Search

In light of efforts to reduce GHG emissions, liner ship operators in coastal navigation are undertaking numerous activities to contribute to the reduction of fossil fuel consumption during the transitional period toward environmentally friendly propulsion systems without compromising their regular operations. Regular ship overhauls, which include removing fouling from the underwater part of the hull and optimizing propellers, also contribute to this goal and are the focus of this research. The ship propeller, as a key component of the propulsion system, plays a significant role in ensuring reliable, safe, and economical navigation. Proper selection and regular maintenance of the propeller are essential for achieving optimal performance. This paper presents the optimization of a fixed-pitch propeller according to the ISO 484/2 standard to Class I using Metrascan 3D technology. This technology enables a detailed analysis of the propeller geometry, identification of irregularities, correction, and adjustment to achieve better hydrodynamic characteristics. The pitch corrections of the propeller resulted in improved overall vessel performance and fuel consumption, as demonstrated by comparing the consumption before and after the optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the European Union, regulations and policies have been established to prevent and manage invasive alien species (IAS). The EU Regulation 1143/2014/EC, commonly known as the IAS Regulation, identifies species that pose significant ecological risks, requiring a coordinated response across all EU Member States. These species are classified as "species of Union concern" based on thorough risk assessments and standardized procedures within the EU. Accordingly, species are included in The List of Invasive Alien Species of Union Concern (the Union list), which is subject to regular updates through continuous species evaluations. Currently, the majority of the species on this list are terrestrial and freshwater with few marine species represented. The primary aim of this paper is to review the procedure for the inclusion of species in the Union list. The steps for inclusion are outlined by the IAS Regulation and associated legislation, which govern the risk assessment process. In addition, this paper synthesizes available scientific literature and official documents to summarize the impacts of Plotosus lineatus and Rugulopteryx okamurae on biodiversity and ecosystem services. The potential for future updates to the Union list is currently under consideration, and some marine species are within. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Every mode of passenger transport plays an important, strategic role in the lives of a country's people, its economy, its global business, and its tourism. In today's competitive world, passenger transport relies heavily on its performance, which in turn is determined by service quality provided to customers. The evaluation of service quality in passenger transport is crucial to ensure acceptable quality standards for users and to improve the services offered to passengers and travelers. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the methods used to evaluate service quality in passenger transport in the Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection, with a particular focus on liner maritime passenger transport. The results show that a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods is most frequently used in the selected articles. However, the number of scientific articles dealing with this topic has increased in recent years. This shows the growing interest in analyzing service quality for a particular mode of transport. The majority of articles are assigned to the areas of Transportation, Business and Economics, Science and Technology, Environmental Sciences, etc. Future research should focus on evaluating service quality through the impact of new technologies such as artificial intelligence, including relevant factors, on service quality in passenger transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]