Maritime Engineering Research Articles

A novel hybrid approach to mooring tension prediction for semi-submersible offshore platforms

The accuracy of mooring tension prediction significantly affects the safety of semi-submersible offshore platform operations and the efficiency of production planning. Nevertheless, traditional single prediction models have difficulty accurately forecasting for complex measured mooring tension data. This work provides a hybrid method for predicting mooring tension on semi-submersible maritime platforms based on VMD, error correction, and the convolutional neural network–long short-term memory (CNN-LSTM) and convolutional neural network–bidirectional long short-term memory (CNN-BiLSTM) models. The proposed hybrid prediction model was trained, validated, and tested using monitored mooring tension data acquired from the “Deepsea One” semi-submersible ocean platform in the South China Sea under different orientations and sea conditions. The results showed that the proposed hybrid prediction model for mooring tension on semi-submersible offshore platforms had lower values of the root mean square error, mean absolute error, and mean absolute percentage error and higher values of the coefficient of determination (R2) than almost all of the other comparison models when predicting complex time series data of the actual monitored mooring tension. This indicated that the proposed hybrid prediction model had better precision and stability than other models. Furthermore, this method can be used to anticipate nonlinear, nonstationary time series data in different fields of maritime engineering.

A reliability-based design and optimization strategy using a novel MPP searching method for maritime engineering structures

PurposeIn order to solve the problems faced by First Order Reliability Method (FORM) and First Order Saddlepoint Approximation (FOSA) in structural reliability optimization, this paper aims to propose a new Reliability-based Design Optimization (RBDO) strategy for offshore engineering structures based on Original Probabilistic Model (OPM) decoupling strategy. The application of this innovative technique to other maritime structures has the potential to substantially improve their design process by optimizing cost and enhancing structural reliability.Design/methodology/approachIn the strategy proposed by this paper, sequential optimization and reliability assessment method and surrogate model are used to improve the efficiency for solving RBDO. The strategy is applied to the analysis of two marine engineering structure cases of ship cargo hold structure and frame ring of underwater skirt pile gripper. The effectiveness of the method is proved by comparing the original design and the optimized results.FindingsIn this paper, the proposed new RBDO strategy is used to optimize the design of the ship cargo hold structure and the frame ring of the underwater skirt pile gripper. According to the results obtained, compared with the original design, the structure of optimization design has better reliability and stability, and reduces the risk of failure. This optimization can also better balance the relationship between performance and cost. Therefore, it is recommended for related RBDO problems in the field of marine engineering.Originality/valueIn view of the limitations of FORM and FOSA that may produce multiple MPPs for a single performance function, the new RBDO strategy proposed in this study provides valuable insights and robust methods for the optimization design of offshore engineering structures. It emphasizes the importance of combining advanced MPP search technology and integrating SORA and surrogate models to achieve more economical and reliable design.

SHM-informed life-cycle intelligent maintenance of fatigue-sensitive detail using Bayesian forecasting and Markov decision process

Civil and maritime engineering systems must be efficiently managed to control the failure risk at an acceptable level as their performance is gradually degraded throughout the operational life, caused by fatigue and corrosion. Structural health monitoring develops a timely capability to assess the structural condition and performance metrics. However, using actual long-term monitoring data to guide the life-cycle management under stochastic environments has not been sufficiently studied. To realize an optimal maintenance strategy within the service life, an integrated monitoring-based optimal management framework is developed on the basis of the partially observable Markov decision processes (POMDPs) and Bayesian forecasting. In the proposed framework, the stochastic fatigue processes are quantified by the state transition matrix. The Bayesian dynamic linear model is embedded in POMDPs as a continuous observation part to forecast the cycling impacts and estimate the deterioration rate using long-term dynamic strain responses. In addition, making use of the special features of the problem considered in this paper, an adaptive discretization strategy is proposed to alleviate the complexity of large discrete observed spaces in the POMDP. The applicability and feasibility of the framework are evaluated by intelligent maintenance of fatigue-sensitive components with real-world monitoring data. After solving the POMDP by an efficient offline solver, the results obtained in this paper demonstrate that structural interventions are uneconomical to extend the life when a welded detail is approaching its end of life due to the normal service. Furthermore, if multiple interventions are available, the framework can find optimal maintenance actions based on the trade-off between long-term utility and the corresponding cost. This framework as the prototype could also be adjusted to aid life-cycle intelligent maintenance of other types of components under different deterioration scenarios.

