Aspects of the European Maritime Industry

This article discusses the regulatory and operational issues which have recently confronted a number of U.S. ports as a result of their dredging programmers. It describes the environmental concerns which have led community groups to raise legal objections to the traditional practice of ocean dumping of dredged material, the federal/state regulatory framework within which these objections have been considered and recent legislative changes to that framework. The paper describes in some detail the specific case of the Port of New York and New Jersey, which has experienced severe delays in its dredging programme since 1992 (and a resulting loss of business) as well mounting costs for dredged material disposal. The paper concludes that, complicated as the technical problems involving dredged material disposal may be, it is the political and economic issues involved which are likely to be decisive in the eventual outcomes for affected ports.     

Book reviews

Innovation, organizational capabilities, and environmental values combine to determine institutional change for a major marine port. This conceptual framework is applied to the case of dredged material management for the Port of New York and New Jersey. During the century under review, the institutional setting has changed significantly with: (1) environmental considerations moving from nearly irrelevant to central: (2) the number of interests and organizations increasing; and (3) the decision processes becoming far more complex. Ultimately, the new institutional setting influences organizations and individual decisions. As a result of the changes, the practice of dredged material disposal in ocean waters has been limited based on the level of bioaccumulation of selected contaminants. In response to institutional changes, ports requiring deepened channels must rapidly innovate to meet new environmental obligations for material disposal in order to enhance organizational capabilities necessary to maintain competitive advantages in maritime commerce. Successful marine ports will anticipate and meet new societal expectations related to the environment as a condition for continued legitimacy. Collectively these changes imply that ports have moved beyond a carefully circumscribed mission of transportation and economic development to that of a prominent user of coastal space with broad obligations to the public.     

Institutional change in the Port of New York

Innovation, organizational capabilities, and environmental values combine to determine institutional change for a major marine port. This conceptual framework is applied to the case of dredged material management for the Port of New York and New Jersey. During the century under review, the institutional setting has changed significantly with: (1) environmental considerations moving from nearly irrelevant to central: (2) the number of interests and organizations increasing; and (3) the decision processes becoming far more complex. Ultimately, the new institutional setting influences organizations and individual decisions. As a result of the changes, the practice of dredged material disposal in ocean waters has been limited based on the level of bioaccumulation of selected contaminants. In response to institutional changes, ports requiring deepened channels must rapidly innovate to meet new environmental obligations for material disposal in order to enhance organizational capabilities necessary to maintain competitive advantages in maritime commerce. Successful marine ports will anticipate and meet new societal expectations related to the environment as a condition for continued legitimacy. Collectively these changes imply that ports have moved beyond a carefully circumscribed mission of transportation and economic development to that of a prominent user of coastal space with broad obligations to the public.     

2000年疏浚设备和技术发展的研究

自五十年代以来,微处理机和液压传动技术的问世和应用,以及对冲淤特性和水流,泥沙输移特性的深入了解,促进了疏浚设备与技术的迅速发展。主要方面有: 1.疏浚船的型式和功能; 2.疏浚作业自动化和疏浚数据处理自动化; 3.优化疏浚; 4.疏浚土处理技术; 5.疏浚土的再循环和利用。本文介绍了国外技术发展水平与我国现状,并建议,在2000年前应重点开展12个方面的研究工作。     

浅谈天津港的纳泥区与泥土利用问题

天津港作为需要常年进行航道、泊位清淤维护的港口,在新建、改建项目实施的同时,应尽快考虑解决能较长期保证清淤维护需要的纳泥区问题。本研究结合天津港南疆港区和北疆港区泊位的清淤纳泥区现状,探讨解决港口纳泥区的必要性,并提出清淤泥土开发利用的建议。     

Establishment of a Dredged Material Disposal Site in the Exclusive Economic Zone: New Zealand

