Projects / Programmes
Developing a sustainable model for the growth of the "green port"
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 2.19.03 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Traffic systems |
Traffic systems |
| 2.20.00 |
Engineering sciences and technologies |
Hydrology |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| T300 |
Technological sciences |
Water transport technology |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 2.01 |
Engineering and Technology |
Civil engineering |
| 2.07 |
Engineering and Technology |
Environmental engineering
|
Maritime and coastal engineering, maritime transport, maritime safety, ports, marine
environment, the seabed
Researchers (21)
Organisations (3)
Abstract
The EU follows the trends in increased goods flows, the reduction of environmental pollution and the competitiveness of transport and logistics services on the European and global market. The European Commission dedicated the year 2018 to multimodality. Among the key themes is the field of development of multimodal infrastructure, which will strengthen the functioning of the TEN-T network.
Slovenia pursues a European policy in the field of development of multimodal infrastructure. These are several projects and research in the field of railway and port infrastructure development, which are crucial for the operation of multimodal transport and the development of core TEN-T corridors across Slovenian territory (the Baltic-Adriatic Corridor and the Mediterranean Corridor).
The cooperation and research carried out so far have shown that such studies require specific knowledge and a longer-lasting research approach. Such studies are very difficult to be implemented with standard approaches but require a specific research tool and a lot of field-specific measurements and surveys. The complexity of the field of research and multidisciplinary topics (transport engineering, coastal engineering, marine science, etc.) require the successive use of many scientific methods of work.
The objectives of the study are to examine the nautical and coastal characteristics of the Gulf of Trieste and port of Koper in terms of the possibilities for the further deepening of the fairway, the enlargement of the mooring areas, impacts on the seabed and the coastal area and the risk to the sea and land. The aim is to obtain quality information that will be the basis for long term planning for the development of maritime transport in Slovenia from the nautical, coastal engineering, social and economic risks points of view.
Specific objectives:
Analysis of the nautical characteristics of the ship fairway in Trieste bay and, more narrowly, in Koper’s bay
Analysis of channels and berths in terms of medium and long-term development plans of the port of Koper
Analysis of berths for different size of ships
The effects of the interventions on the environment, in particular on the sea bottom in terms of biodiversity, pollution and resuspension of sediment during navigation and maneuvering
Analysis of the quality of the sediment
Potential transboundary impacts of dredging
Risk assessment from nautical and industrial accidents point of view
Examination of national and international legal procedures for obtaining permits for the dredging and disposal of marine silt (along with research to determine whether a safe, new means may be found that establishes good practice for other ports)
The project is applicative of high interest for the Port of Koper and National authorities. It falls within the interdisciplinary field because it deals with large interventions into the sea. The project will also devote a lot of questions about ecological impact, in line with PIANC recommendations (where one can find more than 30 recommendations aimed at dredging, it is necessary to look at the effects of the latter very wide, from archaeology further to waste material disposal...).
Since the project is interdisciplinary and includes three organisations, is divided into work packages (Specific Objectives). Each work package is conducted by one or more research organisations (partners), whereas the research content is sequentially or in parallel proceeded. The work plan is based on the concept of work packages, where each partner has specific tasks as specified in the application.
Significance for science
Dredging is an extremely topical activity in maritime transport (Suez and Panama have recently been dredged due to the recently built deep-keel ships), but only where, the worldwide needa are obvious. In the near future, scientific and environmental solutions for the Port of Koper will become the basis for many ports that will face similar problems. To ensure the highest possible safety of vessels ans cargo all participants in maritime transport, from sociological and environmental aspects, as well as from economic motives, is the most important task and direction of the wider international community. Slovenia should, as a signatory to many international maritime conventions, ensure their implementation. The development of transport and infrastructure in Slovenia therefore has an international impact or international factors influence it. In addition to these, it is also influenced by national legislation and local factors. Any intervention in the sea or coast requires in-depth studies carried out only by research ans specalized institutions.
The basic research problem is to determine the nautical and coastal characteristics of the Bay of Koper and the port in terms of the possibilities for the further deepening of waterways and canals and to manage the excess of dredged material, expansion of mooring areas, impacts on the seabed and the coastal area and the risk to the sea and land. Studies in the context of these research have strategic importance they because provide guidelines for the development of the port and in the wider, transport activities in Slovenia. These studies also aimed at ensuring environmental and social growth acceptability of the port operations or. attach the needs of its market and least, the sustainability of the market's competitiveness.
An important scientific contribution is how to minimize interventions in the sea based on nautical and safety studies. Optimization or minimize the need to deepen and to ensure a minimum underkeel clearance for different types of ships. In this context, it is necessary to harmonize the requirements and expectations of other operators in the maritime sector such as the maritime authorities and ship owners. A reduced amount of dredged material is also less ecological burden on the environment, what must be analyzed.
Significance for the country
The company Luka Koper holds port activities in Slovenia and as such designs and develops its own operating system. A key element of the developments in the medium and long term planning, but also large spatial interventions for which it is necessary to obtain the consent of the government or. holders of public office. The company has in addition to his own business, a large social responsibilities as the effects of deviations, delays or incidents are complex and also
have a cross border impact.
The company has directly expressed the need for quality information and a complete overview of the procedures, necessary permits, brokers, ... to carry out the removal of sediment from the port of Koper; and the evaluation of these steps. As part of the procedures to obtaining necessary permits studies of environmental impacts, safety analysis, the extent in planning, cross border impacts and others are required.
The aim of the research project is to investigate what is the extent of research required, what is necessary and sufficient, and put the frameworks for future research studies, which are linked to long-term spatial planning interventions in the marine environment.
Most important scientific results
Interim report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Interim report
