A new formulation of the impact mechanics of ship collisions and its application to a ship–iceberg collision

A new formulation is proposed for the analysis of the impact mechanics of ship collisions that can be applied to both 2D and 3D cases. It is assumed that the impact force is large, and all other forces except the impact forces are neglected. The equations of motion are solved in a local coordinate system, and a transformation matrix between the global and the local coordinate system is proposed. The mass and inertia properties are formulated in the local coordinate system. The orientation of the local coordinate system is determined by the hull shape of the struck ship at the contact point. A closed form solution of the external mechanics of ship collisions is derived. Excellent agreement with an alternative 2D formulation for ship–ship collisions is achieved. The features of the proposed 3D method are demonstrated by numerical examples. An application of the method to estimate the required energy dissipation in ship–iceberg collisions is included. Results and discussions are presented and finally, conclusions are made.     

Examining the theoretical–empirical inconsistency on stationarity of shipping freight rate

As market price, shipping freight rates should in theory be stationary, but most empirical tests have found them to be non-stationary. To examine the causes of this theoretical–empirical inconsistency, we investigate the sensitivities of the stationarity of shipping freight rates from two perspectives: sample length and sample window. Longer samples are found not sufficient to make them stationary. Instead, sample windows separated by structural breaks are tested as stationary. Moreover, freight rates are found to have entered into a new phase since the 2008 financial crisis. This study contributes to the literature on the stationarity of shipping freight rates by providing an explanation for the theoretical–empirical inconsistency.     

Can clusters be bi-polar? Exploring the case of the Piraeus port–maritime cluster

ABSTRACT

Further to being Greece’s biggest port, Piraeus has been a traditional pole of attraction for a plethora of organisations, companies, and institutions engaged in port- and shipping-related activities. Regional development literature has already indicated that the benefits deriving from adjacency and agglomeration economies are maximised when individual entities are organised in forming business clusters. Therefore, the paper critically addresses the existence of theoretical preconditions to a competitive port–maritime cluster formulation in wider Piraeus area. Based on a thorough review of cluster theory, the basic characteristics of clusters are identified to provide the analytical tools for examining the geographical concentration and economic specialisation in Piraeus. Field research in the form of in-depth interviews with leading shipping- and port-related business representatives and institutional bodies and the analysis of qualitative and quantitative data collected revealed that necessary preconditions for successful cluster formulation are met despite the inexistence of a formally recognised cluster. Two distinct poles of economic activity (shipping and port related) are recognised, demonstrating differentiated clustering behaviours and patterns of interaction with other players. The paper concludes with proposals deriving from this dual cluster structure and governance and the need for innovative, differentiated strategies.     

An energy‐mobility beach classification system as a basis for the management of beach resources

Abstract

The successful implementation of structural and nonstructural solution to problems of shoreline erosion is greatly facilitated if the accumulation and analysis of data sets are accomplished within a design framework which has both theoretical validity and practical application. An inventory of beach resources based upon breaking‐wave energy and beach mobility is presented as a basis for a beach classification system. This method should be used with existing inventories compiled by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. A simplified means of determining changes in beach position and slope is suggested; this will facilitate gathering data in a daily time series at numerous locations by a minimum number of people. Examples of how the inventories may be conducted and a sample classification system are presented for selected portions of the shoreline of New Jersey.     

The potential role of public–private partnerships in the upgrade of port infrastructure: normative and positive considerations

There is a broad consensus on the need for the major expansion of many ports. Traditionally, ports and related facilities have involved significant levels of direct or indirect government ownership or some degree of government financing. Most governments, however, are reluctant to either borrow money to fund the needed additional capital infrastructure or to fund it directly. Public–private partnerships (P3s) are thus an attractive potential option. But are they the answer? This article examines the normative rationales for P3s and presents a positive theory perspective that focuses on the conflicting goals of public and private partners. It argues that the major government impetus for P3s is likely to be for physical port infrastructure with moderate levels of market failure, such as small to medium sized ports, and not for intangible port activities. Furthermore, small to medium sized port P3s are likely to be successful in terms of having relatively low transaction costs and lower total social costs than alternative provision mechanisms. Nonetheless, even in this situation, the different goals of public and private partners may give rise to conflict. Drawing on the global empirical evidence on P3s, this article proposes some institutional design features that will help to ensure P3 success.     

