Investigation on Improving Strategies for Navigation Safety in the Offshore Wind Farm in Taiwan Strait

The Taiwan Strait, to the west of Taiwan, is rich in wind energy resources and has the greatest offshore wind power potential in the world. Therefore, Taiwan has been actively expanding its offshore wind power industry in this area in recent years and expects to achieve the total installed capacity to 15.6 GW by 2035. Due to the large vessel traffic flow in Western Taiwan’s sea area, wind farms will inevitably reduce the navigable space and shadow some existing marine aids to navigation, thus worsening navigation safety. An approach using a fault tree analysis was used to carry out analysis of collision risk between ship-to-ship and ship-to-turbine. The vessel density distribution and traffic flow within the open sea of offshore wind farms would further increase to curtail the available navigable space. The shadowing effects along navigation channels would thereafter be worsened to raise the probability of collision risks in the sea. The results of the fault tree analysis revealed that if the ship is out of control, the time allowed to provide assistance is rather short, leading to the increase of collision risk extent between ships and wind turbines. Moreover, the study also found that unfit functions of the Vessel Traffic Service System and navigation aids and frequently and arbitrarily crossing the navigation channel of fishery vessels are the main causes of ship collisions. In order to effectively improve the navigation safety, competitive strategies for navigation safety are investigated and evaluated in this study. These strategies include making a complete plan for utilizing the whole sea, integrating the offshore vessel traffic service and management system, providing remote pilotage services, and building salvage vessels. The above promising strategies would enhance the navigation safety within the open sea. Collision risk might occur once marine accident occurs and no salvage vessel is available.

Selection of optimal forecasting models in the navigation safety decision support system

One of the most important components of the navigation safety decision support system (NS DSS) is the forecasting block. The results of his work have an impact on the type of control actions formed by the system. The effectiveness of this block depends on the forecasting methods used. The accuracy of the result of the forecasting block depends largely on the choice of the forecasting method.To develop reliable forecasts, it is necessary to determine forecasting methods, in relation to the specifics of the functioning of the NS DSS. Several ways of solving the problem of choosing the appropriate forecasting method in relation to the NS DSS are proposed. Two methods are demonstrated: Artificial neural networks (ANN) using precedents and Intelligent process analysis (IPA). Solving the problem of choosing the optimal method will guarantee obtaining a forecast with a certain level of accuracy, which will significantly increase the reliability of the forecast and, as a result, the effectiveness of the NS DSS. Solving the problem of choosing the optimal method will guarantee obtaining a forecast with a certain level of accuracy, which will significantly increase the reliability of the forecast and, as a result, the effectiveness of the NS DSS, which allows us to assert the relevance of this problem and further research.

Indication of a ship location by the Earth’s geomagnetic field

The present study focuses on the need to increase the number of methods for indicating a ship location in traffic conditions on routes with heavy shipping, as well as during navigation in hard hydrometeorological conditions. The research purpose is to increase the level of safety and accuracy of ship navigation and effectively meet the requirements in the field of navigation safety and environmental protection. The issue of navigating through physical fields has a wide range of unresolved tasks despite the previously conducted studies. These tasks include investigation of geomagnetic sensors and their relationship to geomagnetic maps, as well as magnetic compasses and ways to improve them by using magnetometers and eliminating errors caused by rotation of the magnetic needle.

Sino-Russian Space Weather Effort for Global Air Navigation Safety

This paper covers the role of the China-Russia Consortium in Global Air Navigation Safety, how space weather centers for aviation were established and how are they regulated. We briefly introduce the effects of space weather on aviation in general. A short description of the ICAO-designated space weather service fol-lows. The China-Russia Consortium history, members and the way it integrates into the global service are described afterwards.