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1 INTRODUCTION
The symposium dedicated to the problems of
sustainable maritime transportation system creation
washeldundertheauspicesofthe IMO in London
on 13 September, 2013. Such perspective efforts of
shipping industry subjectsʹ correspond with the
policy of conversion to the mankind sustainable
development declared onthe UN
conference inRio
de Janeiro (1992), which should be followed by all
fields of the world economy. Navigation safety is
named among the main features of sustainable
maritime transportation system in the concluding
document approved at the symposium. Due to this
factelaborationofthegenerallyacceptednavigation
safetyconcept
issupposedto conform tosuccessful
creation of sustainable maritime transportation
system. The abovementioned concept implies
organizationalandtechnicalstrategyofsafetyatsea
withtheuseof meansandmethods complexwhich
meets modern requirements and conditions of
shipping industry. This article is concerned with
certainfragmentsofsuchconcept,
whichcouldserve
asthebasisforitsformationanddevelopment.
Sustainablemankinddevelopmenthasbeenmuch
paidattentiontorecently.Itconcernsourcivilization
transfertoanewdevelopmentstrategywhichshould
Conceptual Grounds of Navigation Safet
y
V.G.Torskiy,V.P.Topalov&M.V.Chesnokova
OdessaNationalMaritimeAcademy,Odessa,Ukraine
ABSTRACT:Themostimportantglobalproblembeingsolvedbythewholeworldcommunitynowadaysisto
providesustainablemankinddevelopment.Recentresearchinthefieldofsustainabledevelopmentstatesthat
civilization safety is impossible without transfer sustainable development. At the same time, sustainable
development(i.e.
preservationofhumancultureandbiosphere)isimpossibleasasystemthatservestomeet
economical,cultural,scientific,recreationalandotherhumanneedswithoutsafety.Safetyplaysanimportant
roleinsustainabledevelopmentgoalsachievement.Anessentialconditionofeffectivenavigationfunctioningis
toprovideitssafety.The“prescriptive”approach
tothenavigationsafety, whichiscurrentlyusedintheworld
maritimefield,isbasedonlong‐termexperienceandshipaccidentsinvestigationresults.Thusthisapproach
actedasanthegreatfactinreductionofnumberofaccidentsatsea.
HavingadoptedtheInternationalSafetyManagementCodealltheactivities
connectedwithnavigationsafety
problemssolutionweretransferredtothehigherqualitativelevel.Searchanddevelopmentofnewapproaches
andmethodsofshipaccidentspreventionduringtheiroperationhaveobtainedgreaterimportance.However,
the maritime safety concept (i.e. the different points on ways, means and methods that should be used
to
achieve this goal) hasnʹt been formed and described yet. The article contains a brief review of the main
provisionsofNavigationSafetyConceptions,whichcontributetothenumberofaccidentsandincidentsatsea
reduction.
http://www.transnav.eu
the International Journal
on Marine Navigation
and Safety of Sea Transportation
Volume 10
Number 1
March 2016
DOI:10.12716/1001.10.01.08
80
provide survival and further constant society
development.Sustainable development is the world
community response to the crisis phenomena in
biosphere, economy, social sphere, foreign affairs
whichmaycausetheglobaldisasterandapocalypse
someday.Theterm“sustainabledevelopment”was
implementedforthefirsttimeattheUNconference
on
environmentanddevelopment(RiodeJaneiro,3‐
14July1992)asanalternativetotheprior“unsteady”
coursefollowedbythemankind.Atthisconference
the concept of sustainable development was put
across and the policy paper “Agenda 21” was
approved.Sincethennumerousinternationalevents
concerning the realization of
different provisions of
the Agenda were held in different countries. The
IMO as the specialized agency of UN was fully
engagedinthiswork,aimingitsactivityatmaritime
safety improving and environmental pollution
protectionwhilevesseloperation.
Consequently, all IMO regulatory documents
have formed the single complex, and each of
these
documents fulfills an important protection function
of vessels, people and environment from current
harmful factors. These documents are being
constantly modified, improved and amended
accordingtothechangesinconstruction,equipment,
shipsoperatingconditionsandarisingrequirements
oftheirindustrialuse.
Intentional efforts of the IMO, classification
societies, flag
states, ship‐owners resulted in
merchant fleet accident reduction. The Worldʹs
Oceans pollution from ships has also considerably
decreased.
Some outstanding tendencies of maritime safety
improvement and environmental protection
enhancement can be observed. It is necessary to
supportsteadinessofthesetendencieswithuniversal
application of either traditional standards or
by
means of new approaches and methods
development, corresponding to the international
shippingneedsandrequirements.
2 STATEMENTOFTHEPROBLEM
The regular UN conference on sustainable
development,knownastheRio+20,washeldinRio
de Janeiro in June, 2012, where results of the work
carriedoutduring
thelast20yearsweresummedup
andtasksforthefuturewereestablished.Theideaof
the sustainable maritime transportation system
creation aimed to develop action progra m was
chosen as the subject of discussion during the
celebrationoftheDayoftheSeafarerin2013.
