Research

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21 pages, 7998 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A COLREGs-Based Dynamic Navigation Safety Domain for Unmanned Surface Vehicles: A Case Study of Dolphin-I

by Jian Zhou, Chenxu Wang and Anmin Zhang

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2020, 8(4), 264; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse8040264 - 08 Apr 2020

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4004

Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) are intelligent machines that have been widely studied in recent years. The safety of USVs’ activities is a priority issue in their applications; one effective method is to delimit an exclusive safety domain around the USV. Besides considering collision [...] Read more.

Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) are intelligent machines that have been widely studied in recent years. The safety of USVs’ activities is a priority issue in their applications; one effective method is to delimit an exclusive safety domain around the USV. Besides considering collision avoidance, the safety domain should satisfy the requirements of encounter situations in the COLREGs (International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea) as well. Whereas the model providing the safety domain for the USVs is defined through the experience of the manned ships, a specific model for USVs has been rarely studied. A dynamic navigation safety domain (DNSD) for USVs was proposed in this paper. To construct the model, the essential factors that could affect the navigation safety of the USVs were extracted via a rough set, and the extension functions of these factors were carried out. The DNSD was employed in various situations and compared with the ship domain models of common ships. It was found that the domain boundary can be automatically corrected according to the change in the working conditions when the DNSD is in use. Compared with the Fujii and Coldwell models, the DNSD can provide a larger safety area for a USV’s action of collision avoidance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Maritime Traffic Engineering and International Symposium Information on Ships Conference MTE-ISIS 2019)

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18 pages, 4335 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Method of Navigational Information Display Using Augmented Virtuality

by Rafał Gralak

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2020, 8(4), 237; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse8040237 - 01 Apr 2020

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2536

Abstract

The preliminary research experiments described herein were aimed to choose an appropriate mixed reality technology for the construction of navigational information display method to be used onboard ships in restricted waters. The method assumes a possibly faithful representation of the environment and the [...] Read more.

The preliminary research experiments described herein were aimed to choose an appropriate mixed reality technology for the construction of navigational information display method to be used onboard ships in restricted waters. The method assumes a possibly faithful representation of the environment and the actual navigational situation on a spatial decision support system (SDSS) interface during ship navigation and maneuvering in restricted waters. The paper also presents the architecture and process of building a SDSS, where the method of navigational information display using augmented virtuality was applied. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Maritime Traffic Engineering and International Symposium Information on Ships Conference MTE-ISIS 2019)

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14 pages, 7196 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Worldwide Availability of Maritime Medium-Frequency Radio Infrastructure for R-Mode-Supported Navigation

by Paul Koch and Stefan Gewies

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2020, 8(3), 209; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse8030209 - 18 Mar 2020

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3183

Abstract

The Ranging Mode (R-Mode), a maritime terrestrial navigation system under development, is a promising approach to increase the resilient provision of position, navigation and timing (PNT) information for bridge instruments, which rely on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). The R-Mode utilizes existing maritime [...] Read more.

The Ranging Mode (R-Mode), a maritime terrestrial navigation system under development, is a promising approach to increase the resilient provision of position, navigation and timing (PNT) information for bridge instruments, which rely on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). The R-Mode utilizes existing maritime radio infrastructure such as marine radio beacons, which support maritime traffic with more reliable and accurate PNT data in areas with challenging conditions. This paper analyzes the potential service, which the R-Mode could provide to the mariner if worldwide radio beacons were upgraded to broadcast R-Mode signals. The authors assumed for this study that the R-Mode is available in the service area of the 357 operational radio beacons. The comparison with the maritime traffic, which was generated from a one-day worldwide Automatic Identification System (AIS) Class A dataset, showed that on average, 67% of ships would operate in a global R-Mode service area, 40% of ships would see at least three and 25% of ships would see at least four radio beacons at a time. This means that R-Mode would support 25% to 40% of all ships with position and 67% of all ships with PNT integrity information. The relatively high number of supported ships compared to the total radio beacon coverage of about 9% of the earth’s surface is caused by the good coverage of busy ports and areas such as the coast of China, North Sea and Baltic Sea. These numbers emphasize the importance of marine radio beacons for the R-Mode system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Maritime Traffic Engineering and International Symposium Information on Ships Conference MTE-ISIS 2019)

