Towards a risk model for the Northern Baltic maritime winter navigation system

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Abstract

The implementation of the Finnish-Swedish winter navigation system has managed to increase the safe passage of merchant vessels in the Baltic Sea. However, there will always be risk associated with Baltic Sea winter navigation. Based upon IMO’s Formal Safety Assessment; steps zero through two, this report will aim to provide a system description of the Finnish-Swedish winter navigation system outlining the main elements used to ensure safe passage for merchant vessels, and based upon a literature survey, discussion with Finnish icebreaker crew and the results of an exploratory hazard session this report will determine the hazards associated with Baltic Sea winter navigation, the preliminary results of a risk analysis and the icebreaking operations which are linked to the winter navigation accidents. This work will lay out the preliminary work towards a risk model for preventing oil spills in the Northern Baltic.