Trends of Studies on Controlled Halogenated Gases under International Conventions during 1999–2018 Using Bibliometric Analysis: A Global Perspective

A lot of research on international convention-controlled halogenated gases (CHGs) has been carried out. However, few bibliometric analyses and literature reviews exist in this field. Based on 734 articles extracted from the Science Citation Index (SCI) Expanded database of the Web of Science, we provided the visualisation for the performance of contributors and trends in research content by using VOSviewer and Science of Science (Sci2). The results showed that the United States was the most productive country, followed by the United Kingdom and China. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had the largest number of publications, followed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the University of Bristol. In terms of disciplines, environmental science and meteorological and atmospheric science have contributed the most. By using cluster analysis of all keywords, four key research topics of CHGs were identified and reviewed: (1) emissions calculation, (2) physicochemical analysis of halocarbons, (3) evaluation of replacements, and (4) environmental impact. The change in research substances is closely related to the phase-out schedule of the Montreal Protocol. In terms of environmental impact, global warming has always been the most important research hotspot, whereas research on ozone-depleting substances and biological toxicity shows a gradually rising trend.

Russian Vision of the Problems and Prospects of the International Legal Framework in the Context of Small Modular Reactors and Transportable Nuclear Power Units

Small modular reactors (SMRs) could be key to providing developing regions with clean and affordable (and cost-effective) electricity. Deployment of SMRs requires a transparent and balanced legal framework that will define the specifics and boundaries of shared responsibility between the host and supplier country, especially in the case of innovative floating SMR projects. Legal experience in nuclear-powered vessels and nuclear installations can be used in the development of regulatory approaches for floating SMRs. This chapter provides an analysis of the applicability of the existing international conventions, including the 1974 International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, the IAEA safeguards agreements, and civil liability instruments, to the floating SMRs. In addition, some considerations for the future development of the legal framework for floating SMRs are proposed.

Risk assessment and exemption approval procedure for the semi-closed seas according to the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004

The paper analyses statutory foundations applicable to ships requiring to be exempted from the mandatory installation of the ballast water management system. In particular, it deals with ships sailing on regular international lines but within the semi-closed seas, such as the Adriatic Sea. The legal framework is set out in the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments (BWM, 2004), the IMO Guidelines for Risk Assessment A-4 (G7), and the Croatian Ordinance on Ballast Water Control and Management, 2012 [Pravilnik o upravljanju i nadzoru balastnih voda]. The paper presents the model procedure to be followed by main stakeholders, mainly national maritime administrations and shipping companies. The paper outlines the main advantages and disadvantages of the whole process and analyses several cases of good practice. Furthermore, the main stakeholders in the approval procedure and their responsibilities are described, available risk assessment models are analysed, with the particular emphasis on the species-specific risk assessment method as the most preferred method. Finally, the need for cooperation between the involved states and their maritime administrations is considered. It is concluded that bilateral and regional cooperations are an essential element in preserving the marine environment of any sea area. In that respect, the proposed model of the BWM system exemption approval in closed and semi-closed seas, such as the Adriatic Sea, is essential for shipping companies connecting ports in different countries on regular routes. Although demanding in respect of efforts and time, a procedure is viable and may be carried out in due time and with satisfactory outcomes.

Autonomous ships in maritime education model course 7.01

The fourth industrial revolution is already a fact. It is manifested in the emerging automation of many processes in shipping, which until recently have been highly dependent on the competence of the people who manage them. The analysis of navigational accidents invariably touches the human factor and involves it in the reasons for their occurrence. The statistics are discouraging and the lack of competence of seafarers is always present in the reports of the investigating authorities. The idea of creating and implementing autonomous ships is cited as a lifeline to overcome the shortcomings that disturb the industry due to the human factor. A few authors in their publications point out many unresolved issues, one of which is related to the education and competence of service personnel. The existing International Convention for Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping of Seafarers does not cover unmanned ships. The mandatory and recommended competencies in it are addressed to the people on board. Some maritime educational institutions have introduced the concept of “autonomous ship” in their curricula, such as Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy, Varna and Faculty of Maritime Study, Split. There are probably others who think ahead, but this approach is not enough because unmanned ships are already a fact in the maritime industry. This article aims at exploring the possibilities for supplementing the curricula of maritime training institutions with appropriate subjects for the new realities in shipping.