Green Composites for Maritime Engineering: A Review

Green composites have gained increasing attention in recent years as a sustainable alternative to traditional materials used in marine structures. These composites are made from biodegradable and renewable materials, making them environmentally friendly and reducing the subsequent carbon footprint. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of green composites materials and their applications in marine structures. This review includes a classification of the potential fibres and matrixes for green composites which are suitable for marine applications. The properties of green composites, such as their strength and Young’s modulus, are analysed and compared with those of traditional composites. An overview concerning current rules and regulations is presented. The applications of green composites in marine structures are reviewed, focusing on both shipbuilding and offshore applications. The main challenges in a wider application of green composites are also highlighted, as well as the benefits and future challenges.

Study on Physical and Mechanical Properties of High-Water Material Made by Seawater

In maritime engineering, marine-derived construction materials are seen as an efficient and cost-effective alternative. HWM is a novel inorganic cementitious material characterized by its high water content, rapid setting, and early strengthening. In this study, first, HWM was proposed to be produced from seawater and used in a maritime environment. Two groups of HWM samples with varied w/c ratios were prepared with fresh water and seawater, and their behavior was examined to assess the viability of HWM produced with seawater. The microstructures and chemical compositions were studied using SEM and XRD. Results indicated that as the w/c ratio increased from 3:1 to 6:1, the water content, density, and uniaxial compressive strength of HWM produced from seawater varied from 72.1% to 77.5%; 1.25 to 1.12 g/cm3, and 1.47 MPa to 0.39 MPa, respectively, which is 2–10% lower, 0.8–2.2% higher, and 13–45% stronger than that from fresh water. The chemical composition of HWM mixed with seawater is predominantly composed of ettringite, C-S-H gel, aluminum (Al(OH)3) glue, M-S-H gel, and Mg(OH)2. SO42− and Mg2+ in seawater participate in the hydration and hardening of HWM, resulting in an increase in the synthesis of ettringite and M-S-H gel, which makes the skeletal structure of HWM denser, hence increasing its strength. HWM derived from seawater retains excellent physical and mechanical properties. This work reveals the HWM-seawater interaction mechanism, elucidates the promising application prospect of HWM in maritime engineering, and paves the way to investigate its field performance.

Evaluating probabilistic forecasts for maritime engineering operations

Abstract Maritime engineering relies on model forecasts for many different processes, including meteorological and oceanographic forcings, structural responses, and energy demands. Understanding the performance and evaluation of such forecasting models is crucial in instilling reliability in maritime operations. Evaluation metrics that assess the point accuracy of the forecast (such as root-mean-squared error) are commonplace, but with the increased uptake of probabilistic forecasting methods such evaluation metrics may not consider the full forecasting distribution. The statistical theory of proper scoring rules provides a framework in which to score and compare competing probabilistic forecasts, but it is seldom appealed to in applications. This translational paper presents the underlying theory and principles of proper scoring rules, develops a simple panel of rules that may be used to robustly evaluate the performance of competing probabilistic forecasts, and demonstrates this with an application to forecasting surface winds at an asset on Australia’s North–West Shelf. Where appropriate, we relate the statistical theory to common requirements by maritime engineering industry. The case study is from a body of work that was undertaken to quantify the value resulting from an operational forecasting product and is a clear demonstration of the downstream impacts that statistical and data science methods can have in maritime engineering operations.

Teaching marine engineering terms through online methods in maritime training courses

Verbal communication is an integral part of seafarers’ professional activity and a compulsory condition of vessels’ safety, the prevention of marine environment pollution, the fulfillment of international and national legislation in the field of sea transport, and the organization and management of sea transport traffic involving multinational crews. The present study contributes to the resolution of professional communication linguistic support problems within the framework of the marine engineer’s activities. Additionally, it ensures safety at sea by developing the terminological component of the foreign-language competence of marine engineers. The purpose of the research presented in this article is to identify patterns of teaching the English maritime engineering term system used in oral professional communication and technical documentation engaging the Moodle Platform. The concept of marine engineering terminology, as well as the principles of distinguishing it from a more general concept of «maritime terminology», was considered in order to achieve this goal. The article suggests a combination of the most efficient Moodle tools that can be used to develop trainees’ specific terminological competence. Highlights A comprehensive analysis has allowed identifying differences in the functioning of ship engineering terms in technical documentation and oral professional communication The elements of this terminological system under analysis form hierarchical paradigms The functioning of ship-engineering terms in professional communication is complicated by the presence of synonyms within the terminological system and pseudo-international vocabulary Marine engineering terms can be successfully taught through a combination of several Moodle instruments, which enables trainees to conduct comprehensive structural-semantic comparative analysis of the English ship engineering terminological system

