Formal Safety Assessment: an updated review

The method of Formal Safety Assessment (FSA) was devised several years ago with the intent to help the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and other policy makers formulate policies and regulations by the proper use of the scientific method in matters pertaining to maritime safety and the protection of the marine environment. A host of FSA studies have been submitted over the last several years and have been reviewed by the IMO. Also, progress has been recently accomplished as regards incorporating environmental risk evaluation criteria within FSA. On the basis of these developments, revisions of the FSA guidelines have been proposed and adopted. This paper presents a review of the FSA method in light of these developments. This review updates an earlier review of FSA by Kontovas and Psaraftis [Marine Technol 46(1):45?C59, (2009)]. It also takes this opportunity to identify some deficiencies of FSA, either due to an incorrect application of the method or to the method itself, and makes some suggestions for further action in this area.     

A trial application of FSA methodology to the hatchway watertight integrity of bulk carriers

Formal safety assessment (FSA) is a formal, structured and systematic methodology, aimed at enhancing maritime safety, including protection of life, property and marine environment, by using risk and cost–benefit assessments. For the application of this methodology to the rule-making process, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) presented the Interim Guidelines, which describe procedures of FSA and inputs/outputs of each procedure in detail. This paper basically deals with an application of FSA methodology according to the IMO's Interim Guidelines to the hatchway watertight integrity of bulk carriers, which was carried out as a cooperative research between Korean Register of Shipping and Seoul National University. As results of this application study, 18 hazards are identified and 32 risk control measures are devised to reduce the associated risks. Potential risks, costs and benefits when some Risk Control Options are introduced are evaluated in monetary unit of US $. Finally, some discussions and recommendations based on experiences are also given for both future work and better application of this FSA methodology to the rule-making process.     

Evaluating the knowledge of experts in the maritime regulatory field

Regulations are introduced by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) into the maritime industry as the result of safety accidents and/or pollution incidents. When there is lack of historical data, then the IMO appoints experts in order to collect information regarding the costs and benefits generated to a stakeholder of the maritime industry once implementing a maritime regulation. Therefore, the role of experts in providing qualitative and quantitative information is crucial with respect to the quality of the maritime regulatory process within the IMO or other regulatory authorities. In this article, a methodology is proposed involving common criteria in determining the expertise of an individual in the maritime regulatory field. As essential part of the research methodology, analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is utilized to determine the expertise of an individual based on his/her own judgements. The regulatory authorities and other stakeholders of the maritime industry may use this method when selecting experts for decision-making. In this article, a simulation is carried showing the potentials of the AHP methodology in expertise evaluation followed by a case study.     

Compensation issues under the Bunkers Convention

Oil tankers are not the only vessels that cause oil pollution damage at sea. Numerous spills at sea have been of heavy fuel oil from non-tankers. The international system of civil liability and compensation established after the Torrey Canyon incident covers only oil pollution damage caused by oil tankers. There was thus a need to bring the law on marine oil pollution up-to-date by extending liability and compensation to all sea-going vessels. In March 2001, the Bunkers Convention was adopted at a Diplomatic Conference at the IMO; it has not yet come into force. This paper focuses on the discussion of compensation issues under the Bunkers Convention. It analyses the relevant provisions, the impacts of components such as compulsory insurance on the availability of compensation under the Bunkers Convention. Suggestions on other compensation sources are also given in this paper.     

Formal safety assessment and application of the navigation simulators for preventing human error in ship operations

The International Maritime Organization （IMO） has encouraged its member countries to introduce Formal Safety Assessment （FSA） for ship operations since the end of the last century. FSA can be used through certain formal assessing steps to generate effective recommendations and cautions to control marine risks and improve the safety of ships. On the basis of the brief introduction of FSA, this paper describes the ideas of applying FSA to the prevention of human error in ship operations. It especially discusses the investigation and analysis of the information and data using navigation simulators and puts forward some suggestions for the introduction and development of the FSA research work for safer ship operations.     

Risk management modeling and its application in maritime safety

Quantified risk assessment （QRA） needs mathematicization of risk theory. However, attention has been paid almost exclusively to applications of assessment methods, which has led to neglect of research into fundamental theories, such as the relationships among risk, safety, danger, and so on. In order to solve this problem, as a first step, fundamental theoretical relationships about risk and risk management were analyzed for this paper in the light of mathematics, and then illustrated with some charts. Second, man-machine-environment-management （MMEM） theory was introduced into risk theory to analyze some properties of risk. On the basis of this, a three-dimensional model of risk management was established that includes： a goal dimension; a management dimension; an operation dimension. This goal management operation （GMO） model was explained and then emphasis was laid on the discussion of the risk flowchart （operation dimension）, which lays the groundwork for further study of risk management and qualitative and quantitative assessment. Next, the relationship between Formal Safety Assessment （FSA） and Risk Management was researched. This revealed that the FSA method, which the international maritime organization （IMO） is actively spreading, comes from Risk Management theory. Finally, conclusion were made about how to apply this risk management method to concrete fields efficiently and conveniently, as well as areas where further research is required.     

