Evaluation of Environmental Impact Assessment Factors in Maritime Industry

The environmental impact of shipping sector includes the pollution caused by vessels to air and water environment.The water pollution is primarily caused by ship accidents and by untreated ballast water.To avoid maritime accidents,a complex system of regulations and safety management measures has been initiated to minimize and possibly avoid similar maritime disasters in the future.On the other hand,untreated ballast water,despite the ease of management by shipping companies,is regarded as one of the major maritime threats internationally and arguably a severe threat to biodiversity.The International Convention on the Control and Management of Ballast of Ships and Sediments,entered into force in September 2017,focusing on the prevention of the risk of importation and the proliferation of foreign species after the discharge of untreated ballast water from vessels.An option to reduce this risk is to install water treatment systems on the ballast tanks.Air pollution deriving from vessels is an additional issue that has great significance and impact on public health and the environment in general.Ships emit large amounts of air pollutants,mainly in the form of SO_(x)(Sulfur O_(x)ide),NO_(x)(Nitrogen O_(x)ide)and particulate matter,which are constantly growing and affecting humans.Vessels also produce nearly 3%of the world’s total greenhouse gas emissions,leading to rampant weather conditions.From 1 January 2020,the IMO(International Maritime Organization)imposed a new global sulfur emission ceiling of 0.5%on fuels,a reduction from the current limit of 3.5%,aiming at a gradual extinction of sulfur emissions in the near future.Pursuant to the previous analysis,three systems/indicators that are applied to vessels are going to be assessed,based on UNCTAD(United Nations Conference on Trade and Development)Report Data,to evaluate their impact in correlation to the measure of compliance to the relevant regulations so far:(i)the ship must have an equipped and installed ballast treatment system;(ii)the ship must be equipped and fitted with a special filter to eliminate sulfur emissions;(iii)the ship must comply with Tier III regulations to successfully reduce NO_(x)emissions.

Correlation of the Concepts of Proactiveness and Due Diligence to Achieve Sustainability in the Maritime Sector

The present status of our planet,with global warming and unprecedented changes in the climate,has led the shipping industry to incorporate the concept of sustainability.Sustainability in the shipping industry is a holistic management concept for sustainable development,applied to the shipping sector,integrating environmental and social responsibility.The final aim of sustainability in shipping is to establish an emission-free industry while executing more than 95%of global trade.To achieve this,specific methods and procedures are being developed.In this paper,the correlation between the concepts of proactiveness and due diligence will be assessed to explore and evaluate if or should there be a strong link between those concepts to achieve sustainability.During the paper’s analysis,it is evident that there is a continuous and impactful correlation between those three concepts.Therefore,the methods and systems provided can effectively lead the shipping sector into a sustainable and emission-free future.

Security Risk Assessment in Container Terminals:Empirical Evidence from Greece

The most prominent risk assessment techniques are founded on the values of measuring and controlling the frequency and the consequences of risks in order to assure an“acceptable level”of“safeness”mainly in the lines of environmental,health and hygiene and port product issues.This paper examines security risk assessment approaches within the emerging role of ports.This paper contributes to the current literature by considering the ports of Greece as a case in point and by measuring the degree of its security risk orientation based on certain valid risk factors drawn from the current literature.Moreover,it presents a security risk assessment methodology into the domain of port container terminals.Their potential for ports were quantitatively and qualitatively assessed by discussing issues of security approaches within the maritime industry,in order to facilitate improvement strategies.A two-dimension empirical study was conducted,in a time range of ten years(2010-2020)in order to provide evidence regarding security risk assessment in the port container terminal of Thessaloniki,in Greece.The findings of this study have significant strategic policy implications and shed more light on the role of security risks in the overall risk orientation of container terminals in practice.Finally,further research directions in security risk in ports are proposed.

Assessing the Potential Impact on Previous Maritime Accidents Had the HNS Convention Been Applied

The HNS Convention(International Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea,2010)covers any damage caused by the carriage by sea of hazardous and noxious substances in the territory or territorial sea of a State Party to the Convention.The costs of preventive actions,i.e.measures to avoid or minimize damage,are also covered wherever taken.The HNS Convention includes preventive measures as any reasonable measures taken by any person after an incident has occurred to prevent or minimize damage,i.e.actions such as clean-up or removal of HNS from a wreck if the HNS presents a hazard or pollution risk.It seems that after the CLC(Civil Liability Convention),much environmental legislation has lost the concept of pro-activeness/prevention of an environmental hazard and is more focused on compensation and reactiveness.This approach is not consistent with the purpose of environmental legislation and the examination of the basic principles of the HNS Convention in parallel with distinctive environmental hazards proves this theory of reactive strategy.The methodology is based on the exploratory research principles and the legal doctrine,utilizing legislation and case law as the primary source of data,aiming to examine the effects of the HNS’s entry into force by studying cases that are inside its authority and scope.