Disposal options for muddy dredged material, especially if lightly contaminated, is an issue facing many countries, particularly if environmental protection and adherence to the Protocols of the London Dumping Convention is a regulatory requirement. For the case of the oceanic islands of New Zealand, disposal of muddy dredged material has become an issue for the prime city of Auckland. Accordingly, it has been necessary to investigate a suitable marine disposal site outside of the territorial seas in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Ideal properties for such a disposal site include a near flat surface on the continental shelf, with sediments of similar textural characteristics to the material being disposed, a site of non-critical benthic ecology, water depths sufficient to enable the disposal site to be monitored (as required under the London Dumping Convention), a site experiencing low shelf currents, not affected by significant wave agitation, and a site not of cultural significance. The approach for site establishment and gaining consent for disposal activities is reviewed. Preliminary investigations supporting a proposed site on the continental shelf in the EEZ are presented.     

Sustainable development in seaports: a multi-case study

Seaports are a vital part of the maritime transport industry and have a key role in integrated transport chains and regional economies. However, ports are also sites of environmental pollution originating from land-based activities, ship movements and ports’ own activities. It is, therefore, increasingly recognised that economic growth in ports must be balanced with environmental protection and social progress. This has led to enhanced appreciation of the need for sustainable development (SD) in ports. Whilst much has been written about port environmental practices in European and American ports, there is limited synthesis and comparison of sustainable port practices from different parts of the world. Furthermore, in-depth case analysis and critical examination of the practices and challenges of sustainable port development in a globalised era is limited. This paper presents findings from a qualitative multi-case study that aimed to compare sustainable policies and practices of ports in four different continents and to understand the dilemmas, challenges and opportunities they face in attaining SD. This paper reports findings pertaining to the following research questions: (1) What policy frameworks do ports adopt to attain sustainable development? (2) What specific sustainable practices do ports utilise to manage environmental aspects such as air pollution, water quality, ballast water, dredging and disposal of dredged materials, waste disposal, hazardous substances and land/resource use? (3) What are the driving and constraining forces in achieving sustainable development in ports? Port authorities were studied by reviewing documents and secondary data. The following ports were studied: Port of Long Beach (USA), Port of Rotterdam Authority (The Netherlands), Sydney Ports Corporation (Australia) and Transnet Limited that owns and manages South African ports. Findings of the study demonstrate that the SD paradigm has gained momentum, albeit to differing degrees, in the functioning, organisation and the very ethos of case study ports. An important theme from all case studies is that, whilst there is definite progress towards SD, several practices deemed to be sustainable can be controversial and must be critically examined from the perspectives of different stakeholders including shippers, port-related businesses and the local and global community. Lack of data to monitor environmental impacts, economic costs of implementing sustainable practices and complexities of international, regional and national regulations were other constraining factors. On the other hand, reconciling differences between stakeholders and capitalising on economic opportunities, operational efficiencies and cost savings offered by environmental friendliness can advance port SD. Public–private partnerships and policies negotiated by involving all stakeholders were found to foster port sustainability. Most importantly, this study found that, with globalisation, environmental impacts of ports are not always localised. ‘Sustainable’ practices can have unintended consequences in other parts of the world. Therefore, globalisation necessitates a more critical and global analysis of port operations and environment practices in order to be truly sustainable. Although the scope of the research findings is limited to case study ports, the lessons drawn can be constructively applied to any port operating within an institutional system of structured SD.     

