23 - Covid-19: A Vicious Wave for Maritime Transport

About 36% of fatal road accidents in Norway involve at least one driver who is “at work”. It has been argued that the implementation of rules clearly defining the responsibility of road transport companies to prevent work related accidents, by implementing safety management systems (SMS), could lead to increased safety. In the present study we tested the validity of this suggestion, by examining the influence of different sector rules on work-related accident prevention in Norwegian road and maritime transport. In contrast to the road sector, the maritime sector has had rules requiring SMS for over 20 years, clearly defining the shipping companies responsibility for prevention of work-related accidents. The aims of the study were to: (1) examine how the different sector rules influence perceptions of whether the responsibility to prevent work-related accidents is clearly defined in each sector; and (2) compare respondents’ perceptions of the quality of their sectors’ efforts to prevent work-related accidents, and factors influencing this. The study was based on a small-scale survey (N = 112) and qualitative interviews with sector experts (N = 17) from companies, authorities, and NGOs in the road and the maritime sectors. Results indicate that respondents in the maritime sector perceive the responsibility to prevent work-related accidents as far more clearly defined, and they rate their sector’s efforts to prevent accidents as higher than respondents in road. Multivariate analyses indicate that this is related to the scope of safety regulations in the sectors studied, controlled for several important framework conditions. Based on the results, we conclude that the implementation of SMS rules focused on transport companies’ responsibility to prevent work-related accidents could improve safety in the road sector. However, due to barriers to SMS implementation in the road sector, we suggest starting with a simplified version of SMS.

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The Importance of Maritime Transport for Economic Growth in the European Union: A Panel Data Analysis

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13147961 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (14) ◽

pp. 7961

Author(s):

Alexandra Fratila (Adam) ◽

Ioana Andrada Gavril (Moldovan) ◽

Sorin Cristian Nita ◽

Andrei Hrebenciuc

Keyword(s):

Economic Growth ◽

European Union ◽

Panel Data ◽

Panel Data Analysis ◽

Maritime Transport ◽

The European Union ◽

Panel Data Regression ◽

Green Investment ◽

Port Infrastructure ◽

The Impact

Maritime transport is one of the main activities of the blue economy, which plays an important role in the EU. In this paper, we aim to assess the impact of maritime transport, related investment, and air pollution on economic growth within 20 countries of the European Union, using eight panel data regression models from 2007 to 2018. Our results confirm that maritime transport, air pollutants (NOx and SO2) from maritime transport, and investment in maritime port infrastructure are indeed positively correlated with economic growth. In other words, an increase of 10% in these factors has generated an associated increase in economic growth rate of around 1.6%, 0.4%, 0.8%, and 0.7% respectively. Alongside the intensity of economic maritime activities, pollution is positively correlated with economic growth, and thus it is recommended that policymakers and other involved stakeholders act to diminish environmental impacts in this sector using green investment in port infrastructure and ecological ships, in accordance with the current European trends and concerns.

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Application of Measurement Sensors and Navigation Devices in Experimental Research of the Computer System for the Control of an Unmanned Ship Model

Sensors ◽

10.3390/s21041312 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (4) ◽

pp. 1312 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Tadeusz Szelangiewicz ◽

Katarzyna Żelazny ◽

Andrzej Antosik ◽

Maciej Szelangiewicz

Keyword(s):

Computer Program ◽

Computer System ◽

Autonomous Control ◽

Maritime Transport ◽

Control Software ◽

Ship Model ◽

Steering Characteristics ◽

Unmanned Ship ◽

Transport Vessel ◽

Navigation Equipment

Unmanned autonomous transport vessels (MASS) are the future of maritime transport. The most important task in the design and construction of unmanned ships is to develop algorithms and a computer program for autonomous control. In order for such a computer program to properly control the ship (realizing various functions), the ship must be equipped with a computer system as well as measurement sensors and navigation devices, from which the recorded parameters are processed and used for autonomous control of the ship. Within the framework of conducted research on autonomous ships, an experimental model of an unmanned ship was built. This model was equipped with a propulsion system not commonly used on transport vessels (two azimuth stern thrusters and two bow tunnel thrusters), but providing excellent propulsion and steering characteristics. A complete computer system with the necessary measuring sensors and navigation devices has also been installed in the model of the ship, which enables it to perform all functions during autonomous control. The objective of the current research was to design and build a prototype computer system with the necessary measurement sensors and navigation devices with which to autonomously control the unmanned ship model. The designed computer system is expected to be optimal for planned tasks during control software tests. Tests carried out on open waters confirmed the correctness of the operation of the computer system and the entire measurement and navigation equipment of the built model of the unmanned transport vessel.

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