Documents published in Scipedia

• Road and maritime transport enviornmental performance : short sea shipping vs road transport

  X. Osés, J. Gil-Aizpuru, M. Castells

  Journal of maritime research (2012). Vol. 9 (3), pp. 45-54

  
  

  Abstract

  Motorways of the Sea (MoS) are part of the European transport strategy towards an efficient, safe and environmentally friendly transport system. This paper develops a model for short sea shipping (SSS) and road transport environmental performance comparison, estimating direct emissions and quantifying their impacts due to air pollutant and greenhouse (GHG) gas emissions. Ultimately a case study is presented to analyse and valuate each transport alternative to design an action plan determining intervening actions favouring the rebalance of the current transport system.

  Abstract
  Motorways of the Sea (MoS) are part of the European transport strategy towards an efficient, safe and environmentally friendly transport system. This paper develops a model [...]

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• Implementación CGPS y altimetría en los Puertos de Ibiza, l’Estartit y Barcelona para monitorización del nivel del mar

  J. Martínez-Benjamín, M. Castellón, A. Ruiz, E. Bosch, A. Termens, M. García, X. Osés, B. Gómez, G. Velasco, F. Pros, J. Gili, A. Tapia, R. López

  Revista de Teledetección (2011). Vol. 36, pp. 20-25

  
  

  Abstract

  Dos campañas aéreas con el LIDAR Optech ALTM-3025 del ICC (Instituto Cartogáfico de Cataluña) fueron realizadas el 16 de Junio de 2007 de día con un Partenavia P-68 y el 12 de Octubre de 2007 de noche con un Cessna Caravan 208B. La validación posible de esta nueva tecnología LIDAR puede ser útil para suministrar medidas en áreas costeras, de unos 15 a 20 km desde la línea de costa, donde la altimetría radar por satélite da problemas severos debido al amplio haz («footprint») que abarca zona de tierra. La segunda campaña aerotransportada se realizó coincidiendo con el paso del satélite ICESat provisto de un láser altímetro. Se describe la situación actual de las infraestructuras CGPS en Ibiza, l’Estartit y Barcelona así como sus aplicaciones a la monitorización del nivel del mar y calibración altimétrica. El objetivo principal es la integración de datos geodésicos espaciales, aerotransportados e in-situ para establecer áreas de calibración altimétrica en el Mediterráneo Occidental en el marco del estudio del Cambio Global. Two airborne calibration campaigns carrying an Optech Lidar ALTM-3025 (ICC) were made on June 16, 2007 with a Partenavia P-68 and October 12, 2007, with a Cessna Caravan 208B flying along two ICESat target tracks including crossover near l’Estartit. The validation of this new technology LIDAR may be useful to fill coastal areas where satellite radar altimeters are not measuring due to the large footprint and the resulting gaps of about 15-30 km within the coastline. The second airborne campaign was made at night at the same time of the ICESat overflying. A description of the actual geodetic CGPS (Continuos GPS) infrastructures at Ibiza, l’Estartit and Barcelona is presented as their applications to sea level monitoring and altimeter calibration. The main objective is the integration of spaceborne, airborne and in-situ data for the establishment of altimeter calibration areas in the western Mediterranean in the framework of Global Change.

  Abstract
  Dos campañas aéreas con el LIDAR Optech ALTM-3025 del ICC (Instituto Cartogáfico de Cataluña) fueron realizadas el 16 de Junio de 2007 de día [...]

