VI—Hovercraft and the Collision Regulations

Abstract

The preceding papers have shown that the present generation of hovercraft being used mainly on overwater routes should be considered as ships. The problems of operating these very fast craft in the same media as conventional vessels is receiving a lot of thought at the present time and perhaps a few more words on this subject would not be amiss.

In framing operational rules for hovercraft it has been proposed that they obey the Regulations for Preventing Collision at Sea in so far as their size and construction will permit. This is in fact the point of view which has been put forward by the Hovercraft Operational Requirements Panel, representing Hovercraft Developments Ltd. and the industry, in their provisional British Air-Cushion Vehicle Operational Rules.

If this approach is accepted, three questions immediately spring to the mind of the mariner;

(1) How manœuvrable are these machines that skid around on a cushion of air? The present papers have shown very clearly how well the turning circles and stopping distances of hovercraft compare with conventional ships. Control systems have improved tremendously since the first generation of machines and they are now far more manœuvrable than ships proceeding at a fraction of their speed. Experience in driving these craft has shown that this problem causes, little trouble, and as a result of various hovercraft demonstrations their manœuvrability at speed now seems to be generally accepted as satisfactory.