Air pollution from ships: Recent developments

All developments on air pollution by ships are fairly recent. Annex VI of the international Marpol-convention, regulating the emissions of CFCs, Halons, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from cargoes, emissions from incinerators and exhaust gas emissions from engines (NO_x and SO_x) entered into force in May 2005. The International Maritime Organization is currently discussing an upgrade of the air pollution issues covered by Annex VI and some that are not in Annex VI, such as greenhouse gas emissions. CO₂ is the most important greenhouse gas emitted by ship. Fuel consumption by the world merchant fleet is expected to grow to between 250–300 million tons per year with corresponding CO₂ emissions of 800–960 million tons per year. In Western Europe land based measures have reduced sulphur emissions substantially, leaving shipping as an important remaining source of these emissions. Average sulphur content of heavy fuel oils is 3%, with a limit of 4.5% imposed by Annex VI. Both the Baltic- and the North Sea have the status of SO_x emission control area, limiting sulphur content to 1.5%.     

Investment strategies in market uncertainty

The nature of the global economy is one of dynamic change. Shipping is a service industry with its demand related to changes in international trade levels and patterns. As a consequence shipping is subject to sometimes unpredictable swings in demand so that the operator is required to make strategic planning decisions while navigating through boom or bust environments. While boom economies generate rising freight rates which are welcomed and encourage investment, ship operators may also have to face falling freight demand and declining freight rates that may have significant impact on profitability, often falling to uneconomic levels for extended periods. In such a period of uncertainty and declining profitability management will make operational decisions to reduce costs. However, shipping lines operate in a market environment so any decisions made to rationalize the trade may have significant long-term competitive implications. For example, traditional micro economic theory might suggest that the prudent strategy to adopt would be to close down the operation and reopen when the market conditions improve. In a world of certainty or when costs of taking this action are zero, this would be a valid strategy. However, because of fear of competitors taking up a line's market share if the shipping company exits, even temporarily, this strategy cannot be valued simply in terms of shut-down and start-up costs. A further consideration is the fact that standard capital budgeting techniques, such as Net Present Value (NPV), cannot incorporate the flexibility to respond to new information and strategic responses explicitly into their investment analysis. This paper will demonstrate the use of Real Option Analysis (ROA) to provide guidelines for decisions about closing operations in adverse market conditions.     

The coastal edge of the Northeast Water polynya in spring 1993

Multidisciplinary, marine ecological observations were conducted at the shallow water edge of the Northeast Water in June, 1993. Although variable in size and shape, a small polynya was constantly present at Eskimonaes, at the fast-ice edge of Ingolfsfjord. A shallow stratified layer developed at the water sufface at negative water and air temperatures—an effect of sea ice melting in cold water early in the season. Nutrients were recorded in considerable quantities, although by mid July NO₃ had become depleted. The chlorophyll and phytoplankton maxima at 8–12 m depth had peak values of 2 mg chl a m⁻³, typical for Arctic algal blooms. The phytoplankton included over 90 species and was dominated by the Fragillariopsis group. Zooplankton was poor in biomass and density, but over 23 taxa were found, with the copepods Oithona similis and Pseudocalanus acuspes being numerically dominant. Sedimentation was approximately 0.2 g dry weight m⁻² d⁻¹ and suspended matter concentrations ranged from 4 to 19 mg l⁻¹. The benthos was represented by hard bottom forms only, with a surprisingly dense cover of macrophytes. Juvenile sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis), brittle stars (Ophiocten sericeum) and amphipods were dominant. Higher trophic levels were represented by benthic feeders, such as eiders and walruses. The area observed was more similar to high Arctic fjord ecosystems than to the offshore central Northeast Water polynya.     

天津地铁车辆段分布与联络线设置的研究

以天津地铁二期工程2号、5号线工程为例，对地铁厂架修车辆段分布与联络线设置进行研究，供国内城市轨道交通线网规划参考。     

ATP系统的MMI子系统在长春轻轨中的应用

本文介绍了应用在长春轻轨一期中ATP车载系统中的MMI子系统在系统试验调试和现场实际运营中具体实例。从硬件接口结构、软件模块接口详细分析介绍了MMI系统。     

集装箱生成量预测及其分流研究

在港口集装箱生成因素分析的基础上,运用多因素动态相关系数法对区域集装箱生成量以及分流情况进行预测和分析,最后分析江苏省集装箱生成量和分流情况,并提出集装箱运输的发展相关建议。     

交通仿真技术在高速公路改扩建保通中的应用

高速公路的改扩建约束条件较多,研究和制定高速公路改扩建工程施工期间交通保障方案具有重要意义。文中简述了交通仿真的基本概念,并以仿真软件TSIS中的FRESIM模型建立连霍高速公路(郑州段)交通仿真模型,分析研究连霍高速公路(郑州段)加宽扩建施工中的最合适限制车速。     

日本东京车站的经营理念

日本东京是拥有3200多万人口的国际化都市，同时它又是以商业中心为核心，住宅，工业区呈辐射状向周边扩散的典型的单向集中型城市，因此东京的轨道交通线路也是以东京车站为中心向东京外围发展的，目前这些轨道交通所承担着东京首都圈内运量的86%以上，作为日本最大的综合性交通枢纽东京车站，它连接了东海道本线，     

关于国铁线路开行城际列车的探讨

分析了国铁参与城际轨道交通的可行性和必要性，并对具体涉及的运输要素进行了探讨，提出了初步的研究思路。     

德国铁路电力机车动车概况

简要介绍德国铁路现有电力机车动车的各种系列、数量和主要改进.