Containerized Research Articles

Investigation Slow Steaming for Container Ships Using Speed and Power Estimation in Indonesian Water

Indonesia, which is an archipelagic country, really needs sea transportation as a necessity for efficient delivery of materials. Delivery of goods is carried out using container ships as the main means. The impact of this shipping is mainly an increase in fuel consumption which causes pollution and a decrease in profits for ship owners. The practice of using slow steaming is widely used in maritime transportation. This research will provide a summary of the use of slow steaming to obtain fuel efficiency and benefits in ship operations. A case study was carried out on the Surabaya - Jakarta - Kabil Indonesia shipping route. Calculation of the effect of fuel uses speed parameters to provide a good economic effect and on the environment. The use of this method also shows the potential for cost savings with optimal ship speed which can reduce fuel consumption. Several variables determined during container ship operations will be used to determine speed optimization using the Slow Steaming method. The results of this case study can be used as a reference in determining the economic and environmental benefits of implementing slow steaming, as well as being a method for energy-saving device initiatives.

Actual tasks of the development of river container transportation

The article is devoted to proposals within the framework of strategic objectives for the development of multimodality in river cargo transportation. The introduction describes the current state of river port infrastructure, assesses its readiness for containerization and provides statistics on such transportation. The materials and methods formulate strategic objectives for solving the problems of effective functioning of river transport in modern conditions. The results show the technology for reloading container cargo with portal cranes. results of calculating the travel time of container cargo along the route St. Petersburg - Kazan, taking into account transshipment by water and rail transport. The authors included scientific and practical recommendations for the discussion on the formation of a container line and the composition of ports on it. In conclusion, it was concluded that container transportation has prospects for development on river highways, which will contribute to both achieving the strategic goal of developing multimodality in transport and logistics schemes involving inland water transport, and can also lead to an increase in cargo traffic, improving the quality of transport services for clients and increasing competitiveness of river highways, which is especially important in the current conditions of the breakdown of traditional logistics connections.

Market of transport and logistics services in the context of global transformation of supply chains

The article examines the market of transport and logistics services in the Russian Federation and provides an analysis of key trends and changes caused by the transformation of supply chains associated with political and economic factors. The analysis examines the quantitative characteristics of the transport and logistics services market and identifies current trends and their impact on the transformation of logistics systems. An analysis of the development of the multimodal transportation segment and the role of cargo containerization in the development of this segment is provided. When discussing the results, the classifications of transport and logistics services proposed by various researchers and their applicability in studying of the market of transport and logistics services in the Russian Federation are analyzed. The impact of supply chain transformation is examined using the example of the oil and gas complex of the Russian Federation. The main problems faced by oil and gas enterprises in the context of changing supply chains and the orientation of the economy are highlighted. The article presents the main ways to solve some of the problems identified by researchers, for example, the reorientation of oil transportation to the Northern Sea Route and the Siberian pipelines, leading material flows to the east and to the countries of the Asia-Pacific region.

The Impact of Container Ship Trim on Fuel Consumption and Navigation Safety

Fuel consumption, fuel cost savings, environmental pollution, and navigation safety are significant factors for shipping companies. Maritime transport represents 3% of total greenhouse gas emissions globally. Trim optimization is one of the ways to save energy and reduce ship emissions. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate how the optimization of the trim of container ships at different speeds can decrease exhaust gas emissions and fuel consumption while considering the safety of navigation. This research was conducted by calculating the fuel consumption in real conditions and calculating the optimal trim for different speeds and gases of a container ship of 11,400 TEU. All obtained results were statistically processed to analyze fuel consumption at various speeds, considering the ship’s trim. It turns out that savings should never be at the expense of navigation safety, especially in limited maneuvering areas, such as canals. When maneuvering in such places it is necessary to adjust the trim to ensure navigation safety, i.e., to improve the rudder and propulsion device response, instead of reducing fuel consumption

Institutional Bases for The Formation of the Subject of Aviation Infrastructure Management in the System of Ensuring the Sustainability of the Northern Sea Route

