Ex 05-05
Ownship speed is 20.0 Knots and course is 245.4 degrees at beginning.
The situational awareness is:
• With three minutes vector length in 20.0 Knots, this vector is about 10 cables distance as above. (skill by knowing three minutes run)
• Ownship have two crossing vessel at starboard side (red circle), distance unknown. (sighted)
• One overtaken vessel at starboard side has slower speed. (skill by comparing vector length)
• Ownship have one crossing vessel at port side (green circle), distance unknown. (sighted)
• Two overtaken vessels at port side slower than ownship. (skill by comparing vector length)
The situational awareness with 6 minutes speed vector is:
• There are 6 vessels inside the collision square (Orange square). (sighted)
• There is no time to remember what vessel is ahead or behind, what vessel is on starboard side or port side? (suspect)
• Ownship now knows that “It is Collision area to be avoided, not the vessels”(statement)
• Where to go for ownship? (suspect)
• To starboard side, One port side crossing vessel (green circle) will be at ownship starboard bow after 6 minutes which block ownship way to starboard side. ( sighted)
• To port side, two starboard side crossing vessel (red circle) will be at ownship bow after 6 minutes which will block ownship way to port side. ( sighted)
• To make a 360 degrees turn, many vessels inside the traffic lane. (sighted)
• Ownship has the option to reduce speed as fast as possible to arrive collision square later. (suspect)
After 3 minutes 00 seconds exercise time lapsed:
Ownship speed is 14.3 knots which decreased from 20.0 kts with engine output reduced to 55% from beginning.
Ownship course had altered 4 degrees starboard side to 248.8 degrees from 245.4 degrees with rudder ”starboard 10”longer and “Hard Port” shortly in last 3 minutes.
The situational awareness in 3 minutes speed vector is:
• Ownship reduced speed is not decisively. (sighted)
• Speed reduces 5.7 knots over 3.0 minute’s time. (sighted with reducing rate of 1.9 knots per minutes)
- For all crossing vessel will pass after 3 minutes are the effect of heading change 4 degrees starboard side to 248.8 degrees from 245.4 degrees. (sighted)
- In this exercise, ownship suffer a lot of “OK” then “ not OK” situation are the demonstration of “ How ship’s heading are so important while the traffic is heavy. (statement)
- Ownship looks Ok with all crossing vessels but have problem with overtaking vessel on starboard quarter which is faster than ownship now. (sighted)
After 5 minutes 00 seconds exercise time lapsed:
Ownship speed is 16.0 knots which increased from 14.3 knots 2 minutes ago with engine output increase to 100%.
Ownship course had altered 1.5 degrees port side to 247.3 degrees from 248.8, 245.4 degrees with rudder “Hard starboard “shortly then “starboard 10” in last minute.
The situational awareness in 3 minutes speed vector is:
• Right now ownship has vessels on port and starboard bow.(sighted)
- In last minute ownship tried to alter course to starboard side with Starboard rudder and full ahead engine output with 100%. (sighted)
- Now ownship knows one minute time is not enough for a vessel to turn. (statement)
- Ownship course had changed 1.5 degree to port side and increased engine to avoid overtaking vessel.(sighted)
- Although the situation looks complicated ownship had two crossing vessel about to pass after one minutes. (sighted)
Sudden engine output increased may not be a good idea. (suspect)
After 6 minutes 54 seconds exercise time lapsed:
Ownship speed is 21.8 knots which increased from 16.0 knots 2 minutes ago with engine output increase to 100%.
Ownship course had altered 4.8 degrees starboard side to 252.1 degrees from 247.3, 248.8, 245.4 degrees with rudder effect carry over 2 minutes ago.
The situational awareness in 3 minutes speed vector is:
• Vessels crossing from port and starboard side are cleared now.(sighted)
- Two crossing vessels from port side will pass ownship stern after 3 minutes. (skill)
- Ownship altered course to starboard side 4.8 degree and full ahead engine output with 100%. (sighted)
- Ownship used “Port 10” rudder to control vessel turning. (sighted)
- Ownship course steady on 252 degree to avoid overtaking vessel.(sighted)
- Ownship speed is faster than overtaking vessel now. (skill)
- Sudden engine output increased may not be a good idea. (suspect)
The moral of this exercise is:
- Small course alternation is not recommended for collision avoidance in COLREG.
- In dense traffic, ownship any sudden course alternation is dangerous to all parties at scene.
- The only option left for ownship to avoid collision is to reduce engine, and reduce it effectively.
- 6 minutes speed vector for any one is a mess like the one above.
- 3 minutes speed vector had made allowance for vessel’s turning characteristics.
- To keep 3 minutes speed vector or collision line in Radar display clear of any vessel is the base line for safety.
- Collision point in 6 minutes speed vector is a warning of collision risk.
- Collision point in 3 minutes speed vector is a sure sign of collision risk.
- All crossing vessels is about to pass after 3 minutes as above. (skill by ownship knowledge)
- Ownship will arrive collision square after 5 minutes. (make sense of this statement)
- Ownship have 2 minute time lapse to collision point. (obvious)
- Only thing ownship have to do now is to adjust course to port side slowly. (suspect for vessel ahead)
- Course alternation 5 degrees to port for overtaking vessel will be enough. (suspect or skill by experience)
- Remember once ownship had known 10 degrees is necessary for collision avoidance in 2 Nautical Miles. (statement)
- There are different concepts in collision avoidance
- In open sea: 10 degrees is necessary to avoid target vessel which has real collision risk. (to avoid target)
- In dense traffic: 5 degrees is necessary to avoid collision which is inside collision square. (to give sea room)
End od Ex 05-05