Tag: preventing collisions at sea

In response to increased Arctic shipping traffic, the United States and Russian Federation have proposed to IMO a system of two-way routes for vessels to follow in the Bering Strait and Bering Sea, aiming to reduce the potential for marine casualties and environmental disasters.

Metro Vancouver often has to deal with a thick fog in this season, which can be proven as one of the most dangerous conditions for marine navigation due to low visibility. The 'old technology' of loud foghorns seems still a necessary maritime safety measure in the port, to demonstrate safety is not for granted. 

In its monthly safety scenario for January, the Swedish P&I Club describes a collision of vessels caused by insufficient combination of VHF communication and a proper maritime traffic look-out by sight and hearing.

NYK and NYK Group companies MTI Co. Ltd., as well as Japan Marine Science Inc., released partial findings of a study on collision risk judgement and the autonomous operation of vessels, on 26 December.

Japanese MOL announced an agreement with Furuno Electric Co., Ltd. and MOL Techno-Trade, Ltd. to jointly develop a system that supports ship operation during voyages using augmented reality technology. MOL expects this technology to play a key role in realizing autonomous ships in the future.

The US Navy issued a Strategic Readiness Review in light of the USS Fitzgerald and USS John S. McCain tragedies, concluding that the Navy's emphasis on readiness must be re-energized, embedded and continuously monitored throughout the Naval enterprise.

The latest issue of the Navigator, a free publication by The Nautical Institute in association with the Royal Institute of Navigation, explores what is involved in being and working with a Pilot. Most pilotage areas have an increased risk of groundings and collisions, which is why having a Pilot on board is mandatory.

The Shipowners Club informed that it has recently recorded several collision incidents in the narrow channels and bends of the Hidrovía, South America, due to wrong position of the vessels whilst performing passing manoeuvres. 

As explained, there have been a significant number of collisions where subsequent investigations have found that at some stage before impact, one or both parties were using VHF radio in an attempt to avoid collision. The use of VHF radio in these circumstances is not always helpful and may even prove to be dangerous.

Addressing the US navy on 6 October, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson focused on the results of the operational pause ordered after two fatal collisions in the Western Pacific that resulted in the death of 17 sailors.