3 Conflicting actions in collision avoidance
and the application of Rule 8
3.1 At the Dalian Conference a number of papers
drew attention to the relatively high frequency of
conflicting action in collision avoidance, especially in
meeting and fine crossing situations. It was reported
that in such situations some mariners use Rule 8
"Action to avoid collision" in isolation and
separate from the other Steering and Sailing Rules to
justify a turn to port in order to achieve a safe passing
distance.
3.2 The following quote is taken from the paper
"Traffic Rules to co-ordinate collision manoeuvres
at sea", which was presented by Werner Hinsch at the
Dalian Conference:
"Following Rule 8(d) in a starboard to starboard
encounter, a fairly high number of mariners attach more
importance to achieving a wider berth by altering course
to port than to taking evasive action to their vessels'
starboard side. On the basis of investigations of German
Maritime Boards of Inquiry it is fair to assume that this
pattern of thought and conduct is at the bottom of as
much as thirty per cent of all collisions at sea."
3.3 In the light of the above considerations, it
is therefore submitted that consideration should be given
to the need to amend Rule 8, to clarify that action taken
to avoid collision should be in accordance with the
provisions of this Rule and the other Steering and
Sailing Rules.
4 AIS transponders and their impact on the
Collision Regulations
4.1 The Sub-Committee on Safety of Navigation is
currently considering the use of AIS transponders for
shore/ship and ship/ship data exchange. AIS transponders
will in the near future play an Important role In
ship-to-ship data exchange for the purpose of collision
avoidance. Ships fitted with AIS transponders will be
able to establish each other's identity and subsequently
be able to exchange collision avoidance information with
each other. Such ships will be able to agree on a
bilateral basis collision avoidance actions to be taken
by either of the vessels involved.
4.2 The fitting of AIS transponders to ships
will, no doubt, increase the use of VHF radio
communication for collision avoidance actions. Some
collisions have occurred in which it has been reported
that vessels were attempting to reach agreement to take
action that was not in accordance with the Collision
Regulations. The term 'VHF assisted collisions"
emerged as a result from those incidents.
4.3 It is more than likely that not all ships
will be fitted at the same time with AIS transponders. On
the contrary, it may take a considerable period of time
before all ships sailing the high seas are fitted with
AJS transponders. It can be foreseen that selective use
of ship/ship data exchange for collision avoidance
purposes by means of AIS transponders will become a
normal feature between certain categories of ships. This
situation may cause problems in sea areas where high
traffic density and multiple ship encounters are
prevailing.
4.4 No doubt the coming use of AIS transponders
will have a great impact on collision avoidance and
therefore thorough consideration should be given to the
possible consequences for the Collision Regulations. We
suggest to start this work forthwith rather than to wait
until the time that practice is forcing us to face and
rectify any problems which may result from improper use
of AIS transponders in collision avoidance. It is
therefore submitted that consideration should be given to
the need to amend the Collision Regulations to take
account of the coming use of AIS transponders in
collision avoidance.
5 Consideration of the need to amend the
COLREGs
5.1 On the above-mentioned matters, the
Netherlands and IAlN submitted proposals to the
forty-third session of the NAV Sub-Committee (NAV 43/3/4
and NAV 43/3/12), however the Sub-Committee was of the
opinion that these proposals could not be considered,
because this issue was not on the Sub-Committee's work
programme (see NAV 43/15, paragraph 3.38).
5.2 As to the proposals related to high speed
craft, the Sub-Committee was of the opinion that this
matter is of importance to the Collision Regulations and
should be addressed at the next session of the
Sub-Committee (see NAV 43/15, paragraph 3 .39).
5.3 The Netherlands, the IAIN and the IFSMA are
strongly of the opinion that all of the problem areas
noted in this paper are matters of importance for the
consideration of the need to amend the Collision
Regulations accordingly.
6 Action requested of the Comniuttee
6. 1 The Committee is invited to extend the
consideration of possible amendments to the International
Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972, at
present part of the Sub-Committee's work programme for
high speed craft, to include also the matters mentioned
in sections 3, 4 and 5 of this paper.
***
I:/MSC/69/20-11.
