Simulation of Maritime Transit Traffic in the Istanbul Strait – Ii: Incorporating the Traffic Regime, Arrival Processes, Meteorological Conditions

This study aims to significantly augment and extend an earlier simulation model on the maritime transit traffic in the Istanbul Strait. The new model reflects the new traffic regime, which is in effect since the middle of 2005. This model also incorporates the probabilistic behavior of vessel arrivals and other characteristics, current & visibility conditions, based on extensive past data. Model inputs are parameters associated with the Traffic Control Center decisions, as well as randomized vessel arrival rates / profiles and current/visibility conditions. The model outputs, such as, numbers and waiting times of vessel types in queues, vessel densities and pilot/tugboat utilizations, are designed to facilitate a better understanding of the effects of inputs (individually or in an aggregate manner) through comparisons of a series of scenarios. An additional accomplishment will be the comparison of the new traffic regime with the earlier one, based on the collation of model outputs with those of the previous model (which reflects the earlier regime).