The development of the Northern Sea Route (NSR) infrastructure is one of the priority areas of managerial thought in the development of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation. Commercial use of high-latitude caravan routes in the waters of the NSR should significantly change the situation with the organization of logistical maritime flows around the Eurasian continent. Ensuring uninterrupted traffic along with fulfilment of the conditions of urgency of delivery and cargo safety form the category of stability of the NSR functioning. Its northern part runs exclusively in domestic seas, and ensuring regular vessel traffic is Russia’s priority task in the competition for transporting cargo from east to west (and back) by sea. The movement of ships along the NSR falls directly under the authority of the management of Rosatom State Corporation, while the management of the infrastructure that ensures the continuous movement of transport along the NSR is carried out collegially. At the same time, such an important aspect as the management of the infrastructure complex supporting the movement of container ships with transit cargo has been assigned to three components of a single management entity: the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Russian Far East and the Arctic, and Rosatom Corporation, without clearly defining the boundaries of responsibility for interdepartmental management decisions. To date, this approach has already caused a series of organizational and technical difficulties. The aim of the study is to identify the rational organization of the infrastructure of the management subject, allowing to ensure the sustainability of the movement of passenger and cargo ships throughout the water area of the NSR; it is based on such scientific methods as induction, systematization, grouping Key results of the work may be in demand both in the course of scientific research in the field of infrastructure development in the regions of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, and in the framework of improving the existing management system of aviation infrastructure of these territories.

Prepare for the sustainability era: A quantitative risk analysis model for container shipping sustainability-related risks

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues have attracted global stakeholders' attention, reflecting the focus of sustainability development in this sustainability era. Container shipping is confronted with a wide spectrum of sustainability-related risks during the ESG transformation. Theoretically, this research identifies 36 sustainability risks of container shipping, establishes a customised evaluation framework for container shipping sustainability risks, and quantifies the risks regarding their threatening levels. The five most threatening risks are ‘reinforcement of international emission control policy’, ‘global climate change’, ‘shipping equipment failure’, ‘fuel price volatility’, and ‘ship violates the emission control policy in port area’. The results show that the long-term likelihood as well as environmental and profit impacts of sustainability risks are the most important criteria. Managerially, this research shows that environmental risks are generally the most prioritised risks, while social risks are not significantly impactful to container shipping companies. However, among the social risks, seafarer-related risks are worth paying attention.

Improving Electric Power Stability and Efficiency Using an Integrated Control System for Refrigerated Containers

In this study, a method is proposed to minimize electrical load fluctuations and improve the efficiency of engine generator operation by managing refrigerated ship containers through an integrated control system. The proposed system actively controls the electrical load by assigning operational priorities based on cargo temperature deviations to existing independently operated refrigerated containers, ensuring that they operate only within the available power of the engine generator. As a result, the average specific fuel oil consumption can be reduced. A 70 h simulation of the refrigerated containers, a power system, and an integrated control system demonstrated in MATLAB/Simulink 2021b that the magnitude of electrical load fluctuations decreases from 37.6% to 9.6% of the engine generator’s rated power compared with the conventional operation of refrigerated containers. In addition, a 1.88% fuel saving is realized.

Updating the residual strength – damage index diagrams for hull girder collapse predictions of grounded ships

ABSTRACT A decade ago, the authors introduced the concept of residual strength-damage index diagrams to facilitate rapid predictions of buckling collapse in damaged structures. They demonstrated this approach with an example focused on predicting the collapse of hull girders. [Paik JK, Kim DK, Park DH, Kim HB, Kim MS. 2012b. A New Method for Assessing the Safety of Ships Damaged by Grounding. Int J Marit Eng. 154:A1–A20.]. This paper is a sequel to the 2012 paper by updating the grounding damage data used for the diagrams with more ships in types and sizes, where a total of 12 ships for three different types with four sizes per type are considered: oil tankers (Panamax, Aframax, Suezmax and VLCC), bulk carriers (Handysize, Supramax, Kamsarmax, Capesize), and container ships (3,500TEU, 5,000TEU, 7,500TEU and 13,000TEU). Literature reviews are also made to gain insights on the hull girder collapse of grounded ships, which can be implemented into the updated diagrams. It is confirmed that the proposed methodology can be useful in predicting the hull girder collapse of grounded ships at an earlier stage so that the best timely rescue schemes can be developed to prevent unwanted consequences after grounding, such as casualties, sinking and marine pollution.

