Search Results (64)

Navigation in offshore wind farm (OWF) areas is essential for construction, maintenance, safety, and traditional activities like fishing. However, the presence of OWFs extends to sea routes, negatively impacting maritime transport economics. This paper examines navigational risk indicators in the vertical and horizontal planes of the ship domain for three representative vessels navigating under different hydrometeorological conditions within the location of a proposed offshore wind farm in the Polish sector of the Baltic Sea. The study compares three types of domain parameters defined by the PIANC guidelines, Coldwell’s two-dimensional model, and Rutkowski’s three-dimensional model. The analysis includes navigational hazards located ahead of the ship’s bow and astern from the aft, as well as keeping under-keel and over-head clearance. Besides the main numerical indicators of navigational risk estimated for obstacles on the port and starboard sides, the study emphasizes the importance of such additional factors. The primary objective of this paper is to identify the ship types that can navigate and fish safely in proximity to and within the OWF area. The analysis employs hydrometeorological data, mathematical models, and operational data derived from maritime navigation and maneuvering simulators. This comprehensive approach aims to enhance maritime safety in OWF areas. Full article

Ports and waterways are integral components of the maritime transport system, facilitating global trade and logistics. Governments, ports, and service providers levy charges on vessels for the use of fairways, port access, and associated services. This study analyzes the port and fairway fee strategies of seven major Baltic Sea ports across four countries: Estonia (Tallinn and Sillamäe), Latvia (Riga and Ventspils), Finland (Helsinki and HaminaKotka), and Sweden (Stockholm). The analysis evaluates the application of general port pricing principles in these ports’ strategies. The findings reveal that port fees are predominantly value-based, with tariff rates varying by vessel type and cargo. However, no uniform structure exists for fairway fees. Notably, incorporating environmental components into fairway fee calculations emerges as a promising mechanism to promote sustainability in maritime transport. By incentivizing the adoption of environmentally friendly vessels through differentiated fee structures, ports and policymakers can accelerate the transition toward greener shipping practices. This study highlights the role of economic instruments in advancing environmental objectives and emphasizes the need for a harmonized, sustainability-driven approach to fairway and port pricing in the Baltic Sea region. Full article

We investigate maritime accidents near Bornholm Island in the Baltic Sea, focusing on one of the most recent vessel collisions and a way to improve maritime safety as a prevention strategy. By leveraging Long Short-Term Memory autoencoders, a class of deep recurrent neural networks, this research demonstrates a unique approach to forecasting vessel trajectories and assessing collision risks. The proposed method integrates trajectory predictions with statistical techniques to construct probabilistic boundaries, including confidence intervals, prediction intervals, ellipsoidal prediction regions, and conformal prediction regions. The study introduces a collision risk score, which evaluates the likelihood of boundary overlaps as a metric for collision detection. These methods are applied to simulated test scenarios and a real-world case study involving the 2021 collision between the Scot Carrier and Karin Hoej cargo ships. The results demonstrate that CPR, a non-parametric approach, reliably forecasts collision risks with 95% confidence. The findings underscore the importance of integrating statistical uncertainty quantification with deep learning models to improve navigational decision-making and encourage a shift towards more proactive, AI/ML-enhanced maritime risk management protocols. Full article

The navigation waterways to the harbors of Rostock (Warnow Estuary), Germany, and Szczecin (Oder/Szczecin Lagoon), Poland, were recently deepened. Both activities required Environmental Impact Assessments. We conducted expert- and data-based ecosystem service assessments for both case studies. Additionally, we performed 3D-ecosystem model simulations. For the Oder Lagoon, the model results show that the waterway deepening increased the burial in sediments by 807 t N/a, 112 t P/a and 4661 T C/a. However, altogether, the impacts of the deepening to 12.5 m draught on the lagoon ecosystem are minor and a model application is not necessary, but the results improve the data basis for ecosystem service assessments. Our expert-based ecosystem service approach is adaptable to the needs of coastal engineering and hydraulic projects and is both easy and quick to apply and transferable. The assessment results highlight the relevance of cultural services and can complement EIAs. Our approach can especially support the early scoping stage of an EIA. It has the potential to enhance cooperation and communication with and between stakeholders, reduce conflicts, and save time. Additionally, it could improve the compilation and addressing of stakeholder concerns, potentially reducing costs associated with unnecessary studies. Full article

