A novel approach for assistance with anti-collision decision making based on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea

TLDR

Marine intelligent anti‑collision regulations have long addressed the hazardous problem of ship collisions, with the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea by the IMO serving as the foundational framework. The study investigates the minimum safe distances required for give‑way ships alone in normal situations and for both give‑way and stand‑on ships steering together in critical encounters, according to the IMO regulations. The authors model ships as occupying a restricted area that prohibits other ships’ evasive actions, incorporate ship manoeuvrability, and evaluate the model using conventional anti‑collision metrics such as closest point of approach, distance to that point, and time to it. The results demonstrate that the proposed model enhances the IMO regulations, providing navigators with improved guidance for making prudent collision‑avoidance decisions.

Abstract

Marine intelligent anti-collision regulations have been a means of dealing with a particularly dangerous problem for many years. As the foundation for making anti-collision decisions, the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea formulated by the International Maritime Organization should always be considered. Based on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, the minimum distance required for anti-collision by only the give-way ship (under normal situations) and by both the give-way ship and the stand-on ship steering simultaneously (under critical situations) under all possible encounter situations are studied respectively. Rather than regarding ships as a point, a restricted area where no evasive action of other ships is allowed is introduced. Furthermore, the ship’s manoeuvrability is taken into account. The proposed model is also assessed by the traditional parameters used in anti-collision such as the closest point of approach, the distance to the closest point of approach and the time to the closest point of approach. The study shows that the results obtained in this paper are important and complement the above-mentioned regulations so that navigators can make wise decisions.