Safety of Navigation - Conceptual Foundation

Intentional efforts of the IMO, classification societies, flag states, ship-owners resulted in merchant fleet accident reduction. The World s Oceans pollution from ships has also considerably decreased. 

Some outstanding tendencies of maritime safety improvement and environmental protection enhancement can be observed. It is necessary to support steadiness of these tendencies with universal application of either traditional standards or by means of new approaches and methods development, corresponding to the international shipping needs and requirements. 

concepmal grounds of international navigation safety development could contribute to successful achievement of these goals. 

It should be noted that issues on people on-hoard and vessel safety were paid much attention to during the merchant shipping developmental period. System of principles about ways, means and methods to be applied to achieve safety (i.e. maritime safety concept) wasn t described and formulated in appropriate way. 

The number of essential propositions, which should be used while creating of such concept are discussed below. Offered recommendations, methods and means are fragmentary, hut together they provide a clear idea of its possible structure and separate components. 

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