Application of potential assessment of risk (PARK) model in Korea waterways

Abstract Korean coastal waterways are potentially the most dangerous zones for marine accidents owing to a high volume of traffic, irregular traffic patterns of fishing vessels, frequent ship encounters, and narrowness of navigable area because of offshore construction and port enlargement construction. However, there are only few marine traffic assessment models that can be referenced from other countries, and none of them contain a risk assessment model suitable for the situation regarding Korean waterways. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a quantitative assessment of marine traffic environments based on ship navigator’s consciousness. To develop a new, suitable assessment model for marine traffic, the internal and external elements of vessels, based on a questionnaire survey and simulation experiment, are considered. The ship’s internal static parameters, vessel type, length, and width, as well as mariner’s experience, license, and rank on board are determined for the risk value. Furthermore, the external dynamic elements are calculated by the results of the questionnaire, which addresses the ship’s encounter situations and distances. Through this potential assessment of risk model, we used function as navigation equipment onboard to prevent a collision accident, applied it as a solution of a Vessel Traffic System (VTS) decision-making support system, and used the vessel evacuation route to recover the vessel’s normal situation from an emergency.