Assessment of Potential Negative Impact of the System of Factors on the Ship's Operational Condition During Transportation of Oversized and Heavy Cargoes

Abstract

The potential risks to vessels and crew in merchant shipping stem from human error, vulnerability to environmental influences, failure of shipboard systems and equipment. In case of transportation of heavy and oversized cargo, the preceding list can be expanded to include potential hazards directly associated with the cargo. This study identified a system of potential negative events in the transportation of oversized and heavy cargo under the influence of multiple factors. Negative events are divided into two categories: those occurring during loading/unloading and those occurring during transportation. The consequences of these negative events for cargo and operational condition of the ship are also identified. Six basic options for the operational condition of the vessel in the transportation process of oversized and heavy cargo have been determined. The conceptual model of the combination of factors affecting the operational condition of the vessel during the transportation of oversized and heavy cargo is formulated, and the chain of formation of the probability of negative events during the transportation of oversized and heavy cargo is identified and mathematically described. A basic pattern of relationship between various negative events occurring during transportation of oversized and heavy cargoes and ship's operational conditions is established. The obtained results allow the probability of possible negative events and change of ship's condition due to such influences during the transportation of the cargo category concerned to be estimated in practice, taking into account the specifics of a particular port, vessel and shipping line.