A depth-based vessel position fixing method on the basis of a neural network is proposed. The network takes as an input a sequence of depth values measured by an echo-sounder and predicts vessel latitude and longitude for the moment of the latest depth measurement. The neural network has a fully-connected feedforward architecture with several layers which satisfies conditions of the universal approximation in compliance with the Stone-Weierstrass theorem. The Adamax algorithm for the neural network training with controlling a maximum value of position error at each epoch is implemented. Modeling is conducted with the Python programming language and the Tensorflow library. The model surface of seabed is performed as a second-order polynomial. Training samples on the basis of virtual soundings at the coordinate net knots with the space resolution not worse than one cable are obtained. After samples obtaining the training of the neural network is conducted. A validation set is not used. Several neural networks are trained. They have different number of hidden layers and different number of neurons per each hidden layer. After training the test procedure is performed. Test samples are generated in the assumption that a vessel is moving along meridians which are not used at the stage of the preliminary soundings survey. The cases of mean and random test meridians are considered. The random meridians are obtained with a uniform random number generator. As the result, all the tested neural networks have shown approximately identical navigational accuracy which is close to the accuracy for the training set.

The current state of the International Hydrographic organization bathymetric survey Standards S44 (6.1.0) is examined in this study. The introduction of the S44 survey Standards fourth edition in 1998 heralded the beginning of a new era of modern digital hydrography based on the concept of the survey orders resulting from implementation of the Global Navigation Satellite Systems of positioning and hydrographic information systems. The fundamental changes between the 4th and 6th editions of the Standards for Hydrographic Surveys (S-44) are described. The differences between the 5^th and 6th editions of the Standards for Hydrographic Surveys (S-44) are evaluated. Particular attention is paid to the conceptual evolution of such definitions as “bathymetric model” and “ features detection”. The main new S44 (6.1.0) survey Standards paradigm became the concept of “bathymetric coverage” and the rejection of the “ full sea floor coverage” concept which was introduced in the previous 5th edition. Introducing the “bathymetric coverage” and “ feature search” notions in the 6th S44 (2022) survey Standards provides the possibility to avoid the implementation of such previously important hydrographic definition as “line spacing”. It is especially emphasized that the introduction and combined application of such definitions as “bathymetric coverage”, “ feature detection” and “ feature search” necessitate the usage in the 6th S44 (2022) survey Standards of the new special tool named “specification matrix”. This tool is important for hydrographic survey drafting taking into consideration the various stakeholder requirements as well as providing a short hydrographic survey description. The introduction of gridding concept in hydrography provided in the S44 (6.1.0) survey Standards for the first time is also mentioned. Critical comments on the interpretation of gridding methods provided in the annex D which are not considered as the part of the Standards are presented. Some recommendations concerning general quality control requirements and survey posteriori quality control provided in the annex C and B are also commented on. It should be especially emphasized that three last editions of S44 Standards use the “standard deviation” term without specifying its confidence level for position uncertainty (Total Horizontal Uncertainty — THU) calculation. The position uncertainty (2D) quantities are stated as “standard deviation” multiplied by coefficient 2.45. The “standard deviation” term needs additional explanation and clarification; it should not be confused with the widely used term «position standard deviation =distance root mean squared». It is also pointed out the insufficient study of the 3D hydrographic technology provisions presented in the 6th S44 survey Standards edition associated with the alternative method of sea level correction determination based on the precise ellipsoid (geodetic) heights measurements of the tide gauges benchmarks and chart datum using GNSS observations. The necessity of inclusion of the requirements for survey posteriori quality control as the result of survey data post-processing, using statistical comparison of check lines crossing the regular lines, is substantiated. Finally, the urgency of developing new Russian hydrographic standards and specifications based on IHO S44 (6.1.0) on the basis of modern technology is emphasized.