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13 pages, 1699 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dimensioning of Fairway Bends—Kinematic Method of Numerical Simulation

by Stanisław Gucma, Marcin Przywarty, Jan Dzwonkowski and Mateusz Bilewski

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2020, 8(2), 138; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse8020138 - 20 Feb 2020

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1754

Abstract

The article presents a new kinematic method of numerical simulation intended for establishing dimensions of safe manoeuvring areas of bends in various types of fairways for vessels of specific parameters. The method consists of multiple numerical simulations of a ship’s passage (ship’s centre [...] Read more.

The article presents a new kinematic method of numerical simulation intended for establishing dimensions of safe manoeuvring areas of bends in various types of fairways for vessels of specific parameters. The method consists of multiple numerical simulations of a ship’s passage (ship’s centre of gravity) through a bend, representing the entire physically possible movement of the ship, and an analysis of simulation results. The developed method was verified on the bends of the Świnoujście–Szczecin fairway, by comparing the results to the exact simulation method of a ship’s movements. The relatively high accuracy and low costs of the method allow it to be used in a concept design of built or modern waterway systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Maritime Traffic Engineering and International Symposium Information on Ships Conference MTE-ISIS 2019)

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13 pages, 4672 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of the Underwater Hull Anti-Fouling Silicone Coating on a Ferry’s Fuel Consumption

by Adam Kowalski

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2020, 8(2), 122; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse8020122 - 15 Feb 2020

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2421

Abstract

There are well-known specifics of ro-pax ferry shipping, such as the time factor as a consequence of keeping a regular timetable and the priority given to minimizing heeling, pitching, and rolling caused by maximum focus on passenger comfort and ro-ro cargo safety. It [...] Read more.

There are well-known specifics of ro-pax ferry shipping, such as the time factor as a consequence of keeping a regular timetable and the priority given to minimizing heeling, pitching, and rolling caused by maximum focus on passenger comfort and ro-ro cargo safety. It is also extremely important to control the ferry’s fuel consumption, being one of the most important cost components. The aim of the article is to draw the attention of shipping company managers to the great potential that lies in the use of routine operational data, collected exclusively on board the ferries. It is worth noting that the research in this paper is based on standard office software packages rather than advanced statistical methods of data analysis, which are usually not accessible for shipping managers. Contrary to typical ocean-going vessels, there are a number of factors that need to be taken into consideration when analyzing ro-pax ferry fuel consumption. Moreover, these factors occur, in many cases, accidentally and, thus, they are difficult to observe on board the ferry without utilizing expensive and time-consuming methods. The possibility of fuel control is important not only for economic reasons but also due to air pollution caused by engine exhausts. The article presents an estimation of increased fuel consumption caused by the degradation of the hull silicone anti-fouling coating. The presented estimations of fuel consumption may be treated as the base for calculations of the economic effectiveness of ferries. The attempt to resolve the above-mentioned problem was made on the basis of research on a real ferry, which took place on the Świnoujście-Trelleborg line between 2007 and 2019. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Maritime Traffic Engineering and International Symposium Information on Ships Conference MTE-ISIS 2019)

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12 pages, 541 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Initial Description of Pilotage and Tug Services in the Context of e-Navigation

by Adam Weintrit

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2020, 8(2), 116; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse8020116 - 13 Feb 2020

