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Defining the Close-Quarters Situation at Sea

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 November 2009

Helmut Hilgert
Affiliation:
(Maritime Academy, Warnemuende, Wustrow)

Abstract

The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea contain several important terms which are open to different interpretations such as ‘safe speed’, ‘close-quarters situation’ and ‘risk of collision’. It is not possible to give exact definitions of these terms as some of the factors involved are difficult to quantify but there is little doubt that mariners would welcome some official guidance on their application.

The following paper by Dr Hilgert proposes a method of defining ‘close-quarters situation’ in terms of the principal factors which apply. The method is of particular interest because it is actually used by the maritime administration of one government and has been submitted to the International Maritime Organization for consideration. The IMO Sub-Committee on Safety of Navigation has taken note of the suggested approach and has invited comments.

It is suggested in the paper that a simplified version of close-quarters situation could be determined in terms of the quantifiable parameters of speed, manoeuvrability and angle of approach. The method could be used to establish minimum values of a close-quarters situation but other factors would have to be taken into account such as the close presence of navigational hazards or other vessels, radar performance including the effect of errors and the desirability of keeping out of audible range of the fog signals of an approaching vessel.

Despite some obvious limitations the method serves to indicate the least values which should be used and the paper contributes to a better understanding of this aspect of the avoidance of collision at sea.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal Institute of Navigation 1983

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References

REFERENCES

1Definition of the TermClose-Quarters Situation’. IMO – Note by the Government of the German Democratic Republic, NAV 26/4/2 of 24 December 1981 and NAV 27/4/3 of 8 September 1982.Google Scholar
2Hilgert, H. (1977). Abgrenzung des Nahbereichs als Grundvoraussetzung fuer vorschriftsmaeBige Schiffsfuehrung bei vermindeter Sicht. Seewirtschaft 9, 9.Google Scholar
3 Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972.Google Scholar
4Hilgert, H. Bedeutung von Manoeverkennwerten bei der Auslegung von Kollisions-verhuetungsregeln fur die Bedingungen der verminderten Sicht (Dissertation at the Maritime Academy).Google Scholar