What is wrong with Ground Stabilisation?

Captain Peter Starkey

NORWEGIAN DREAM & EVER DECENT

REPORT To all Bahamian Shipowners: To determine risk of collision using ARPA vectors, only
the relative vectors should be used. True vectors should be used to determine aspect

NORWEGIAN DREAM & EVER DECENT

REPORT To all Bahamian Shipowners:
speed input for an anti-collision plot on radar/ARPA should always be:

speed through the water not speed over the ground

The Relative Plot

&

Relative Vector
Independent of input error Instant assessment of risk of collision CPA TCPA

The True Plot & True Vector

ASPECT THE TRUE PICTURE THE SITUATION TRIAL MANOEUVRE

ASPECT
The International Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea

THE TRUE PICTURE THE TRUE SITUATION

Situation Awareness

TRIAL MANOEUVRE
Knowledge of Target Data required to calculate trial manoeuvre

But
All true functions are dependent on sensor input and sensor accuracy and are related to the stabilisation Sea or Ground Stabilisation Does the choice of stabilisation matter?

ASPECT
Visual aspect - heading Radar aspect sea stabilised - approximate visual aspect ground stabilised - may be very different

Does radar aspect matter?

Clear visibility - look out of the window!!

Restricted visibility - vessels not in sight Rule 19 What is aspect in Rule 19?

RELATIVE VECTORS
SEA OR GROUND STABILISED
Target

Relative Vector

Current

Heading

Own Ship

SEA STABILISED
TRUE VECTORS
Target

True Vector Radar Aspect

Heading Visual Aspect

Current

Heading True Vector

Own Ship

GROUND STABILISED
TRUE VECTORS
Target

True Vector Radar Aspect

Current

Heading

Own Ship

GROUND STABILISED
TRUE VECTORS
Target

True Vector Radar Aspect

Heading

Own Ship

The Practical Effect

GROUND STABILISED
TRUE VECTORS
CHANNEL Slow speed target

Current

Heading

Own Ship

RELATIVE VECTORS
SEA OR GROUND STABILISED
CHANNEL

Slow speed target

Current

Own Ship

SEA STABILISED
TRUE VECTORS
CHANNEL Slow speed target

Current

Heading

Own Ship

GROUND STABILISED
TRUE VECTORS
CHANNEL

Slow speed target

Current

Own Ship

SEA STABILISED
TRUE VECTORS
CHANNEL

Slow speed target

Current

Heading

Own Ship

COLLISION AVOIDANCE
SEA OR GROUND RELATIVE OR TRUE

SEA STABILISED
TRUE VECTORS
TARGET CURRENT

OWN SHIP

SEA STABILISED
TRUE VECTORS
TARGET CURRENT

OWN SHIP

RELATIVE VECTORS
Heading marker
TARGET CURRENT

OWN SHIP

GROUND STABILISED
TRUE VECTORS
TARGET CURRENT

OWN SHIP

RELATIVE VECTORS
HL

Channel 355/175
North Up RM (TT) Ground Stabilised (GPS) 350

Heading

CMG (GPS) 355

Current 090 2 kts

Own Ship

TRUE VECTORS
HL

Channel 355/175
North Up RM (TT) Ground Stabilised (GPS) 350

Heading

CMG (GPS) 355

Current 090 2 kts

Own Ship