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4262

Abstract

The International Maritime Organization (IMO)’s Maritime Safety Committee (MSC), at its 101st session (5 to 14 June 2019), adopted Resolution MSC.467(101) on the guidance on the definition and harmonization of the format and structure of maritime services in the context of e-Navigation and [...] Read more.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO)’s Maritime Safety Committee (MSC), at its 101st session (5 to 14 June 2019), adopted Resolution MSC.467(101) on the guidance on the definition and harmonization of the format and structure of maritime services in the context of e-Navigation and agreed to consolidate the descriptions of maritime services and to consider them together with all involved international organizations and interested member states, in order to harmonize the provision and exchange of maritime information and data. In doing so, the MSC also approved the initial descriptions of maritime services in the context of e-Navigation (IMO MSC.1/Circ.1610), which had been prepared by the Sub-Committee on Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue, at its sixth session (16 to 25 January 2019). The information contained in this paper constitutes the descriptions of two selected examples of maritime services, an initial contribution for the harmonization of the formats and structures of pilotage and tug services. The initial description of each of maritime services is expected to be next periodically updated, taking into account developments and related work on international harmonization. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Maritime Traffic Engineering and International Symposium Information on Ships Conference MTE-ISIS 2019)

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14 pages, 8377 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Determination of Parameters Describing the Risk Areas of Ships Chaotic Rolling on the Example of LNG Carrier and OSV Vessel

by Sambor Guze, Wojciech Wawrzynski and Przemyslaw Wilczynski

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2020, 8(2), 91; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse8020091 - 03 Feb 2020

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2272

Abstract

One of the significant problems in the safe operation of vessels is the behavior of the ship on the wave. Of all degrees of freedom, the greatest threat to the safety of a ship is associated with excessive rolling. One of the best [...] Read more.

One of the significant problems in the safe operation of vessels is the behavior of the ship on the wave. Of all degrees of freedom, the greatest threat to the safety of a ship is associated with excessive rolling. One of the best methods to improve the safety of a ship in this field is to carry out experiments on the ship model, performed at her design stage. The problem is that the model tests are costly. An alternative is to conduct simulation tests based on numerical models. The primary goal of the article is to present the results of the simulation regarding the determination of parameters describing the risk areas of chaotic rolling for the ship designed for transporting liquefied natural gas (LNG carrier) and offshore support vessel (OSV). The first discusses the state of knowledge on mathematical modeling of oscillations. Then, the theory of nonlinear differential equations is presented, and the mathematical model of ship rolling is described. This model is used to prepare and conduct a numerical simulation in the Mathematica package. The results of these studies and their discussion constitute the central part of the article. Finally, the conclusions are presented. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Maritime Traffic Engineering and International Symposium Information on Ships Conference MTE-ISIS 2019)

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16 pages, 2896 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Navigators’ Behavior Analysis Using Data Mining

by Zbigniew Pietrzykowski, Miroslaw Wielgosz and Marcin Breitsprecher

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2020, 8(1), 50; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse8010050 - 17 Jan 2020

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2516

Abstract

One of the ways to prevent accidents at sea is to detect risks caused by humans and to counteract them. These tasks can be executed through an analysis of ship maneuvers and the identification of behavior considered to be potentially dangerous, e.g., based [...] Read more.

One of the ways to prevent accidents at sea is to detect risks caused by humans and to counteract them. These tasks can be executed through an analysis of ship maneuvers and the identification of behavior considered to be potentially dangerous, e.g., based on data obtained online from the automatic identification system (AIS). As a result, additional measures or actions can be taken, e.g., passing at a distance greater than previously planned. The detection of risks at sea requires a prior definition of behavior patterns and the criteria assigned to them. Each pattern represents a specific navigator’s safety profile. The criteria assigned to each pattern for the identification of the navigator’s safety profile were determined from previously recorded AIS data. Due to a large amount of data and their complex relationships, these authors have proposed to use data mining tools. This work continues previous research on this subject. The conducted analysis covered data recorded in simulation tests done by navigators. Typical ship encounter situations were included. Based on additional simulation data, the patterns of behavior were verified for the determination of a navigator’s safety profile. An example of using the presented method is given. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Maritime Traffic Engineering and International Symposium Information on Ships Conference MTE-ISIS 2019)

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11 pages, 1676 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Reliability Analysis of Different Configurations of Master and Back-Up Systems Used in Maritime Navigation

by Agnieszka Blokus and Przemysław Dziula

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2020, 8(1), 34; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse8010034 - 10 Jan 2020

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2130

Abstract

This paper presents a comparison of the reliability of various configurations of electronic navigation appliances, from a single system not duplicated (without back-up) to complex systems built of a master system and different numbers of reserve (back-up) systems. For reliability analysis, we created [...] Read more.

