Coastal Traffic Safety Index Based on Marine Accident and Traffic Records

In this study, a comprehensive index for evaluating the degree of coastal traffic safety by simultaneously considering marine accident frequency, severity, and traffic volume was considered. To do so, the concept of Equivalent Property Damage Only (EPDO), which is widely used in the road transportation industry, was benchmarked to assess both frequency and severity of accidents. In addition, the total sailing distance of ships was chosen as a variable to explain traffic volume. Finally, a composite performance indicator called "M-EPDO per nautical mile" was built up, enabling the safety performance score for each type of ships in three criteria: on-board personnel safety, ship safety, and navigational safety, to be calculated. When the index was applied to 12 administratively-divided zones in Korea waters, the most vulnerable zone for safety and the type of ship with the lowest level of each criterion could be identified based on the index scores. Consequently, it is expected that this index will be an effective decision-making tool for selecting key targets to promote coastal traffic safety performance.