Keywords: innovation, port expansion, channel depth optimisation, UKC, risk management, technology
Ports and shipping channels are critical components of many nations’ transport infrastructure, and make a significant contribution to the economy. With increasing global trade comes further pressures on ports through greater volumes, larger vessels, and more demanding shipping schedules. This is occurring against a backdrop of increasing regulatory, environmental, and social requirements for port authorities and operators that makes development more challenging. Furthermore, port authorities often hold the dual responsibility of facilitating trade and ensuring port safety.
Advancements in technology from a range of fields in the maritime sector are enabling new solutions to these challenges. Developments include improvements in hydrodynamic modelling capabilities, high density bathymetric surveys, improvements in weather forecasting, cost effective access to real time met-ocean data, advancements in environmental data assimilation techniques, broad adoption of AIS and Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs), and high precision measurement of vessel motions in full scale and real time using DGPS and IMU technologies. Each of these developments individually has provided benefits to the industry. However, the greatest benefits, from the dual perspectives of risk management and efficiency, are realised when they are integrated and implemented across both the planning and operations of a port.
Static rules are the mechanism by which shippers and regulatory authorities have traditionally managed the under keel clearance (UKC) of a vessel. Static rules typically comprise a fixed UKC requirement to determine times of sailings and/or maximum sailing drafts. This fixed UKC requirement must account for a range of conditions, and does not consider individually the factors that influence UKC.
In reality these factors change dynamically depending on vessel, channel and environmental conditions. The implication is that the static UKC rules typically must account for some level of uncertainty to accommodate the expected range of scenarios and conditions. Adopting a one size fits all approach generally results in an inefficient operation. Furthermore, the assumptions on which the static UKC rules were originally based also change over time. Often, the static UKC rules themselves are not reviewed in line with the changes to the underlying assumptions. Examples of changes to port operations that may influence the applicability of a static UKC regime include vessel size, transit speed, channel depth profile, transit time, and changes to port layout resulting from new berths or dredging.
To highlight the changing nature of the port operating environment, this paper presents a number of examples where assumptions about the operations have been incorrect, and consequently, the design or procedures have required amendment.
The paper culminates with three case studies for the Ports of Port Hedland, Whyalla and Geelong, to examine how a suite of integrated software solutions deliver increased safety and improved operational performance. This is achieved through a consistent approach to port planning, capital and maintenance dredging, vessel fleet planning and chartering, vessel transit planning, and real time in-transit monitoring.
The ports of Geelong, Whyalla, and Port Hedland differ significantly in terms of operations, volumes, trade, environmental conditions, channel profiles, and port layouts. Despite these differences, and the unique challenges they present, the same risk management technology has been for tailored for use at each to improve the shipping efficiencies, thereby achieving significant increases in throughput and reductions in freight costs.
With ever increasing scrutiny on the financial and environmental credentials of ports, and higher expectations from ports’ customers, stakeholders and local community, particularly with respect to dredging, it is imperative that ports continue to apply best practice with respect to risk management, and be in a position to demonstrate the value delivered from capital investments and operational decisions. The suite of tools presented herein provide port authorities and operators with a comprehensive solution to manage risk, and analyse and evaluate decisions, both planning and operational. This helps ports meet their commercial demands whilst ensuring vessel safety and channel integrity.