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• Is the utilization of methane gas the solution to air pollution in diffuse sectors? The case of port of castellon

  X. Osés, J. Gil-Aizpuru

  International Journal for traffic and transport engineering (2011). Vol. 1 (4), pp. 206-213

  
  

  Abstract

  Considering environmental regulations, imposed by an international regulation body restricting the emission levels from ships in ports, with even more stringent local regulations envisaged, the challenges for the world’s fleet are not only technical but economic and logistical. On the one hand, there are different technical alternatives enabling the current international regulations to be met. Even avoiding on board modifications, the owner can decide to use low sulphur content fuels, together with slight changes in engines to reduce the levels of nitrogen oxides. But the question posed in this paper is how to support the decision to use high quality oil derivatives, bearing in mind environmental considerations, but with a favourable economic balance. That enormous cost will be translated into a higher transport chain cost. Additionally, regarding coastal navigation, it might become possible for some new regulations to penalize elevated rates of CO2 emissions, not yet considered by the MARPOL convention. This paper analyzes the availability of the use of methane as an ideal fuel which meets the nowadays and even future, local and international regulations on CO2 and NOx , regarding the fuel derivatives and no emissions of sulphur oxides and ashes.

  Abstract
  Considering environmental regulations, imposed by an international regulation body restricting the emission levels from ships in ports, with even more stringent local regulations [...]

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• Development of a costs simulator to assess new maritime trade routes

  X. Osés, M. Castells, M. Rodríguez-Nuevo

  International Journal on Marine Navigation and Safety of Sea Transportation (2011). Vol. 5 (3), pp. 311-314

  
  

  Abstract

  This paper is going to describe the design process of a simulator that assesses the costs of different means of transport. The evaluation not only will be done regarding the internal costs but also the external costs that will be translated to environmental costs, based on existing databases. The paper shows the development carried out to create this simulator and analyse all components of the logistical chain, i.e. port operation costs, road haulage costs and maritime leg costs. The simulation results have been validated with real data of actual maritime routes to check its reliability. As a conclusion, the costs simulator permits assess costs of new maritime trade routes comparing them with road transport.

  Abstract
  This paper is going to describe the design process of a simulator that assesses the costs of different means of transport. The evaluation not only will be done regarding the [...]

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• Port-city closeness and turnaround time critical for short sea shipping sustainable performance. A case study: Spain.

  J. Usabiaga, X. Osés

  International Journal for traffic and transport engineering (2011). Vol. 1 (3), pp. 168-179

  
  

  Abstract

  Air pollution is the most relevant externality of maritime transport and its effects are more acute in urban areas. As Short Sea Shipping (SSS) services call ports frequently and expend significant time in port, both the overall turnaround time and the port city closeness, become critical in its sustainable performance. This paper analyses the impact of maritime transport at Spanish SSS ports and identifies the ideal ones, reflecting the differences in their sustainable performance and finally identifying the characteristics that a harbour needs to gather in order to minimize air pollution impact in the maritime transport sector.

  Abstract
  Air pollution is the most relevant externality of maritime transport and its effects are more acute in urban areas. As Short Sea Shipping (SSS) services call ports frequently [...]

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• ¿Riesgo de mareas negras procedentes del mar abierto?

  A. Esparza, X. Osés

  Puertos (2011). Vol. 159, pp. 49-57

  
  

  Abstract

  El Objetivo fundamental de este artículo es el de analizar, identificar y posteriormente cuantificar, las áreas de la costa Española Mediterránea, con mayor riesgo de sufrir un derrame de hidrocarburos procedente del tráfico marítimo de hidrocarburos. En el estudio que fundamenta este artículo, se han tomado en consideración una serie de variables, de entre las que destacamos, las peculiaridades geográficas, climáticas o la densidad de tráfico, que alimenten una función aleatoria. Esta función objetiva ponderará los diferentes puntos de la costa e identificará los que tengan una mayor probabilidad de riesgo. En la investigación aquí presentada, se pretende evidenciar dónde pueden ubicarse las áreas del Mediterráneo Occidental español con mayor riesgo potencial de marea negra procedente de derrames de hidrocarburos.

  Abstract
  El Objetivo fundamental de este artículo es el de analizar, identificar y posteriormente cuantificar, las áreas de la costa Española Mediterránea, [...]

