THE SYSTEMS APPROACH AND TANK VESSEL SAFETY

There is today considerable public concern over recent tank vessel accidents and the resulting oil pollution and, on the part of some, over what they see as the apparent incapability or unwillingness of government and industry to effectively deal with these problems. These problems involve considerable technological complexity, and there have been numerous calls for application of the "systems methodology" used in military and space applications over the past 15 years. What is the "systems approach"? What potential does it have for application in solving tanker safety and pollution prevention problems? How is it being applied to such problems? What potential benefits may accrue from its application? What problems or barriers make its application difficult? What role should naval architects and marine engineers play in systematic efforts to solve tanker safety and pollution prevention problems? What roles can and should other engineers, scientists, politicians, lawyers, economists, mariners, tanker owners, oil companies, government agencies, classification societies, port authorities, environmental interest groups, the media, and the private citizen play in solving such problems? The author addresses these and related questions from the viewpoint of his fifteen years Coast Guard service, the last five attempting to find ways to eliminate or control the hazards associated with the marine transportation of oil by tankships and barges.

  • Supplemental Notes:
    • Presented by the Chesapeake Section of SNAME.
  • Corporate Authors:

    Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers

    601 Pavonia Avenue
    Jersey City, NJ  United States  07306-2907
  • Authors:
    • Snider, W D
  • Publication Date: 1978-5

Media Info

  • Features: References;
  • Pagination: 96 p.

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00174306
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Source Agency: Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Jun 14 1978 12:00AM