舟山海域油品码头布局与溢油风险评估

提出了一个基于不确定性分析理论的区域油品码头空间布局的溢油风险模拟与评估方法。该方法可系统分析沿海区域油品码头空间布局及其产生的海域溢油风险的空间分布规律,能够满足我国当前近海高强度开发形势下战略环评和环境风险评估的技术需求。以舟山海域为研究对象,通过油品码头布局模型和不确定性分析,对舟山海域进行综合溢油风险评估,结果表明该方法可以用于综合评估某一海区的溢油风险水平;基于溢油风险概率和污染损害的时空分布,依据风险值集中度最大及风险总值最小的原则,能够实现多种码头布局方案下的海域溢油风险水平的综合比较,并得到最优油品码头布局方案。     

综合安全评估(FSA)及其在船舶安全中的应用

综合安全评估(FSA)是近年来国外已在应用的一种安全评估方法。通过规范化的评估步骤，提出合理的并能有效控制风险的建议与措施，从而改进安全工作和提高安全水平。国际海事组织为确保船舶设计建造、营运管理和海上航行与环境等方面的安全，在20世纪末已将FSA引入和应用于船舶安全的领域。我们在介绍FSA方法及其实施的基础上，就FSA在船舶安全中应用的现状和发展进行论述，并提出了一些设想与建议。     

基于本质安全的深海浮式生产装置泄漏风险控制模型研究

由于各种原因导致的海上油气泄漏会引发火灾、爆炸、环境污染等重大事故发生。为此,建立基于本质安全原理和过程预防屏障分析的深海油气生产装置泄漏风险控制模型。首先采用基于本质安全方法的设计从根本上避免或消除风险,之后在各个工程阶段采取层层预防屏障对初始泄漏风险事件加以控制或减缓。将上述原理和方法应用于深海浮式生产装置,遏制了泄漏风险升级,达到了最佳的风险控制目标,实例分析证明了其正确性和可操作性。     

Methods for probabilistic safety assessments of ships

 At the 62nd MSC conference (MSC62) in 1993, the UK proposed a new methodology for the consideration of safety regulations. This method is called formal safety assessment (FSA). FSA is an application of probabilistic safety assessment (PSA). Risk is used as an index of safety. One of the most important parts of FSA is to evaluate the risk to a ship when it is equipped with the safety measures recommended by the proposed safety regulations. The National Maritime Research Institute (NMRI, formerly the Ship Research Institute) has been developing a method which allows the risk to be obtained holistically by utilizing a scientific method. To obtain the risk, the probability and consequences of every accident must be evaluated. This paper examines the following points: (a) a holistic methodology for risk evaluation; (b) a method used in the process of estimating the probability of collision; (c) a method to reduce the numbers of fire escalation scenarios; (d) a trial risk evaluation of cabin fire. Received: January 10, 2002 / Accepted: April 18, 2002     

The UN’s 2030 Agenda for sustainable development and the maritime transport domain: the role and challenges of IMO and its stakeholders through a grounded theory perspective

In September 2015, the United Nations (UN) officially adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development together with 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) (UN, 2016). The attainment of the SDGs requires a strong commitment by all UN Member States, not least by the Member States at the International Maritime Organization (IMO). This empirical research aims to identify the role and challenges of stakeholders at IMO, when implementing the UN’s 2030 Agenda in the international maritime transport domain using a grounded theory approach. This paper describes the methodology and the analytical process undertaken and presents the main findings based on empirical data. The results are presented as a set of six propositions. The first proposition presents the phenomena engulfing Member States at IMO stemming out from lack of knowledge and policy incoherency on the 2030 Agenda at national level. The other five propositions suggest how these challenges could potentially be best alleviated through an IMO-led strategy on sustainable development within the context of the 2030 Agenda, supported by an appropriate governance structure that sees the introduction of strategic actors for coordinating the implementation of the SDGs at national level. With the support of a Task Force, and by also making use of the IMO Member State Audit Scheme (IMSAS), to create more awareness and ownership, the strategic actors could work towards balancing the three dimensions of sustainable development—the economic, the environmental, and the social dimensions—which were found to be imbalanced in the international maritime transport domain.     

A quantitative risk analysis by using interval type-2 fuzzy FMEA approach: the case of oil spill

ABSTRACT

Risk assessment in maritime domain is one of the most cited topics since maritime transportation poses potential hazard for human life, marine environment and property. To mitigate risk and enhance safety awareness in maritime transportation, safety researchers have been seeking proactive solutions. This article prompts a quantitative risk-based approach combining interval type-2 fuzzy sets (IT2FSs) with failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) to perform a comprehensive risk analysis. Thus, potential failure modes and their effects are revealed by calculating risk prioritisation numbers (RPNs). Whilst the FMEA method provides a robust risk analysing tool with relevant control options, the IT2FSs deals with ambiguity and vagueness of linguistic assessment of decision-makers through the FMEA. Hence, expert’s linguistic assessment in risk assessment can be transformed into useful information in terms of enhancing safety and pollution prevention in maritime industry. To demonstrate the proposed approach, potential failures and effects of a real shipboard oil spill case are handled. The findings show that incomplete information exchanged with local maritime authorities, malfunction of oil skimmer and poor organization of shoreline clean-up team are the most important failures during case of oil spill. The proposed approach provides not only theoretical insight into the maritime transportation industry but also practical contributions to chemical/oil tanker safety and environmental protection by mitigating risk in terms of technical or operational aspects.     