Norm Entrepreneurship at the UN - Dalits and Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent

Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings. However, caste-based discrimination is one of the areas that most human rights mechanisms overlook. As a result of several interventions by Dalit and human rights organisations, the erstwhile United Nations body, in 2000, has termed it ‘discrimination based on work and descent’. The above Dalit and other International organisations have also brought evidence before the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination which has endorsed caste-based discrimination as part of the discrimination based on descent, in Article 1 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD). Further, it was also brought to the notice of various Special Rapporteurs and UN Committees that communities discriminated on work and descent (CDWD) face severe human rights violations and abuses that continue to restrain the socio-economic development of these specific groups of people in several countries globally. Dalit organizations and their solidarity bodies have gone ahead through a process of ‘norm entrepreneurship’ at the UN levels. This article narrates and analyses the challenges and human rights consequences of caste and discrimination based on work and discusses the norm entrepreneurship journey of Dalits and CDWD at the UN level.

ANOMALY DETECTION IN VESSEL TRACKING – A BAYESIAN NETWORKS (BNs) APPROACH

The paper describes the supervised method approach to identifying vessel anomaly behaviour. The vessel anomaly behaviour is determined by learning from self-reporting maritime systems based on the Automatic Identification System (AIS). The AIS is a real world vessel reporting data system, which has been recently made compulsory by the International Convention for the Safety of Life and Sea (SOLAS) for vessels over 300 gross tons and most commercial vessels such as cargo ships, passenger vessels, tankers, etc. In this paper, we describe the use of Bayesian networks (BNs) approach to identify the behaviour of the vessel of interest. The BNs is a machine learning technique based on probabilistic theory that represents a set of random variables and their conditional independencies via directed acyclic graph (DAG). Previous studies showed that the BNs have important advantages compared to other machine learning techniques. Among them are that expert knowledge can be included in the BNs model, and that humans can understand and interpret the BNs model more readily. This work proves that the BNs technique is applicable to the identification of vessel anomaly behaviour.

A LOCKED-POSITION MONITOR FOR IMPROVING SAFETY OF RELEASE HOOKS IN ENCLOSED LIFEBOATS

Repeated casualties caused by inadvertent release of lifeboat release hooks during drills and inspections have attracted the attention of the International Maritime Organization, which correspondingly amends the Life-Saving Appliance (LSA) Code in the international convention for the Safety of Life at Sea. This study proposes novel installations of locked-position monitors on release hooks for monitoring and safety checks. With the installation of locked-position monitors near unsealed pull rod, upon lifting the lifeboat from the water, the sensors can initiatively detect whether the release hooks are in a locked position. If the release hooks are not in the locked position for any reason, audible alarms are activated, warning lifeboat operators to cease operations and wait for further inspection. The example provided in this research indicates that locked-position monitors can be implemented on lifeboats to reduce accidents resulting from malfunctioning lifeboat release hooks, thereby promoting a safer working environment for all seamen at sea.

On the development of the draft requirements for the rules of the Register of Shipping in terms of limiting accelerations