A Review of Ship-to-Ship Interactions in Calm Waters

The hydrodynamic interaction between two or more ships in harbours or inland waterways is a classical maritime engineering research area. In ship manoeuvring practice, ship masters try to determine the speed and gap limit when a ship is passing or encountering others, particularly in confined water ways. This requires an accurate prediction of the interaction force acting on both ships. The pioneer experimental studies showed that the interaction could lead to a very large yaw moment and this moment is strongly time-dependent, which could make the ships veer from their original courses, leading to collisions. Based on the findings on experimental measurements, some empirical formulas are proposed in the literature to predict such interaction forces. However, these formulas could provide a satisfactory estimation only when the ship speed is quite high, and the water depth is shallow and constant. Numerical simulation overcomes this issue by simulating the ship-to-ship problem by considering the effect of the 3D ship hull, variable water depth and ship speed. Numerical simulation has now become the most widely adopted method to investigate the ship-to-ship problem. In the present study, the development of the methodologies of ship-to-ship problems will be reviewed, and the research gap and challenges will be summarized.

Knowledge gaps in fuel cell-based maritime hybrid power plants and alternative fuels

The maritime industry is facing a technological challenge regarding the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions as a way of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. This research focuses on the use of alternative fuels and fuel cell technologies, combined in hybrid power plants with well-known technologies, such as internal combustion engines and gas turbines, to achieve high flexibility. In this work, hybridized proton exchange membrane fuel cells and solid oxide fuel cells are under investigation, together with hydrogen, methanol and ammonia fuels. Literature on fuel cell-based maritime hybrid power plants is analyzed and discussed to identify knowledge areas not fully covered yet and to open a debate on the topic from the perspective of maritime engineering A combination of proton exchange with solid oxide fuel cells and an evaluation of cargo space loss, as opposed to fuel storage, are identified as knowledge gaps among others.

Case-Study-Based Overview of Methods and Technical Solutions of Analog and Digital Transmission in Measurement and Control Ship Systems.

The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of possible solutions to improve the performance of measurement and control processes in maritime engineering applications. This improvement can be basically provided by adopting techniques to enhance the reliability of measurement/control systems based on the 4–20 mA analogue standard. This aspect will be discussed through a Simscape Simulink model illustrating methods of noise and ground loops elimination for pressure measurement of a 4–20 mA current loop in the tank level measurement system on a bulk carrier commercial ship. Alternatively, improved measurement and control processes can be rendered by utilizing smart transmitters based on wired hybrid analogue–digital (Highway Addressable Remote Transducer (HART)), wired digital (Foundation Fieldbus (FF)) or wireless (wireless HART) communication protocols. A brief theoretical description of these protocols will be presented in this article. As an example of using smart transmitters, a simulation-based case study will analyze the possible options to implement non-intrinsically safe as well as intrinsically safe FF models for the tank level measurement system on a bulk carrier commercial ship. Conclusions obtained through analysis of the simulation results will characterize the behavior of FF segments in safe as well as explosive hazardous areas, highlighting the characteristics of field barriers and segment protectors used in conjunction with the HPTC (High-Power Trunk Concept) intrinsically safe model.

Performance-maximum optimization of the intelligent lifting activities for a polar ship crane through trajectory planning

Knuckle boom crane (KBC) mounted on a polar ship (PS) is a maritime engineering equipment widely used in offshore activities. The working performance of a PS-mounted KBC (PSKBC) may degrade quickly if manipulated manually under extreme working conditions in polar region. To address the challenges, a performance-maximum optimization method through trajectory planning is developed to further promote the intelligently unmanned lifting processes of the PSKBC. Firstly, the dynamic model of lifting activities of the PSKBC is established using Lagrangian equation, based on which the point-to-point trajectory planning (PTP) method is developed for lifting processes. Subsequently, the PTP‐based optimization model is established to realize the minimum energy consumption and time cost of the lifting activities of the PSKBC, and the obtained optimal lifting performance is compared with the traditional S-curve method. To verify the superiority of the proposed performance-maximum optimization method, numerical simulations of the lifting activities of the PSKBC with respect to different crane loads and final lifting positions are performed. Results indicate that the PTP‐based performance-maximum optimization method for the PSKBC can perfectly achieve better performances with applicable lifting trajectories regarding various working conditions and demands.

