Marine Traffic Behaviour in Restricted Waters

This paper, which was presented at an Ordinary Meeting of the Institute held in London on 26 January 1983, outlines the development and analysis of the ship domain in restricted waters and illustrates some of its uses in a buoyed channel. The analysis of marine casualties raises the question of how casualties occur, and may indicate the circumstances most likely to lead to a casualty. In addition, information may be gained as a basis for estimating the risk of a casualty and for assessing the effectiveness of proposals for improving the safety and efficiency of navigation in the area. The use of casualty statistics as a measure of marine risk has distinct limitations. In most areas a casualty is a reasonably rare occurrence, so that any systematic analysis of casualties will normally have to take place over a period of a few years; and, if improvements are made, a further period of time is necessary to measure their effectiveness.