RESEARCH PROGRAMME
MCA’s Research Programme aims to:
- Identify the need for or reinforce national policy change;
- inform the UK’s influence on international policy change;
- address the MAIB or other Government recommendations;
- present publicly credible and reliable findings to underpin MCA work;
- deliver and disseminate quality outcomes for the benefit of the maritime community;
- work with national and global partners to encourage a more collaborative and cooperative approach to maritime safety related research
If you would like to express an interest in any of MCA's research projects please contact the Research Co-ordinator on 023 80329100.
RESEARCH PROJECTS 2007/08 – 2008/9
Environmental Protection
COMPLETE
| Project Number |
Title |
Value*
and
duration |
Summary |
|
532
|
UK Contribution to the OSPAR marine litter project
|
£21,636 12 months
|
To enable the UK to quantify the problem of marine litter from shipping, ensuring that forthcoming national and international projects and legislation are efficient, effective and respond to perceived needs.
|
|
540
|
Effectiveness of DEFRA approved surface cleaners for use in oil spill response
|
£31,677 11 months
|
To identify clean-up techniques for soft sediments, which will work without causing more environmental damage than leave alone.
|
|
549
|
Development of a protocol for the treatment and disposal of oily waste in the UK in the light of the implementation of the EU Landfill Directive and other related legislation
|
£41,294 15 months
|
To clarify available options for dealing with oily waste. The introduction of the EU Landfill Directive has significantly reduced the available options for disposal of oily waste, and imposed greater restrictions on hazardous waste handling. The number of facilities available in the UK licensed to accept hazardous waste has therefore been dramatically reduced.
|
|
567
|
Potentially Polluting Ship Wrecks – phase 1 and 2
|
£14,869 7 months
|
To assess the level of risk of release of pollutants from deteriorating WWI and WWII vessels.
|
|
591
|
Environmental Risk Criteria
|
£23,128 3 months
|
To establish a group of criteria for judging environmental harm for environmental risk assessment metrics which can be used in equivalence testing, Safety Cases, Formal Safety Assessments, and other forms of cost-benefit analysis.
|
ONGOING
Project
Number |
Title |
Value*
and
duration |
Summary |
|
593
|
UK Risk Assessment for the Hazardous and Noxious Substances
|
£14,191 13 months
|
To investigate the fate and effects of higher risk Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS).
|
|
595
|
Tracking and predicting the behaviour of submerged and sunken oil
|
£19,375 12 months
|
To identify definitive parameters which influence the behaviour of submerged and sunken oils and to determine appropriate oil recovery techniques.
|
FUTURE
Project
Number |
Title |
Value*
and
duration |
Summary |
|
567
|
Potentially Polluting Ship Wrecks – phase 3
|
4 months
|
To build and populate a database of potentially polluting wrecks according to recommendations from phase 1 and 2 and incorporate the database content into a GIS system.
|
|
577
|
Control of the Spread of Non indigenous species through Ballast Water
|
8 months
|
To investigate the risks presented by non-indigenous species in ships’ ballast water, and a strategy for managing ballast water discharge.
|
|
594
|
Development of a protocol for the design, build and operation of an oily waste processing plant
|
6-9 months
|
To investigate the best available treatment process technology for dealing with all categories of oily waste likely to be generated during a maritime oil spill clean up operation.
|
|
606
|
Review of currently available models and monitoring techniques for HNS
|
12 months
|
To identify the highest risk HNS for the UK PCZ and determine priorities for modelling and practical work and to determine the fate and effects of higher risk HNS in the marine environment.
|
|
607
|
Assessment of the Risk of Introducing Marine Non- Native Species via Biofouling
|
3 years
|
To collect information to identify the problems of non native species being introduced through Biofouling in UK Waters, that can subsequently be used to develop an appropriate protocol to manage this issue.
|
|
610
|
R&D Database Review of mainstream R&D undertaken for maritime oil and HNS pollution topics
|
9 months
|
To collate and review all useful maritime oil and HNS research and development carried out over the last 10 years of relevance to MCA's role in dealing with maritime pollution incidents.
|
SEAFARER / FISHERMAN SAFETY
COMPLETED
Project
Number |
Title |
Value*
and
duration |
Summary |
|
578
|
Mortality studies of the UK merchant shipping and fishing industries
|
£27,982 16 months
|
To improve knowledge and information base with regard to mortality of those who work at sea.
|
FUTURE
Project
Number |
Title |
Value*
and
duration |
Summary |
|
602
|
Dark Adaptations and Lookout Duties
|
2 months
|
To identify the critical knowledge gaps in the current evidence base on dark adaptation and the investigations required to remedy them.
|
ACCIDENT PREVENTION
COMPLETED
Project
Number |
Title |
Value*
and
duration |
Summary |
|
546
|
Development of a human cognition workload assessment tool
|
£101,351 12 months
|
To develop a robust human cognitive workload assessment tool in recognition of the role of mental as well as physiological overload in fatigue.
