A comprehensive framework for assessing navigation risk and deploying maritime emergency resources in the South China Sea

Abstract

Owing to increasing global maritime accidents, it is highly important to optimize the allocation of limited maritime search and rescue (SAR) resources to protect crew and ships from the catastrophic influences of marine disasters. This study proposes a comprehensive framework for assessing navigation risk and deploying maritime SAR resources. The proposed framework is based on a combination of multiple criteria decision making, geospatial techniques, and game theory. First, a composite risk index is introduced and calculated for the responsibility area of each maritime SAR base by applying spatial multi-criteria decision analysis, which represents the possibility of the occurrence of accidents in the responsibility area. Next, the deployment of SAR resources for each base is likened to the playing of a cooperative game. The risk index value is used to calculate each base's Banzhaf value. Finally, the deployment of SAR resources in all bases is determined based on the Banzhaf values of each base. The northeastern South China Sea was chosen as the area for a case study to verify the usefulness of the proposed framework. The results show that the proposed approach is feasible to plan the allocation of SAR resources and to improve navigation safety.