TITLE: An empirical investigation on using a 3D visualisation of ECDIS data for mitigating maritime accidents within restricted waters.
SPEAKER: Vasileios Plessas (Middlesex University)

ABSTRACT:

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of a three-dimensional visual representation of ECDIS as a method of mitigating maritime accidents within confined waters. Global fleet has increased both in numbers as well as in ships’ sizes. Busy commercial ports around the globe are constantly faced with congestion problems which usually result is accidents, followed by disastrous repercussions.

For these reasons International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and other profound counterparts have introduced a unified information system, in order to integrate data gathered from other electronic navigation aids on board the ship. The purpose for introducing this technology is to provide the officer with a centralised unit to manage all the necessary information in order to plan and monitor the ship’s route within a difficult area. Additionally, it has signalled a new chapter for navigation, where the traditional paper chart is becoming redundant and is being replaced by a new "smart" and flexible digital counter-part.

This research employs both qualitative and quantitative data, as well as different methods for their analysis in light of the main research topic. The empirical investigation has been conducted among Greek shipping and shipping affiliated organisations.  Initial results have indicated a strong relationship between the user’s limitation of awareness and the way ECDIS depicted information during large scale display adjustments (i.e. scales used within restricted waters). Furthermore the Gamma statistic had revealed a strong correlation between the officer’s awareness limitation and the accidents frequency variable. Additional correlation tests were performed in order to validate the main outcome of the analysis as well as to provide a deeper understanding of the data sample.