Green shipping practices in the shipping industry: Conceptualization, adoption, and implications

There have been increasing concerns about the adverse impacts on the environment caused by cargo movement in international trade. Different stakeholders ranging from shippers and carriers to government bodies and international communities have expressed worries about the environmental impacts brought by shipping related activities. The pollution and waste created in the shipping processes have imposed environmental burdens and accelerated resource depletion. The situation is set to worsen in the face of intensifying trade globalization, which has contributed to sustained growth in international shipping activities. To help protect the environment, many shipping firms have taken the initiative to find ways to lessen the environmental damage of their operations while enhancing their performance. The objective of this study is to examine the environmental awareness and the environmental measures taken in the shipping industry. We propose a conceptual framework for evaluating green shipping practices and develop several propositions stating the conditions under which shipping firms would behave in an environmentally responsible manner. We conclude with managerial and policy implications of the conceptual framework to promote green shipping practices in the shipping industry.     

产业安全文化建设途径探讨

对国际海运安全文化建设及其得失进行了全面阐述和深入剖析 ,据此提出了建设我国产业安全文化的宏观途径。指出强制性推行安全管理体系认证是安全文化建设的关键 ,宣传教育应贯穿安全文化建设的全过程 ,两者须同步进行。强调安全文化建设必须系统和有效 ,真正使人们普遍认同安全是一种生活方式而非额外负担     

Predicting commercial fishing vessel disasters through a novel application of the theory of man-made disasters

Introduction: Vessel disasters (e.g., sinkings, capsizings) are a leading contributor to fatalities in the U.S. commercial fishing industry. Primary prevention strategies are needed to reduce the occurrence of vessel disasters, which can only be done by developing an understanding of their causes and risk factors. If less serious vessel casualties (e.g., loss of propulsion, fire, flooding) are predictors of future disasters, then reducing vessel casualties should in turn reduce vessel disasters and the accompanying loss of life. Method: This case-control study examined the association between vessel casualties and disasters using fishing vessels in Alaska during 2010–2015. Results: The findings show that vessels that experienced casualties within a preceding 10-year period were at increased odds of disaster. Other significant predictors included safety decal status and hull material. Practical Applications: The results of this analysis emphasize the importance of implementing vessel-specific preventive maintenance plans. At an industry level, specific prevention policies should be developed focusing on high-risk fleets to identify and correct a wide range of safety deficits before they have catastrophic and fatal consequences.     

国际海事组织的秘书处

介绍国际海事组织秘书处的组成，它的成员的来源，员工的规章制度和海洋环保司的日常工作。     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Juniperus oxycedrus</Emphasis> ssp.<Emphasis Type="Italic">macrocarpa</Emphasis> in SW Spain: Ecology and conservation problems

Woodlands of the Mediterranean speciesJuniperus oxycedrus ssp.macrocarpa (maritime juniper) are both vulnerable and ecologically important. Their ecology and biological status along the SW coast of Spain are not well known; this, the first major study of these juniper populations is a basis for future research and restoration policies. These communities are subject to harsh conditions, the plant composition being controlled by several factors at different scales. On a large scale, climate and soil texture play an important role in controlling the soil water availability to plants, and in separating xerophytic from mesic communities. On a small scale, coastal physiography, and substrate composition are related to differences in the floristic composition. Coastal plantations modify environmental conditions, such as sand mobility and salt spray deposition, inducing important changes in plant communities. The population of maritime juniper on this coast was estimated in ca. 25 000 individuals, of which 93.6% are concentrated in three locations. Large proportions of young individuals were found in extensive and protected populations. Howerver, adult individuals dominated the smaller populations located under pine plantations. This limitation of recruitment may be imposed by several factors. A male biased ratio was detected on the southern coast of Cádiz, which I hypothesize is due to the lower cost of pollen production in a stressful habitat. Preservation of suitable habitats, the recovery of abandoned pine plantations, and the connection between juniper populations, seem to be important requisites for the conservation of maritime juniper in the southwestern coast of Spain.     

