Documents published in Scipedia

• Heavy Weather in European Short Sea Shipping: Its Influence on Selected Routes

  X. Osés, M. Castells

  Journal of Navigation (2008). Vol. 61 (1), pp. 165-176

  
  

  Abstract

  According to the mid-term review of the EU White Paper on Transport, short sea shipping is expected to grow at a rate of 59% in metric tonnes, from 2000 to 2020. If we consider that the overall expected growth in freight exchanges is of some 50%, sea transport is one of the most feasible ways to reduce traffic congestion on European roads. High speed vessels are a possible way to compete with road transport on certain routes; however, these ships are highly affected by heavy weather. This paper analyses the weather influence on several short sea shipping routes to be served by fast ships.

  Abstract
  According to the mid-term review of the EU White Paper on Transport, short sea shipping is expected to grow at a rate of 59% in metric tonnes, from 2000 to 2020. If we consider [...]

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• The ICARUS portal: An aid to improve safety of navigation

  X. Osés, S. Velasquez

  Journal of Maritime Research (2006). Vol. 3 (1), pp. 17-26

  
  

  Abstract

  Leisure ships and non SOLAS (International Convention for Safety of Life At Sea) ships as fishing vessels or small tugs, are not subjected to International Maritime Organization (IMO) standards related to the equipment, but by the classification societies through additional requirements related to the control centre physical distribution. The ICARUS concept tries to provide to the end users, a practical tool supplying information from the books collection on board like Pilot books and others as well as meteorological information and weather forecasting, all integrated in an internet portal, accessible from portable devices like the latest generation mobile phones or palms. GPS or positioning systems will make possible to update information and selected screens will display data required by means of a complete menu. Today communication and internet based technologies with the support of GIS technologies have created a very friendly environment. XML and JAVA technologies have been used for the data interchange and software development in the end user´s application.

  Abstract
  Leisure ships and non SOLAS (International Convention for Safety of Life At Sea) ships as fishing vessels or small tugs, are not subjected to International Maritime Organization [...]

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• Studies of suitability on short sea shipping routes in SW Europe

  M. Castells, X. Osés

  Journal of Maritime Research (2006). Vol. 3 (2), pp. 43-52

  
  

  Abstract

  Around 45% of European Union (EU) foreign trade is carried by road, which is conditioned by traffic congestion and high fuel consumption, and lead to implying the pollution and safety problem. Short Sea Shipping forms another 40% of the EU foreign trade. National and European governments have considered the Short Sea Shipping in European waters as one of the most feasible ways to alleviate the congestion which is getting worse each day on roads and highways in Europe. The main aim of this paper is to both study and identify the feasible routes in SW Europe which appear to be a viable solution for avoid road transport problems.    

  Abstract
  Around 45% of European Union (EU) foreign trade is carried by road, which is conditioned by traffic congestion and high fuel consumption, and lead to implying the pollution [...]

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• Wave Height Incidence on Mediterranean Short Sea Shipping Routes

  X. Osés, M. Castells

  Tethys: Journal of Weather and Climate of the Western Mediterranean (2005). Vol. 3, pp. 3-8

  
  

  Abstract

  According to the recent mid term review of the EU white paper on transport, Short Sea Shipping in EU waters is expected to grow from 2000 to 2020 at a rate of 59% in volume (metric tonnes). If we consider that the overall expected growth in freight exchanges is of 50% (also in volume), sea transport is one of the most feasible ways to reduce traffic congestion on European roads. High speed vessels are a possible way to compete with road transport in certain traffics; however these ships are highly affected by heavy weather. This paper is going to analyse the weather influence on several short sea shipping Mediterranean routes to be served by fast ships.

  Abstract
  According to the recent mid term review of the EU white paper on transport, Short Sea Shipping in EU waters is expected to grow from 2000 to 2020 at a rate of 59% in volume [...]

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• Short sea shipping opportunities for the Pyrenean cargo flows

  X. Osés, J. Olivella

  Journal of Maritime Research (2005). Vol. 2 (2), pp. 65-80

  
  

  Abstract

  This paper tries to show the results and conclusions reached by a small research team within the TRANSMAR research group of the Nautical Engineering and Sciences department from the Technical University of Catalonia, the research study carried out has been called INECEU (Intermodality between Spain and Europe) and it has been endorsed by the Spanish Ministry of Transport. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the chances for the maritime transport within a multimodal chain, to alleviate the freight road traffic crossing every year the Pyrenean border. In fact, there is well known the limitations of the terrestrial infrastructures, being nowadays supporting a high degree of congestion. Thus the possibility to pass a part of those goods carried by truck to the maritime mode, would help to reduce those highways overloading, and also improving the pollutant particles and gases emissions. In a first instance the transport by sea, is the most efficient in consumption and pollution terms. However its own justification is not dependent only from the sea leg figures in a multimodal chain but from the overall steps by which the cargo loaded on board should pass.

  Abstract
  This paper tries to show the results and conclusions reached by a small research team within the TRANSMAR research group of the Nautical Engineering and Sciences department [...]