This study was aimed at improving the energy efficiency of the distribution of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as shipping fuel in the southern Baltic Sea. The objective of this study was to determine the demand for LNG for maritime shipping by analyzing the distribution of the resource from the water side (ship-to-ship). LNG was chosen due to the location of the LNG terminal in Świnoujście within the analyzed water area, where a problem has arisen in the southern part of the Baltic Sea regarding fuel supply for vessels due to the lack of developed infrastructure along the coast. An analysis was conducted to optimize the size of the LNG fleet and infrastructure facilities. Seeking compliance with Annex VI to the MARPOL 73/78 Convention, adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), shipowners see potential in the switch from conventional fuels to LNG. As one of the alternative solutions, it will contribute to reducing harmful emissions. Determination of the LNG distribution volume requires the identification of LNG storage facility locations, specifying the number of LNG-powered ships (broken down by type) and the number of LNG bunkering ships. The first part of this study contains a detailed analysis of the number of sea-going ships that provide services in the southern part of the Baltic Sea and the world’s number of LNG bunkering ships. The database contains a set of the characteristics required to determine the optimal demand for LNG, where LNG bunkering vessels are capable of supplying fuel within the shortest possible time and covering the shortest possible distance to LNG-powered ships. The characteristics include the type of ship, requested LNG volume, the speed of LNG bunkering ships, the distance between LNG facilities, and the loading rate (the volume of fuel received per time unit). Based on the collected data, the volume of LNG distribution was determined using MATLAB R2019a software. The remainder of this study contains a description of the conducted research and results of an analysis of the traffic density in the Baltic Sea. The results were obtained on the basis of data from the Statistical Yearbook of Maritime Economy and IALA IWRAP Mk2 2020 software. The number of LNG-powered ships and number of LNG bunkering ships were specified, and the demand for LNG for the area under analysis was determined. Full article

Shipping is a vital component of global trade. However, shipping activities have negative environmental impacts, including emissions to air and water. The Baltic Sea is severely affected by eutrophication, mainly due to nutrient inputs, especially nitrogen and phosphorus. Understanding the contributions of various nutrient sources is essential for informed environmental regulation. The aim of this research is to quantify the nutrient content of black and grey water discharged from cargo ships in the Baltic Sea in order to assess their contribution to the total nutrient load. Specifically, this research examines the nitrogen and phosphorus loadings from ships calling the port of HaminaKotka and addresses key questions regarding nutrient generation, discharge proportions, emission shares by ship type, and their importance compared to other sources. Using a methodology based on ship data and nutrient production estimates, this study found that 2545 cargo ships generated a total of 781 kg of nitrogen and 134 kg of phosphorus in their effluents during their voyages to the port in 2021. However, only a small fraction (0.5%) of the cargo ships discharged their wastewater at port reception facilities. This study concludes that nutrient discharges from cargo ships’ wastewaters are relatively small, contributing less than 0.06% phosphorus and 0.01% nitrogen to the total load in the area. This result indicates that the impact of cargo ships’ wastewater on the eutrophication of the Baltic Sea is smaller than previously thought. The methodology used in this study can be applied in other ports and regions to assess nutrient discharges from cargo ships’ wastewaters on a wider scale. Further research is recommended to assess the effectiveness of on-board treatment systems, the impact of other contaminants in wastewater, and the development of port reception facilities to facilitate proper wastewater management in the maritime trade. Full article

The development of offshore wind farms is an important step toward increasing the share of green energy in Poland’s energy mix, offering promising prospects for the energy industry. However, in addition to numerous benefits, such investments also carry potential risks for the marine environment, including the risk of spills of hazardous substances such as gear oils, hydraulic oils, and lubricants. This paper analyses the potential impact of oil spills from offshore wind farms on the marine ecosystems of the Baltic Sea, taking into account hydrometeorological factors, particularly protected areas (such as Natura 2000 sites) and the intensity of ship traffic in the area of the planned farms. Simulations of spill scenarios are also presented to assess the potential extent of pollution and its impact on the environment. This paper emphasises the importance of advanced monitoring and safety systems in minimising the risk of accidents and responding quickly to possible incidents. The development of offshore wind farms in Poland presents itself as a key element in a sustainable energy development strategy, combining advanced technology with environmental concerns. Full article