Risk assessment of coupling links in hazardous chemicals maritime transportation system

The hazardous chemicals maritime transportation system (HCMTS) belongs to a typical complex tech-social system, which is comprised of multiple functions with interactions. To quantitatively assess the risks triggered by failure coupling links (CLs) between upstream and downstream functions, a hybrid method integrating the Functional Resonance Analysis Method (FRAM), fuzzy set theory, and risk matrix is proposed in the present study. A total of 10 essential functions and 16 CLs involved in HCMTS were identified by FRAM. The fuzzy set theory was adopted to aggregate the weights of risk consequence and likelihood for CLs. A risk matrix with a continuous scale was utilized to assess and rank the CLs’ risks. The results have been demonstrated by the comparisons, indicated that the risk indexes (RIs) of the CLs between the functions < Consignment of HCs> and <Undertaking the transportation>, <Consignment of HCs> and <Declaration of HCs>, <Loading HCs in port> and <Ship navigation at sea > are higher in the whole chain of HCMTS.     

Assessing the costs and environmental benefits of IMO regulations of ship-originated SOx and NOx emissions in the Baltic Sea

To assess the value of the environmental benefits of the Sulphur Emission regulation (SECA) that came into force in 2015, changes in depositions of SOx and NOx from ship exhaust gas emissions were modelled and monetized for the Baltic Sea region for the years 2014 and 2016. During this period, the total deposition of SOx in the study area decreased by 7.3%. The decrease in ship-originated SOx deposition from 38 kt to 3.4 kt (by over 88%) was translated into a monetary value for the ecosystem impacts of nearly 130 million USD, according to the EcoValue08 model. This is less than the modelled health benefits, but it is not insignificant. For NOx, there was no decreasing trend. The exceedance of the critical loads of SOx and NOx was also estimated. The effect of Baltic shipping on the exceedance of critical loads of acidification after SECA is very small, but Baltic shipping still has a considerable effect on the exceedance of critical loads for eutrophication.     

A risk-based modelling approach to enhance shipping accident investigation

This paper developed a risk-based modelling approach to enhance the execution process of shipping accident investigation (SAI). Specifically, the paper addressed a fuzzy extended fault tree analysis (FFTA) that combines the effects of organizational faults and shipboard technical system failures under a unique risk assessment scheme. The case study illustrates that a novel idea behind the proposed methodology allows relevant accident investigators to clarify the probability of technical failures, operational misapplications, and legislative shortages leading to the shipping accident. The current SAI reports can be extended with an integrated risk assessment section to formulate integrated strategies along with risk control measures onboard ships. Since the consequences of shipping accidents are still a global concern, the paper addresses integration of a FFTA into SAI reports to ensure a consistent database and subsequent decision aid to accident analysis and prevention efforts in the maritime transportation industry.     

POLSSS: surveying stakeholders about acceptability of risks and system changes

This paper describes two surveys that were carried out during the Policy for Sea Shipping Safety (POLSSS) project [Walker, 2000. POLSS: overview and cost-effectiveness analysis. Safety Science 35 (1–3, 105–121]. The first focused on the acceptability of risks. Its main goal was to find out how stakeholder groups accept different risks involved in maritime transport. The respondents were asked about their acceptance of the current risks and situations where the risks are either increased or decreased. The second survey examined the non-risk-related acceptability of different policy measures — both those being used currently, and those being considered in the POLSSS project for future implementation.     

Preliminary risk analysis for LNG tankers approaching a maritime terminal

LNG ships may represent a remarkable risk source, especially when approaching a land terminal, not only due to the possible occurrence of maritime accident, but also since they may represent a suitable target for terrorist attacks. A preliminary risk analysis for LNG ships approaching the Panigaglia terminal is carried out: based on literature data and on the characteristics of the location, a spill originated from a sea accident can be excluded; on the contrary, intentional damages may cause the release of a large amount of LNG, giving rise to a pool fire. Consequence analysis shows that dangerous thermal effects are expected within a radius of 700–1500 m; in the location under exam, the impact on resident population will be negligible, for the most probable attack site, and marginal for an occasionally used anchorage, which should be no longer allowed.