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SAFEGUARD
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Seventh Framework Programme
description or moto of 7th
framework programme |
SAFEGUARD is an ambitious
project aiming to collect human performance data in full scale ship
trials and use this to provide calibration and validation data for
ship based evacuation models and to also propose and investigate
additional benchmark scenarios to be used in certification analysis.
Passenger response time data is
fundamental to ship based evacuation analysis and is a key parameter
specified in the IMO evacuation analysis protocol MSC Circ 1033 and
its successor MSC Circ 1238. Recent research work conducted under
the European Union Framework 5 project FIRE EXIT
(G3RD-CT-2002-00824), demonstrated that the response time data used
in MSC Circ 1033 was not rich enough to accurately represent reality
and as such did not provide a suitable basis either for the use of
evacuation simulation programs or for their validation. The FIRE
EXIT sea trials data relating to response times was submitted to IMO
and incorporated within the new evacuation analysis protocol MSC
Circ 1238 which replaced the earlier MSC Circ 1033. This updated IMO
document made clear the fact that many of the assumptions used at
present are in urgent need of revision. The data produced by FIRE
EXIT, while limited, was of great use in showing the short comings
of present data and the way forward. It is the main objective of
SAFEGUARD to continue this work and acquire a large corpus of sea
based data on passenger response times and assembly times during
ship evacuations, of a sufficient size and richness to permit model
calibration (in terms of response time distributions) and
verification and validation (of assembly process) and serve as the
basis for improved evacuation analysis protocols beyond MSC Circ
1238.
The partners for the project are:
BMT Group Ltd,
FSEG
University of Greenwich, Bureau Veritas Group,
Principia,
Marine
Institute, Safety at Sea
Ltd, Color Line,
Minoan Lines,
Royal Caribbean
International
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Project Objectives |
The main objective of the SAFEGUARD
project is to acquire large set of data representing PAX response times
and assembly times during ship evacuations. These datasets will be
collected during 6 trials conducted on 3 different types of vessels: a
ferry without cabins (Color Line), a ferry with cabins (Minoan Lines)
and a cruise ship (Royal Caribbean). Two trials will be conducted on the
same leg of two trips or on two legs of a return trip. The collected
data will be used for calibration and validation of ship based
evacuation models. The project will also investigate and suggest
additional benchmark scenarios to be used in certification analysis. An
extensive analysis of past accidents that led to evacuations will also
be conducted. Finally, the results of these studies will be reported to
IMO for possible incorporation into future modifications of MSC Circ
1238
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Work Package
A:
Sea TrialsLead partner: BMT
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This work package will cover sea trials on three types of
large passenger vessels, namely, a ferry without cabins, a ferry with
cabins and a cruise ship. To ensure repeatability two trials will be
conducted for each ship type.
A considerable amount of video data will
be collected recording the movement and behaviour of passengers on
board these vessels. Furthermore Infra Red tags
will be distributed to the passengers to record their routes during the
assembly process. Finally a questionnaire that will be distributed to
the assembled passengers will provide an insight and verification of the
passengers' choices. Prior to the trials FSEG sough and gained ethics
approval from the University
Research Ethics Committee. For this work
package FSEG is responsible for developing the required trials plan,
protocols and the development of the questionnaire. FSEG was also
instrumental in the development of the IR monitoring equipment (IR
beacons and IR tags) that is necessary to capture the assembly process
during the trials.
In order to prepare for the sea trials the FSEG team
conducted two pre-trial visits on the SuperSpeed 2 vessel. During these
visits the FSEG team identified the locations where the monitoring
equipment would be installed and performed extensive tests of this
equipment.
FSEG is also responsible for running the sea trials
and the first two were successfully conducted on 4 and 5 September on
two separate trips between Kristiansand (Norway) and Hirtshals
(Denmark). |

SuperSpeed Ferry

SAFEGUARD Team


Cameras in place ready
to capture the assembly process

IR beacon used to emit
an identifiable field that can be received by the IR tags worn by the
passengers

