Policies and T's&C's

Website Policies and Legal Information

This page outlines the terms and conditions for using this research website, our privacy practices, and policies regarding data collection from inland waterway stakeholders. Please read these policies carefully before using our site or submitting any data.

Terms and Conditions

1. Acceptance of Terms
By accessing and using this website, you accept and agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not use this website.
2. Use of Website
This website is intended for use by inland waterway stakeholders including vessel operators, port authorities, and vessel builders to contribute data for academic research purposes only.
You agree not to:

Use the website for any unlawful purpose
Submit false or misleading information
Attempt to gain unauthorised access to any part of the website
Disrupt the normal operation of the website

3. Intellectual Property
All content on this website, including text, graphics, logos, and research materials, is the property of the researcher or their institution and is protected by copyright laws - any graphics or images used that are not in the ownership of the researcher or the institution have been correctly obtained and are freely used.
4. Limitation of Liability
The researcher and their institution shall not be liable for any damages resulting from the use of this website or reliance on any information provided through it.
5. Changes to Terms
These Terms and Conditions may be updated periodically. Continued use of the website after changes constitutes acceptance of the modified terms.

Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect
We may collect the following types of information:

Personal Information: When you register for an account, we collect your name, email address, organisation, and contact details and other information specified at the time of submitting.
Vessel Data: Technical and operational data about inland waterway vessels provided by stakeholders.
Usage Data: Information about how you use our website, including IP addresses, browser type, and pages visited.

2. How We Use Your Information
We may use collected information for the following purposes:

To facilitate your participation in the research project
To analyse vessel data for decarbonisation research
To improve our website and services
To communicate with you about the research

3. Data Protection
We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorised access, alteration, or destruction.
4. Data Retention
Personal data will be retained only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, including any legal, accounting, or reporting requirements.
5. Your Rights Under GDPR
Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), you have the right to:

Request access to your personal data
Request correction of inaccurate data
Request deletion of your data
Object to processing of your data
Request restriction of processing
Request data portability
Withdraw consent at any time

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information provided in the Contact page.

Data Collection Policy

1. Purpose of Data Collection
The data collection portal is designed to gather information from inland waterway stakeholders to support academic research into decarbonisation strategies. The collected data will be used to:

Analyse current vessel emissions and energy use
Model potential decarbonisation pathways
Develop policy recommendations
Contribute to academic publications

2. Types of Data Collected
The portal collects the following categories of data:

3. Data Anonymisation Process

All vessel data submitted through the portal will undergo the following anonymisation process:

Direct identifiers (vessel names, registration numbers) are removed and replaced with unique codes
Data is aggregated where possible to prevent identification of individual vessels
Sensitive operational details are generalised
Data is stored separately from personal information of contributors

This process ensures that research findings cannot be traced back to individual vessels or operators.

4. Data Sharing

Anonymised research data may be:

Published in academic journals and reports
Shared with research collaborators under strict confidentiality agreements
Used in presentations at conferences and workshops
Used by an affiliated commercial entity to aid in the dissemination of the research results.

No personally identifiable information will be shared without explicit consent.

Cookie Policy

1. What Are Cookies
Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit websites. They help websites remember information about your visit.
2. How We Use Cookies
We may use cookies for the following purposes:

Essential Cookies: Necessary for the website to function properly
Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how visitors use our site
Preference Cookies: Remember your settings and preferences

3. Managing Cookies
You can control and/or delete cookies as you wish. Most browsers allow you to:

See what cookies you have and delete them individually
Block third-party cookies
Block cookies from particular sites
Block all cookies

If you disable cookies, some features of our website may not function properly.

GDPR Compliance Statement

This website and research project fully comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (EU) 2016/679.

1. Lawful Basis for Processing
We process personal data under the following lawful bases:

Consent: For non-essential processing, we obtain explicit consent
Contract: When processing is necessary for participation in the research
Legitimate Interest: For essential website operations and security

2. Data Protection Officer
As required by GDPR, we have appointed a Data Protection Officer (DPO) to oversee compliance. The DPO can be contacted at p.simavari2@newcastle.ac.uk
3. International Data Transfers
All data is stored and processed within the UK. In the event that data needs to be transferred outside the UK, we will implement appropriate safeguards as required by GDPR.
4. Data Breach Procedures
We have implemented procedures to detect, report, and investigate personal data breaches. In the event of a breach that risks individuals' rights and freedoms, we will notify the relevant supervisory authority and affected individuals as required by law.

Contact information

For questions about these policies or to exercise your data protection rights please click below and all the contact information will be provided:

Policy Updates

These policies, GDPR and T's&C's were last updated on May 24th 2025. We may update this policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will notify users of significant changes through our website or by email when appropriate.