Computational Simulations of Wide-Beam Air-Cavity Hull in Waves

Abstract An effective method to reduce ship drag is to supply air under specially profiled bottom with the purpose to decrease the wetted surface area of the hull and thus its water resistance. Although such systems have been installed on some vessels, the broad implementation of this technique has not yet occurred. A major problem is how to sustain air lubrication in rough water. Modeling of air-ventilated flows is challenging, but modern computational fluid dynamics tools can provide valuable insight. In this study, a wide-beam, shallow-draft hull with a bottom air cavity is considered. This hull imitates a semiplaning boat that can be used for fast transportation of cargo from large marine vessels to shallow shores. To simulate fluid flow around this hull in calm water and head waves, as well as heave and pitch motions of the boat, CFD (computational fluid dynamics) software Star-CCMþ has been employed. It is found that the air cavity effectiveness decreases in waves; vertical accelerations exhibit high-frequency oscillations; and heave, pitch, and vertical accelerations increase, while time-averaged heave, pitch, and added drag show nonmonotonic behavior with increasing wave amplitude. The air-cavity hull also demonstrates substantially lower vertical accelerations in waves in comparison with a similar solid hull without bottom recess. Time histories of kinematic parameters and distributions of flow field variables presented in this article can be insightful for developers of air-cavity hulls. Introduction The development of systems that can lead to ship fuel savings, accompanied by the decrease in pollutant emissions, is a part of global sustainability efforts in the maritime engineering industry. Reducing the hydrodynamic drag of marine vessels can effectively address this goal. One of the methods that was proposed over a century ago but only recently started to appear on ships involves air injection under hull bottoms (Butuzov et al. 1981; Latorre 1997; Dern et al. 2015; Pavlov et al. 2020). Among several air-based methods, the formation of continuous air cavities attracted significant attention in the past and is addressed in this article. A concept of a hull with an air cavity formed inside a bottom recess is shown in Fig. 1.

Analysis of Temperature-Dependent Womersley Flow of a Power-Law Fluid through a Porous Medium on Analytic Functions

The goal of this research is to look into the analytic functions for temperature-dependent womersley flow of a power-law fluid through a porous material. Bessel functions are a set of solutions to a second-order differential equation that can appear in a variety of contexts. Mechanics, electrodynamics, elasticity, hydrodynamics, electrical engineering, oscillatory systems, electro engineering, and maritime engineering, heat distribution over an area (smartphones), pressure vessel design, microphone design, solid state physics, and celestial mechanics are some of the applications of Bessel functions. The following tools were used: analytical functions theorems, Microsoft Excel, and Maple Software 2018. The physical properties that describe a power-law fluid passing through a porous media have a significant impact on the flow system's mass transfer. The temperature-dependent parameter should be maintained well enough for optimal production, according to field and production engineers.

Corrosion behavior of a newly developed high strength aluminum alloy with high magnesium content under simulated seawater environment

AbstractAMg61 (Al‐6.2% Mg), a novel form of high‐strength, high‐magnesium‐content aluminum alloy, has been developed for specific maritime engineering in recent years, while its corrosion behavior in seawater is still unknown. Therefore, the corrosion behavior of AMg61 in the simulated seawater was investigated herein, using a weight‐loss test and different electrochemical measurements. In addition, corrosion morphology and chemical contents were characterized by metallography, scanning electron microscopy, and energy‐dispersive spectroscopy. The results demonstrated that intergranular corrosion and microcracks developed first in the second phase of AMg61, followed by pitting corrosion. The matrix of AMg61, on the other hand, exhibited a uniform and exfoliation corrosion. The corrosion rate gradually decreased over time.

