Conflicts between ship-vessel traffic services: A research within the e-navigation concept

Sea transport is a socio-technical system in which many sub-units work together to serve common purposes such as safe navigation, prevention of loss of life and property at sea, protection of the environment. The efficient and safe operation of the systems depends on a good functioning relationship with other systems and well functioning of the subsystems. When sub-units have common goals and their actions are interdependent, they have to work co-ordinated to achieve this common goal. In this study, the aim is to examine the relationship between marine pilots which are one of the most important components of the maritime traffic and vessel traffic services which are responsible for the safety of maritime traffic and which supports ships from the coast; and is to determine the conflicts between the units while providing services. Another aim of the study is to examine the relation of e-navigation concept introduced to the world by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and developed by International Association of Marine Aids and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) with experienced problems. E-navigation is a system in which all data can be properly organized and transmitted in one place to improve navigational safety and in which there is a set of ships and a coastal-based electronic technology to reduce the burden of navigation personnel. Operators working in the Istanbul Vessel Traffic Services were chosen as the sample for determining the conflicts between VTS and Master or maritime pilot and determining the degree of risk that these conflicts were formed in the sea traffic. One of the most important constraints of the study is that the information is only provided from VTS supervisors in determining conflicts between Vessel and VTS. The reason is that there is time pressure to complete the thesis and it is suggested that the next study should investigate this issue with all stakeholders. The results show that the radio's sound quality and its coverage zone, the outdated equipment of the vessel traffic services and the interface of these equipment's being far from user-friendly, the technical difficulties of work stress, the inadequacy of the crew's English level, maritime pilot's non-compliance with the speed limitations and objections to places for boarding/unboarding areas are determined as "intolerable".