This paper presents a comparison of the reliability of various configurations of electronic navigation appliances, from a single system not duplicated (without back-up) to complex systems built of a master system and different numbers of reserve (back-up) systems. For reliability analysis, we created a model of an electronic navigation system reflecting the influence of the number of reserve systems on the entire system reliability. Navigation systems were analyzed as multistate systems. Assuming that they degrade from the state of full reliability to entire failure, their basic reliability characteristics were determined. We also conducted a comparison of system lifetimes in certain reliability state subsets, for different system configurations depending on the number of back-up systems. Additionally, the relationship between the costs associated with setting up a system with a certain configuration and its mean lifetime in reliability state subsets is shown. We also propose procedures for determining the moment of exceeding the allowed limit of system safety, with the use of reliability functions determined for different configurations of the system. One of the major conclusions arising from the reliability analysis is that setting a navigation system with a certain number of back-up solutions is of key importance to improve the system’s reliability in the initial period of operation, while the number of back-up systems has a minor influence on the overall system lifetime. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Maritime Traffic Engineering and International Symposium Information on Ships Conference MTE-ISIS 2019)

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18 pages, 18395 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Accuracy of a Marine Satellite Compass under Terrestrial Urban Conditions

by Paweł S. Dąbrowski, Cezary Specht, Andrzej Felski, Władysław Koc, Andrzej Wilk, Krzysztof Czaplewski, Krzysztof Karwowski, Krzysztof Jaskólski, Mariusz Specht, Piotr Chrostowski and Jacek Szmagliński

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2020, 8(1), 18; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse8010018 - 31 Dec 2019

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2751

Abstract

When used at sea, satellite compasses are capable of determining the course of a sailing vessel with high accuracy. It is difficult to verify the accuracy declared by the device manufacturer under such conditions, as it is difficult to define a reliable reference. [...] Read more.

When used at sea, satellite compasses are capable of determining the course of a sailing vessel with high accuracy. It is difficult to verify the accuracy declared by the device manufacturer under such conditions, as it is difficult to define a reliable reference. This study analyses the accuracy of the satellite compass in an urban setting, with the satellite signal being obscured to various extents. It is an important point in the study to refer the measurement results to a reference route, which is the axis of a tramway track, determined by the precise GNSS RTK method. The measurement data were processed in the original software developed by the authors. The results demonstrate a high 2D positioning accuracy with low height determination accuracy. The course determination errors exceed the limit values declared by the manufacturer. However, specific measurement conditions must be taken into account, which differ considerably from the typical applications of a satellite compass. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Maritime Traffic Engineering and International Symposium Information on Ships Conference MTE-ISIS 2019)

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13 pages, 1234 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Situation Assessment—An Essential Functionality for Resilient Navigation Systems

by Evelin Engler, Michael Baldauf, Paweł Banyś, Frank Heymann, Maciej Gucma and Frank Sill Torres

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2020, 8(1), 17; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse8010017 - 30 Dec 2019

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3152

Abstract

This paper discusses the application of resilience engineering principles by shipborne navigation systems. As a technological system, the ship navigation system comprises all the communication and navigation equipment required to operate a ship. If examined as a socio-technological system, one has to additionally [...] Read more.

