ADMINSTRATION

OF
AIDS TO NAVIGATION
COURSE

• POST GRDUATE STUDIES March 2012

 Objectives

 Improve Safety of Navigation

Protecting human life and the
environment

 Increase efficiency of maritime

transport
Conserving resources & enhancing
economics
 AtoN Training Objectives

1. Understand why AtoNs are established.

2. Understand the specific purpose of the various
AtoNs.
3. Become familiar with the flash characteristics used
on AtoNs.
 Cooperation
 IALA – Committee/WG interfaces

 IMO – Correspondence Group

 ITU – Future communications

 IHO – ENCs, WWNWS, AtoN data

 IEC/CIRM – Equipment standards

 IALA’s Role
• Define e-Navigation & its objectives

• Cooperation/Coordination with other bodies

• Identify problems & solutions

• Facilitate implementation
 Aids to navigation
• The term "aids to navigation" includes buoys,
day beacons, lights, lightships, radio beacons,
fog signals, and Loran and other electronic
systems. It covers all the visible, audible and
electronic symbols that are established by
government and private authorities for
piloting purposes. The Coast Guard uses the
acronym ATON.
 Definitions
• Aid to Navigation:
– Any device external to a vessel intended to
assist a navigator to determine their position,
safe course, or to warn of dangers or
obstructions to navigation.
 The Safety pillars


Improving the maritime traffic environment

Disseminating knowledge on maritime
safety Securing safe vessel navigation
Ensuring vessel safety
Enhancing safety measures for small vessels
Enforcing laws in maritime traffic
Enhancing rescue and emergency services
Promoting survival support
Enhancing researches and study activities
    
 IMO Decisions - e-Nav strategy

• Key Strategy elements

Architecture
The overall conceptual, functional and technical
architecture will need to be developed and
maintained, particularly in terms of process
description, data structures, information processes,
communications technology and regulations.
 TRAFFIC DENSITY
– NUMBER OF SHIPS
– SPEED OF TRAFFIC
– SPEED OF INDEVIDUAL VESSL
– SCHEDUL OF PASSAGE
– TONNAG AND SIZE OF SHIPS
– TYPE OF CARGO
– MANOEVRABILIT Y OF INTEDED
VESSLES
 WATERWAY
• LENGTH AND NAVIGABLE
WIDTH OF NAVIGATIONAL
CHANNELE
• DEPTH AND BENDS OF
WATERWAY
• ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS,
WIND TIDE AND VISIBILITY
 Baseline Study Data
• Input data is captured from baseline studies that are
undertaken involving an analysis and evaluation of
the following:
• Target vessel and other deep-draught vessels
using the waterway:
• dimensions (length, beam, draught);
• maneuverability and speed;
• number and frequency of use; and
• type of cargo handled.
 Background
Integration and exchange of information

GPS LRIT ECDIS RADAR MRCC

MSI RADAR Alarms VTS AIS Met/hyd

AIS Galileo GMDSS Ports Pilots

onboard ashore
 e-NAV concept

e-NAV

VTS RADAR

GNSS ECDIS AIS LRIT

DGNSS AtoN data AtoN AIS

 Input Parameters - Waterway Dimensions

• Vessel
• The critical component in the design of the waterway is
the selection of the "target" vessel . In evaluating the
waterway maneuvering parameters, the target vessel is
normally the largest vessel that the waterway is expected
to accommodate safely and efficiently. The parameters
required for the target vessel are:
• length (L); beam (B); maximum draught (d); speed
(vs.);
• Maneuverability - a qualitative determination of the vessel's
maneuverability in comparison with other vessels; and
• traffic density - the level of traffic frequenting the waterway.
 AVAILABLE RESOURCES
• AVAILABLE VISUAL AIDS
• AVAILABLE ELECTRONIC AIDS
• SHORE-BASED EQUIPMINT, VTS ,VTIMS,
AIS
• COMMUNICATION STANDERDS
• LEVEL OF TRAINING, SKILS AND
EDUCATION
• LIMITATION AND CONSTRAINTS
• BUDGET AVAILABLE
 VISUAL AIDS
• BUOYS

• LIGHTHOUSES

• LAND MARKS
 Types of Aids to Navigation
• Buoys - floating objects that are anchored to the
bottom. Their distinctive shapes and colors indicate
their purpose and how to navigate around them.
•   Fog Signals - audible signals sounded to assist
mariners during periods of low visibility.
•   Ranges - pairs of unlighted or lighted fixed aids
that when observed in line show the pilot to be on
the centerline of a channel.
•  Lightships - specially equipped vessels anchored at
specific locations
 Types of Aids to Navigation
   Radio beacons - transmitters
broadcasting a characteristic signal
specifically to aid navigation at night, in
fog, or at distances exceeding normal
visibility.
   Radio navigation Systems - radio
transmitters, usually in groups, that emit
special signals for use in navigation in
fog or when beyond sight of land or
offshore aids.
• These aids also assist mariners in
making a safe landfall,
• mark isolated dangers, enable pilots to
follow channels,
• and provide a continuous chain of
• charted marks for precise piloting in
coastal waters.
 POLICY CONSIDRATIONS