长江口深水航道疏浚土“十三五”造地利用研究Ⅱ——疏浚吹填工艺和方案

在分析评价长江口不同疏浚吹填工艺的特点及适用性的基础上,结合疏浚土资源供需关系和圈围工程现状条件,提出"十三五"期长江口深水航道疏浚土造地利用的初步技术方案。结果表明:1)长江口航道常用的"挖运抛+挖吹"和"挖运吹"工艺仅适用于较短运距的疏浚吹填工程;新研制的"耙吸装驳"工艺能适用于长运距的疏浚吹填工程,"十三五"投入应用后可显著拓展深水航道疏浚土的利用空间。2)"十三五"期间,横沙东滩七、八期圈围工程可利用深水航道北槽段疏浚土,采用"挖运抛+挖吹"和"耙吸装驳"的"挖+运+吹"工艺实施疏浚吹填;南汇东滩圈围工程N1库区可部分使用深水航道疏浚土,采用"耙吸装驳"工艺实施吹填;其他零星建设用地圈围工程可使用深水航道南港圆圆沙段疏浚土,采用"挖运吹"工艺吹泥上滩。     

耙吸船艏吹粉质黏性土疏浚物的管线清堵装备及实施方法

粉质黏土在中大型耙吸船艏吹施工过程中输送阻力大，会形成球块状聚集体堵塞吹泥管路，进而影响艏吹施工效率。在系统论述国内外已有的输泥管路堵塞防治方法的基础上，研制了一种耙吸船艏吹管线清堵装备及清堵作业方法，并依托青岛港某疏浚吹填工程进行现场原型试验研究。结果表明，与传统技术相比，此方法施工简易、快速灵活、可操作性强、经济适用且安全可靠；粉质黏土疏浚物艏吹作业在短、中长和长距离条件下均可开展；该方法极大提高了粉质黏土疏浚物艏吹作业实施效率。     

U.S. ports: evolution and structure

U.S. ports are facing competitive pressures similar to those being felt by ports elsewhere around the world. Despite the public enterprise nature of U.S. port authorities, they tend to function as 'business-like' organizations. This enterprise-like approach stems from their evolution from being primarily private railroad ports in the 19th century to public competitive port authorities in the 20th century. This paper provides an overview of the evolution of U.S. ports and the ongoing effect of earlier legislation, the varied resulting institutional structures, and current national and regional level issues. Although there is no national ports plan or strategy in the U.S.A. (the Constitution limits federal actions in the ports field) the federal government is involved in providing dredging services through the Army Corps of Engineers, navigation aids via the Coast Guard and other minor port-related services. U.S. ports typically come under the jurisdiction of state or local governments. Increasing competition coupled with other port issues (growing financial constraints, difficulties in obtaining dredging permits, environmental concerns and restricted landside access) is forcing some U.S. ports to enter into strategic alliances with others at a regional level.     

湖泊疏浚泥固化筑堤现场试验研究

结合无锡五里湖疏浚泥的处理问题,第一次利用国产大型淤泥固化处理专用设备和复合型淤泥固化材料,对疏浚出的底泥进行了固化处理和筑堤试验。通过对堤体现场取样测定了填筑土样的强度、变形和渗透性性质,结果表明采用淤泥固化处理设备固化的淤泥28d强度、变形和渗透系数能够满足堤防筑堤的要求,可以作为土方材料进行使用,实现了疏浚泥的资源化利用,解决了大量疏浚泥难以处理的难题,同时也证明了国产淤泥固化设备在处理淤泥问题上具有技术可行性。     

Response of benthic infauna and epifauna to ocean disposal of red clay dredged material in the New York Bight: A study using sediment-profile imaging, surface imaging and traditional methods

In 1997, approximately 1 million cubic yards of consolidated red clay was dredged from Newark Bay in New Jersey and deposited on the seafloor at an open-water dredged material disposal site located on the inner continental shelf of the New York Bight. To address concerns about the ability of benthic organisms to colonize the seafloor deposits of this compact, organic-poor red clay, monitoring surveys were conducted in 1998 (1 year after disposal) and 2002 (5 years after disposal). The surveys used a combination of sediment imaging and traditional grab sampling methods to characterize physical and biological conditions over the surface of the red clay deposits in comparison to nearby reference areas consisting of either naturally-occurring, sandy surface sediments or deposits of unconsolidated, muddy dredged material. Sediment-surface and sediment-profile images (SPI) collected in summer 2002 indicated that the surface of the red clay deposits had become much smoother and more heterogeneous in texture compared to images collected in 1998. The images also indicated that these deposits had become colonized to a much greater degree by relatively abundant and diverse infaunal and epifaunal communities compared to 1998. Taxonomic analysis of benthic grab samples confirmed the imaging results and indicated relatively high infaunal organism abundance and diversity over the red clay deposits in 2002 compared to the reference areas. However, the structure of the benthic community inhabiting the red clay was fundamentally different from the communities in the reference areas, due to the differences in sediment texture and composition. The combination of imaging and traditional taxonomic approaches used in this study provided much greater insight on the red clay colonization process than either approach by itself.     