Automatic detection and extraction of lost shipping containers based on YOLO and the segment anything model

ABSTRACT The artificial visual method is currently commonly used to decipher multi-beam water column images to obtain the position and state of lost shipping containers. However, the recognition efficiency and accuracy of this method need to be improved. The You Only Look Once (YOLO) series model has strong real-time target detection capability. Meanwhile, the Segment Anything Model (SAM) has strong zero-shot transferability. A detection and extraction method for lost shipping containers, which combines the two models mentioned above, is proposed in this study. First, the YOLO series model is employed to detect lost shipping container targets in a single-frame water column image. On this basis, the output of bounding box positions by the optimal target detection model is used as a prompt for the SAM. Finally, the SAM is used to extract lost shipping container targets in images through zero-shot transferability. Experimental results in the Pearl River estuary show that the combined modelling method of YOLOv5-n and EdgeSAM-3× achieves the best overall performance. The precision and recall for the detection of lost shipping containers by this method is better than 95%. In terms of target extraction, YOLOv5-n and EdgeSAM-3× have the best Intersection over Union, recall, and F1 scores.

The Relationship Between Maritime Container Shipping and Carbon Emissions: A Panel Data Study on Mediterranean Countries

The Relationship Between Maritime Container Shipping and Carbon Emissions: A Panel Data Study on Mediterranean Countries

On the Emergence of Shipping Container Homes: Adaptation to Future Climate Projections

Upcycling shipping containers for housing is increasingly recognised as a sustainable solution to housing challenges, particularly in developing economies like Nigeria. This study evaluates the thermal comfort and energy efficiency of shipping container homes under climate conditions projected for 2080. Using meteorological data for Abuja and Lagos under the Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5, a stand-alone shipping container home was simulated. The study incorporated fabric optimisation techniques, using polyurethane foam and polyisocyanurate board insulation, high-performance window glazing, and shading strategies. The findings reveal that without intervention, container homes would experience significant thermal discomfort, with annual discomfort hours exceeding 28°C in both cities. However, with insulation and shading, annual discomfort hours were reduced by up to 87%, and energy consumption decreased by 76%. These results highlight the critical role of insulation and shading in enhancing thermal comfort and reducing energy demand, making container homes a viable solution for sustainable housing in hot climates. The study underscores the need for policy support to promote the integration of advanced insulation and adaptive design strategies to ensure the resilience and sustainability of container homes in future climates.

Note on fuel consumption in ocean container shipping: Bounds on fuel usage

This paper contributes to the literature by deriving upper and lower bounds on the fuel consumption in container shipping. The bounds are derived from sailing distances, port times, and the possible arrival times at ports/ the berth windows negotiated between the ocean carrier and the port operators. Crucially, the derived bounds can be used in conjunction with any of the common fuel consumption functions proposed in the literature. This latter is especially important since currently there is no consensus on a specific functional form for the fuel consumption function. The behavior of the bounds will be illustrated with numerical examples.

Analysis of the overall structural strength and optimization recommendations for ultra-large container ships based on the improved equivalent design wave method

Ultra-large container ships face challenges in structural strength under complex sea conditions. The traditional equivalent design wave method inadequately considers nonlinear wave effects, leading to inaccuracies in strength assessments. This article improves the method by incorporating nonlinear wave effects and optimizing wave spectrum parameters to better simulate structural responses. A study on a container ship, using refined wave load calculations and finite element analysis, focusing on stress distribution in critical hull areas. The findings show that the enhanced method more accurately reflects real loading conditions, confirming the ship’s structural soundness and offering optimization suggestions for improved safety and longevity.

A nonlinear model predictive control method for ship path following in waves

ABSTRACT With the development of intelligent ships, the problem of ship path following has attracted much attention in recent years. Ship motion is inevitably affected by an external environment and thus the design of the ship control system in currents or waves, etc. has always been a challenging work. In the present work, a Nonlinear Model Predictive Control (NMPC) method is proposed for ship path following in waves. The NMPC controller can obtain the desired rudder angle of nonlinear ship system by solving an open-loop optimisation problem. The NMPC controller integrated with a Line-of-Sight (LOS) guidance is proposed and applied for a container ship which is controlled to follow two desired paths in both calm water and waves. The simulation results demonstrate the more effectiveness and greater anti-interference of the proposed NMPC method, compared with that the results by using a traditional Proportional-Derivative (PD) control method.