The benefit of the Loran ground-based radio navigation system as an alternative to global navigation satellite systems is argued. The motivation of searching for a duplicate variant is caused by the necessity to ensure the reliability of positioning as a subject of countering spoofing and jamming risks when implementing the concept of cybernetic awareness on water transport. Hypothetically, the possibility of using e-Loran on the Northern Sea Route as a backup navigation system is considered. The experience of operating pilot projects of the enhanced Loran in the issue of the predicted potential of positioning accuracy is analyzed. The optimal method of compensation for the system error of geolocation based on the use of additional secondary factors is investigated. Taking into account the principle of the d-Loran functional, based on comparing the measured values of the radio signal passage delay with published analogues for transmitting clarifications to marine consumers, the necessity of using integrity as a criterion for a confidence assessment of the navigation information processing reliability has been determined. A critical analysis of the attempts effectiveness to use the linear interpolation method to calculate intermediate representative values of the delay in the radio signal transmission in order to simulate the map of additional secondary factors is performed. The hypothesis of the prospects for the isosurface corrections synthesis based on B-spline approximation is put forward. The South Korean experiment of synthesizing a chart of additional secondary factors with measured indicators of the radio signal propagation time delay in nanoseconds from the Pohang transmitting station has been repeated at the correct algorithmic level. In order to demonstrate the practical feasibility of the spline algorithm, a computer visualization of a cartographic fragment of additional secondary factors of Yongil Bay is performed. It is suggested that three-dimensional representation of the additional secondary factor for situational perception by the Officer on watch of map-aided correction as a process in alternative positioning in order to increase the reliability of location control through visual evaluation of proper use of corrections of the e-Loran differential variant. The prospect of using the developed package of applied Pascal-programs with implementations on display-type monitors as intellectual support for decision-making by the navigator in a posteriori assessment of the observation accuracy due to the visual representation of the correction field is noted.

Currently, the coal terminals of sea and river ports have a significant negative impact on the environment through their activities. The operation of the terminals technological equipment leads to high concentrations of dust in the air and dust emissions of bulk cargo. The main sources of dust emissions and dust removal are open coal storage warehouses. Recently, dust screens have been used to combat dusting in open coal warehouses and port terminals. However, the processes of wind flows interaction with stacks of port open slads and meshed screens have not been studied enough. In this regard, the purpose of this work is to evaluate in laboratory conditions the operability of meshed screens to reduce the dustiness of the air and the dust emission of bulk cargo during its storage in port open warehouses. During laboratory studies, models of open warehouses stacks are carried out at a certain scale, which allows you to use the full-scale bulk cargo and real meshed screens. The main results of these studies are the following conclusions: meshed screens are workable and effective devices for reducing the speed of wind flow inside the perimeter of the screen; the shape of the stack cross-section does not affect the screen performance; the level of the meshed screen performance to reduce the air dustiness and the amount of dust emission from the warehouses stacks with the different shape of the cross-section depends on the direction and speed of the wind flow. The use of soft meshed screens located along the perimeter of the open coal warehouse stack makes it possible to reduce air dustiness and dust emission at a wind speed of 5 m/s by an average of 1.8 times, and at a wind speed of 10 m/s by an average of 2.5 times.

The liner shipping network design problem is considered in the paper. This problem is particularly relevant in the current global political and economic conditions, where finding optimal solutions for business becomes crucial for survival. State-of-the-art formulations and methods for solving the problem in domestic and international scientific papers are discussed. Four types of liner services such as simple service, “butterfly”, “pendulum” and complex service are described. A simple service that can be reduced to the traveling salesman problem is primarily focused on. Our own formulation of the problem is proposed and an example of liner shipping network description, based on the proposed formulation, is provided. In the example, presented in the paper, a container line, based on a single domestic seaport (Vladivostok) and four seaports in China, is demonstrated. It should be noticed, that the problem includes several optimization sub-problems (such as multi-commodity flow problem), solving which is important for finding best solutions for the designed shipping line, but is outside the bounds of this research. The liner services as a sequence of vessel calls to ports are described; and some results of the foregoing generation process are discussed. The optimal solution is selected from the set of generated solutions. It represents a particular case that simultaneously has the lowest costs for implementing the container line and the highest number of serviced container flows. It is noted that this solution is optimal only within the generated solution space and may not be optimal for the considered example of the problem.

