Survey for all Navigators and VTS operators to help with Dissertation-Safe Navigation

Professional Mariner Forum
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Dear Navigators and Vessel Traffic Service Operators,

I would very much appreciate a short amount of your time.

I am newly qualified Deck Officer currently undertaking my Dissertation in BSc (Hons) Navigation and Maritime Science at Plymouth University, the project entitled ‘Could safe navigation be enhanced in Vessel Traffic Service areas’.

The purpose of my study is to explore the opinions and experiences, to gain a consensus on the use and aid of Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) with particular reference to communications, reporting, situational awareness, collision avoidance and possible room for improvements; to establish potential development of safe navigation within the VTS areas (more information in Appendix A of the survey).

Therefore, I am happy to invite you to participate in the following questionnaire; as Navigators or VTS operators, be that newly qualified, with many years of experience, or retired, your practical knowledge and understanding is very valuable to the validity and success of my study.

There are no right or wrong answers and completion of the short 12 questioned survey takes approximately 10 minutes. Confidentiality is guaranteed, with no names required. The completion of the questionnaire is entirely voluntary. (Specific information is explained in the Appendix of the questionnaire).

Your participation would enable me to compile a successful Dissertation and I would be truly thankful! Further to this, if anybody knows of any relevant documentation, MAIB reports for example or other similar studies, I would be very interested to read them!

If you have any questions about my questionnaire or study, I am more than happy to answer them.

Link to survey:https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/B979XBB

Thank you very much

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I don’t want to be harsh but why do we need dissertations and studies to show that what is needed is simply following the COLREGS as well as maintaining a proper lookout and bridge to bridge communications? Why does the simple have to be made complicated?

If everyone in charge on all ships concerned has proper training and experience and knows the proper way to conn a ship in congested waters there should be no need to dissect this. The COLREGS have minutia in them which is hell for testing but the basic rules are not complex. As long as the rules are understood and followed collisions wouldn’t occur. This is especially true where speed is concerned. In taking off speed aboard all vessels in meeting, collisions are virtually eliminated or at least the damage resulting from one drops to scratched paint as opposed to sinking.

I do not know yet how much speed played a factor in the collision which just happened in the Houston Ship Channel but I bet it did. Both vessels tried to maneuver out of it when I well imagine if both had ordered a crash stop, there might not have been any collision at all.