• Training
• Cost/Benefit Analysis
• Performance measurement
• Estimation of Ship Domain Zone
• Marine Accident Report
 Target vessel and other deep-
draught vessels using the waterway:
 Dimensions (length, beam, draught);
 Maneuverability and speed;
 Number and frequency of use; and
wind (velocity, direction and duration)
 Weather:

 Waves (heights, period, direction and

duration);
 Visibility (rain, smog, fog and snow,
including duration and frequency of
impairment);
 Ice (frequency, duration and
thickness); and
 Abnormal water levels (high or low).
 Other traffic using the waterway:

• Types of smaller vessels and congestion;

and
• Cross traffic
• Type of cargo
• Size and maneuverability of individual
vessel
• Waterway constrictions; and
• Submerged cables and pipelines.
 Characteristics of a waterway:
 Currents, tidal and/or river (velocity, direction, and
duration);
 Sediment sizes and area distribution, movement, and
serious scour and shoal areas;
 Type of bed and bank (soft or hard);
 Alignment and configuration;
 Freshwater inflow;
 Tides; salinity; dredged material disposal areas;
 Temperature; water quality;
 Biological population (type, density, distribution and
migration);
 Obstructions (such as sunken vessels and abandoned
structures);
 Existing bridge and power line crossings (location, type
and clearances);
 Cost -Benefit Analysis
 Cost -Benefit Analysis has an important role
for investment planning, commercial policy
and development policy. For cost-Benefit
Analysis three stages are applied:
 Specifying, Quantifying, Evaluating.
 Quantifying, involves, the various effects
which have been listed and described in the
first stage.
 The third stage involves attributing values to
the physical units.
 Cost -Benefit Analysis

• Specifying, consists of identifying,

describing and listing in qualitative forms
the various effects of a proposal, for port
investment in this stage, the costs and the
benefits of investment have to be listed.
 Economic Feasibility Studies
 Port Development Projects
 Project Cost/Benefit Analysis
Transport Systems Comparisons
 Commodity Forecasting
 Freight Market Analysis
 Barging/Inland Transport Studies
 Materials Handling Equipment Market
Studies
 Transshipment Analysis
 Shipping Costs Studies
 Shipbuilding Market Studies
 Study the Current Status of
Maritime Accidents
• About 70% of all maritime accidents were
due to so-called human-causes such as
navigation errors including inadequate
watch keeping, improper ship handling and
inattention to the weather and hydrographic
conditions, and inappropriate handling of
engines, which was similarly high to that of
the previous five-year period.
Improving the information service in
coastal areas
•To ensure the safety of vessel traffic in
coastal areas with a high risk of maritime
accidents, the authorities should provide
Information and Communication System
for information on the weather and
hydrographic conditions.
 Improving passenger ship terminals
 To ensure the safety of users in ports
and harbors, there is a need to consider
a variety of specific factors, such as
vibration of floating piers and changes
in inclination of paths due to
differences in sea levels. In view of this,
the government will promote the
construction of "barrier free" facilities,
featuring elimination of steps, and the
installation of guide blocks for visually
impaired people.
 2. Disseminating knowledge on
maritime safety
 To improve maritime traffic safety, it is
necessary to raise awareness about prevention
of maritime accidents, not only among people
involved in marine-related affairs, but also to
marine leisure devotees and each member of
the nation. In recognition of this point, the
government will make use of a wide range of
opportunities to promote awareness of
maritime accident prevention.
 Securing safe vessel navigation
• To promote greater marine transport
safety in terms of vessel operation,
the government will work to maintain
and improve the knowledge and
skills of people involved in marine
affairs, and to establish a system for
improved operational safety.
 Promoting Port State Control
 Governments should promote PSC for
foreign vessels adequately on the
certification of crew, watch keeping and
operational requirements based on the
STCW convention and the International
Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea,
1974 (SOLAS Convention).
 Also based on the framework of the
Memorandum of Understanding on Port
State Control to eliminate substandard
vessels.
 Port Development
Economic Feasibility Studies
Port Development Projects
Project Cost/Benefit Analysis
New building Vessel Demand and Pricing
Transport Systems Comparisons
Commodity Forecasting
Freight Market Analysis
Barging/Inland Transport Studies
Materials Handling Equipment Market Studies
Transshipment Analysis
Shipping Costs Studies
Shipbuilding Market Studies
Terminal feasibility studies
Onshore vs. offshore cargo transfer
Berth number and product handling
requirements
Marine safety and navigational risk
analysis
Cost benefit analysis
Risk Assessment and Safety Management
 The risk assessment will typically
involve
1. Data Gathering and Familiarization
2. Hazard Identification
3. Risk Analysis
4. Risk Assessment
5. Risk Control
Increase aids to
navigation Balanced
Development

Costly operation
noneconomic
Profitable

Expensive Safe Safe

Profitable Increase
Traffic
Un Development Tonnage
Environment
Safe Risky

Aids to Navigation Risk Analysis Sheet

Thank You for your attention!
Questions?
Refaat Rashad
refaat.r@hotmail.com