A methodology for planning the transportation and unloading of containerized cargo in off-port conditions, aimed at achieving the most labor-efficient result is presented in the paper. The effectiveness of using maritime transport facilities for transportation largely depends on the availability and technical condition of ports and port facilities. The study of ways to prepare an unequipped seashore for the organization of temporary transshipment points is of urgent importance due to the constant need to carry out supply transportation to Arctic destinations. In the specific conditions of the Russian Federation Arctic zone, a special transportation subsystem is formed by regular northern (expeditionary) delivery. Despite a significant amount of scientific research in the field of transport support, the specific tasks of scientific substantiation of transport and technological transportation systems in off-port conditions are currently insufficiently investigated. To solve the problem under consideration, it is necessary to develop new technical and technological solutions. Modern conditions for the cargo transportation implementation generally involve the use of two technological schemes for transporting containerized cargo units from the vessel hold to the coastal zone at each of the destinations by moving each individual unit using a pontoon or helicopter. To improve the transport and technological transportation system efficiency in off-port conditions, in addition to the existing ones, an alternative scheme based on the use of self-disassembling pontoons (lighters) when unloading cargo on an unequipped coast is proposed. The methodology for planning the transportation and unloading of containerized cargo in off-port conditions is based on the fact that the particular object of research is technological schemes for transporting certain volumes of batches of containerized cargo units of various categories, implemented within a given destination. The initial data and design characteristics used in the methodology implementation, as well as the structure of the developed methodology described in the form of a flowchart are presented in the paper. The methodology calculates a complex preference indicator for each technological scheme under consideration. The considered technique allows us to determine the most preferred technological scheme from a set of alternative schemes.

Berthing equipment of two berths of JSC “Troitsa” is considered. They are “Berth for petroleum products transshipment” and “Reinforced concrete berth with crane tracks” of “Chayka” port (Severodvinsk). The berths were put into operation half a century ago. Due to the regulatory service life expiration, the Scientific Research Association “Pleiada” LLC (Novorossiysk) carried out in 2021 a theoretical calculation to determine the bearing capacity of bollards. The purpose of the planned research is to check the safe functioning of the available mooring devices in the existing conditions of berthing facilities operation. The object of research is non-standard mooring bollards, for which there was no documentation on operational control during construction and commissioning certificates. The process of changing the technical condition and determining the bearing capacity of the bollards is considered as the subject of the research. It has been established that the mooring bollards of the studied berths are suitable for operation to ensure the mooring of vessels that do not exceed the design parameters and comply with the requirements of subparagraph (a) of paragraph 191 of the technical regulations on the safety of maritime transport facilities dated August 12, 2010 No. 620 (as amended on October 7, 2019). The results of organoleptic and instrumental examinations using a high-precision electronic dynamometer ACD/1R-250/7I-2 are presented. It is concluded that a correct assessment of the berthing equipment technical condition is achieved with proper organization of the expert service in combination with continuous deformation monitoring.

The measurements of hydroabrasive wear of the jet pumps nozzles, used on dredges operating on transferring pulp, are carried out. The measurement result is compared with the result of modelling the flow in the pump suction chamber near the nozzles. The modelling is carried out using the Fluent program complex as a part of the Ansys program; the pure water is being modelled in the suction pipe. This assumption is made taking into account that pulp contains approximately 10 percent by volume of sand, therefore the trajectories of sand particles movement coincide with the streamlines of water. The results of modeling have shown, that the angle of attack on the surface of nozzle nose part nearest to the pulpline outlet is close to zero, whereas the angles of attack on the surface of the nozzle nose part furthest from the pipeline outlet differ considerably from the zero and range from 20 to 50 degrees, that is the values at which the hydroabrasive wear increases severalfold compared to the angles close to zero. The results of modelling are confirmed by the examination of the worn nozzles. It is turned out that the nose part of the nozzles wears out along a circle unevenly, the part furthest from the pipeline outlet wears at higher rate, that leads to the bevel of the plane of the nozzle nose opening, the bevel angle reaches 20–25 degrees. The microhardness values of the nose part of the worn nozzle are also in agreement with the results of modelling. The measurements have shown, that the microhardness of the nose part of the worn nozzle is uneven along a circle, and the microhardness of the most worn side of the nozzle nose is least. This fact indicates that the different zones of the surface of the nozzle nose part differ from each other by the rigidity of stress state scheme in hydroabrasive attack. It can be used later in choosing the regime of laboratory tests on hydroabrasive wear.

