Tag: safe navigation

A new situational awareness system has been launched, aiming to reduce the risks of navigation during night, in bad weather on congested waterways. To do this, the system uses sensors with intelligent software. The new system, will collect data, in order to ensure safe navigation.

Three littoral states, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, and the Malacca Strait Council of Japan officially commenced the second phase of a joint hydrographic survey of the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, on 5 March, aiming to improve navigational safety in the region.

USCG initiated a Class I Civil Penalty against the owner of the vessels 'Alaska Patriot' and 'Alaska Pioneer' after the first was left adrift and derelict 172 miles south of Dutch Harbor, Alaska, in December. Allegations include operating the two vessels beyond the boundary line without a valid load line, lack of a valid towing operator, and incorrect broadcast of Maritime Mobile Service Identity data.

North China is experiencing record low temperatures this season, and specially low temperatures in the past 2 weeks, posing a threat to safe navigation due to icy sea condition in the area. The key ports affected are those in the Liaodong Bay area, from Dalian to Huludao, Panjin, Bayuquan, Jinzhou and Dandong.

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.

As a part of the EU project EfficienSea2, the surveillance system manufacturer Vissim has become the first operator to integrate voyage data from the ENSI-system in their own vessel traffic monitoring system, which will allow VTS centres and navigators to drastically reduce their reporting burdens.

The government of Canada announced the temporary mandatory slowdown for vessels in the Gulf of St. Lawrence has been lifted, in order to ensure ships can maintain manoeuverability in winter conditions and "for the safety of those operating in Canadian waters".

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. 

Using a drone to connect the towline to an assisted vessel will drastically improve the safety margin of tug operations, as this will avoid the need for manoeuvring in the so-called danger zone, the company explains.