Towards Reliability and Safety Improvement of Measurement and Control Processes on Ships: Implementation of Wireless Hart Protocol

Abstract Measurement and control systems in maritime engineering applications are quite similar to those in shore based engineering applications except for some unique features which differentiate between each of them. These features are either related to the specific nature and purpose of the maritime application (Various types of commercial ships, oil/gas rigs and others) or linked to the harsh environmental conditions such as salinity, corrosion and vibration which usually exist in higher levels than shore based applications. Accordingly and due to such a specific nature of maritime engineering applications, more requirements should be considered to ensure reliability and stability for measurement and control process avoiding any negative effects that might be associated with such a unique engineering environment. As was discussed in (Abotaleb, 2021), smart transmitters based on hybrid analogue-digital (HART) and digital (Foundation Fieldbus and Profibus PA) communication protocols with additional diagnostic information, they might be a possible wired alternative for analogue transmitters (mostly based on 4-20 mA analogue standard). Similarly, wireless HART protocol can be an alternative for 4-20 mA analogue transmitters. This article will discuss the possibility of replacing classical 4-20 mA analogue transmitters with wireless HART smart transmitters on commercial ships as an example for maritime engineering application. The first section of the discussion will include a theoretical background for the basic principles of wireless HART protocol among other wireless technologies used in industrial automation. The second section of the article will discuss the possibility of utilising wireless HART protocol in the most common measurement and control systems on any commercial ship in order to discover the degree to which wireless HART can be fully or partially integrated with maritime engineering applications. Afterwards, better realization for such a concept will be rendered by an analytical planning case study conducted for tank level measurement system on different types of commercial ships. Based on both the theoretical and the analytical sections, the experimental section will manifest the importance of some of the necessary key elements to implement a reliable wireless HART network. These key elements are RSSI levels, supply voltage stability and the capability of wireless HART adapters to integrate between wired HART protocol and wireless HART network.

Design and construction of an offshore diffuser augmented wind turbine with a high efficiency alternator

This paper describes the design and the assembly of a new type of a ducted wind turbine with an electric power generator adopting permanent high coercive magnets embedded in the peripheral ring of the rotor. The nominal power is 20 kW, and the maximum diameter of the external duct is 9 meters. The project has been carried out within the Marine Energy Laboratory (MEL) funded by the Italian Ministry for Education, University and Research (MIUR) and collects the most advanced technologies of naval maritime engineering and combines them with energy and turbomachinery technologies. The presence of a divergent duct enables the interception of a greater air mass flow rate, allowing the reduction of the rotor diameter and the deflections of the blades; hence, at constant tip speed ratio, a higher rotational speed compared to conventional turbines and a better efficiency of the permanent magnet power generator.

Hybrid Artificial Neural Networks for Modeling Shallow-Water Bathymetry via Satellite Imagery

Accurate bathymetric mapping for shallow-water areas is essential for coastal and maritime engineering applications. However, traditional multibeam or light detection and ranging (LiDAR) survey techniques used to produce high-quality bathymetric maps are expensive. Satellite-derived bathymetry provides a fast and inexpensive method for the large-scale mapping of shallow-water areas and can overcome the complexities of traditional bathymetric mapping methods in these areas. Traditionally, linear regression models, most commonly the Stumpf model, are used for satellite-based bathymetric modeling. However, nonlinear artificial neural network (ANN) models have been recently developed and implemented for satellite-based bathymetric modeling and are under significant investigation to develop the most accurate and optimal model. This article proposes two new hybrid ANN-based models for bathymetric modeling and investigates their performance using satellite imagery data and “truth” depth data for a coastal shallow-water study area. Two-hybrid ANN algorithms are developed, namely, particle swarm optimization (PSO)-ANN and optimally pruned extreme learning machine (OPELM), and their results are compared with the traditional Stumpf method and current state-of-the-art ANN model. The study area dataset comprises the “truth” depth data from a nautical chart of the Alqumriyah Island study area in Saudi Arabia and the corresponding spectral reflection values of green, blue, and near-infrared bands from the free-of-charge Level-1C product of Sentinel-2A images used to train and validate the two newly developed models and the traditional models. The results show that the developed OPELM method can accurately derive the bathymetry and is superior to the developed PSO-ANN model, the current state-of-the-art ANN model, and the traditional Stumpf model by 12.10%, 18.76%, and 32.46%, respectively. The OPELM model can also be used for bathymetric modeling of shallow-water areas with depths up to 30 m with a high level of accuracy compared with the current state-of-the-art ANN and traditional methods. The significant contribution of this research is that it is the first investigation of the artificial intelligence-based hybrid OPELM method for accurate bathymetric modeling and will certainly encourage further investigations of hybrid models. Moreover, this research explores whether these developed hybrid models can meet the International Hydrographic Organization standards for hydrographic survey applications.