An investigation of forecast horizon and observation fit’s influence on an econometric rate forecast model in the liner shipping industry

This paper evaluates the influence of forecast horizon and observation fit on the robustness and performance of a specific freight rate forecast model used in the liner shipping industry. In the first stage of the research, a forecast model used to predict container freight rate development is presented by exploring the relationship between individual company’s rates and aggregated market rates, and thus assists in dealing with uncertainty and market volatility for a given business situation. In the second stage, a design of experiment approach is applied to highlight the influence of the forecast horizon and observation fit and their interactions on the forecast model’s performance. The results underline the complicated nature of creating a suitable forecast model by balancing business needs, a desire to fit a good model and achieve high accuracy. There is strong empirical evidence from this study; that a robust model is preferable, that overfitting is a true danger, and that a balance must be achieved between forecast horizon and the number of observations used to fit the model. In addition, methodological guidance has also been provided on how to test, design, and choose the superior model for business needs.     

Evaluating the impact of PSC inspectors’ professional profile: a case study of the Spanish Maritime Administration

Full-scale globalisation of trade has been accompanied by a progressive liberalisation of maritime transport. The proliferation of open registries has created a situation in which Port State Control (PSC) has become much more effective than the feeble or non-existent control exercised by those States. This study has been conducted on the influence of the professional profile of inspectors on inspection results. The objective of our paper was to evaluate the impact of PSC inspectors’ professional profile by conducting a case study of the Spanish Maritime Administration. The paper concludes with a discussion of the correlation between deficiencies detected and professional profiles.     

Numerical investigation of turbulence near a sheared air–water interface. Part 2: Interaction of turbulent shear flow with surface waves

Large-eddy simulations (LES) of the interactions between turbulent shear flow and surface waves are presented. The formation mechanism of Langmuir circulation and its contribution to the vertical momentum transport are investigated in detail. The effect of surface waves is modeled in two ways in the LES runs. One model includes only the phase-averaged effect of the waves as an added source term in the momentum equation, and the other model includes the full effect of the waves by use of the fully nonlinear conditions of the air-water interface. Langmuir circulations are clearly indicated in both cases, indicating that the phase-averaged effect is essential for the formation of this circulation. It is shown that the formation of Langmuir circulations enhances the vertical transport of momentum. As a result, the mean velocity gradient and the streamwise component of the turbulence intensity are decreased, while the spanwise and interface normal components are increased. Examination of the turbulence energy budget equations shows that production is due to the interaction between the vorticity and the Lagrangian drift as the phase-averaged effect of the wave becomes the dominant source of turbulence. Received: August 17, 2000 / Accepted: December 22, 2000     

Numerical investigation of turbulence near a sheared air–water interface. Part 1: Turbulence statistics beneath a flat water surface sheared by wind

Direct numerical simulation (DNS) and large eddy simulation (LES) of turbulent shear flow beneath a flat water surface with imposed wind shear stress are presented. The results of DNS indicate that there are clear differences, and also similarities, between wind-driven flow and the flow near a solid wall. The qualitative structures of turbulence are similar in both types of flow. Low-speed streaks are also present in wind-driven flow. On the other hand, profiles of the mean velocity and turbulence intensities in wind-driven flow are significantly different from those in flow near a solid wall. The differences are attributed to the lack of a viscous sublayer, and to the boundary condition which allows fluctuations of the tangential velocity components at the boundary. LES of the same flow was also carried out to evaluate subgrid-scale models. It was shown that the features of the flow observed in DNS are well simulated by all models tested, and that the discrepancies between DNS and LES with the dynamic mixed model are very small. Received: August 17, 2000 / Accepted: December 22, 2000     

The impact of the Polar Code on risk mitigation in Arctic waters: a “toolbox” for underwriters?

The existing risk weighing on vessel, crew and ecosystem in the Arctic and more globally in Polar waters promoted the adoption of the Polar Code (PC) early 2017, a mandatory international legal framework intended for enhanced safety and environmental protection. While the substance of the PC has been extensively analyzed, few studies have focused on the underlying relationships between the PC and underwriters. Based on an extensive literature review, documentary materials and interviews with insurance companies, this article conceptualizes the PC as a “toolbox” and analyzes how underwriters can exploit it in their work within the emerging Arctic market. The PC does not only regulate the navigation in Arctic waters in legal terms, but is also aimed at mitigating risks in the Polar areas through the identification of hazard sources and proceduralization of risk assessment. As a result we observe a certain “Polar Code paradox”. Even though the PC is a risk-based instrument and constitutes a key step for improving ship insurability, it has only limited capacity to assist underwriters in assessing risks and insuring vessels. Marine insurers still face a lack of data and high pending uncertainties leading them to exercise extreme caution with Arctic risks appraisal.