Ballast water represents a significant vector for the transfer of aquatic organisms and chemical pollutants. Although various groups of transported microorganisms can have a negative impact on native species of aquatic fauna, the available literature usually focuses on larger organisms. This is important because microorganisms cause changes in the balanced aquatic environment, including a stable trophic pyramid. The objectives of this study were twofold: (i) to determine the seasonal changes in the microbiota of the ballast water of long- and short-range ships entering the southern Baltic port, with a focus on fish pathogenic microorganisms and (ii) to potentially assess the threat to the ichthyofauna caused by the introduction of these microorganisms into the aquatic environment. The analytical results demonstrated notable variability in microbial density across the samples, contingent on the distance traversed by the ships. The samples of ballast water collected in autumn exhibited the highest microbial density compared to those collected in spring and summer. The samples contained yeast (1.00–2.98 log cfu/mL), mold (1.30–3.26 log cfu/mL), and bacteria (2.18–4.61 log cfu/mL), including amylolytic bacteria (0.95–3.53 log cfu/mL), lipolytic bacteria (0.70–2.93 log cfu/mL), and proteolytic bacteria (0.70–2.39 log cfu/mL). The most prevalent were the Pseudomonas bacteria (0.48–4.40 log cfu/mL), including Pseudomonas fluorescens (0.20–2.60 log cfu/mL. The port waters in spring and summer were primarily characterized by the presence of bacteria belonging to the genus Bacillus. Additionally, the samples exhibited the presence of Intestinimonas, Oceanobacillus, and Virgibacillus bacteria. The short-range vessel samples were populated primarily by bacteria belonging to the genus Bordetella, accompanied by Oligella, Brackiella, and Basilea oraz Derxia, while the ballast water of long-range ships contained mainly Acholeplasma and Clostridium, accompanied by Bacillus, Peptosteptococcus, Intestinibacter, Terrisporobacter, Anaerobacillis, Anaerofustis, Oxobacter, and Listeria. A phylogenetic analysis of the bacteria recorded in the ballast water revealed the presence of species, including Bordetella and Acholeplasma, which can facilitate the colonization of aquatic organisms by pathogenic entities. The results of this study showed that despite the use of water treatment systems on ships, ballast waters carry microorganisms that can negatively impact new environments, including local fish populations (e.g., P. fluorescens). These observations point to the need for further research on the effectiveness of ballast water management systems used to date to minimize the environmental impact of organisms carried in ships’ ballast water to preserve natural resources and environmental sustainability in port waters. Full article

The main objective of this manuscript is to build a model for the distribution of LNG as a marine fuel in the southern Baltic Sea based on a genetic algorithm in terms of cost. In order to achieve this, it was necessary to develop, in detail, research sub-objectives like analysis of the intensity of ship traffic in the indicated area and analysis of LNG demand in maritime transport. In the first part of this study, the authors use data from the IALA IWRAP Mk2 and the Statistical Office in Szczecin to analyse the marine traffic density (by type of vessel) in the southern part of the Baltic Sea. LNG used as marine fuel reduces toxic emissions into the atmosphere. The authors specify the LNG fleet size and locations of LNG storage facilities in a way to ensure that the defined LNG bunker vessels can supply fuel to LNG-powered vessels within the shortest possible time period. The database contains a set of traits necessary to determine the optimal demand for LNG. The traits were developed based on an existing LNG fleet and appropriately selected infrastructure, and they represent existing LNG-powered vessels as well as LNG bunker vessels and their specifications. Based on the created LNG distribution model, were performed in Matlab R2019a software. An LNG distribution model was developed, which uses a genetic algorithm to solve the task. The demand for LNG for the sea area under analysis was determined based on data on the capacity of LNG-powered vessels (by type of vessel) and their distance from the specified port. Full article

Offshore wind energy is becoming an increasingly important element in the decarbonisation of energy systems. This study aims to estimate the technical potential for offshore wind energy in the Polish exclusive economic zone (EZZ) of the Baltic Sea. Such estimates are necessary to plan the expansion of energy infrastructure. This paper proposes a multi-criteria analysis for the estimation of offshore wind potential and site selection using QGIS software (QGIS Desktop 3.28.6). The criteria include wind velocity, water depth, distance from nature conservation areas, distance from submarine cables and gas pipelines, distance from shipping routes, distance from fishing areas, distance from shipwrecks, and distance from the coastline. The best sites are identified through the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). The results show that the total suitable marine area of 16,218.67 square kilometres can be divided into three parts, in which the highly suitable area for offshore wind farms accounts for 17.55%, the moderately suitable area accounts for 48.56%, and the marginally suitable area accounts for 10.26%. Two different wind turbine placement configurations are being considered, in which wind turbines with a nominal capacity of 15 MW are laid out: 2.5 km and 2 km apart from each other. The corresponding overall electrical capacities only in highly suitable areas equal ca. 9 GW and 15 GW, respectively. If this area is extended to also include the moderately suitable parts, these values increase to ca. 31 GW and 50 GW. The results indicate that the technical potential of offshore wind in the Polish EEZ is significant and should be taken into account when designing the future electricity generation mix. Full article

