asSistence to Navigation for Access to Safe Ports
Maritime transport is a crucial aspect of Blue Economy since international economic exchanges are based on an efficient and safe transport and logistics system of which ports are a vital element. Operational safety is essential in port areas due to an ever-increasing number of ships whose sizes keep getting bigger. Loading and unloading goods in ports must be as efficient as possible to keep up with growing competition from other ports in the Mediterranean and Northern European areas. However, these operations must guarantee the safety of ships, cargo and operators. Therefore, ensuring the safety of navigation remains an open challenge. Weather and sea conditions can affect, to a large extent, the safe handling of ships inside ports, where space is limited. Knowledge of weather and sea conditions plays a primary role in guaranteeing safety. Despite the application of new technologies, naval accidents due to bad weather and sea conditions are common; for example, the incident of the Sigma cargo ship stranded on the Tuscan coast due to strong winds and rough seas in 2017. SINAPSI's goal is to meet the need of port operators to have real-time data on weather and sea conditions and be able to navigate and handle ships in ports with complete safety. It will achieve this objective by monitoring and simulating weather and sea conditions near and inside ports. The information thus produced will be made available to the stakeholders (Pilots, Commanders, Port and Maritime Authorities) through a dedicated ICT application. SINAPSI will also integrate the current Maritime monitoring network for the measurement of weather-marine parameters.