Настоящая статья является пятой из цикла статей, посвященных корректировке кодекса ИМО по остойчивости в части ограничений продольной качки. В ней рассмотрены подходы к ограничениям по погоде из условий, возникающих при продольной качке для судов различных типов и предложены критерии оценки этих явлений на нерегулярном волнении разной интенсивности. На основании выполненных систематических расчетов продольной качки на нерегулярном волнении получены зависимости вертикальных ускорений по длине судна от скорости и интенсивности волнения для транспортных судов. Полученные формулы позволяют оценить указанный показатель мореходности. При этом ставится цель расширения нормативной базы для обоснованного назначения эксплуатационных ограничений по погоде и району плавания судов при совершенствовании Правил Российского Морского Регистра Судоходства на основе общего подхода к нормированию мореходности, со­гласующегося с методикой разработки новой Международной конвенции о грузовой марке 2000. Предлагаемый подход к определению дополнительных критериев мореходности для оценки эксплуатационных ограничений судов по погоде из условий мореходности может быть использован на практике для совершенст­вования нормативных требований Регистра. This article is the fifth in a series of articles devoted to the adjustment of the IMO stability code in terms of pitching limitations. It considers approaches to weather restrictions based on the conditions arising during pitching for ships of various types and proposes criteria for assessing these phenomena on irregular waves of different intensities. On the basis of the performed systematic calculations of pitching on irregular waves, the dependences of vertical accelerations along the length of the vessel on the speed and intensity of waves for transport vessels were obtained. The formulas obtained make it possible to estimate the specified indicator of seaworthiness. At the same time, the goal is to expand the regulatory framework for the justified assignment of operational restrictions on the weather and the area of navigation of ships while improving the Rules of the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping on the basis of a general approach to the regulation of seaworthiness, consistent with the methodology for the development of a new International Convention on Load Mark 2000 . The proposed approach to the definition of additional seaworthiness criteria for assessing the operational limitations of ships by weather based on seaworthiness conditions can be used in practice to improve the regulatory requirements of the Register.

Protection of Migrant Workers under the ICMW: Incompatibility with Malaysian Laws and Position in ASEAN

The International Convention on The Protection of The Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (ICMW) is the only Human Rights Convention that distinguishes between normal and irregular migrants in great detail. An analysis of the situation in Malaysia, based on feedback from relevant stakeholders, shows that there are insurmountable obstacles to ratification in relation to the ambiguous policy status for migrant workers, which is based on ad hoc policies. Malaysian legislation appears to be straightforward in its approach to labour migration policies, as it defines and categorises migrants into two distinct ‘categories': registered migrant (regular migrant) and undocumented migrant (irregular migrant), regardless of ability level. This article demonstrates that, despite the barriers and incompatibilities with national laws, the Convention, which is primarily a human rights instrument aimed at protecting the fundamental rights of all migrants, could assist Malaysia in ensuring a holistic and sustainable migration management that takes into account the needs of a whole approach and support from all parties involved, including but not limited to the Malaysian government. Part I of the article will go through the history of the convention's adoption, followed by Part II on the state of Malaysia's migration laws and policies, Part III on the compatibility and incompatibility of Malaysian laws with the ICMW and the position in ASEAN, and Part IV on recommendations.

Validation of the altimetry-based water levels from Sentinel-3A and B in the Inner Niger Delta

The comprehension of water level fluctuations and the sustainability of the Inner Niger River Delta (IND) is a major concern for the scientific community, but also for the local population. Located in the centre of Mali, the heart of the Sahel, the delta is characterised by a floodable area of more than 32 000 km2 during the rainy season, which contributes very strongly to the vitality of local ecosystem, and is consequently classified as a Ramsar site under the international Convention for Wetlands. In addition, the Delta acts as an environmental and socio-economic development barometer for the entire sub-region. Nowadays, we can observe an increasing fragility of the delta due to climate change, desertification and human activities, and justifies the need for permanent monitoring. The present study is based on the recent successes of radar altimetry, originally designed to monitor the dynamics topography of the ocean, and now very frequently used to retrieve inland water levels, of lakes, rivers, and wetlands. Previous studies evaluated the performances of several radar altimetry missions including Low Resolution Mode (LRM) (Topex-Poseidon, Jason-1/2/3, ERS-2, ENVISAT, and SARAL, and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Sentinel-3A missions for water level retrievals over 1992–2017. More than 50 times series of water levels were build at the crossing between water bodies and Sentinel-3A and 3B over 2016–2020. Twenty-four comparisons between in-situ and altimetry-based time-series of water levels were achieved over the IND. RMSE generally lower than 0.7 m and r higher than 0.9 were obtained.