organotin tributyltin (TBT) and the introduction of copper-based compounds in antifouling (AF) coatings. The specific emission of copper biocides and the surface of the wetted area of a vessel are the key parameters for the estimation of biocide emission. The estimated values of specific emissions of copper biocides should be taken with caution and their limitations and suitability for various surfaces and types of vessel should be known. Baseline limitations are also present in determining vessels’ wetted area. The available models do not provide realistic values, allowing multiple deviations. The proposed method of determining the wetted area considering container vessels and the specifics of their forms results in a set of hydrostatic diagrams that enable much more accurate estimation. The use of Automatic Identification System (AIS) is also proposed in terms of independent collection of required calculation parameters, enabling a full assessment of the total emission of copper biocides from container ships in the observed area