The symposium on this topic
was held on the
initiative of Koji Sekimizu, the IMO Secretary‐
General,attheIMO Headquarters in London on 26
September,2013.Itwasfurtheragreedthatthemain
goal of such system creation is to ensure that «this
systemwilloffertheentireplanetasafe,efficientand
reliable
means of transportation of goods, all the
while reducing pollution, maximizing energy,
efficiency and ensuring the conservation of
resources». The fundamental principles of the
sustainable maritime transportation system creation
are: development of «global standards that support
level playing fields across the world, supporting
global safety and environmental standards,
addressing technical and
operational requirements
for ships as well as the appropriate education and
trainingofcrews».Inaddition:«Allactorswillneed
to collaborate with the aim of achieving the three
dimensions–theeconomic,socialandenvironmental
dimensions – but with the safety of navigation
always being the overriding priority». The
safety
culture is neededto beformed onglobal standards
should be promoted and developed in the
sustainable maritime transportation system. The
principle «Safety and environmental awareness
should be the priorities» should be followed under
professionalseafarer’straining.
Thus, conceptual grounds of international
navigation safety development could contribute to
successfulachievement
ofthesegoals.
Itshouldbenotedthatissuesonpeopleon‐board
andvesselsafetywerepa idmuchattentiontoduring
themerchantshippingdevelopmentalperiod.System
ofprinciplesaboutways,meansandmethodstobe
applied to achieve safety (i.e. maritime safety
concept) wasnʹt described and formulated
in
appropriateway.
The number of essential propositions, which
should be used while creating of such concept are
discussedbelow.Offeredrecommendations,methods
and means are fragmentary, but together they
provide a clear idea of its possible structure and
separatecomponents.
3 SAFETYOFNAVIGATION–CONCEPTUAL
FOUNDATION
Itiscommonly
knownthattoawideextentaconcept
is a system of views on any fact, way of
understandingandexplainingofanyfacts,themain
idea of any theory. Therefore, maritime safety
conceptisasystemofviewsonprovidingsafetyof
the operations at sea, description of its
facts and
processes.However,«navigationsafety»isdefinedas
arelativelyconstantstate,clearofdangersprovided
bythesystemofinternationalandnationaltechnical,
organizational, economical, social, and juridical
standards, which are aimed at the reduction and
preventionofaccidentsatseatoprovidesafetyoflife
and property at
sea and ma rine environmental
protection.
The Maritime Safety Concept, formed under the
influence of numerous and contradictory factors,
according to the needs of the world economy in
accordancewithprevailingpolitical,economicaland
ecologicalconditions,shouldn’tbepresentedasastill
form of the defined content. As shipping is an
activity which maintains mankind varying needs
under environmental protection provision, its
conditionsrequireflexibilityofsafetyconceptaswell
as allowance to make necessary modifications in
existing principles and methods according to the
changes in the maritime transportation system and
its functional environment. The navigation safety
concept is aimed to form
a comprehensive picture
81
about ways, principles, methods, means of vessels
andothermaritimeobjectssafetyprovisionaswellas
its staff and environment under modern conditions
of industrial activity. It is aimed to reduce vessel
accident and injury rate by means of concept
provisionstothelowestpossiblelevel.
It defines goals, objectives,
principles, key
activities undertaken to reduce accidents and
incidentsatsea.Itestablishesasingleconceptualand
technological system in this field and aimed at
formation of global system which provides
navigationsafety.
The currently scientifically grounded maritime
safetyconceptallows:
1 undertaking effective measures to ensure
protection of vessels,
people and environment
fromdangerousfactors;
2 responding quickly to the changes in fleet
operation,applicationofnewestachievementsin
the field of ship navigation, marine engineering
andtechnology;
3 developing appropriate methods of vessel
operationsafetyimprovement;
4 providing crew training conforming to further
requirements;
5 ensuring appropriate support of
transfer to
mankind sustainable development policy
implementedbyUN.
Subjects of navigation safety are: the member
states of corresponding international conventions
and intergovernmental agreements, represented by
itsbodiesoflegislative,executiveandjuridicalpower
aswell asship‐owners,masters andcrewmembers.
Objects of navigation safety include vessels, people
onboard,shippingwayswithappropriatenavigation
means of navigation equipment and natural
environment influenced by the vessel operation.
Navigationsafetyshouldprovide vessels’ operation
conditionwhichisresponsibleforitsuseasintended.
Negative impacts on the vessels are dangerous
factors for navigation. Level of maritime operation
safety depends on
the interaction of favorable and
unfavorablefactorsinfollowingareasrelatedtothe
navigationsafety:
1 Technicalandtechnological;
2 Organizationalandmanagerial;
Anti‐terrorist (protection of maritime objects from
illegalactions).‐Fig.1
The key issues of technical and technological
factorofthenavigationsafetyare:
technical
conditionandapplicabilityofvessels,its
equipment, port infrastructures, coastal and
maritimefacilitiesofnavigationequipment,etc.
ensuring the functioning reliability of the
ship`s“Man‐machine‐environment”systems.