This paper discusses the application of resilience engineering principles by shipborne navigation systems. As a technological system, the ship navigation system comprises all the communication and navigation equipment required to operate a ship. If examined as a socio-technological system, one has to additionally consider the use of the ship navigation system by the bridge teams in order to perform the nautical profession in terms of safe and efficient ship navigation, taking into account environmental information received by communication. The first part of this work discusses the theoretical background of resilience engineering and situation awareness. Case studies are used to illustrate under which conditions the application of resilience principles may result in an improvement of the operational reliability. With the help of simulations, it is shown that a sub-optimal implementation and utilization of resilience principles may decrease the robustness of the technical ship navigation system, as well as the reliability and adaptability of the ship navigation system in use. The examples illustrate once again that monitoring is one of the four cornerstones of resilience: anticipating, monitoring, learning, and responding. This is due to the effectiveness of most resilience principles depending on the availability and trustworthiness of situational information in relation to system status and environmental conditions, irrespective of whether the generation and use of the situational information is machine-made or human-made. Therefore, the establishment of situation awareness is an essential accompanying functionality to be considered in design, operation, and use of resilient systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Maritime Traffic Engineering and International Symposium Information on Ships Conference MTE-ISIS 2019)

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19 pages, 6589 KiB

Open AccessArticle

AIS-Based Multiple Vessel Collision and Grounding Risk Identification based on Adaptive Safety Domain

by Azzeddine Bakdi, Ingrid Kristine Glad, Erik Vanem and Øystein Engelhardtsen

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2020, 8(1), 5; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse8010005 - 19 Dec 2019

Cited by 57 | Viewed by 6543

Abstract

The continuous growth in maritime traffic and recent developments towards autonomous navigation have directed increasing attention to navigational safety in which new tools are required to identify real-time risk and complex navigation situations. These tools are of paramount importance to avoid potentially disastrous [...] Read more.

The continuous growth in maritime traffic and recent developments towards autonomous navigation have directed increasing attention to navigational safety in which new tools are required to identify real-time risk and complex navigation situations. These tools are of paramount importance to avoid potentially disastrous consequences of accidents and promote safe navigation at sea. In this study, an adaptive ship-safety-domain is proposed with spatial risk functions to identify both collision and grounding risk based on motion and maneuverability conditions for all vessels. The algorithm is designed and validated through extensive amounts of Automatic Identification System (AIS) data for decision support over a large area, while the integration of the algorithm with other navigational systems will increase effectiveness and ensure reliability. Since a successful evacuation of a potential vessel-to-vessel collision, or a vessel grounding situation, is highly dependent on the nearby maneuvering limitations and other possible accident situations, multi-vessel collision and grounding risk is considered in this work to identify real-time risk. The presented algorithm utilizes and exploits dynamic AIS information, vessel registry and high-resolution maps and it is robust to inaccuracies of position, course and speed over ground records. The computation-efficient algorithm allows for real-time situation risk identification at a large-scale monitored map up to country level and up to several years of operation with a very high accuracy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Maritime Traffic Engineering and International Symposium Information on Ships Conference MTE-ISIS 2019)

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Review

Jump to: Research

16 pages, 1066 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Ocean-Going Autonomous Ship—Challenges and Threats

by Andrzej Felski and Karolina Zwolak

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2020, 8(1), 41; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse8010041 - 15 Jan 2020

Cited by 101 | Viewed by 12655

Abstract

Unmanned vehicles have become a part of everyday life, not only in the air, but also at sea. In the case of sea, until now this usually meant small platforms operating near shores, usually for surveying or research purposes. However, experiments with larger [...] Read more.

Unmanned vehicles have become a part of everyday life, not only in the air, but also at sea. In the case of sea, until now this usually meant small platforms operating near shores, usually for surveying or research purposes. However, experiments with larger cargo vessels, designed to operate on the high seas are already being carried out. In this context, there are questions about the threats that this solution may pose for other sea users, as well as the safety of the unmanned vehicle itself and the cargo or equipment on board. The problems can be considered in the context of system reliability as well as the resilience to interference or other intentional actions directed against these objects—for example, of a criminal nature. The paper describes the dangers that arise from the specificity of systems that can be used to solve navigational problems, as well as the analysis of the first experiences of the authors arising from the transit of an unmanned surface vessel (USV) from the United Kingdom to Belgium and back, crossing the busiest world shipping route—the English Channel. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Maritime Traffic Engineering and International Symposium Information on Ships Conference MTE-ISIS 2019)

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