According to statistics, the number of accidents related to the failures of ship engine and propulsion systems remains in second place among the total number of accidents. One of the reasons for the destruction of diesel crankshafts, intermediate and propeller shafts, elastic couplings and other elements of shaft lines are torsional vibrations in combination with other types of fluctuations and vibrations. The main method for monitoring the level of torsional vibrations in ship’s shaft lines remains periodic torsiography or strain measurement. The widespread introduction of diagnostic and control systems on ships leads to the technical possibility of constant monitoring of the level of torsional vibrations, which will allow you to reduce the risks of accidents in the periods between torsiography. Like any new technical solution, the introduction of torsional vibration monitoring systems requires a scientific justification of the need for their application, which can be carried out with using risk theory. The results of applying the risk matrix to justify the installation of torsional vibration monitoring systems in marine propulsion systems are presented in the paper. As a result, a risk matrix with quantitative parameters is obtained to justify the installation of torsional vibration monitoring systems and reduce the risks of ship’s shaft line breakdowns. As an example, the application of the risk matrix for “OT” type tugs, which are widely used for various operations on the Russian waterways, is considered. It is established that for these types of vessels, the use of a monitoring system will be justified to reduce the risks of accidents, serious accidents and catastrophes that may arise from the development of dangerous torsional vibrations. A method for applying the assessment of the damage degree from an accident occurrence to determine the reduction of economic costs when using torsional vibration monitoring systems is proposed in the paper. It is found that for the “OT” type tugs, the installation of torsional vibration monitoring systems will be justified, both from the point of view of economics and reducing the accidents risks of ship engine and propulsion systems.

The performed study is the result of collecting statistical data on failures of port transshipment and floating cranes. It is found that many accidents of components and parts of crane mechanisms can be associated with an erroneous determination of design loads. In order to increase the strength reliability, numerous field tests were carried out in river and sea ports under various modes of transshipment for different types of cargo. Tests have shown that operational loads are random in nature, and their laws of distribution over time of individual crane mechanisms can be approximated by truncated normal Gauss laws, accounting for which at the stage of new design developments, as shown by the practice of performing strength fatigue calculations, is not possible. In the article, in order to use the obtained laws at the design stage, it is proposed to replace the representation of operational loads with initial moments that are common to the entire crane mechanism, and transfer individual characteristics consideration such as stress concentration coefficients, fatigue curve parameters, operating time or test base, to subsequent stages of machine components development. For practical testing of the operational loads representation by the normal Gauss laws, a critical analysis of their initial moments, which makes it possible to identify inconsistencies in the representations of variable loads proposed for strength calculation, is given. For the corrected truncated normal load distribution law, the initial moments, the value of the order of which corresponds to the formulas structure used in calculating fatigue resistance at variable load amplitudes (in particular, under alternating loading modes), are determined. The presentation of corrected normal distribution laws with initial moments complements the normative documents used in practice when performing strength calculations under variable loading conditions, significantly simplifies calculations and makes it possible to take it into account at the stage of new design developments in accordance with the formulas established in the current normative documents.

The subject of the research is issues related to the field of ship power plants and their elements, as well as the operation of water transport and its environmental safety. Studying the processes of ballast water purification and disinfection, as well as oil-containing water that are formed during the ships operation, shows the possibility of increasing the efficiency of these processes. It is proposed to consider these processes, starting from the stage of supplying the ozone-air mixture to the flow of treated water, without limiting ourselves to the study of the actual process of oxidation by ozone of a contaminated, including bacteriologically hazardous, substance. This approach makes it possible to establish the limiting stages of the contaminated water purification and disinfection process, which includes the stage of ozone dissolution in water during its transition from the ozone-air mixture, as well as the stage of subsequent diffusion of ozone dissolved in water into the reaction contact zone. It has been shown that the kinetic characteristics of the limiting stages depend on the conditions of their implementation, which can reduce the efficiency of ozone use due to the limited time of its existence. A technological proposal that makes it possible to increase the efficiency of ozone use and the reliability of ensuring the requirements for the quality of cleaning and disinfection of marine pollution has been developed. Technological proposals provide for the preliminary saturation with ozone of a specially allocated water stream for this purpose, the supply of this stream to the concentration zone of the oxidized and disinfected substance. A device in which the developed technological fragment, including a pump supplying a water flow to a contact column, an ozone generator, a device for supplying an ozone-saturated water flow to a filter, is implemented is also proposed.

