Challenges in Monitoring Extreme Environmental Conditions in the Brazilian Amazon: Impacts on Navigation Safety

Abstract

Inland navigation in the Brazilian Amazon plays an important role in transportation of personnel and cargo, including the development of activities of social relevance. However, the occurrence of extreme environmental conditions can pose risks to the safety of operating vessels. This paper presents a review of the main challenges in the monitoring of extreme environmental conditions and their implications in the navigation safety of vessels operating in the Brazilian Amazon. Background information on regional inland navigation is presented, encompassing typical vessels, regulation structure and causes for adverse navigation conditions, followed by a review and usability analysis of the existing environmental monitoring system and databases. Next, risk mitigation alternatives are discussed, including extending or implementing new technologies into the monitoring network, as well as into the regional regulation structure. It was found that sudden, extreme environmental events can generate waves and winds capable of affecting the operability of vessels that are not prepared for such conditions, especially smaller ones. Moreover, although the existing monitoring network is vast, it is not enough to measure sudden variations in water surface elevation in specific regions for navigation. Efforts to increase monitoring infrastructure and further research on the performance of regional vessels in harsh environmental conditions are required.