|
|
586
|
Research to determine regulatory approaches to recreational vessels
|
£31,195 8 months
|
To review the regulations and controls pertaining to recreational vessels in the European Union and the procedures in place for enforcement and policing.
|
ONGOING
Project
Number |
Title |
Value*
and
duration |
Summary |
|
543
|
Sponsorship of a PhD student in Human Element
|
£8,750 3 years
|
To examine the cause of navigational errors leading to incidents and accidents at sea Specifically, the research will aim to clarify the relationship between the watch keeper and their use of navigation equipment in modern vessels, including Voyage Data Recorders.
|
|
548
|
A continuous joint customer survey of UK maritime Sport and Leisure population and participation rates
|
£29,478 3 years
|
To continue to contribute to the statistical base which helps MCA to measure accurately the impact of its incident prevention activity.
|
FUTURE
| Project Number |
Title |
Value*
and
duration |
Summary |
|
608
|
Continuation of Population Survey for Sport and Leisure Sector
|
12 months
|
A Continuation of Research Project RP 548.
|
|
599
|
Human Element Guidance for the Maritime Industry
|
12 months
|
To build upon the results of the preceding viability study. Research, evaluate and develop a comprehensive understanding of the Human Element / Human Factor issues acting in the maritime industry.
|
|
609
|
The Safe Disposal of Time Expired Pyrotechnics
|
3 months
|
To identify options for a safe, environmentally friendly method of organising the disposal of time expired pyrotechnics for the commercial and leisure maritime industry.
|
VESSEL SAFETY
COMPLETED
Project
Number |
Title |
Value*
and duration |
Summary |
|
571
|
Intact stability severe wind and rolling criteria – an equivalent standard
|
£75,000 11 months
|
To establish the UK equivalent standards to the EC Directive 98/18 (as amended) including the standard for Severe Wind and Rolling Weather Criterion.
|
|
572
|
Intact stability equivalent criteria for small domestic passenger ships
|
£70,660 11 months
|
To consider the application of the current intact stability standards that are required by EC Directive 98/18 (as amended) to small domestic passenger ships, particularly open Ro Ros of a wide beam and shallow draft design or any passenger vessel less than 24 m in length.
|
|
564
|
Investigation into the safety of ro ro passenger ships fitted with long lower holds – phase 1
|
£57,450 7 months
|
To investigate safety aspects of these vessels from the point of view of risk of side damage.
|
ONGOING
Project
Number |
Title |
Value*
and
duration |
Summary |
|
539
|
Survey of composite masts and spars used in large yachts
|
£15,000 3 years
|
To produce an industry standard for the survey, inspection and maintenance of composite structures.
|
|
592
|
Investigation into the safety of ro ro passenger ships fitted with long lower holds – phase 2
|
£45,000 8 months
|
To prepare outline designs for two ro-ro passenger ships to the new SOLAS regulations (ref. MSC82/WP.3 Annex 2) and to assess the relative risk of rapid capsize of each vessel following side damage up to the centre-line using the latest numerical methods confirmed by physical model testing.
|
|
583
|
Evaluation of new intact and damaged stability criterion
|
£13,716 12 months
|
To identify the correlation between the capsize wave height given by the new criterion and an appropriate operating limitation.
|
|
600
|
Cargo Lashing at Sea
|
£14,053 2 years
|
To bring together a group of stakeholders to discuss and tackle issues relating to the lashing procedures on ships.
|
FUTURE
Project
Number |
Title |
Value*
and
duration |
Summary |
|
563
|
Development of Methodologies of Risk Based Assessment of Alternative Design proposal and Equivalents to Statutory Provisions
|
12 months
|
To develop capability for quantitative technical consideration for the specific changes within SOLAS chapter II and the ongoing work at IMO on risk based issues in the form of Goal Based Standards and Formal Safety Assessment.
|
|
584
|
Risks and benefits of hydrogen fuel cell propulsion
|
12 months
|
To provide a quantitative indication of the potential environmental benefits of fuel cell propulsion for given vessel types and to provide scientifically robust evidence to enable the development of regulations for vessels using fuel cells and other propulsion systems requiring the carriage of hydrogen.
|
|
587
|
Development of a fire testing and certification procedure for FRP
|
12 months
|
To develop and verify a new testing procedure for fire protection of FRP and wooden structures.
|
|
598
|
Survivability Standards of Passenger Ships
|
3 months
|
To undertake a study to specifically address the requirement for passenger vessel survivability standards, assessing likely damage scenarios and probable vessel survival time to establish whether a vessel could realistically be evacuated.
|
* This column shows the MCA contribution to the total value of the project for 2007/08. For complete projects it shows the total value of the project (not including collaborative contributions).
|
