Navigation Safety on Shipping Routes during Construction

Abstract

Construction work or other maintenance and repair activities in navigational channels are crucial to ensure and improve ships’ movement on the selected routes. However, during the performance of these works, the ships’ navigation along the construction area becomes more difficult due to the decreased parameters of passages for vessels and the operation of specific equipment on the route, e.g., dredgers and floating cranes. During construction work in navigational channels, it is impossible to stop navigation or limit ships’ parameters because there may not be other possibilities for vessels to reach their planned ports or other dedicated areas. The prior determination of ships’ sailing conditions and restrictions is essential to ensure maritime safety in such areas. The aim of this study is to develop a methodology that allows the precise determination of minimum passage parameters for the navigation of ships sailing through the areas in navigational channels where construction or development works are being carried out. The theoretical basis for the minimum passage parameter calculation is presented. The methodology for assessing the conditions and restrictions of navigation during construction work is proposed. The minimum width of the shipping passages in defined navigational, hydro-meteorological, and hydrological conditions and the possible minimum parameters sufficient to guarantee navigational safety are considered in a case study. The research results may be interesting for port authorities, shipping companies, and other entities involved in the organization of ships’ movement during construction work in navigational channels or other areas.