Comparison of the ＂Global Levy Scheme＂ with the ＂Emissions Trading Scheme＂ to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Shipping Emissions

Climate change is widely recognized as the major environmental problem facing the globe today. One of the most urgent environmental problems facing shipping industry is the reduction of GHG （greenhouse gas） emissions from its operations. Given the growing concern of the international community on ＂the deep reduction of global GHG emissions＂, it cannot be expected that the non-regulation of maritime GHG emissions can further continue. This paper investigates the main challenges and threats of the development of two MBMs （market-based measures） for the reduction of GHG emissions from international shipping, i.e., the ＂global levy scheme on maritime GHG emissions＂ and the ＂maritime emission trading scheme＂. A SWOT （strengths weaknesses opportunities threat） analysis is used, in this survey, to evaluate the environmental effectiveness as well as the easiness of implementation of the two policy options. Moreover, we make apparent their strengths and weaknesses concerning abatement of maritime GHG emissions. Given the fact that the discussion regarding the implementation of some MBMs with maritime GHG-emission reduction potential is still carried out with the exception of EEDI （energy efficiency design index） and SEEMP （ship energy efficiency management plan）, this paper＇s results present special significance, as they could be further analyzed and taken into account during the adoption of any future MBM for the reduction of maritime GHG emissions.

A Review of Shipowner＇s ＆ Charterer＇s Obligations in Various Types of Charter

The charterparty is a legal contract of employing a vessel. In shipping matters, it is a highly important document since it allocates obligations, rights, duties, liabilities, risks, earnings, costs and profits between the contracted parties, namely, the shipowner and the charterer. The interpretation of the above mentioned matters, as well as the understanding of charterparty terms, is considered of critical importance in chartering practice. Therefore, this paper constitutes a review of the most important aspects arising from charterparties in the main types of charter. The present study is based on shipping practices followed in accordance with the English Common Law throughout the chartering process （pre-fixture, fixture, execution of the charter, post fixture）. This is a synopsis about the distribution of the liabilities and expenses between the shipowner and the charterer in the most representative types of charter. The analysis is seen from a commercial stand point. Therefore, it is mostly addressed to the shipping practitioners, maritime economists, academics, students and researchers who seek to form a comprehensive view on the subject. It may also form a basis for further study on chartering aspects （legal, economic, managerial and practical）.

An Analysis of Formal Risk Assessments for Safety and Security in Ports： Empirical Evidence from Container Terminals in Greece

Nowadays, the most prominent risk assessment techniques are founded on the values of measuring and controlling the frequency and the consequences of risks in order to assure an ＂acceptable level＂ of ＂safeness＂ mainly in the lines of environmental, health and hygiene and port product issues. This paper initially introduces risk assessment approaches within the emerging role of ports Thereafter, it qualitatively assesses their potential for ports by discussing issues challenging every safety and security approach within the maritime industry such as proactiveness, organization, transparency, cost-effectiveness and, when possible, calibration to specific experiences. Moreover, an empirical study was conducted in order to provide evidence for formal risk assessment for safety and security in the main Greek port container terminals of Piraeus and Thessaloniki. The empirical research is based on in-depth semi-structured interviews with the administrations of container terminals. The results include important findings, regarding the likelihood of appearance of certain risks and their perceived severity in Greek container terminals. The collected answers and their analysis are also important for confirming the suggested theoretical formal risk assessment framework for ports.

A Comparative Analysis of Vessels Detained under the PSC Agreements of Paris, Tokyo and Vina del Mar

Twenty years ago, in 1992, the International Maritime Organization set the objective of extending the regional Port State Control agreements to the world scale. This would be achieved, it was hoped, by ＂exporting＂ the model of the Paris MoU （Memorandum of Understanding） agreement of 1982 to other regional areas. Now would seem to be a good time to consider the prospects for a future scenario where all the countries involved form a truly global network with uniform procedures. The authors of this article put forward an earlier objective that could be the beginning of that global policy, fi＇om a detailed look at the three most important regional agreements （Paris, Tokyo and Vifia del Mar） that encompass geographically the following areas, respectively： Europe plus Canada, the Asia-Pacific, and South America. To this end, we first make a theoretical comparison based on the legal standards of application, and then present a study made of all the vessels detained under the three agreements, with a view to determining whether or not there are different kinds of behaviours, with regard to the flags and ＂recognised organizations＂ used by the vessels to certify their levels of safety. The numerical variables we have taken as basic with respect to compliance with the international standards are： the date that the vessel＇s keel was laid （age of the vessel） and as significant categorical variables, the type of vessel, the flag, the typology of that flag, the corresponding classification society, and whether or not that society is a member of the IACS （International Association of Classification Societies）. The results show a similar trend between the Paris and Tokyo agreements, but in the case of Vifia del Mar, the level of efficacy in the control appears to be insufficient in comparison with the standard of the other two.