Example of IR tag that
the passengers will be wearing


Two frames taken during
the assembly process

Some of the collected
questionnaires |
Work Package
B:
Analysis of Trial DataLead partner: FSEG
University of Greenwich
|
The data collected
during the trials will be analysed and put into a form useful for
application to computer based evacuation analysis.
FSEG is responsible for analysing the video footage in order to extract
response time data resulting in six response time data sets. These data
sets will be examined and if possible reduced down to three data sets,
one for each vessel type. A mathematical formulae of the response time
distribution for each vessel type will then be developed and compared
with previous response time data sets. The new response time curves will
be used in a series of hypothetical test cases to determine their impact
on ship evacuations. For consistency, these test cases will be compared
with simulation run using response time data as specified in MSC Circ
1033 and 1238.
Furthermore FSEG/OSSC will analyse the IR tag data to extract passenger
route data for model validation and mustering time for each trial. This
study will result in six data sets and it will include information on
initial PAX locations, route information and flow rate data.
FSEG will also analyse the data collected from the questionnaires and
has designed the database that will hold the questionnaire data. Again,
this will result in six data sets one from each trial.
During this work package FSEG will also produce the first IMO FP
information paper on response time distributions. This paper will be
reported to IMO Fire Protection subcommittee along with a recommendation
for use of the response time data as part of an updated MSC Circ 1238. |
Work Package
C:
Ship Evacuation and Validation Data Sets
Lead partner: FSEG University of Greenwich
|
The data that will be
collected during the trials and examined during the analysis process will
be used to perform a validation study for the following three leading ship evacuation
software packages: FSEG's maritimeEXODUS, ODIGo and EVI.
Models of each of the
vessels for each of the trials will be prepared for each of the three
evacuation packages. This will involve using the appropriate geometry,
population and response time distribution for each ship modelled. These
models will then be simulated and the results compared to determine the
degree by which each software agrees with the sea trial data. If
necessary the software packages will be appropriately calibrated and
this calibration will be fed back into the standard operating practices
for use of the software.
Currently ship design
does not utilise validation data sets to transform the results of
evacuation simulation into ship design recommendations. To improve on
this situation FSEG will be responsible for defining safety factors
based on the statistical analysis of the data extracted from the six
trials.
The validation data
sets and the development of new safety factors will lead to the second
set of IMO recommendations for use on the validation of large scale
passenger ship evacuation models and the use of safety factors in these
models when undertaking certification analysis similar to that defined
in MSC Circ 1033 or 1238. |
Work Package
D:
Certification ScenariosLead partner: BV
|
During this work package
additional certification scenarios will be developed. Initially an
extensive review of available data from recent accidents will be studied
and the factors leading to ship evacuations will be identified. The
current Day and Night scenarios will be examined and possible enriched
in light of the findings from the accident survey. FSEG will lead
in the development of a scenario involving a fire. This scenario will
become an additional benchmark scenario along the Day and Night
scenarios. Finally a scenario involving adverse heel conditions will be
developed.
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Work Package E:
Implementation and Verification of certification scenarios
Lead partner: S@S
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The additional benchmark
scenarios identified in the previous task will be explored using state
of the art ship stability and fire simulation software. The use of these
advanced software tools will allow the definition of a set of parameters
that will generically specify the fire and heel evacuation scenarios.
Starting with a generic
representative ship design, FSEG will develop fire scenarios considering
fire location, peak heat release rate and rate of growth and these will
be simulated based on findings from previous work packages using the
state of the art fire field model SMARTFIRE. These simulations will be
used to create smoke and heat spread benchmarks for future use in
evacuation simulation under fire conditions. The benchmark case will
attempt to specify relevant fire impact rather than specify actual fire
conditions.
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Work Package F:
Dissemination and ExploitationLead
partner: BMT
|
The final part of the
project will involve wide dissemination of results and articulation of
business plans to market the findings and results of SAFEGUARD. |
Work Package
G:
ManagementLead partner: BMT |
BMT is responsible for
the overall project management and integration of the various
participants' contributions towards the SAFEGUARD project. |
Validation data-sets |
Click here |
Project Partners |
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Further Information |
Prof. Ed Galea
Fire Safety Engineering Group
University of Greenwich
Greenwich Maritime Campus
Old Royal Naval College
Queen Mary Building
Greenwich SE10 9LS
UK
Tel: +44 (020) 8331 8730
Fax: +44(020) 8331 8925
e-mail:
E.R.Galea@gre.ac.uk
The SAFEGUARD project is funded by the European
Commission's 7th Framework Programme |