船型参数对骑浪/横甩薄弱性衡准影响研究

骑浪/横甩是IMO船舶第二代完整稳性的五种失效模式之一,是一种基于概率的稳性衡准,制定规范的目的是更有效地保障船舶在实海域中的航行安全,确保不发生稳性失效情况.本研究中,以IMO有关成员国提出的最新版骑浪/横甩薄弱性衡准草案为基础,基于自主开发的骑浪/横甩薄弱性衡准校核软件,针对围网渔船开展了样船计算和比较分析,研究IMO正在制定的骑浪/横甩薄弱性衡准方法对该类船型的适用情况,分析船型参数对骑浪/横甩薄弱性衡准的影响,为我国参与国际法规制定,提出针对骑浪/横甩薄弱性衡准的提案提供技术支撑和依据.     

Total oil spill costs and compensations

Although counteracting environmental programmes and policies have been strengthened, large oil spills still occur at irregular intervals. The total oil spill costs and their compensations have attracted much interest from various parties, such as local stakeholders, and state and federal governments. This paper addresses five major cost categories whose aggregations are expected to cover the overall direct and indirect costs after the release of an oil spill. Among them, research costs should not be neglected, since they tend to be high if public attention has been drawn to the case. Through an examination of the relationship between the total oil spill costs and their admissible claims, we found that:

1. admissible claims do not cover the overall costs of the oil spill, and
2. admissible claims cannot be compensated in full in the case of large spills.

Clearly, a sound oil spill contingency management aims to minimize both the environmental impacts of areas most at risk and the total oil spill costs. In this paper an economic model for measuring environmental damages following an oil spill is addressed and applied to the Prestige case which happened to be the worst oil pollution in the history of Spain. The model indicates how an ideally a priori economic evaluation may intuitively help managers to make informed as well as fast decisions in contingency cases.     

Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas: Past,present and future

Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas (PSSAs) are sea areas which need special protection on environmental grounds. In this respect coastal States, through IMO, can take some measures which may result in restrictions on the traditional freedom of passage. The aim of this paper is to explain the IMO guidelines on PSSA and the questions raised by the proposal of West European Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas (WE PSSA). This paper will also examine the legal grounds of the PSSA concept and look at UNCLOS in this respect.     

纯稳性丧失和瘫船稳性薄弱性衡准实船验证分析

国际海事组织(IMO)正在制定第二代完整稳性衡准,并计划于2019年开始强制实施.该稳性衡准涵盖了5种稳性失效模式:参数横摇、纯稳性丧失、过度加速度、瘫船稳性和骑浪/横甩.衡准评估由薄弱性衡准和稳性直接评估组成.本文采用实际运营的4艘油船和3艘渔政船对最新草案中纯稳性丧失和瘫船稳性的薄弱性衡准进行了计算,分析了第一层和第二层薄弱性衡准的一致性,为纯稳性丧失和瘫船稳性薄弱性衡准的制定提供参考.     

小型液货船惰性气体系统最新动向

防止油船和化学品船火灾及爆炸事故一直是IMO关注的问题,同时也是油轮公司和化学品船公司日常安全管理的重点之一。液货船(包括油船、化学品船和液化气体船)在海上航行或在货物操作期间,可能发生各种不可预测的因素,存在着很多巨大的火灾或爆炸危险性。为确保安全,避免航行及货物操作期间各种不可预测因素的影响,只有在液货船,如油船上安装惰性气体系统,并对船员作全面培训,才能减少甚至防止事故的发生。     

清洁能源在未来船舶市场的应用

随着IMO 2020排放要求的出台执行,以及人们对环境问题的关注度越来越高,对环境的保护意识增强,船舶污染改善也成为热门话题.而使船舶产生环境污染的动力能源首当其冲成为需要改善的问题之一.文章介绍了几种目前应用比较多的清洁能源及其主要特点优势.     

综合安全评价在船舶动力装置中的应用

综合安全评价（FSA）是一种在工程技术与工程运行管理中用于制定合理可行的规则和提供风险控制的综合性、结构化和系统性的分析方法，将FSA引入到船舶动力装置的安全评价中，是对船舶安全评价的一次尝试，按照综合安全评价的五个步骤对影响船舶动力装置安全的因素进行了分析评价。具体应用时，使用故障树分析法以拉缸故障为实例做了定性和定量分析，根据评价结果提出了相应的安全管理措施，为船舶轮机人员及管理人员提供参考。