A Risk Assessment Methodology in Container Terminals： The Case Study of the Port Container Terminal of Thessalonica, Greece

Amidst the ever increasing demand for the unhindered flow of freight throughout the world, seaport safety is emerging as a critical factor which increasingly dictates the need to establish a proactive approach towards addressing the associated risks rather than the traditional reactive response to port accidents. This paper proposes and presents a proactive methodology for port safety risk assessment （including the techno-economically effective prioritized control） which constitutes an adaptation of the FSA （Formal Safety Assessment） for ships. The ability of the proposed methodology to offer this standardized approach for PRA （Port Risk Assessment） is demonstrated through reference to the container terminal of the Greek Port of Thessalonica, for which an empirical study is contacted utilizing the historical record of encountered accidents with regard to their frequency of occurrence and their impact upon the human and environmental resources of the port.

Evaluating Bullying Effect on the Happiness and Performance of the Ship’s Crew

Bullying is rampant and has severe effects on the health and wellbeing of the employees.Additionally,it also undermines job satisfaction and performance,thus affecting productivity.Bullying among seafarers is widespread,and their isolation from the rest of the people while at sea can enhance aggressive behaviour.Bullying is widespread among seafarers and severely affects them in core areas of their life.There is a significant effect of bullying on mental health.However,the Omani seafarers are loyal to their jobs and claim to be happy at sea despite the challenges and hardships.While there are different forms of bullying in the workplace,verbal abuse is the most rampant.The study seeks to highlight the impact of bullying on seafarers'happiness and job satisfaction who work in a shipping company.A questionnaire with nine questions was prepared based on the authors'experience and sent by mobile phone to fifty officers and crew members working onboard.More insight into workplace bullying among seafarers is essential in formulating adequate law,thus improving seafarers'health and safety.

An Assessment of the Most Sustainable Marine Fuel Based on the Present Regulatory Framework and Future Trends

Since the decrease of the global sulfur limit from 3.5%to 0.5%by the IMO(International Maritime Organization)on January 1,2020,the shipowners and carriers are obliged to elect between the three available options to comply with the present regulatory amendments.The first available option is utilising exhaust gas cleaning systems called“scrubbers”.By using these filters,the vessels can burn high sulfur fuels.In contrast,the sulfur surplus and other dangerous chemicals are evaporated by spraying alkaline water via an open-loop,closed-loop or hybrid systems.The other option is using LNG(liquefied natural gas)as fuel,a viable option connected with the constant expansion of the global LNG supply infrastructure network.However,this network is yet in its developing status.Moreover,the majority of the LNG vessels are primarily coastal vessels operated in European waters,and many supply ports worldwide have not yet developed full-scale LNG supply facilities and proper equipment is not yet installed.Finally,ammonia is another potential candidate as zero carbon fuel,but its utilization as a sustainable marine fuel in marine industry is currently under research.Therefore,at present the final option is the utilisation of conventional fuels,low on sulfur emissions,such as MGO(marine gasoil)and ULSFO(ultra low sulphur fuel oil).The primary issue is the availability and the cost of those fuels,with the refiners being unable to forecast if they should produce more low-sulfur fuels to meet potentially higher demand.By the comparative analysis of those options their viability will be evaluated,and a thorough proposal for their utilisation will be provided.

Evaluation of the Impact of the Present Ship Recycling Regulations by Assessing the Most Prominent Shipbreaking Countries in the Shipping Industry

Scrapping market is unique in many respects.The value of its products is more affected by international trade than by shipping economic circles.There are many regulations for the environmentally friendly dismantling of ships.Ship recycling is the eco-friendly method of ship dismantling,and it is governed by a set of rules,namely:(a)HKC(Hong Kong Convention)on Ship Recycling of 2009,prepared by IMO(International Maritime Organization),(b)UN(United Nations)B.C.(Basel Convention)of 1989 and(c)E.U.Waste Shipment Regulation of 2006.Despite this polyphony in legislation,no clear set of rules has been uniformly applied yet,resulting in institutional discontinuities which shipowners often exploit.In this paper,a case study analysis of the most major shipbreaking countries will be conducted to evaluate the impact of the present regulatory framework and assess if the enactment of the legislation affected the shipping practice.