A method for accurate extraction of three-dimensional point cloud feature data in loading test of container ships

The accuracy of container slot dimensions directly affects the efficiency and safety of container loading and unloading. However, traditional methods of container loading tests need to be improved for their long cycles, high costs, and low production efficiency. With the application of three-dimensional laser scanning devices in ship manufacturing, the use of simulated container loading test methods based on point cloud becomes a breakthrough in key technology for container ship construction. This paper presents a multi-objective segmentation method of cargo hold feature point cloud for container ship simulated loading tests. Data preprocessing algorithms are applied to remove noise and pseudo-image, and then a Random Sample Consensus algorithm is used to remove bulkhead and cargo bottom point clouds. Based on the density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise algorithm and the region growing algorithm, an algorithm for multiple segmentation of guide rail and bottom cone point clouds is devised, and a four-plane segmentation of guide rail point clouds is realized. Finally, a method for three-dimensional point cloud data flatness assessment and a Hausdorff distance based method for calculating the guide rail lateral and longitudinal spacing are proposed. These methods are validated through the loading test of a 16,000 TEU container ship.

Insights into the Global Characteristics of Shipping Exhaust Emissions at Berth

The need for an accurate inventory of ship emissions is vital for atmospheric scientists assessing the environmental impact of shipping and for policymakers aiming to regulate and incentivize emission reduction. This study used data from 189 international ports, related to ship arrivals and departures, to develop emissions inventories. Emission characteristics were examined in detail, classifying emissions by factors like ship type, month, and region. The analysis identified oil tankers and container ships as main emitters among ship categories. A detailed analysis of the monthly distribution of emissions from vessels at berth worldwide was conducted based on precise arrival and departure times. Singapore, Rotterdam, and Antwerp were the ports with the highest emissions from ships at berth. Overall, this study presents the spatial and temporal emission characteristics of ships at berth in 3912 ports around the world, which can support the development of emission reduction strategies in port management.

A Simulation Model for Container Ships Scheduling in Qinzhou Port under Seamless Connection Mode

A Simulation Model for Container Ships Scheduling in Qinzhou Port under Seamless Connection Mode

September 2024 Pulmonary Case of the Month: An Ounce of Prevention Cased a Pound of Disease

No abstract available. Manuscript truncated after 150 words. History of Present Illness: A 55-year-old woman is self-referred for dizziness, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. She was well until 2 months prior to this visit. She says she feels like she is in a “fog”. She also complains of a “tight chest”. PMH, SH, and FH: She has a past medical history of hypertension and presently takes metoprolol. She has had a tubal ligation and a breast lumpectomy in the past. There is a questionable history of a positive Cardiolite nuclear stress test. She is divorced and lives alone in a small town in Iowa. She does not smoke, drink to excess or used illicit drugs. She has worked assembling bird houses for 20 years. She attributes her problems to a workplace exposure because she seems worse when opens the large shipping containers with the birdhouse parts. Although she worked 20 years previously without problems, her symptoms began 2 months …

Uncovering the multiplex network of global container shipping: Insights from shipping companies

Shipping companies are key drivers of maritime trade and crucial in the development of container shipping networks. Each company's strategy shapes differences in port services and shipping routes, creating a complex and interconnected global container shipping network that is difficult to analyze using single-layer or aggregated models. This paper introduces a novel multiplex network modeling approach that leverages a very large set of AIS data and applies a series of structural indices to reveal the unique characteristics and multiple key roles of various shipping company networks. By applying methods such as overlap ratio analysis, HITS analysis, and community detection, the study identifies differences in overlap between ports and routes, hub and authority properties of individual ports, as well as local and regional patterns within the global network. Furthermore, it examines structural differences between the multiplex network, the aggregated network, and individual layers, highlighting the importance of multiplex container networks in understanding ports' roles on both regional and global scales. The findings clarify how different shipping companies shape shipping network patterns, enhance the multiplex network's functional roles, and provide a better understanding of the complex structure of the Global Container Shipping Network (GCSN). Finally, it provides authorities with valuable insights on how to better understand maritime shipping networks.

Coupling a time-domain code with a RANS solver for slamming analysis

ABSTRACT A time domain hydroelastic code (TD) based on strip theory is two-way coupled with a Reynolds Averaged Navier−Stokes (RANS) solver to capture the bottom slamming effects on ships. The study is conducted on an Ultra Large Container Ship (ULCS). The methodology considers the hull’s flexibility and analyses longitudinal bending in head seas. Ship motions are calculated using a body non-linear time-domain method based on strip theory. The equations of motion are solved, and time integration is performed using the fourth-order Runge–Kutta method. When a slamming event is identified, the TD code activates a RANS solver to determine the bottom slamming force. The simulations are conducted under extreme sea conditions, and the hull experiences springing and whipping responses. The numerical results of vertical bending moments are compared with experimental data. The bottom and bow flare slamming are identified from the simulations.