Abstract
Vessel traffic volume and vessel traffic service (VTS) operator workloads are increasing with the expansion of global maritime trade, contributing to marine accidents by causing difficulties in providing timely services. Therefore, it is essential to have sufficient VTS operators considering the vessel traffic volume and near-miss cases. However, no quantitative method for determining the optimal number of workstations, which is necessary for calculating the VTS operator staffing level, has yet been proposed. This paper proposes a new, microscopic approach for calculating the number of workstations from vessel trajectories and voice recording communication data between VTS operators and navigators. The vessel trajectory data are preprocessed to interpolate different intervals. The proposed method consists of three modules: Information services, navigational assistance services, and traffic organization service. The developed model was applied to the Yeosu VTS in Korea. Another workstation should be added to the current workstation based on the proposed method. The results showed that even without annual statistical data, a reasonable VTS operator staffing level could be calculated. The proposed approach helps prevent vessel accidents by providing timely services even if the vessel traffic is congested if VTS operators are deployed to a sufficient number of workstations.
Highlights
With the rapid growth of global trade and maritime transportation, vessel traffic services (VTS) have come to play a critical role in guaranteeing maritime safety, facilitating traffic flow, and safeguarding the environment
We used the automatic identification systems (AIS) sensor dataset collected for 13 days in June 2014, which was the month with the highest traffic in the year, in the Yeosu VTS area, a harbor in the southern part of the Korean peninsula, to assess the proposed optimal VTS operator staffing level model
The VTS objective cannot be achieved if services are not provided on time, which causes workload and stress due to the insufficient number of VTS operators
Summary
With the rapid growth of global trade and maritime transportation, vessel traffic services (VTS) have come to play a critical role in guaranteeing maritime safety, facilitating traffic flow, and safeguarding the environment. There is a lack of staffing among VTS operators because of the large number of vessels [2]. VTS centers are even expanding their monitoring areas of responsibility while maintaining current staffing levels, resulting in an increase in the workload of operators [3]. The purpose of the guideline is to assist authorities in determining the appropriate staffing level for a VTS center. This paper presents a new vessel traffic flow-based optimal VTS operator staffing level model using AIS sensor data and VHF radio voice data. We provide recommendations to authorities to determine the optimal staff level to improve the service provided by the VTS center.
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