Real-time simulation of asymmetric load conditions of a beam trawler fishing vessel on the Large Motion Simulator.

Up to now, the programme has proven to be a convenient platform for research within this specific niche of shipping safety. A new programme has been developed for 2025 with a select range of projects as per our mission aiming for clean, smart and safe shipping and sustainable use of the sea.

The Safety Assessment Model Shipping and Offshore North Sea (SAMSON) has been developed in the past by MARIN and is a mathematical model to define the risk of collisions among ships and between vessels and fixed objects. However, the context for which this model has been designed changed significantly. Regular research projects utilising SAMSON encountered this issue, and a recently published report by the Dutch Safety Board (Onderzoeksraad voor Veiligheid, OVV) confirmed this concern that the model might no longer be suitable for the current and future maritime context. The scheduled modernisation of SAMSON therefore, was well timed and a proper foundation of a new software architecture was developed to prepare the model for the future.

Knowledge Development
This segment addresses specific substantive questions regarding the knowledge gaps in maritime safety that have been identified.

The programme is structured into three distinct segments:

Definition and Methodology
This segment emphasises a fundamental challenge of the programme, with a particular focus on methodological approaches. One of the projects addresses the restructuring and redefinition of (partly) existing tools to quantify risks at sea.

Both MARIN and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management have the ambition to become more proactive regarding the safety of ships and the context in which they operate through specific research and development.

On behalf of the ministry, MARIN has therefore started the Maritime Safety Research Programme with the aim of improving the safety level in the North Sea through applied research. An integrated approach is essential. A key reason for developing the new programme was the initial realisation that there were significant knowledge gaps that needed to be bridged in order to achieve the ambition. The multi-year programme aims to fill these gaps through thorough research and in collaboration with experts in the field.

Stability regulations for fishing cutters
In addition to the support on individual questions, larger projects can also be part of this segment, providing scientific input for the development of policies concerning a specific topic. An example of such a project is the evaluation of stability regulations for fishing cutters. Following the sinking of two fishing vessels as a result of asymmetric loads by subsea entangled nets, the OVV recommended that the ministry should conduct broader research with the goal of increasing safety gains for the entire Dutch cutter fleet.

This research should identify the safety risk of asymmetrical loading conditions on cutters of all lengths. After an initial desktop study, MARIN was asked to validate stability regulations, and to simulate asymmetrical loads in the Large Motion Simulator (LMS). As the regulations may be adequate, simulation provides insight for crew members and could improve the education of trainee seafarers.

Policy Support

The programme offers both reactive and structural support for policy-related inquiries. MARIN is equipped to respond to urgent policy questions and consistently provides expertise to support the government in the formulation of (inter)national policies.

A long-held wish by both the Dutch government and MARIN is to have a jointly agreed budget to be used to accommodate ad hoc inquiries. Within the policy support segment such resources became available for all sorts of queries, varying from matters discussed in the International Maritime Organization (IMO), inquiries by the OVV or questions from parliament.

Projects include studying the stability of sailing cargo ships, the impact of regular shipping on northern Netherlands traffic routes and developing a more accurate risk-reducing factor for Emergency Response Towing Vessels (ERTVs).

ERTV deployment study
The ERTV project is a first attempt to verify the effectiveness of the utilisation of these vessels to limit the risk of vessels colliding with current and future offshore wind turbines. Figure 1 shows a picture of a drifting vessel that receives assistance from an ERTV in December 2024. In this instance it took the ERTV 5 hours to make a suitable connection that allowed the drifting vessel to be towed away.

By improving the understanding of the operational proceedings, the necessary time steps at the deployment of ERTVs and the likelihood of success, the modelling of vessel traffic can be significantly improved. Figure 2 shows the various steps in the ERTV deployment process, highlighting the time between the steps and the probabilities of success during the various steps. This theoretical model can be the input for the future evaluation of the effectiveness study.

The programme was developed in close collaboration with the government and established across multiple MARIN disciplines in order to achieve the shared objectives. The general methodology focuses on defining safety principles, identifying and mitigating risks, and fostering collaboration with government and industry. By combining these elements, the programme aims to enhance maritime safety through innovative solutions and informed policymaking, ultimately contributing to safer and more efficient maritime operations.