EFFICIENT NAVIGATION BY ESTABILESHMENT A MARINE ELECTRONIC HIGHWAY MEH AT PERSIAN GULF(For Marine Safety Security and Environmental Protection)

Advancements in information technology have significant impacts on the shipping industry. Many of the important navigational technologies and data are amenable to computerization. Examples are paper charts converted to Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs), incorporation of some aspects of ship routing system into Electronic Charts Display Information System (ECDIS) and audiovisual communications. Many of the newer commercial vessels are equipped with ENCs-ECDIS including integrated bridge system. However, the present world fleet use less paper charts for navigation but electronic charts are increasingly used. The adoption of new technologies by the shipping industry is due to several factors among them are easy usage, easy training of mariners. In general, there is increasing trend towards the use of computers onboard ships for navigation. The developments of maritime safety technologies are generally industry driven and fairly in adherence to standards and performance criteria e.g., International Standard Organisation (ISO), International Electronic Commission (IEC), International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO), unlike the development of information technologies in other sectors and disciplines. On the other hand recent enhancements in maritime safety infrastructure and regulatory mechanisms have improved navigational safety and traffic flow. Marine Electronic Highway is a mean to provide safe, secure and pollution protection. However to take modern advantage of Information Technology (IT) in marine environment to promote navigation safety, security and pollution protection in an area which has hazardous objects, hence there are high risk of collision by artificial manmade objects. The area between South East of Kharg Island to Strait of Hormuz at Persian Gulf needs to control the marine traffic efficient by taking advantage of E-Routing by establishing Marine Electronic Highway (MEH). The advantage of this MEH in the region is to promote navigational safety, security and environmental protection as well as protect offshore properties which lay in the South Pars Oil and Gas Field which is highly important from economic view, especially for Iran. This area is under development and even more artificial objects will install in offshore, hence increasing even more risk of collision in the area. The MEH would be like an eye to surveillance the covered area and to minimize the risk of accidents. Moreover a deep research study is needed to evaluate to find out the most suitable way and economic approach.

Keywords:

Electronic Highway , Positioning , Safety Security , E-Routing