Shallow, semi-enclosed coastal systems are particularly prone to eutrophication. Depending on local site conditions and historical nutrient legacies, sea-based measures might be necessary in addition to land-based nutrient removal. In this study, C:N:P ratios were combined with open-source bathymetric information and linked with the prevailing geomorphological and sedimentological regimes to gain insights into nutrient hotspots and understand their sources and fate in coastal waters. Land-based sediment samples were taken behind outlets at three sites in Eckernförde Bay (Baltic Sea), and complemented with ship-based sampling at locations approximately 8 m and 12 m water depth. The total carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in surface sediments increased at deeper sites. This suggests that an increased downslope particle transport and deposition regime, based on local geomorphology, might influence nutrient hotspots to a larger extent than proximity to sources (e.g., outlets). Overall, the recorded C:N ratios (mean = 28.12) were closer to the ratio of terrestrial plants than those of marine phytoplankton, indicating allochthonous sources of organic matter. Full article

Due to increasingly stringent IMO and European Commission requirements for greenhouse gas emissions, the present study analysed the projected reductions in CO₂ emissions achieved by using methanol as an alternative fuel to power custom service operation vessels (SOVs) serving wind platforms in the Baltic Sea. Methanol is a relatively new fuel, approved for use as a safe marine fuel in the late 2020s. In these analyses, reference was made to the current interim guidelines, supplementing the IGF Code in the form of MSC.1/Circ.1621. The SOV type was chosen because of the current growing demand for these ships (the dynamic development of offshore wind power) and the lack of analyses of this type of small craft. The importance of assessing CO₂ emissions in this case is due to the specifics of the vessel’s operation in different modes, and thus the variable load on the propulsion system and the area of operation close to the coastline. A computational research method was used to evaluate CO₂ emissions, as well as the cost of methanol fuel, using current regulations and technical data. A comparison was also made between conventional MDO and LNG fuels. The first results of the analysis showed that methanol fuel is only competitive with MDO (a few-percent advantage) in terms of the average estimated index value EIV. Economically, it will require a higher investment, despite the favourable unit price of methanol compared to LNG and MDO. Full article

New areas for the production of fossil-free renewable offshore energy production are planned in Arctic waters in the Bay of Bothnia, in the very north of the Baltic Sea between Sweden and Finland. These are waters normally covered with 30–60 cm of ice every winter and shipping is carried out with icebreaker assistance. This article suggests the need for research on the wind turbine’s effect on ice behavior and ice navigation. Some concepts from previous research are suggested as a solution. Full article

This study examines maritime tourism in the Baltic Sea region. The first part presents basic information related to the maritime tourism market, along with the key aspects and effects that the maritime tourism market has on the regions where it takes place. The next part concerns the Baltic Sea. The location and characteristics of the Baltic Sea are briefly presented. Passenger shipping connections between Baltic ports are described. The last part is devoted to the analysis of statistical data in the Baltic Sea region, focusing on passenger exchange in selected ports and in the entire Baltic Sea over the years. Finally, the potential directions of the development of maritime tourism in the Baltic Sea are characterized. Full article

Shipping emissions are a major source of particulate matter in the atmosphere. The volatility of gaseous and particulate phase ship emissions are poorly known despite their potentially significant effect on the evolution of the emissions and their secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation potential. An approach combining a genetic optimisation algorithm with volatility modelling was used on volatility measurement data to study the volatility distribution of a ship engine’s emissions in real-world conditions. The fuels used were marine gas oil (MGO) and methanol. The engine was operated with 50% and 70% loads with and without active NOx after-treatment with selective catalytic reduction (SCR). The volatility distributions were extended to higher volatilities by combining the speciation information of the gas phase volatile organic compounds with particle phase volatility distributions and organic carbon measurements. These measurements also provided the emission factors of the gas and particle phase emissions. The results for the particle phase volatility matched well with the existing results placing most of the volatile organic mass in the intermediate volatile organic compounds (IVOC). The IVOCs also dominated the speciated gas phase. Partitioning of the emissions in the gas and particle phases was affected significantly by the total organic mass concentration, underlining the importance of the effect of the dilution on the phase of the emissions. Full article