The Swedish Club
Training Site
The Swedish Club, established in 1872, is a leading marine mutual
insurer, headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden, and with offices in
some of the world’s strategic shipping centres.
Welcome to the Online Loss Prevention Training!
This page provides a sample of our online Loss Prevention training where we feature one of
the cases from the training. The first part is the animated video followed by a voice-over powerpoint.
Collision case
Before playing the animated video below, make sure that you have read the synopsis of the case.
Voice-over powerpoint
The voice-over powerpoint allows you to pause the video and discuss important aspects of the case.
Synopsis
Discussion questions
Please go through the questions and answer them on the space provided on your handouts. You can use the digital copy and type on the space after each question. Click “save as” to save the file with your answers.
After you have answered the questions, discuss them with your group.
What were the immediate causes of this accident?
Is there a risk that this kind of accident could happen on our vessel?
How could this accident have been prevented?
What action would you as the OOW or Master have taken after you had plotted vessel B?
Is 17 knots a safe speed for a container vessel in restricted visibility?
What do you think is an acceptable CPA in this situation?
Would you have stopped the engine at the same time as altering hard to starboard?
What sections of our SMS would have been breached if any?
Does our SMS address these risks?
How could we improve our SMS to address these issues?
What do you think was the root cause of this accident?
Is there any kind of training that we should do that addresses these issues?
Which COLREGs rules are relevant?
How does Rule 5 – Look-out apply?
How does Rule 6 – Safe speed apply?
How does Rule 7 – Risk of collision apply?
How does Rule 8 – Action to avoid collision apply?
How does Rule 13 – Overtaking apply?
How does Rule 19 – Restricted visibility apply?
Please discuss the following key learning points with your group:
COLREGs
Rule 5 – Look-out: Every vessel shall at all times maintain a proper look-out by sight and hearing, as well as by all available means appropriate in the prevailing circumstances and conditions, so as to make a full appraisal of the situation and the risk of collision.
In this collision, neither vessel seems to have maintained proper look-out.
Rule 6 – Safe speed: Every vessel shall at all times proceed at a safe speed so that she can take proper and effective action to avoid collision and be stopped within a distance appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions. In determining a safe speed, the following factors shall be among those taken into account: (a) By all vessels:
(i) the state of visibility
The OOW must have time to take proper and effective action to avoid collision as required under Rule 6 to be considered to have proceeded at a safe speed. Vessel A was making a speed of 17 knots in restricted visibility while approaching a congested area and a pilot station, and this would probably be considered not to be a safe speed in the prevailing circumstances. This is also emphasised in Rule 19.
Rule 7 – Risk of collision: (a) Every vessel shall use all available means appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions to determine if the risk of collision exists. If there is any doubt (then), such risk shall be deemed to exist.
(b) Proper use shall be made of radar equipment if fitted and operational, including long-range scanning to obtain early warning of the risk of collision and radar plotting or equivalent systematic observation of detected objects.
Vessel B was plotted on the ARPA on board vessel A and showed a small CPA. Despite the small CPA, no action was taken by the bridge team on vessel A.
At about C-15, the CPA to vessel B was 0.14 NM, which indicated that a risk of collision existed between the vessels. Visibility was restricted, and so it was even more important to ensure that the CPA was large enough to account for any margin of error in the equipment. As per ARPA performance standards regulation, the CPA should be calculated by the ARPA within three minutes with an accuracy of within 0.5 NM. This means that if the ARPA reports a CPA of 0.5 NM, the actual CPA could be 0.0 miles or 0.5 miles. The bridge team must factor in this margin of error of the CPA when planning any collision avoidance manoeuvres and the passing distances to other vessels.
Rule 8 – Action to avoid collision: (e) Any action taken to avoid collision shall be taken in accordance with the Rules of this Part and shall, if the circumstances of the case admit, be positive, made in ample time and with due regard to the observance of good seamanship.
(f) Any alteration of course and/or speed to avoid collision shall, if the circumstances of the case admit, be large enough to be readily apparent to another vessel observing visually or by radar: a succession of small alterations of course and/or speed should be avoided.
It is prudent and good seamanship to take action at an early stage by altering course and/or reducing speed to open up the CPA. In this case, neither vessel took any action to avoid collision.
Rule 13 – Overtaking: (a). Notwithstanding anything contained in the Rules of part B, sections I and II, any vessel overtaking any other shall keep out of the way of the vessel being overtaken.
Vessel A was overtaking vessel B.
Rule 19 Restricted visibility – (a) This Rule applies to vessels not in sight of one another when navigating in or near an area of restricted visibility.
(b) Every vessel shall proceed at a safe speed adapted to the prevailing circumstances and conditions of restricted visibility. A power-driven vessel shall have her engines ready for immediate manoeuvre.
(d) A vessel which detects by radar alone, the presence of another vessel shall determine if a close-quarters situation is developing and/or risk of collision exists. If so, she shall take avoiding action in ample time, provided that when such action consists of an alteration of course, so far as possible, the following shall be avoided:
(i) an alteration of course to port for a vessel forward of the beam, other than for a vessel being overtaken:
(ii) an alteration of course towards a vessel abeam or abaft the beam.
In restricted visibility, both vessels have a requirement to stay clear of each other. It is likely that vessel B was altering course as per her passage plan. It is still the responsibility of vessel A to ensure they stay clear of vessel B as per Rule 19.
The bridge team on vessel A acquired vessel B on the ARPA at about C -15 minutes. The CPA was 0.14 NM. With such a small CPA, this should be considered a close quarter situation. At this point, the bridge team had time to make an alteration to ensure the collision was avoided, but no action was taken on vessel A.
When sailing in restricted visibility, all vessels have a responsibility to stay clear of each other. All vessels also have a responsibility to proceed at a safe speed which ensures that they can stop quickly. Maintaining full speed in restricted visibility under these navigational circumstances could be considered proceeding at an unsafe speed. Vessel A was approaching a pilot station in restricted visibility which meant there was also an increased risk of encountering a greater concentration of different types of vessels.
In restricted visibility, both vessels have an obligation to stay clear of each other. However, we do not know why vessel B altered to starboard. It is possible vessel B altered course in accordance with its passage plan. Vessel A was overtaking vessel B, which required vessel A to stay well clear of vessel B.
It is important that the officers understand the rules and increased risks when sailing in restricted visibility. It is also important to understand the limitations of the navigation equipment. It appears that the bridge team on vessel A considered a CPA of 0.14 NM to be an acceptable CPA. To ensure situational awareness is maintained, the bridge team should discuss all plotted targets, what risks they pose and take appropriate action.
