DETERMINATION OF THE OPTIMAL CARGO OPERATIONS STRATEGY OF A BULK CARRIER VESSEL, WITH CONTINUOUS ENSURING ITS SEAWORTHINESS

Abstract

Introduction. Maritime safety is an important aspect of the shipping industry. Ensuring that the vessel’s seaworthy parameters are within acceptable limits throughout the voyage, including during cargo operations, is a key element of this safety. The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) requires vessel personnel to plan and carry out cargo operations in such a way that the ship always meets the seaworthiness criteria. Bulk carriers are subject to more stringent seaworthiness and safety requirements, particularly with regard to stability and hull strength. The correct loading of bulk carriers is essential for their maritime safety. Inadequate loading can lead to various risks, including compromised hull strength, reduced stability and violation of the vessel’s seaworthiness. Existing shipboard instruments do not allow for timely planning and real-time control of loading operations, which can lead to potential risks. Creating a cargo operations plan takes considerable time and efforts of the responsible bulk carrier personnel, and these plans will not always be the best in terms of ensuring the vessel’s current seaworthiness. The high intensity of loading operations at dry bulk terminals exacerbates the problem, as there is often insufficient time to adequately prepare and verify loading plans, increasing the risk of overloading cargo holds. Purpose. The article proposes the development of new methods for bulk carriers cargo operations planning. These methods would optimise the distribution of bulk cargo, taking into account factors such as port facilities, ship design and nautical restrictions of the planned voyage. The aim is to formalise the parameters that affect the ship’s seaworthiness in the form of a mathematical model and to establish functional relationships between them. By analysing the relationships between different parameters, the researchers aim to determine the best strategy for cargo operations that will ensure the continuous seaworthiness of the bulk carriers. This approach would help to improve bulk carrier’s safety and reduce the risks associated with incorrect loading. Results. The article proposes a new approach to planning bulk carrier cargo operations. This approach allows for the optimisation of the distribution of bulk cargoes during cargo operations, taking into account factors such as port capabilities, vessel design and navigational constraints of the planned voyage. The parameters affecting a vessel’s seaworthiness have been formalised and functional relationships between them established. By analysing these relationships, the researchers sought to identify a method for finding the best cargo operations strategy to ensure the continued seaworthiness of bulk carriers. Such a method would help to improve bulk carrier’s safety and reduce the risks associated with improper loading. Conclusions. The article proposes a method, based on the theories of systems analysis and operations research, as well as mathematical modelling, for optimising the cargo operations and maintaining the seaworthiness of bulk carriers. The main objective is to ensure that the vessel’s seaworthiness parameters, including stability, overall longitudinal strength and local strength, remain within acceptable limits throughout the voyage, including the period of cargo operations in port. Careful management of the bulk vessel’s cargo and ballast operations will ensure that these critical parameters are maintained within acceptable limits at all times, which is essential to prevent accidents and protect life and property at sea.