• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.230-237
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• 2023

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change, shortages of essential commodities and resources continue to occur globally. To address this problem, trade volume demand suddenly increased, driving up the freight rate of container ships sharply. The size of container vessels progressively increased from 1,500 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) in the 1960s to 24,400 TEU in 2021. As the improvement of container loading capacity is closely related to the enlargement of the lashing bridge structure, it is necessary to design a structure effective for good container securing and safe under the various external loads that occur during voyage. Major classification societies have recently issued structural-analysis-based guidelines to evaluate the structural safety of lashing bridges, but their acceptance criteria and evaluation methods are different, causing confusion among engineers during design. In this study, the strength change characteristics are summarized by variations in the main variables (modeling range, opening consideration, mesh size) likely to affect the results. Based on this result, the authors propose a reasonable structural-analysis-based evaluation that is expected to serve as a reference in the next revision of classification standards.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.139-146
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• 2023

Maritime object detection systems, which detects small maritime obstacles such as fish farm buoys and visualizes distance and direction, is equipped with a 3-axis gimbal to compensate for errors caused by hull motion, but there is a limit to distance error corrections necessitated by the vertical movement of the camera and the maritime object due to wave motions. Therefore, in this study, the distance error of maritime object detection systems caused by the movement of the water surface according to the external environment is analyzed and corrected using average filter and moving average filter. Random numbers following a Gaussian standard normal distribution were added to or subtracted from the image coordinates to reproduce the rise or fall of the buoy under irregular waves. The distance calculated according to the change of image coordinates, the predicted distance through the average filter and the moving average filter, and the actual distance measured by laser distance meter were compared. In phases 1 and 2, the error rate increased to a maximum of 98.5% due to the changes of image coordinates due to irregular waves, but the error rate decreased to 16.3% with the moving average filter. This error correction capability was better than with the average filter, but there was a limit due to failure to respond to the distance change. Therefore, it is considered that use of the moving average filter to correct the distance error of the maritime object detection system will enhance responses to the real-time distance change and greatly improve the error rate.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.338-347
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• 2023

Jinhae Bay, characterized by frequent runaway ships and strong winds during typhoon attacks, poses a high risk of maritime accidents such as ship collisions and groundings. This study aims to determine a safe separation distance between ships in the Jinhae Bay anchorage, considering the unique environmental characteristics of the Korean sea area. Analysis revealed that an average of 100-200 ships anchor in the typhoon avoidance area in Jinhae Bay during typhoon attacks, with approximately 70% of ships experiencing anchor dragging owing to strong external forces exceeding 25 m/s wind speeds. In this study, we analyzed and presented the separation distances between ships during anchoring operations based on domestic and international design standards, separation distances between ships used as actual typhoon shelters in Jinhae Bay, and appropriate safe distances for ships drifting under strong external forces. The analysis indicated that considering the minimum criteria based on the design standards and emergency response time, a minimum safe distance of approximately 400-900 m was required. In cases where ample space was available, the separation distance was recommended to be set between 700 to 900 m. The findings of this study are anticipated to contribute to the development of guidelines for establishing safe separation distances between ships seeking refuge from typhoons in Jinhae Bay in the future.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.389-394
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• 2023

In recent years, use of machine automation is rising in the industry. Ships also obtain machine condition information from sensor as digital information. However, on ships, crew members regularly surveil the engine room to check the condition of equipment and their information through analog gauges. This is a time-consuming and tedious process and poses safety risks to the crew while on surveillance. To address this, engine room surveillance using an autonomous mobile robot is being actively explored as a solution because it can reduce time, costs, and the safety risks for crew. Analog gauge reading using an autonomous mobile robot requires digitization for the robot to recognize the gauge value. In this study, image processing techniques were applied to achieve this. Analog gauge images were subjected to image preprocessing to remove noise and highlight their features. The center point, indicator point, minimum value and maximum value of the analog gauge were detected through image processing. Through the straight line connecting these points, the angle from the minimum value to the maximum value and the angle from the minimum value to indicator point were obtained. The obtained angle is digitized as the value currently indicated by the analog gauge through a formula. It was confirmed from the experiments that the digitization of the analog gauge using image processing was successful, indicating the equivalent current value shown by the gauge. When applied to surveillance robots, this algorithm can minimize safety risks and time and opportunity costs of crew members for engine room surveillance.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.372-379
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• 2023

International oil prices are expected to increase from $85 a barrel this year to up to $100 a barrel in the second half of the year; this is likely to increase orders for offshore plants in the global market. One main characteristic of offshore plants is that a large helideck is located on the top side, and aluminum alloys are used as the basic material of the structure for weight reduction and corrosion resistance. Shipowners are increasing the size of helicopters to quickly evacuate lives in the event of an emergency, and the safety use load of devices that can stably secure helicopters to the deck is also required to increase. Owing to the nature of the aluminum material, the structural strength caused by welding is greatly reduced; therefore, the fixing device must be designed by embedding it in the deck and fixing it with bolts. In this study, a model applying aluminum alloy 6082-T6 was developed to develop a helicopter fastening device that can be used for large helidecks (diameter = 28 m). The developed item was verified through nonlinear structural strength calculation to satisfy the load used for the actual fastening condition. The load condition with a 45° showed a lower ultimate strength than the 90° case owing to local plastic collapse. The nonlinear structural collapse behavior showed a result similar to that of the experimental test. The main contents derived from this study are considered to be reference materials when evaluating the structural strength of similar aluminum equipment.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.380-388
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• 2023

