Projects

ACCSEAS
Accessibility for Shipping, Efficiency, Advantages and Sustainability


Summary

The ACCSEAS project addressed improved maritime access to the North Sea Region by developing and implementing e-Navigation within a transnational framework. A North Sea e-Navigation test-bed was established to demonstrate proof-of-concept solutions.

ACCSEAS enabled service providers, researchers and suppliers to develop e-Navigation regional services and to prototype novel marine navigation and communication concepts.

ACCSEAS provided the basis for alleviation of congestion, bottlenecks and accident risk, improving North Sea Region access, with sustained cooperation and actions after the project.

Duration
01/03/2012 - 27/02/2015
Priority
3 - Improving the Accessibility of Places in the North Sea Region
Area of Intervention
3.3 To promote the development of efficient and effective logistics solutions
ERDF Grant
2,776,825.00 €
0
Total Eligible Budget
5,553,650.00 €
Lead Beneficiary
Trinity House (on behalf of the General Lighthouse Authorities of UK and Ireland)
George Alan Shaw
george.shaw@gla-rrnav.org
Tel: +44 1908 216291 / +44 7766 510578
Beneficiaries per Country
Sweden
Dept of Shipping & Maritime Technology, Chalmers University of Technology
Swedish Maritime Administration
SSPA Sweden AB
World Maritime University
Denmark
Danish Maritime Safety Administration
Germany
Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration
Flensburg University of Applied Sciences
The Netherlands
Rijkswaterstaat, Ministerie Infrastructuur en Milieu
NHL Hogeschool Leeuwarden, Maritiem Instituut Willem Barentsz
Norway
Norwegian Coastal Administration
United Kingdom
Trinity House (on behalf of the General Lighthouse Authorities of UK and Ireland)
Background and Aim

Aim

The aim of ACCSEAS was to identify issues, which obstruct maritime access to the North Sea Region, identify solutions, pilot and then demonstrate these successful solutions at regional level to develop a strategy for future e-Navigation provision. The entire process was supported by training and simulation. 


ACCSEAS built on findings of previous and currently implemented related European projects, e.g. MARNIS, Tanker Safety Services (Finland), MONALISA (Baltic Sea), EfficienSea (Baltic Sea). The partnership in ACCSEAS included several partners from EfficienSea and MONALISA projects, which allowed for a smooth, efficient coordination between the projects and ensured that work was seamless without overlap, hence not duplicating funding. 

Background

European transport policy provides a shift to seaborne transport to avoid road bottlenecks to the movement of goods, services and people. This modal shift requires efficient and effective marine navigation services.

The North Sea Region, as a maritime hub, is at risk from increased shipping congestion and transport delays, safety issues and pollution/environmental risks that would inhibit the socio-economic development of the region. This is exacerbated by the proliferation of offshore installations (such as wind farms) for renewable energy. The trend is for larger bulk cargo and container carrying ships, operating side-by-side with fishing boats and leisure craft in the same congested waters. Without the innovative services of e-Navigation, North Sea berth-to-berth operations may become less efficient. There may be increased risk of collisions and groundings, adversely impacting accessibility of ports and the effectiveness of logistics in the region.

Consequences could be severe in terms of reduced economic sustainability, more environmental pollution incidents and the threat to safety-of-life. The IMO’s concept of e-Navigation, formally recognised by the European Union, provides a potential solution via harmonised, integrated and exchangeable electronic maritime information onboard and ashore.

The North Sea Region, as a crossroads of regional and global shipping, is uniquely positioned to benefit from an implementation of e-Navigation that can increase the efficient use of resources, provide better voyage planning and track-keeping and deliver genuine improvements in regional accessibility. 

EU policy development, such as e-Maritime and the single European Transport Area, fits within this international framework (IMO, ITU, IHO, IALA) to improve maritime accessibility, efficiency and safety by the use of e-Navigation. This can be achieved by innovative Aids-to Navigation and Vessel Traffic Services with ship/shore and ship/ship communication of reliable navigation information providing situational awareness on a vessel’s position and intended routeing. ACCSEAS aimed to implement and demonstrate e-Navigation systems to alleviate North Sea Region navigation risks. 

  • Vertical Integration Workshops (VIeW) events to identify issues, report progress to stakeholders and present results
  • Innovative open standard interfacing to enhance effective interoperability between e-Navigation systems and services in all navigable waters (including harbour approaches, ports and connecting inland waters)
  • Supported demonstrations, identifying benefits to safety of maritime navigation and regional accessibility
  • Trained staff in conduct of e-Navigation demonstrations
  • Documented within demonstrations Section of ACCSEAS "Training Needs Analysis"Validation of on-shore and ship-based e-Navigation prototypes and simulations for future expansion as planned in WP8
  • Up to 5 live demonstrations for policy and decision makers.

VTS Simulation in an ACCSEAS Demonstration in Gothenburg

Augmented reality demonstration at SMM Hamburg

ACCSEAS demonstration on the Pride of Hull ferry

User consultation post-demonstration

Vessel Operations Co-ordination Tool being demonstrated on board a Danish vessel

HRH Princess Royal opening the Second ACCSEAS Conference

World's first Resilient PNT Receiver

Event Calendar
Events Archive

06/07/2015
30/06/2015
18/05/2015
21/04/2015
more...