Revisiting Port Regulatory Governance & Substance: Towards a Holistic Supply Chain Approach

The evolution and integration of ports in global logistics chains has altered their traditional role while has initiated restructuring processes in many ports worldwide. While most of the research addresses this issue by highlighting the need for re-positioning and redefining the role of the port within the supply chains, not much attention has been given to the structure, scope and reach as well as to the tools of regulation hat competent authorities could exploit in order to avert potential abusive actions of global powerful actors along the containerized transport chain, that would affect the competitive functioning of distinct segment or the integrity of supply chains. In this context, we propose the reconceptualization and reinforcement of the regulatory governance structures of ports on a national and international level as well as the extension of the scope of ports’ regulations along the supply chain to counterbalance the globalization, consolidation and integration of containerized transport actors.

The ＂Major Marine Accidents＂ Do Not Occur Randomly

It is estimated that $3.2 billion worth of ships was totally lost （2008-2013）. In addition, 1,788 ships were involved in MMA （major marine accidents） （2004-2008）. However, 70% of those accidents took place in only a quarter of the geographical areas. That is the focus of this study. Hurst＇s generalization of Einstein＇s formula for a random time series requires that MMA should cover a distance proportional to the square root of time. The Hurst exponent is derived from the ＂Rescaled Range Analysis＂ using MATLAB （2009）. The Hurst exponent is 0.50 for a random time series, and this was found to be the case for MMA, in tons of carrying capacity over time. However, considering the time series in relation to the 12 geographical areas, the Hurst exponent for 1,788 MMA was found to be 0.43, which is less than 0.50. This indicates that the time series, related to geographical area, is anti-persistent/non-random. The ships damaged in MMA totaled 27.55 million dwt, and 31% of that tonnage was damaged in the North Sea and Baltic area, 20% in the Mediterranean and Black Sea and 19% in the China Sea. These research findings challenge the assumptions who generally believe that MMA are random in relation to geography.

Market Orientation and Business Performance in the Container Port Industry

Identification and responsiveness towards customer needs is a notion that rests deeply in the heart of the marketing concept, and has been discussed in various fields of business and economic literature. At the same time literature in port economics and management has proposed various means for analyzing market conditions, overcoming competitive pressures in the port industry and pursuing sustainable competitive advantage. In line with this discussion, albeit with a significant time delay, port economics and management literature has also proposed the use of marketing strategies as a strategic tool towards achieving port competitiveness. However, the early approaches to port marketing, mainly based on consumer marketing principles, where followed by scarce references, mainly dealing with particularities of marketing implementation in ports and terminals. This paper attempts to provide a solid theoretical background to the notion, the need and the applicability of the marketing concept in the container port industry. It investigates the preconditions under which port marketing strategies are designed and formulated, by measuring the level of market orientation of ports and terminals. Furthermore, it attempts to examine the impact of market orientation on port performance, under the mediating role of marketing tactics and the moderating effect of the ports＇/terminals＇ internal and external environment.

Tangible Assets Threats and Hazards： Risk Assessment and Management in the Port Domain

Port systems are more prone to being risk oriented. Many specific methods have been found to assess risk in a port area or operation. A review is presented in different approaches on human and environmental risks in port area. On the other hand, there is no specific risk management method or fi＇amework to cope with threats and hazards regarding on port machines or material accidents and port assets damages or losses. This paper presents a risk management methodology, seeking to investigate a process of assessing the assets hazards and damages into the domain of port container terminal, by taking into account its different factors and their mutual influences. This methodology constitutes a decision support framework that will be used to conduct port to port risk evaluations or to assess a whole port＇s and terminal＇s risk level in the critical field of assets damages and losses, in order to facilitate improvement strategies. An empirical study is contacted for the years of 2003-2012, in order to provide evidence for risk assessment and management in an economic effective way, regarding port assets damages and losses, at the Port Container Terminal of Piraeus in Greece.

Implementing the Ballast Water Management Convention in Shipping Practice:Emerging Threats,Operational Issues and Solutions

Since the new BWM(Ballast Water Management)Convention entered into force in 2017,the ballast water should be cleansed of any harmful aquatic organisms,pathogens,wastes or even bacteria before being released into a new aquatic environment.For this purpose,the ships are required to carry(i)a BMW plan with detailed descriptions upon the implementation of the Convention’s requirements,(ii)a ballast water record book,clearly stating the release spots and stations of ballast water,and(iii)an International Water Management Certificate,stating if the ship should abide the D-1 or D-2 standards.The research questions of this paper are,(i)should these standards apply when ballast water is released into more aggressive aquatic environments than the one where the outgoing ballast was collected?(ii)how will a port authority be able to enforce the Convention’s rules when the water release happens in open waters and how can a vessel be criminalized?(iii)are the Port Facilities prepared and equipped in a global spectrum with the necessary tools to handle the ships’demand for wastewater unloading?(iv)how can the emerging operational issues be dealt with effectively?