A “Net-Centric” conduct of navigation and ship management

Following the so-called “Industrial Revolution”, the shipping industry has benefitted from a very extended number of technology innovations. Over time, shipbuilding practices and the equipment of ships have been significantly improved. Furthermore, during the last couple of decades, the continuous improvement and integration- interconnection of electronics systems (the “network-centric” approach), have created a new operating environment for shipping. It is therefore not a coincidence that recent discussions on digitalization and autonomous ships provide a disruptive picture of how this industry may be transformed in the near future. Contemporary sea-going vessels are equipped with various technologically advanced systems and are highly automated. Today, all systems supporting the conduct of navigation and the various information technology (IT) applications related to ship management activities are heavily reliant upon real-time information to safely/effectively fulfil their allocated tasks. The issues of connectivity and interconnection clearly stand out. It is important to assess how navigation will be conducted in the near future. This analysis is based on a qualitative methodology, and its starting point, which also serves as the necessary “literature review”, is to identify and briefly discuss a certain number of technological developments that follow the network-centric architecture and have been recently introduced as equipment appropriate for ships. Next, it will examine how interactive processes and applications, both on the shore side and onboard vessels, can facilitate a safer working environment for seafarers and allow personnel based ashore to have a better understanding of what is happening at sea, as part of explaining the so-called “net-centric” framework of operations. Another important aim is to evaluate these promising technological trends according to their capacity of adoption in order to promote efficient and safe operations within the extended maritime transport domain. An important conclusion is that a net-centric philosophy and associated software applications can truly break down any existing limitations and create a collaborative environment for people and “machines”, including remotely controlled unmanned vessels

Impact of including maritime transport in the EU ETS

https://commons.wmu.se/lib_reports/1088/thumbnail.jp

The trade-off analysis for the mitigation of underwater noise pollution from commercial vessels: case study – Trans Mountain project, Port of Vancouver, Canada

Although shipping has significant positive effect on human civilization, it introduced negative environmental impacts such as oil, air, and plastic pollutions. Many negative externalities through international and local regulations have been in place, and preventive actions have been taken to monitor and control. However, underwater noise pollution as an emerging negative shipping impact has not been well introduced to society nor appropriately regulated in international scale. Because of traffic density and the presence of sensitive marine species in some parts of the world, the negative social and environmental impacts of underwater noise pollution become more critical. Haro Strait due to high shipping traffic and presence of vulnerable marine species such as Southern Resident Killer Whale is a good example. The majority of ocean-going vessels transiting to Vancouver and vice versa pass through the corridor which includes Haro Strait. Tankers currently represent about 2% of total ship traffic visiting the Port of Vancouver; however, regarding the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Project, the traffic density will grow by 11%, which will enhance the adverse impacts of underwater noise pollution on marine mammals. This study, by considering the features and characteristics of the area and the project, proposed four scenarios and modelling. The article by developing simulations and utilizing the Multiple Criteria Decision Making (Multiple Attribute Decision Making) algorithms and Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution techniques strives to trade-off between the environmental (noise and CO2 emission) and economical (fuel cost) aspects of the project to enhance the Decision Support System to promote sustainable development. This will help the decision makers to have a multi-dimensional thinking instead of the single-dimensional thinking in addressing and tackling the negative externalities of the Trans Mountain project in the area. Moreover, at the end of each scenario, a sensitivity analysis will be conducted to provide a clean environment for decision makers