This study estimates the metacentric height (GM) of a model ship by varying the transverse weight distribution, considering the effects of the roll period and moment of inertia, and compares it with the GM values measured by the inclining test. In the process, the relationship between the values is analyzed. Three types of ships-a 7-ton fishing vessel, 20-ton fishing vessel, and KRISO Very Large Crude-oil Carrier (KVLCC)-were used for the experiment and comparison. The roll period and moment of inertia were measured using the free roll decay and swing frame tests, and the GM was measured using inclining test. The estimated GM from the roll period and moment of inertia showed the same trend as the GM measured using the inclining test in the change of the weight distribution. However, the GM values measured using the inclining test were lower. Therefore, additional correction factors or parameters other than the roll period and moment of inertia are necessary for estimating GM. In the future, the relationship between the weight center and the estimated GM will be analyzed to derive the correction factors.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.819-827
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• 2023

If respiratory arrest occurs or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is performed for a long period on board ships, CPR with rescue breathing (not compression-only CPR) is required. Accordingly, ships must have resuscitation equipment for oxygen supply, and seafarers must have the maritime competence to use it. This study aimed to analyze the placement status of resuscitation equipment on ships and seafarers' intention to use them in order to increase the usability of resuscitation equipment on board ships and propose improvement measures. The study was conducted from February 2, 2023, to April 21, 2023, and a total of 340 seafarers were surveyed. The data were analyzed by frequency, percentage, and chi-square test using SPSS WIN 23.0. The results showed that the checking of resuscitation equipment was high among seafarers in the positions of officer, captain, deck department personnel, and ocean-going personnel. The intention of seafarers to use resuscitation equipment was low, and the main barrier was the lack of knowledge on how to use. Among the general characteristics of the study participants, those whose rank was that of officer or captain, whose working department was the deck, voyage who were ocean-going, and who managed a gross tonnage of 20,000 tons or more had a high intention to use resuscitation equipment. Participants who knew the necessity of rescue breathing and had received practice and equipment-based training were active in using resuscitation equipment. Therefore, a system should be developed so that all ships can be equipped with resuscitation equipment, and an environment must be created to increase accessibility to resuscitation equipment on board ships. In addition, an education system based on practical and resuscitation equipment training must be established to ensure that seafarers have maritime competence.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.910-914
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• 2023

With the technological innovation owing to the 4th industrial revolution, the maritime transportation is rapidly being developed with autonomous ships and systems. Particularly, autonomous ships will partially replace the manned ships and navigation among them remotely upon the degree of autonomy suggested by IMO. Accordingly, the remote operator and related research have increased as well. However, the data on the minimum required manpower for remote operators are lacking such as considering engage required situations and their co-occurrence probability. Therefore, this study proposes a simulation model that calculates the number of remote engage required situations by defining restricted water area and remote engage required situation as close-quarter situations based on accumulated trajectory data of actual ships. The findings are expected to be used as background materials to establish the appropriate manpower distribution of remote operators in remote operation centers.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.964-970
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• 2023

As part of the International Maritime Organization ef orts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the maritime industry is exploring low-carbon fuels such as liquefied natural gas and methanol, as well as zero-carbon fuels such as hydrogen and ammonia, evaluating them as environmentally friendly alternatives. Particularly, ammonia has substantial operational experience as cargo on transport ships, and ammonia ship engines are expected to be available in the second half of 2024, making it relatively accessible for commercial use. However, overcoming the toxicity challenges associated with using ammonia as a fuel is imperative. Detection is possible at levels as low as 5 ppm through olfactory senses, and exposure to concentrations exceeding 300 ppm for more than 30 min can result in irreparable harm. Using the KORA program provided by the Chemical Safety Agency, an assessment of the potential risks arising from leaks during ammonia bunkering was conducted. A 1-min leak could lead to a 5 ppm impact within a radius of approximately 7.5 km, affecting key areas in Busan, a major city. Furthermore, the potentially lethal concentration of 300 ppm could have severe consequences in densely populated areas and schools near the bunkering site. Therefore, given the absence of regulations related to ammonia bunkering, the potential for widespread toxicity from even minor leaks highlights the requirement for the development of legislation. Establishing an integrated system involving local governments, fire departments, and environmental agencies is crucial for addressing the potential impacts and ensuring the safety of ammonia bunkering operations.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.672-680
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• 2023

Weight is a critical factor in the ship design process given that it has a substantial impact on the hydrodynamic performance of ships. Typically, ships are optimally designed for specific conditions with a fixed draft and displacement. However, in reality, weight and draft can vary within a certain range owing to operational activities, such as fuel consumption, ballast adjustments, and loading conditions . Therefore, we investigated how resistance changes under three different loading conditions, namely overload, design-load, and lightship, for small craft, using both model experiments and numerical simulations. Additionally, we examined the sensitivity of weight changes to resistance to enhance the performance of ships, ultimately reducing power requirements in support of the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) goal of reducing CO2 emissions by 50% by 2050. We found that weight changes have a more significant impact at low Froude Numbers. Operating under overload conditions, which correspond to a 5% increase in draft and an 11.1% increase in displacement, can lead to a relatively substantial increase in total resistance, up to 15.97% and 14.31% in towing tests and CFD simulations, respectively.