Safety is a crucial issue in densely sailed waterways.
Traffic guidance systems (VTS) have proven
to be valuable in this respect. The effectiveness of current systems and
the benefits for
improvements in navigation are addressed in this paper. Relevant incidents
are analysed with
a risk assessment tool (Accident Sequence Precursor method) developed for
complex system
analyses. The method is capable of drawing conclusions on a high level:
strategic and tactic
events and the human errors associated with the navigator's
task cycle. Changes in current VTS
systems will not likely improve safety records in dense areas. Improvements
might best be
achieved by reducing or eliminating the human factor in incident sequences.
This paper emanates from the European Research Project MarNIS. The possibility of monitoring traffic has improved considerably since the introduction of AIS (Automatic Identification System). A much better view of what is going on at sea offers new possibilities to enhance shipping safety. The risk of each ship delivers the basis for taking measures according to UNCLOS and the precautionary principle, to ships that have a far more than average risk. The application of this principle requires a scientific approach for the determination of the risk and new operational tools.The three main aspects necessary to implement risk analysis into the maritime traffic to enhance safety at sea are described. Firstly, the legal basis -the need for legal instruments, the definition of a high risk ship and new public competences. Secondly, a mathematical model to determine the so-called risk index for individual ships calculated dynamically, depending on the geographical position, the ship characteristics, the environmental conditions, other ships, shallows and other obstacles, such as offshore platforms and wind farms. Thirdly, there is the operational application.
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