E-learning has become a widespread form of education as it allows the users a relatively easy access to needed information. E-learning has also been present in maritime affairs, although not so ubiquitous as in other economy sectors. Sea-borne shipping is one of the most stringently controlled industries, with a number of complex regulations and standards. This paper analyses learning methodologies and discusses the economic justification of implementing e-learning systems at global level, with an emphasis on the growing e-learning industry, corporate segment of e-learning, massive open online course market, and the importance of the micro-learning concept. In addition, this study analyses the present systems of seafarers’ education and the potentials, strengths and shortcomings of the conventional learning, e-learning and m-learning. Moreover, the recent application of e-learning in maritime affairs and the need of further research of the e-learning impacts in maritime affairs are examined. Finally, the presented information and discussion result in the logic matrix analysis and the SWOT analysis of e-learning, aiming to define the strengths, weaknesses, logic of action, goals and potentials of the implementation of e-learning in maritime affairs. Keywords: E-learning, education of seafarers, STCW Convention, IMO.

Today's methods of plotting courses and selecting sailing routes and turning points in maritime navigation

In the global maritime industry, ship grounding represents about one-third of commercial groundings. Grounding is a type of accident where the hull of a ship strikes the seabed, causing damage to the hull. This type of accident can lead to damage to the hull and water penetration, but also to the pollution of the marine environment by the spillage of ship fuel or some liquid cargo carried by the ship. This paper presents a chronological overview of the contribution of ship grounding frequency, where one of the first ideas of grounding probability was presented by Macduff (1974) and Fuji (1974) in their models. Their ideas, such as grounding candidates and causing probability, laid the foundation for the development of future models. After their models, years later, other models continued to be developed; e.g., analytically (Macduff, Fujii, Amrowitcz, etc.) and statistically (Pedersen, Simonsen, etc.). To find the probability of grounding in an area of interest or in a scenario, it is necessary to have the number of grounding candidates and the causing probability. There are different internal and external factors that affect both probabilities, and in this paper, we analyze how various authors approach their grounding models and have tried to show the actual event as faithfully as possible and thus contribute to greater safety in maritime transport. The number of grounding frequency models significantly complicates their selection in practice; accordingly, the review of models in this paper should facilitate this, but also it should facilitate future research on this topic.

From the earliest beginnings to the present day, there has always been a strong link between mathematics and shipping. Both started developing at about the same time, fulfilling the basic human needs to act and to be creative. The shipping industry has developed throughout the history relatively in line with the development of science, but there have been periods of stagnation in times of great crises and wars. Mathematics, as one of the oldest sciences, is used for various calculations in shipping from shipbuilding to trade, transportation, and management. The safety of navigation, improvement of accuracy in navigation, optimization of costs, higher earnings and profits for ship owners and employees pose only a fraction of maritime affairs, hardly accessible without the knowledge and application of mathematics. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to examine closely the historical development of mathematics and maritime affairs, and to show how the knowledge of mathematics can become a powerful tool in the hands of a seafarer.