长兴潜堤后方滩涂圈围工程疏浚土利用研究*

疏浚土正逐渐成为长江口滩涂造地泥沙资源供给的有效补充。长兴潜堤后方滩涂圈围工程紧邻长江口12.5 m深 水航道南港圆圆沙段,航道疏浚土利用的区位优势显著。在调查掌握南港圆圆沙段航道疏浚土产量、分布、土质及稳定性 的基础上,针对圈围工程特点,比选适合的疏浚吹填工艺,并提出可行的吹泥上滩技术方案。结果表明：南港圆圆沙段航 道疏浚土产量丰富稳定、运距短且土质条件较好,可满足圈围工程吹填用砂的要求。各类疏浚吹填工艺中,艏吹和耙吸装 驳工艺的技术适用性较好,现阶段可采用技术成熟的艏吹方案进行疏浚吹填,而耙吸装驳方案可作为备选,待2013年底正 式投入运营时可应用于圈围工程。研究成果为圈围工程吹填开辟了砂源,实现了航道疏浚与圈围造地的双赢。     

广州港出海航道工程设计特点

广州港出海航道工程具有航道较长、疏浚段多、地质条件复杂、技术难度大.疏浚土处理困难等特点,在大量的调查、研究、论证的基础上,坚持先进安全、经济合理的原则,成功地解决了工程中的航道选线、航道尺度、泥沙回淤、疏浚土处理等关键问题.取得了丰富的研究和设计成果.     

Sustainability and national policy in UK port development

Given the private sector character of the UK port system it might well be thought that, so far as port development is concerned, the market ruled. There are of course permissions to be obtained, including planning consent under the Town and Country Planning Acts; but this process has not so far been considered to interfere with market function. Ports are already well used to the process of obtaining approval, to negotiations with objectors and environmental interests, and to mitigating the effects of development when defining projects and seeking approval.

However, as ports policy is being brought into line with transport policy generally, and in particular with Government policy for sustainable development, ports are being faced with a more challenging regulatory framework. The search for sustainable transport is leading Government towards a broader based approach to the approval of development applications in which market need and commercial viability are simply two of a number of considerations which ports must take into account in designing projects which also meet environmental concerns.

There has been a long standing requirement for developers of major projects to carry out Environmental Impact Assessments. In addition Government policy is set out in a number of publications, applying sustainability and the associated “New Approach to Transport Assessment” (NATA) to the ports sector. In a separate and broader initiative it has also considered a radical reform of the planning system and the establishment of national priorities for infrastructure combined with a simplification of the Public Inquiry process. In the event it has been decided not to establish national priorities in the ports sector, although the aim of simplification of the Inquiry process remains.

The aim of this paper is to explore the emerging theoretical and practical issues arising within the development approval process. These are of most concern in the development of major projects for cargoes which have broad hinterlands, and where there are competing locations for new facilities. The most important example of this is in the deep sea container sector where there is a demand for new capacity and a choice of widely spaced locations in the south east of the UK. Some comment will be made on this sector and on the issues arising at the Public Inquiries for the proposed container port developments at Dibden Bay (Southampton) and the London Gateway at Shellhaven on the north bank of the Thames.     

