Simulation of maritime transit traffic in the Istanbul Channel

Abstract

The Turkish Channels are one of the most strategically important waterway systemsin the world which have narrow and winding shapes that give them the semblanceof a river. Together with these geographical properties, bridges, energy transfer lines, meteorological conditions, dense and increasing transit and local traffic, vessel andcargo characteristics make the Channels̕ vessel traffic more complex and considerable.In the face of the immense risks that this dense maritime traffic generates, the TurkishState has imposed some stringent Maritime Traffic Rules and Regulations. This study involves a functional simulation model for the maritime transit traffic in the IstanbulChannel that investigates the Channel Traffic Rules and Regulations, vessel types,cargo characteristics, meteorological and geographical conditions, pilotage and tugboatservices. The simulation model mainly focuses on the transit traffic in the Channel. It assumes two primary transit lines and one additional lane for overtaking. The entitiesof the model, which are comprised of five types of vessels, and their attributes aregenerated according to the historical data. The arrived vessels check if the Channelis available and safe for the passage against the Rules and Regulations. This study provides a platform to analyze the effects of factors such as Traffic Rules, number oftugboats and pilots, vessel type, traffic density and meteorological conditions on themaritime traffic in the Channels. Results obtained and reported in the study clearlyindicate some interesting relationships among these factors. As the effect of six factors on 20 responses are examined, the most significant factor is determined as number ofpilots and tugboats in the service, while the second effective factor is the arrival rateof vessels.