An analysis of vessel behaviour based on AIS data

From December 2004 onwards every seagoing vessel over 300 Gross Tonnage (GT) is obliged to be equiped with an Automatic Identification System (AIS). Vessels equipped with this system, send out a message every few seconds, containing their position, speed, course, identification number, etc. This makes it possible to perform a statistical...

Analysing terminal performances using AIS data: AIS tool development and data analysis to assess & compare observed nautical port processes with theoretical frameworks

In order to increase safety and efficiency at sea the International Maritime Organization decided in 2000 that all sea going vessels were to implement Automatic Identification Systems (AIS). AIS is an automatic tracking system which broadcasts static and dynamic information about the vessel. Even though AIS was not initially designed for...

Mapping inland shipping emissions in time and space for the benefit of emission policy development: A case study on the Rotterdam-Antwerp corridor

The pressure to reduce emissions in the sector of inland shipping is increasing. Especially considering emissions of environmental pollutants, the increasing pressure gives rise to the question how to get insight into emissions distributions along an inland waterway network. In this research, a bottom-up method is developed that is able to map...

Estimate vessel emissions in ports using AIS data: A study to identify emission distribution patterns in ports and evaluate emission reduction strategies

The shipping industry is responsible for almost 3% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions and is looking for possibilities to reduce their share. The demand for lowering the emissions of the maritime industry creates the need for insight in the emissions. Currently a generic method to specify emissions in space and time, as a function of vessel...

The effect of vessels on the flow pattern inside a groyne field: What is the influence of vessels on the flow properties inside a groyne field and in what way do the characteristics of the vessels influence this?

Due to river training in the past centuries, the bed level of the Waal started and is still decreasing by several centimetres a year. Erosion of the riverbed causes problems for objects underneath the riverbed like cables, pipelines and foundations of structures. Furthermore, some parts of the river are eroding at a higher velocity compared to...

Machine Learning for IWT Ship Traffic Analysis (Object Detection vs. AIS Data)

The Automatic Identification System (AIS) is used in the maritime domain to improve sea traffic safety by requiring vessels to broadcast real-time information such as identity, speed, location, and course. As it allows global monitoring of almost any larger vessel and has the potential to considerably improve vessel traffic services and...

The ship domain in port areas: A case study in the Port of Rotterdam

Increased complexity on the waterway asks for more insight into distances between vessels. A method is created to determine the ship domain in a port area based on AIS data analysis. The method includes location, encounter types, relative position and ship-specific parameters.

Nautical safety on Dutch inland waterways, a study to detect anomalous vessel behaviour based on AIS data

Currently, inland waterway safety assessments rely heavily on historic accident data and expert opinions, often lacking comprehensive qualitative and quantitative information. Addressing this gap, this thesis introduces a method based on Automatic Identification System (AIS) data to identify anomalous vessel behaviour for enhancing safety...