Chapter 4. Choosing the best maneuver for vessel separation taking into account the energy efficiency of the trajectory

Some issues of increasing the energy efficiency of ships by improving navigation methods

Traditional ship passing methods are mostly focused on minimizing the risk of collision without considering fuel consumption, which complicates achieving sustainable development goals in maritime transport. At the same time, rising fuel costs, tightening international environmental regulations, and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions highlight the importance of integrating energy efficiency principles into the navigation decision-making process.

This work examines the functional capabilities of overlaying radar imagery on the ECDIS display as one of the key tools supporting energy-efficient maneuvering during ship passing. The advantages and limitations of integrating radar information with electronic navigational charts are analyzed, as well as the impact of such integration on improving navigation accuracy, reducing collision risks, and supporting sustainable fuel use. The relevance of integrating radar information with ECDIS to enhance real-time situational awareness is substantiated. It is shown that combining radar data with ECDIS significantly reduces the risks of erroneous decisions in conditions of limited visibility and high traffic density, and also provides better situational interpretation for making energy-efficient maneuvering decisions. It is determined that such integration is a key component of modern navigation decision support systems, as it allows consideration of the real situation and characteristics of target objects while accounting for safe and economically feasible courses.

The implementation process of collision avoidance systems using models aimed at ensuring navigational safety is analyzed, along with revealing their potential for optimizing energy consumption in maritime transport. A conceptual model for selecting the optimal ship passing maneuver is proposed, based on the combination of safety criteria and fuel consumption minimization. Special attention is given to the use of the Open Sea Model (OSM) as a tool for forecasting and evaluating movement trajectories considering various ship interaction scenarios. Particular focus is placed on the challenges of integrating this system with modern navigation complexes, including ECDIS, Automatic Identification Systems (AIS), and radars, to ensure real-time operation.