Development of a dynamic pressure standard of low amplitudes and frequencies

The height of the gravitational wave is an influential magnitude in the estimation of its energy content, a very important parameter in the design of maritime structures such as piers and breakwaters; however, there are reasonable doubts among researchers regarding the quality of its measurement. The objective of the present work was to demonstrate that a stationary calibrated pressure transmitter allows the indirect calculation of the wave height with satisfactory accuracy despite the fact that it is a dynamic event as long as its frequency range is low, as is the case with the gravitational waves of the Costa Rican central Pacific Ocean: between 0.05 and 0.39 Hz. In the absence of a primary standard of periodic pressure disturbances, an alternate path was developed based on the characterization of the parameters of the differential equation characteristic of a pressure measurement system in a shock tube prototype from normal shock wave theory and subsequent verification in a periodic disturbance generator that its attenuation and delay are practically negligible at the frequency of 0.1 Hz. The effect of the different geometry of the chamber of the pressure measurement system used in the sea was evaluated pneumatically by comparison with the dynamic pressure standard in the prototype of the periodic disturbance generator, while the effect of the compressibility of the fluid was evaluated in water in the wave channel of the Laboratory of Maritime Engineering, Rivers and Estuaries of the University of Costa Rica. The results show that the pressure measured from the least-squared adjustment coefficients of an electric current transmitter obtained by stationary calibration is acceptable to estimate the climatology of the gravitational wave characteristic of the Costa Rican central Pacific Ocean with maximum errors of 136 mm in waves of height up to 1.4 m.

STABILITY FAILURE ANALYSIS IN THE OPERATIONS OF FLOATING DRY DOCKS

The main area of this work reflects a topic for which there is little or limited reference available and is carried out to meet the needs of professional and practical floating dry dock operators. The risk of hazards in floating dry docks is evaluated using a discrete fuzzy set theory (FST) and an evidential reasoning (ER) approach in a situation where historical failure data is not available. Fuzzy set modelling is used to estimate the safety levels of the causes of basic failure events in floating dry docks due to stability concerns using the concept of linguistic variables, and provides a framework for dealing with such variables in a systematic way. The ER approach is used to synthesise the estimated safety levels of the causes of hazards/basic hazard events. The results of this work will be valuable to dry dock masters and sister maritime engineering professionals.

Habitat protection planning for Indo‐Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis) in deteriorating environments: Knowledge gaps and recommendations for action

Abstract In Chinese and South‐east Asian waters, the coastal and estuarine environments are important habitats for the Indo‐Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis). Coastal and estuarine maritime engineering (CEME), including land reclamation, embankment or shoreline armouring, harbour construction and marine farming, permanently changes coastal environments and threatens the long‐term persistence of marine biota and ecosystems. Such impacts on humpback dolphin viability, however, are rarely discussed. Likely core habitat of the humpback dolphin was extrapolated based on present understanding of habitat characteristics, which is much narrower than present data describing the species’ range. Some uninvestigated habitats near densely populated landscapes may be prone to intense CEME impacts. CEME impacts compromise humpback dolphin survival through habitat loss, population fragmentation, alteration of ecological regimes and deterioration of ecosystem functionality. A 30% loss of core habitat can catastrophically reduce the population viability of this species. The best strategy to avoid CEME impacts on humpback dolphin viability is to adopt a conservative planning regime from the outset. To inform habitat protection planning, current and past habitat configuration and habitat characteristics of the humpback dolphin can be clarified by systematically designed surveys, local ecological knowledge investigation, long‐term satellite remote‐sensing data and species distribution modelling exercises. Sound habitat protection planning includes mapping hierarchical marine protected area (MPA) networks using spatial planning algorithms and carefully examining CEME impacts from an ecosystem perspective. To prevent inappropriate CEME planning, the inclusion of citizen science, local community participation, marine environmental education and effective information delivery is proposed. Questions relating to the proposed areas of habitat loss, the extent of environmental change and the status of population–habitat viability under the scenario of CEME impacts are proposed in order to examine and re‐examine the environmental impacts of any CEME project.