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• High speed crafts viability analysis

  X. Osés, M. Castells

  Journal of Maritime Research (2005). Vol. 2 (3), pp. 59-76

  
  

  Abstract

  This paper presents a brief analysis on the applicability of high speed crafts in short sea trades, from different marine stakeholders point of view. The TRANSMAR research group of the Nautical Engineering and Sciences department from the Technical University of Catalonia, has continued the finished study (INECEU: Intermodality between Spain and Europe), proposing fast ships for serving some of the selected sea links in West Europe in it. The recent communication regarding the mid-term review of the European Commission's 2001 White paper on Transport, confirms that the evolution of modal split in freight transport from the year 2000 up to the year 2010, will show a steady share of 39% for the waterborne transport and a slight increase in the road transport. One of the four pillars of the European transport policy is the innovation in transport technologies and systems, improving its efficiency and logistics throughout the supply chain.

  Abstract
  This paper presents a brief analysis on the applicability of high speed crafts in short sea trades, from different marine stakeholders point of view. The TRANSMAR research [...]

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• Selection of Short Sea Shipping transport alternatives in SW Europe

  X. Osés, M. Castells

  Journal of Maritime Research (2008). Vol. 5 (3), pp. 43-54

  
  

  Abstract

  According to the mid term review of the EU White Paper on Transport, Short Sea Shipping is expected to grow at a rate of 59% in metric tonnes, from 2000 to 2020. If we consider that the overall expected growth in freight exchanges is of 50% (also in volume), sea transport is one of the most feasible way to reduce traf-fic congestion on European roads. Marine transport is a possible way to compete with road transport in certain traffics, mainly when assuming external costs. This paper is going to analyse five multimodal routes, considering three different lev-els of powered ships, which one is going to be the most efficient in terms of exter-nal costs.

  Abstract
  According to the mid term review of the EU White Paper on Transport, Short Sea Shipping is expected to grow at a rate of 59% in metric tonnes, from 2000 to 2020. If we consider [...]

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• The external cost of speed at sea: An analysis based on selected short sea shipping routes

  X. Osés, M. Castells

  WMU Journal of Maritime Affairs (2009). Vol. 8, pp. 27-45

  
  

  Abstract

  According to the mid-term review of the EU White Paper on Transport, Short Sea Shipping (SSS) is expected to grow at a rate of 59% (metric tonnes) between 2000 and 2020. If we consider that the overall expected increase in both freight exchanges and volume is 50%, sea transport is one of the most feasible alternatives to reduce traffic congestion on European roads. Maritime transportation may compete with road transport as far as certain traffics are concerned, but only when assuming external costs. This paper analyzes several intermodal transport chains involving a sea leg by comparing the effect of pollutant emissions from different ship types and road transport in terms of potential external cost savings. The translation of these emissions into environmental costs shows, for certain conditions, savings in the case of sea transport that would justify the use of an environmental bonus to promote the sea option.

  Abstract
  According to the mid-term review of the EU White Paper on Transport, Short Sea Shipping (SSS) is expected to grow at a rate of 59% (metric tonnes) between 2000 and 2020. [...]

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• Modelo de formulación para comprender los costes y tiempos de los acarreos terrestres para el reparto de mercancías mediante transporte rodado de mercancías y transporte marítimo de corta distancia

  M. Rodríguez-Nuevo, X. Osés

  Revista del Instituto de Navegación de España (2010). Vol. 37, pp. 4-10

  
  

  Abstract

  En el desarrollo del mundo globalizado cada vez resulta de mayor importancia cómo se distribuyen las mercancías desde su origen a su destino. Es cierto que la tendencia y la conciencia tiende a realizar transportes más respetuoso con el medio ambiente y más eficientes. En muchas ocasiones nos encontramos con la ilógica situación de contratar transportes sin un criterio razonado. El propósito de este artículo es plantear la realización de un simulador de costes y tiempos para valorar la posibilidad de llevar a cabo un transporte de mercancías con el modo más acertado, sabiendo de antemano cual será su coste y su precio. Debemos entender que el modo de transporte de carretera es necesario e incluso imprescindible, pero en muchos de los escenarios no es el más conveniente. Planteamos por tanto, la realización de un transporte multimodal e incorporar en el mismo el TMCD (Transporte Marítimo de Corta Distancia)

  Abstract
  En el desarrollo del mundo globalizado cada vez resulta de mayor importancia cómo se distribuyen las mercancías desde su origen a su destino. Es cierto que [...]

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• Improvement of the energy efficiency of vessels as a measure for the reduction of greenhouses gases emission froem sea shipping

  M. Sin, X. Osés

  Journal of Marine Technology and Environment (2011). Vol. 1 (4), pp. 103-112

  
  

  Abstract

  As all we know, pollution is a serious actual problem that affects our society. Maritime transport is responsible of part of that pollution and with this purpose; measure to be taken in the logistical and maritime transport field is to reduce ships emissions. Air pollution is not the only problem, but greenhouse gas emissions too, mainly in the case of maritime transport pollutants as NOx and SOx gasses. This article tries to do a quick view on the last measures took by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions of shipping. An energy efficiency index for ships was created by the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) to improve their energy efficiency and then reduce fuel consumption. This index was developed in voluntary interim guidelines established in last sessions of the MEPC among 2009 and 2010, and can be applied to both new designs and ships in operation. Nowadays is just a voluntary measure that whatever ship-owner could take and verify, but until its approval there is for the moment no sanction if the results are not the expected ones by the guidelines. A description of the above mentioned guidelines will be exposed.

  Abstract
  As all we know, pollution is a serious actual problem that affects our society. Maritime transport is responsible of part of that pollution and with this purpose; measure [...]

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