ASSESSMENT OF THE ATON’S CONDITION IN DANGEROUS SECTION OF THE DNIEPER RIVER

Abstract

demand for navigation services make it necessary to dynamically modernize and enhance Aids to Navigation System. The safety level of maritime transport on the inland waterways in Ukraine directly depends on AtoNs location, take into account the rules for preventing collision of ships at sea (COLREG) and local navigation rules. It is necessary to make assessment of the AtoN Signalization System by reason of growing perspectives and increasing of cargo traffic in Ukraine for achievement maximum safety level in inland waterways taken into account possibility of bad weather condition and bathymetric constraints which effect on navigation. It is directly related to the perspective project – E-40 shipping route, which is considered in the EU as one of the priority direction of the development of transport networks in Europe. The project envisages the connection of major European waterways between three seas: the North, the Black and the Baltic / North. One of the largest sections of this route is located in Ukraine. The main task of modern shipping is its safety and efficiency. Knowing the weaknesses and problems of the existing AtoN System have paramount importance for elimination them and for improving services. To achieve this goal, it was analyzed the physical location of floating warning signs and the range of their visibility, especially during bad conditions. Recommendations were also offered for solving the identifying problems in the existing AtoN system in order to achieve European standards of navigation safety.