Enhancing Maritime Safety and Efficiency: A Comprehensive Sea Fog Monitoring System for Ningbo Zhoushan Port

Abstract

Sea fog poses a considerable challenge to port operations, impacting maritime safety and efficiency. During the past five years, the average annual downtime of the navigation dispatch department in Ningbo Zhoushan Port due to weather was 800–1000 h, of which approximately 300 h can be attributed to sea fog. This study addresses the issue by developing a comprehensive sea fog monitoring system for Ningbo Zhoushan Port. The system utilizes automatic weather stations (AWS) and visibility laser imaging, detection, and ranging (LIDAR) to assess sea fog severity and improve monitoring accuracy. By increasing monitoring frequency and adopting corresponding warning measures, the system aims to enhance maritime safety and efficiency in Ningbo Zhoushan Port. The results showed that the implemented system successfully determines sea fog severity, enables real-time monitoring, and provides precise visibility assessments. Joint assessments revealed a substantial increase in the annual operating time and revenue of the port. These findings underscore the importance of advanced monitoring techniques in optimizing port operations, reducing collision risks, and mitigating economic losses caused by sea fog.