Sustainability and national policy in UK port development

Given the private sector character of the UK port system it might well be thought that, so far as port development is concerned, the market ruled. There are of course permissions to be obtained, including planning consent under the Town and Country Planning Acts; but this process has not so far been considered to interfere with market function. Ports are already well used to the process of obtaining approval, to negotiations with objectors and environmental interests, and to mitigating the effects of development when defining projects and seeking approval.

However, as ports policy is being brought into line with transport policy generally, and in particular with Government policy for sustainable development, ports are being faced with a more challenging regulatory framework. The search for sustainable transport is leading Government towards a broader based approach to the approval of development applications in which market need and commercial viability are simply two of a number of considerations which ports must take into account in designing projects which also meet environmental concerns.

There has been a long standing requirement for developers of major projects to carry out Environmental Impact Assessments. In addition Government policy is set out in a number of publications, applying sustainability and the associated “New Approach to Transport Assessment” (NATA) to the ports sector. In a separate and broader initiative it has also considered a radical reform of the planning system and the establishment of national priorities for infrastructure combined with a simplification of the Public Inquiry process. In the event it has been decided not to establish national priorities in the ports sector, although the aim of simplification of the Inquiry process remains.

The aim of this paper is to explore the emerging theoretical and practical issues arising within the development approval process. These are of most concern in the development of major projects for cargoes which have broad hinterlands, and where there are competing locations for new facilities. The most important example of this is in the deep sea container sector where there is a demand for new capacity and a choice of widely spaced locations in the south east of the UK. Some comment will be made on this sector and on the issues arising at the Public Inquiries for the proposed container port developments at Dibden Bay (Southampton) and the London Gateway at Shellhaven on the north bank of the Thames.     

耙吸挖泥船格栅适用工况应用分析

耙吸挖泥船已成为当前疏浚项目的首选施工船舶。随着疏浚物的复杂程度不断加大,防止杂物进入管道系统成为当今疏浚行业研究的重要课题。耙吸挖泥船防杂物的方式主要依靠格栅装置。研究各类格栅的适用工况,以期推动疏浚业的发展。     

连云港港30万吨级航道工程抛泥悬浮物扩散观测研究

依托连云港港30万吨级航道工程,分析了ADCP走航式测沙技术应用于含沙量较低的连云港淤泥质海岸的可行性,重点研究主航道疏浚土在抛泥作业过程中产生的悬浮物扩散运动规律及其对连云港徐圩港区航道回淤的影响。研究成果可为连云港港30万吨级航道抛泥作业的改进提供参考。     

川江航道治理疏浚土有益利用实践与探索

疏浚是川江航道治理最重要的措施之一。长期以来,川江航道治理产生的疏浚土未进行有益利用,简单粗放的疏浚土处理方式不仅造成泥土资源的浪费,还对生态环境造成二次污染。在分析川江航道疏浚土来源及特点的基础上,结合工程实际,探索疏浚土改善环境和工程利用的2种途径,提出表层砂卵石疏浚土上岸作为建筑材料、底层砂卵石及块石疏浚土构建生态涵养区的利用方案,获得良好的投资效益和生态效果,可为类似航道治理工程疏浚土利用及内河生态航道建设提供借鉴。     

Abyssal seafloor waste isolation: the concept

The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), with industry and university participation, conducted an assessment of the concept of isolating certain wastes (i.e., sewage sludge, fly ash from municipal incinerators, and contaminated dredged material) on the oceans' abyssal seafloor. In this assessment the advantages, disadvantages, and economic and environmental viability of potential engineering methods for achieving abyssal waste isolation were identified and compared. This paper presents background to the Abyssal Plains Waste Isolation (APWI) Project, describes the characteristics of the waste streams and quantities potentially available for disposal via the abyssal isolation concept, summarizes regulations affecting use of the abyssal seafloor for disposal of wastes, and introduces the technical and scientific premises underlying implementation of the concept.