ENHANCED SIMULATION TECHNOLOGIES TO SUPPORT MARITIME OPERATIONAL RISK MANAGEMENT ONBOARD SHIPS

Approximately 90 per cent of global trade is realized via ships and seaways: a world without shipping is therefore unimaginable. Consequently, hazards and accidents in shipping have negative effects on the world-wide economy and have to be avoided by adequate safety related measures. As the United Nations specialised agency in the maritime field, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) is responsible for improving maritime safety and preventing pollution from ships. One of the most important regulatory measures to achieve these aims is the International Safety Management Code. Additionally, based on IMO conventions and performance standards as i.a. for Integrated Navigation and Integrated Bridge Systems (INS/IBS), many new devices and sophisticated systems are these days installed onboard to support the bridge team and the pilot in handling a ship safely and in managing operational risks. However, accidents still occur and further improvement of risk management is needed.

This paper deals with investigations into the application of simulation techniques to enhance onboard operational risk management. A concept for a real-time simulation-based tool using an innovative combination of mandatory technical and navigational equipment will be introduced, and a sample for applying such a module for the purpose of collision avoidance is described.