The paper presents the usage of mathematical theory of evidence in maritime and offshore applications. This paper brings together a collection of some research on the Dempster–Shafer theory of belief functions. By bridging fuzzy logic and probabilistic reasoning, the theory of belief functions has become a primary tool for knowledge representation and uncertainty reasoning in expert systems. This paper can serve as the authoritative reference in the field of evidential reasoning and an important archival reference in a wide range of areas including uncertainty reasoning in artificial intelligence and decision making in maritime and offshore applications, in management, engineering and transport, in marine shipping, coastal management, navigation, surveillance, monitoring and observation. In particular the paper describes uncertainty reasoning approaches to decision making in maritime and offshore applications, possible applications in safety-based assessment, Coastal Management Expert System, mathematical theory of evidence in marine navigation, the optimisation problem of monitoring stations distribution and finally the facility location and location science

This article presents basic principles of using simulation research in marine traffic engineering and describes a simulation method of waterway design. The author indicates the most common errors made when the procedures of simulation research are not followed, despite advanced ship handling simulators used, which makes it impossible to satisfy the criterion of conformity between the examined system and its model. Practical use of results thus obtained leads to the breach of safety criteria or overdimensioning of waterway system. The presented simulation method of waterway design has been developed by this author. Applying the procedures of the method ensures that the mentioned conformity criterion is fulfille

In the following article the methods for establishing parametres of safe manoeuvring area are presented. The methods are constructed on the basis of deterministic and probabilistic models of ships’ manoeuvring in restricted areas. The reliance level has been established for these methods in which deterministic and probabilistic model of under keel clearance has been use

This article describes basic tasks to be done in the process of designing LNG terminals. In this connection various possible applications of computer simulation models are discussed. Dedicated methods for the selection of terminal site and the determination of parameters of approach channels, port areas and cargo handling facilities are presented. These methods make use of various models of computer-based simulation. The methods herein described have actually been used in the works on designing the LNG terminal in Świnoujście

The article describes the method of the determination of optimal parameters of the approach channels leading to the outer port in Świnoujście assuring safe navigation of LNG tankers of Q-flex type. The method used was specially developed for optimized design of waterway systems. Conditions of safe vessel operations within the system were define

The article presents an algorithm developed for determining conditions of safe ship operation in a system of sea waterways consisting of three components, or subsystems: waterways, navigation and traffic control. A model of the optimization of sea waterway system parameters is describe

The system of sea waterways, as defined in this article, consists of three subsystems: waterways, navigational, and traffic control. This author has defined a state vector for conditions of safe operation of ships on a waterway and described interrelations between parameters of sea waterway system and the state vector of safe ship operation conditions.

The system of port waterways has been defined herein as a composition of three subsystems: approach area (port basin), quay and its equipment, navigational (determination of ship position and speed). Besides, the author defines the state vector of conditions for safe operation of berthing ships. Described are interrelations between parameters of port waterway system and the state vector of safe operation of berthing ships. Differences have been specified between sea waterway systems (fairways, harbour entrances, turning basins, anchorages) and systems of port waterways (port basin, lock).

The article presents two methods of determining safe waterway parameters in con-fined waters, based on real experiments. The methods have been developed at the Insti-tute of Marine Traffic Engineering.

The article presents a method of stochastic modeling of a GNSS position error. Pre-liminary results of DGPS error simulation are presented, a simulation algorithm is de-scribed as well as its application in sea traffic engineering research.

The paper presents mathematical modeling for the positioning of the ship’s hull and determination of the ship’s path width. The above are achieved by two non-simultaneous measurements with a pulsed laser rangefinder. The investigated area is the entrance to the port of Świnoujście.

The article presents a concept of the method of determination the horizontal dimensions of safe maneuvering area for vessels, based on laser measurements, conducted at the entrance to the Port of Świnoujście. The error analysis of the method is discussed as well

Waterways' parameters optimisation consists in determining the best relation-ships between the vessel and the body of water in spectific hydro-meteorological conditions. But building, modernisation or repair of a given waterway's element requires verification already on the design level. Such verification may be carried out using the efficiency evaluation of the project. The author of the article proposed the method of the efficiency evaluation of waterways' parameters using the cos benefit analysis.

The article presents the error analysis of the method of determination the horizontal dimensions of safety maneuvering area for vessels, based on laser measurements. Some solutions of reducing these errors have been suggested as well.

Marine traffic engineering is a relatively new scientific specially, which emerged inn the 70's. The Polish school of marine traffic engineering arose in Szczecin 30 years ago, where the Institute of Marine Traffic Engineering was created, preoccupied with these problems. The article presents selected problems of marine traffic engineering, such as: — safety assessment of navigation in restricted areas, — optimizing of waterway parameters, — designing pilot navigational systems.

The article presents the verification of the commonly used analytical method of determining the safety waterways' parameters. The verification is conducted by means of the method based on the real time experiment using the landbome laser range finder. The analysis concerns the inland passenger crafts navigating on the straight waterway lying under the Długi Bridge in Szczecin.

This paper presents a simulation method for identifying optimal parameters for turning basins on waterways. This method has been used for the detailed design of the Przesmyk Orli Turning Basin in the Port of Szczecin. Methods of this type allow the parameters of a turning basin to be optimized so long as the facility is fixed in one location.

The paper presents the development of a new simulation method to optimize bends in marine waterways. This method, using results of empirical research and simulation methods, would allow accurate determination of safe manoeuvring areas. The method was used at the stage of detailed design of parameters of the, which is undergoing modernization, to determine the optimum parameters of horizontal curves of the fairway. The study was conducted on the type of manoeuvring simulator called Polaris Kongsberg and attended by pilots from the Szczecin–Swinoujscie Pilot Station. Based on the studies carried out, the maximum safe ship length was determined for the redesigned waterway and the conditions for their safe operation. The maximum lengths of these ships are as follows: cruise Lc = 260 m, container Lc = 240 m and a bulk carrier Lc = 220 m.

This article presents the optimized parameters of the Świnoujście seaport entrance and three-kilometer fairway linking Świnoujście and Szczecin, extended to allow the safe entry of 300-meter bulk carriers drawing up to 13.5 meters. The parameters were determined by a simulation-based optimization method, where the objective function and its constraint were, respectively, the reconstruction costs of that waterway section and the vessels’ navigation safety. The study made use of real-time simulation in coordination with the vessel’s human operator.

Approaches to the port are usually considered high traffic areas. Not only deep draft vessels pass through this limited manoeuvring space, but also intensive pleasure craft traffic, especially during the summer season. Crossing of both commercial ships and pleasure craft traffic may generate dangerous situations for navigation. The aim of the following article is to present solutions to the aforementioned safety problem. The article focuses on the navigation safety aspects at the Świnoujście seaport entrance. Currently, Świnoujście-Szczecin Port Regulations take only large ships into consideration while specifying the safety passing at this area, at the same time, belittling the presence of small crafts up to 20 m in length. In order to prove the need for change, one should first present the necessary research concerning the evaluation of the safety level of maximum sized ships navigating at the Świnoujście entrance area in the presence or absence of small pleasure crafts. The surveys were conducted on a group of pilots and captains possessing pilot exemption certificates. The research findings clearly show that the traffic of small crafts and large ships should be separated due to safety concerns. Thus, marine traffic engineering solution is suggested in order to eliminate the most plausible dangers.