Marine accident analysis for collision and grounding in oil tanker using FTA method

In this study, collision and grounding data registered in GISIS (Global Integrated Shipping Information System) were investigated for oil tankers. The database includes the information of the collision and grounding accidents during the period between 1998 and 2010 in oil tankers. The risk assessments were carried out using fault tree analysis (FTA) programme for the incidents as collision and grounding occurred in oil tankers. In this study, we were able to investigate first the potential problems which cause the collision and grounding accidents have been determined, second, the occurrence of accidents has been shown with causal factors by the FTA method, and, finally, the significance degree of the initial events causing occurrence of accidents have been put forth. Collision in oil tanker resulted in economical loss (81%), pollution (6%) and death or injury (13%). Grounding in oil tanker resulted in economical loss (91%) and pollution (9%). According to the FTA results, the main reason for the accidents originating from human error is as follows: for collision accidents, Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREG) violation and the lack of communication between vessels; and for grounding accidents, the interpretation failure of the officer on watch and lack of communication in the bridge resource management.     

A new rule-based integrated decision making approach to container transshipment terminal selection

The choice of the port or terminal to perform transshipment operations is a critical decision for container transportation companies (i.e. shipping line companies). This choice is not only affected by transshipment costs but also by the location, infrastructure, equipment, and technologies of the alternative terminals. In this study, a rule-based integrated multi-criteria group decision making approach is proposed in order to support such complex decision processes which involve substantial uncertainties and subjectivities. The proposed approach involves simple mathematics and provides a flexible modeling approach close to human reasoning that is able to consider uncertain information and relationships of arbitrary complexity. To prioritize the sub-criteria affecting the choice of the most appropriate terminal and to assess alternatives with respect to these sub-criteria, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) based on absolute measurement is used. Then, to determine the most appropriate terminal, a Fuzzy Rule-Based System is developed, which adopts the scores of criteria (i.e. the total scores of sub-criteria) obtained by AHP as input. In order to demonstrate the applicability and effectiveness of the proposed approach, an application is presented for the choice of the most appropriate container transshipment port in Turkey for a shipping line company.