Principal means for achieving the objectives of
thisnavigationsafetyfieldinclude:
providingofallthepartiesinvolvedinnavigation
with
necessarytechnicalstandards and norms in
time;
systematicmonitoringofvesselsandotherobjects
technicalcondition;
maintenance and repair of vessels and fleet
servingobjects;
scientific and technical progress ensuring in the
maritimeindustry;
Figure1.Thestructureofnavigationsafetyconcept
correspondingstaffingandresourcesprovisionof
enterprises and organizations engaged in
maritimeoperations.
Therearenumerousmethodsrelatedtothisarea
of navigation safety. They are usually subdivided
intothefollowinggroups:
1 Technical;
2 Organizational;
3 Ergonomic;
4 Informational;
5 Juridical;
6 Social.
Each of these methods canʹt
be characterized
separately because of the limited article length. It
shouldbenoted that they havedifferent degrees of
development and implementation in the safety
providing practice. Technical methods are more
commonly used in practice, including the stages of
shipbuilding and operation. Ergonomic and social
methods are less developed and
implemented
restrictedly.
The issues of organizational and managerial
factorofnavigationsafetyare:
organization and maintenance of navigation
safety services at the national level, shipping
companiesandports;
developmentandapplicationofstandardsaimed
atproperorganizationandcontrolofstaffofon‐
board,enterprisesandfleetservingorganizations,
safetymanagementsystems(SMS);
improvement of navigation safety management
bodiesandsystemsatalllevels–accordingtothe
conditions and requirements of fleet operation
practice.
Theconceptof
navigationsafety
Technicaland
technological
factor
Organizational
andmanagerial
factor
Anti‐terrorist
factor
Meansofnavigation
safetyfactorsachievement
IMO,ILO,flagstates
andclassification
societyrequirements
82
There are the following means of the above
mentionedobjectivesachievement:
creation and improvement of methods of vessel
operationsafetymanagementandenvironmental
pollutionprevention;
organizationalandmanagerialprovisionofsearch
andrescueofpersonsunderdistress;
application of the assessment methodology and
risk management on the
objects of maritime
safety;
formation of the safety culture elements at
shippingcompaniesandonvessels;
organization and maintenance of safety
internationalstandardsmonitoringon vessels, at
enterprisesandinmaritimeinstitutions.
Provision of the navigation safety anti‐terrorist
factor covers an ample amount of problems,
connectedwith
planningandadoptionofprotective
measures from terroristic acts and other illegal
actions against vessels and port facilities,
enforceability of onshore personnel and other
persons involved in activities on prevention and
protection of maritime objects from terroristic acts
andpirateattacks,eliminationofitsconsequencesfor
vessels,peopleandenvironment.
Main
means to achieve the anti‐terrorist safety
objectivesinclude:internationaltreatiesandnational
legislative acts against terrorism at sea, creation of
acceptedlegal frameworkrelatedtoselfprotectionof
vesselsandmaritimenavigationfromarmedattacks,
etc.(Fig.2)
1
Definitionofthegeneralstructureof
navigationsafetyconcept
2
Informationcollectionandanalysison
everyconstituentelementoftheSafetyof
NavigationConception
3
Correspondenceassessmentofthepartsof
NavigationSafetyConceptionwithupdate
andperspectiverequirementsofnavigation
industry
4
Definitionofmainresearchand
developmentfieldswithintheframework
ofthestructureofnavigationsafety
conception
5
Measureselaborationofenhancementof
informativeandregulatoryprovisionof
navigationsafety
Figure2. Stages of safety of navigation concepts
development
4 CONCLUSIONS
Practical realization of maritime safety concept
provisionsshouldbecarriedoutundersupportand
control of states possessing fleet by means of
necessary application of corresponding standards,
rulesandmethodsregulatedbytheinternationaland
national sea safety documents at the maritime field
objects.
Therefore,systematicapproach to the
navigation
as the marine transportation system functioning
aimed to meet needs of the world community in
cargo shipment and passengers transportation
shouldbethebasisofthemodernnavigationsafety
concept.
The «prescriptive» approach to the navigation
safety provision, adopted by the IMO, and legal
documents developed for its practical
implementation should remain at the centre of the
maritime operations safety concept. The existing
standards and regulations of vessel safe operation
should be supplemented by the rules reflecting
modern navigation conditions, new means and
methods of vessel and environmental protection
fromunfavorableanddangerousfactors.
A message from Koji Sekimizu, the
IMO
Secretary‐General (IMO News #1, 2013) noted that:
«The world relies on the safe, secure, efficient and
clear international shipping industry. And the
comprehensiveregulatoryframeworkdevelopedand
maintained by IMO creates the conditions in which
shipping can achieve those objectives». In our
opinion, the navigation safety concept should
be
considered as one of the necessary IMO regulatory
instruments.
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