The results of studying the thermodynamic processes features and analyzing the prospects for using their characteristics to assess the technical condition of diesel power plants are contained in the paper. A structural diagram of a ship power plant, which is proposed to be considered consisting of separate components of mechanical part, thermodynamic part, fuel supply system and automatic speed control system equal in degree of influence on efficiency is proposed. The theoretical analysis results of the joint operation of the mechanical and thermodynamic components of the diesel power function have shown that the temperature of the working surfaces is an important characteristic of the power plant technical state. The concept of the thermodynamic component in this case refers to a combination of fuel combustion processes and combustion product expansion. To improve the design and efficiency of power plants operation, it is necessary to further study the in-cylinder fuel combustion processes and develop operational methods for monitoring the thermal state of diesel internal combustion engines. Control of changes in functional dependencies of working medium temperature on operating conditions and technical condition can in practice contribute to increase the efficiency of ship power plants operation. The experimental studies of the thermal imaging methods prospects to assess the diesel engines technical condition are carried out. It is found that the control reliability increases with an increase in the size of the diesel engine frame due to a decrease in the intensity of the dynamics of temperature equalization of individual cylinders. At the same time, the most expedient and informative is the control of the temperature of the diesel engine exhaust manifold, carried out during the heating of the cold engine or immediately after its completion.

The purpose of the study is to create a problem-oriented model of transport and technological processes in automated systems. To achieve this goal, it is necessary to develop methodological aspects of creating an automated modeling system. The content of the basic principles of problem-oriented modeling in the study of an integrated automated system for managing stocks and transport and technological processes is revealed in the paper. At the same time, methodological aspects of creating automated modeling systems, namely, a conceptual mathematical model for the analysis and standardization of technical and economic indicators are considered. The functioning of logistics systems, namely, system modeling (supply — transport) is also considered. The problems of interaction and relationships, optimization of resource flows, and increasing the efficiency of management decisions making have been solved. It is shown that modeling resource flows involves adjustments through iterative redistribution of interregional and intraregional supplies among suppliers and consumers. Combining product items into one delivery leads to savings in stocks formation costs by reducing the number of orders. To create effective automated control systems, it is necessary to study in detail the primary object — the logistics and technical support system itself. The creation of applied mathematical and software is a promising direction for solving this problem and developing it as an automated modeling system. In this regard, when creating such automated control systems, it is most advisable to use a model-oriented approach, which is based on the principles of system analysis, standardization, classification and modularity. Thus, it is shown that the use of the problem-oriented approach to creating an automated modeling system makes it possible to reduce the labor intensity of its development and implementation, to provide the opportunity to unify algorithms for solving a problem, but also to apply standard methods for processing experimental results.

In the last years the blockchain technology has attracted the focus of many companies in maritime business, due to its potential to make a revolution in this field. This technology became especially important in supply chains, where it offers the possibility to increase the transportation effectiveness. It is shown that currently there is no instrument to analyze the strategies on blockchain technology introduction in maritime shipping. In order to solve this problem, it is suggested to use game theory models, which allows you to simulate the relationships among maritime shipping participants. In order to create a model of such type, the description of main participants is represented in the paper and the main schemes of their interaction are analyzed. The structured schemes of the participants introduction, during the organization of maritime shipping in a traditional form and with the utilization of blockchain are suggested in the paper. The structure of basic game theory model of maritime shipping is shown. In order to show the possibilities of the analysis using the proposed model four experiments are considered. The first one is the traditional form of participants interaction. The second one is the interaction of participants fully through the blockchain. The third one is the change of attitude to blockchain depending on economic efficiency. The fourth one is the gradual introduction of blockchain technology. The results show the change of economical effectiveness of business participants in different cases. It is shown in the paper that the introduction of blockchain allows to speed up a company cash-flow, which makes the business management much easier. It is also proved that the suggested model must be improved with introduction of new conditions and motives of the participants.