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• Improvement of the Energy Efficiency of Vessels as a Measure for the Reduction of Greenhouse Gases Emission from Sea Shipping

  M. Sin, X. Osés

  Journal of marine technology and environment (2011). Vol. 1 (4), pp. 103-112

  
  

  Abstract

  This paper describes how pollution is a serious problem that currently affects many areas of society. Maritime transport is responsible for part of that pollution and measures need to be taken in the logistics of the maritime transport field to reduce ship emissions. Air pollution is not the only problem, greenhouse gas emissions are also a major factor. This paper attempts to do a quick view of the last measures taken 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 the energy efficiency and fuel consumption for ships. This index was developed in voluntary interim guidelines established in the last session of the MEPC during 2009 and 2010, and can be applied to both new designs and ships in operation. For now it is just a voluntary measure that whatever ship-owner could take and verify, but until its approval comes there are no sanctions.

  Abstract
  This paper describes how pollution is a serious problem that currently affects many areas of society. Maritime transport is responsible for part of that pollution and measures [...]

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• A study of the riskiest points in front of an oil slick due to an accident in the spanish mediterranean coast

  X. Osés, A. Esperanza

  Journal of maritime research (2010). Vol. 7 (3), pp. 71-82

  
  

  Abstract

  Pollution from shipping traffic poses a real risk to the Spanish coast. Memories of the Fedra bulk disaster in the Strait of Gibraltar, the Prestige sinking in Finisterre or the Castor near accident off Almeria coast are still fresh. The main objective of this paper is to analyse, identify and quantify the Spanish Mediterranean coastal areas where spills from tankers are most likely to occur. The article is based on a study which uses a set of variables such as geographical peculiarities, climate, ship age and traffic density to feed and algorithm. This objective function weighs these parameters all along the coast and identifies the Spanish coastal areas having the highest risk of spills.

  Abstract
  Pollution from shipping traffic poses a real risk to the Spanish coast. Memories of the Fedra bulk disaster in the Strait of Gibraltar, the Prestige sinking in Finisterre [...]

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• An analysis of pollution risk on the Spanish Mediterranean coast

  X. Osés, A. Esperanza

  Journal of marine technology and environment (2010). Vol. 2, pp. 17-24

  
  

  Abstract

  Pollution from shipping traffic poses a real risk to the Spanish coast. Memories of the Fedra bulk carrier disaster in the Strait of Gibraltar, the Prestige sinking in Finisterre or the Castor near accident off Almeria coast are still fresh. The main objective of this paper is to analyse, identify and quantify the Spanish Mediterranean coastal areas where spills from tankers are most likely to occur. The article is based on a study which uses a set of variables such as geographical peculiarities, climate, ship age and traffic density to feed an algorithm. This objective function weighs these parameters all along the coast and identifies the Spanish coastal areas having the highest risk of spills

  Abstract
  Pollution from shipping traffic poses a real risk to the Spanish coast. Memories of the Fedra bulk carrier disaster in the Strait of Gibraltar, the Prestige sinking in Finisterre [...]

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• The ecobono: a proposal based on external costs savings

  X. Osés, M. Castells

  Journal of marine technology and environment (2009). Vol. 2, pp. 131-138

  
  

  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% (metric tonnes) between 2000 and 2020. If we consider that the overall expected increase in both freight exchanges and volume is 50%, sea transport appears as one of the most feasible options to reduce traffic congestion on European roads. However, this alternative has not been definitely adopted because of technical, administrative and legal reasons. Moreover, society still regards maritime transport as a slow, inefficient mode since shippers do not yet offer the best value for money. Infrastructures need to be balanced by using tariff principles which reflect the exact external costs incurred by these infrastructures. Along this line of action, in 1998 the European Union published the White Paper on Fair Payment for Infrastructure Use: A Phased Approach to a Common Transport Infrastructure Charging Framework in the EU COM (1998) 466. This paper will conclude proposing an environmental bonus based on external cost savings associated with the use of the short sea alternative instead of road-only transport

  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% (metric tonnes) between 2000 and 2020. If we consider [...]

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