Problems faced by the shipping industry in raising capital in the securities markets

This papers examines the reasons for the shipping industry's general failure to exploit the enormous capital raising potential offered by the world's major security markets. The basic reason put forward is one of joint ignorance and lack a of communication. On the one hand shipping perceives the market as being unsympathetic to its requierments. On the other hand, the Stock market assess it as a minor activity and this is combined with a presumption of industrial instability. An analysis of recent initial public offering of equaity options in shipping highlights the inadequacy of companies who have ventured that way. In particular it is pointed out that shipping companies who embark on such a course must not forget that equaity is, at one end the same time, the cheapest and the most expensive money which they can raise. There is a further underlying problem for the industry, which is that market capital raising neccessiates the loss of personal control.     

Transportation Risk ANalysis tool for hazardous Substances (TRANS) – A user-friendly,semi-quantitative multi-mode hazmat transport route safety risk estimation methodology for Flanders

The paper develops a methodology for assessing the relative risk levels in moving hazardous materials by various transport modes. Transportation Risk ANalysis tool for hazardous Substances (TRANS) divides routes into smaller segments using multi-criteria analysis and likelihood scores of accidents in which dangerous cargoes are involved possibly causing fatalities. The consequences of accident scenarios are calculated in terms of the number of people within 1% of the lethal distance from the accident centre. This provides a user-friendly, semi-quantitative risk analysis tool. The generic method allows for comparing the risk levels of the segments of routes used in the transportation of hazardous goods.     

Cutting vehicle emissions with regenerative braking

This paper presents an analysis of vehicle regenerative braking systems as a quick and relatively easy means of achieving higher overall fuel efficiency and lowering carbon emissions. The system involves the installation of an additional electric motor/generator in parallel to the vehicle’s internal combustion engine and is used in conjunction with a DCDC converter and ultracapacitor. The system is used to recapture the energy lost in vehicle braking, significantly reducing a vehicle’s overall energy consumption and lowering vehicle emissions. Experimentally-based evidence is collected and compared for two sample vehicles to deduce the potential fuel and emissions saving.     

A multi-layer scenario analysis for sustainable international transport

This article considers the development of the international transport sector based on four globalization scenarios. These four images of the future transportation market are constructed at three different levels (global, European and Dutch). The possible consequences of these scenarios are mapped out not only by key aspects such as modal split and spatial organization but also by providing empirical insights into expected transport flows for both passenger and freight transport in 2020 based on data from 1995.     

The economic impact study of maritime policy issues: application to the German case

Input-output analysis basically provides an estimation of a sector's economic impact by taking into account the indirect effects on all other sectors. For purposes of policy making, however, this may produce rather rigid and inaccurate results. This paper, therefore, introduces some extensions to the basic impact analysis. These extensions secure flexibility, completeness and accurateness of the outcomes. First, an accurate cost structure is determined in a bottom-up approach, i.e. by using data from a sample of representative companies. This allows for reliable outcomes and a flexible definition of sub-sectors. Secondly, the analysis is made in an intercountry context. Thirdly, the expenditure effects of generated income are determined by a macroeconomic module. Fourthly, company-level responses to alternative policy scenarios are investigated and translated into changing model parameters. These four basic elements are applied in a case study concerning the shipping sector of Germany. The scenarios are a continuation of the present policy, a laissez-faire policy, and two framework policies in which the government creates a favourable environment for shipping companies. For each scenario, the effects on value added, employment, tax revenues and expenditures are analysed and evaluated. This paper, thus, shows the relevance of accordingly amplified input-output analysis for policy purposes.     

Model coastal zone statute

Abstract

This model statute sets out a mechanism for the management of the coastal zone by the coastal states. It provides a possible state response to the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972. The authors recognize that most states presently have some form of management or legal control over their coastal zone, and the model statute has been written with the intention that all or parts of it could be adapted to the wide variety of state regulatory schemes with the aim of providing unitary management to the valuable resource of the coastal zone.     

The trade‐off between efficiency,effectiveness, and social feasibility of regulating road transport externalities

This paper discusses the tension between the theory and practice of the regulation of road transport externalities from the viewpoint of the trade‐off between efficiency, effectiveness and the social feasibility of regulation. Various possible types of regulatory instruments, subdivided into ‘direct’ demand management, ‘indirect’ demand management and ‘supply side’ oriented policies, are evaluated qualitatively according to these criteria. Attention is then directed towards the trade‐off between efficiency, effectiveness and feasibility within the field of ‘direct’ demand regulation of road transport.     

Interpretation of cruise industry in a two-sided market context: An exploration on Japan

Two-sided markets are characterised by the presence of an intermediary and two groups of end-users. In the cruise market, cruise lines may play the role of intermediaries to connect the two end-users, viz. cruise passengers and cruise ports. Our research explored whether the cruise industry can be regarded as a two-sided market, starting with a theoretical modelling. The findings show that cruise lines might be hybrid intermediaries, selling their own ship-based products and services, while offering also a platform to enable the transaction between cruise passengers and cruise ports. This particular business model of a quasi-two-sided market is also reflected in the pricing scheme of cruise industry, whereby cruise ports charge an entry fee from cruise lines and port dues from cruise passengers. We illustrate an empirical analysis on the basis of the cruise market in Japan, and it provides a preliminary clue that the behaviours of cruise ports and cruise lines are consistent with our theoretical framework. The results are not convincingly significant due to data limitations, hence, the concept of a ‘two-sided market’ in the cruise industry call for further empirical research.     

A connected-vehicle-based dynamic control model for managing the bus bunching problem with capacity constraints

This paper describes a connected-vehicle-based system architecture which can provide more precise and comprehensive information on bus movements and passenger status. Then a dynamic control method is proposed using connected vehicle data. Traditionally, the bus bunching problem has been formulated into one of two types of optimization problem. The first uses total passenger time cost as the objective function and capacity, safe headway, and other factors as constraints. Due to the large number of scenarios considered, this type of framework is inefficient for real-time implementation. The other type uses headway adherence as the objective and applies a feedback control framework to minimize headway variations. Due to the simplicity in the formulation and solution algorithms, the headway-based models are more suitable for real-time transit operations. However, the headway-based feedback control framework proposed in the literature still assumes homogeneous conditions at all bus stations, and does not consider restricting passenger loads within the capacity constraints. In this paper, a dynamic control framework is proposed to improve not only headway adherence but also maintain the stability of passenger load within bus capacity in both homogenous and heterogeneous situations at bus stations. The study provides the stability conditions for optimal control with heterogeneous bus conditions and derives optimal control strategies to minimize passenger transit cost while maintaining vehicle loading within capacity constraints. The proposed model is validated with a numerical analysis and case study based on field data collected in Chengdu, China. The results show that the proposed model performs well on high-demand bus routes.     

基于数据挖掘的汽车排放检测结果与使用特点关联性分析

本文利用SQLServer2008作为数据库管理及数据挖掘平台,并建立了一个基于约10万条在用汽车排放检测数据的决策树挖掘模型。数据挖掘结果指出,使用年限与车辆排放状态有着密切的关联性。随着使用年限的增加,在用汽车排放检测不合格率也逐步增加,排放检测的不合格率从使用年限区间(一)的2.96%逐渐增加至区间(五)的18.31%。另外,使用年限在6年以内,营运车的排放检测不合格率是非营运车的排放检测不合格率的2倍以上,因此应分别对这两种不同使用性质的车辆采用不同的检车周期,非营运车辆的检车周期应放宽于营运车辆,以减轻非营运车车主的检车负担以及节省相关费用;在使用年限大于6年,可以采用同一检车周期以便于车辆管理部门的管理工作。