What are the actions to take when a vessel is navigating in or near an area of restricted visibility?

Real life case: The necessity of a careful ship navigation in restricted visibility areas

In restricted visibility conditions caused by fog, off southeast coast of Miura Peninsula, Kanagawa Prefecture, a Japanese registered tug, with 5 crew (Japanese) and a Filipino registered general cargo vessel, with 25 crew (Filipino) neared each other, culminating in a collision between the two vessels, 5.4 miles from Tsurugi Saki Lighthouse on April 13, 2006, with the bow of the tug smashing into the port forward part of the general cargo vessel, leading aft on the latter. As a result of the collision, the tug sustained a crushed bow and the other vessel suffered a hole in the shell plating in the port forward section and sank, as water entered through the hole.

Actions to be taken

• The master should be informed and after that the engine room should maintain the engines to be ready for an immediate maneuver.
• It would be necessary to close all the watertight doors and openings, shut the ventilation fans and accommodation and engine room ports.
• The manning level on bridge should be increased and if it is required and there is plan allowing it, an additional bridge team personnel can be provided.
• The crew must prepare the relative equipment as appropriate, and always be sure that some tools (AIS, echo sounder, fog signaling apparatus, navigation lights, radar, ARPA and VHF) are ready to work, if needed.

Except from these actions, such situations demand the compliance with some of the COLREG-International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, specifically:

• COLREG Rule 19 – Conduct of vessel in restricted visibility
• COLREG Rule 35 – Sound signals in restricted visibility
• COLREG Rule 5 – Look-out
• COLREG Rule 6 – Safe speed

Last but not least, there should be a contingency plan which ensures that the ship will be ready to reduce speed, stop and turn away from danger or if it is possible to anchor, in case of emergency during ship navigation.

A valuable checklist to ensure safe ship navigation in restricted visibility

A useful checklist aiming to provide information in order to be sure that such actions have been followed properly during ship navigation, like the one provided by SQE MARINE herebelow could be helpful

read more here

BRIDGE PROCEDURES: Read in this series

a. This Rule applies to vessels not in sight of one another when navigating in or near an area of restricted visibility.

Meaning that this Rule applies to such vessels that may be close to each other but cannot visually see each other, electronic devices and sound signals may be the only possible means of detection and thus the action that would be taken would not be visible by the other vessel.
The areas are not only in areas of poor visibility but also areas near to that. Meaning that ships should be careful when approaching a fog bank, or an area of poor visibility caused
maybe by any weather or other condition.

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.

c. Every vessel shall have due regard to the prevailing circumstances and conditions of restricted visibility when complying with the Rules of Section I of this Part.

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 in 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;

Related Article:   Rule 23 - Power-driven vessels underway

Meaning: In restricted visibility when the vessels cannot see each other as required by the Rules, the above are to be complied with. Of course, alteration of course to Port has been advised against, and it should be followed as far as practicable if the situation deems that an alteration, of course, other than to Port is required then that may be done.- Rule 2, use your head. For overtaking situation after the Risk factor has been assessed the alteration may be done either way.

(ii) An alteration of course toward a vessel abeam or abaft the beam.

Meaning : Here too since the vessels are not in sight of one another and the observations are being carried out by electronic means, the proper assessment of the aspect of the vessel is not obtained, as such the above guidelines.

e. Except where it has been determined that a risk of collision does not exist, every vessel which hears apparently forward of her beam the fog signal of another vessel, or which cannot avoid a close-quarters situation with another vessel forward of her beam, shall reduce her speed to be the minimum at which she can be kept on her course. She shall if necessary take all her way off and in any event navigate with extreme caution until danger of collision is over.

As stated in Rule 3 (l) The term “restricted visibility” means any condition in which visibility is restricted by fog, mist, falling snow, heavy rainstorms, sandstorms or any other similar causes.

During periods of restricted visibility (such as rain, mist, heavy fog, or hours of darkness), you should slow to minimum speed to give your vessel an opportunity to maneuver should the risk of a collision arise.

Unless the risk of a collision is present, you should reduce your speed to the minimum you need in order to keep on course when you hear any of the sound signals above.

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One of the most important duties of a ship’s officer on watch (OOW) is safe and smooth navigation of the ship. During its voyage, a ship has to sail through different weather and tidal conditions. It’s the duty of the navigating officer to know and understand the ship’s sailing route well in advance and prepare for the same accordingly.

One of the most dangerous conditions to navigate a ship is restricted visibility because of fog, heavy rain or dust storm. When the ship’s officer gets information regarding such upcoming weather condition, he or she should take all the necessary precautions to ensure that the ship sails through restricted visibility area without confronting any kind of collision or grounding accident.

Mentioned below are ten important points that must be taken into consideration for safe navigation of the ship through restricted visibility area.

1. Know your Ship inside-out: An efficient navigating officer must know each and every aspect of his or her ship in order to prevent any kind of accident. From dimensions to the characteristics of the ships, the officer should know how the ship will behave under different circumstances. For restricted visibility situation, it is important that the OOW know the stopping distance of the ship at any particular RPM in order to control the ship during emergencies.

2. Inform the Master : During restricted visibility, it is important that the master is on the bridge. The OOW must call or inform the master regarding the navigating condition. The officer should also inform the engine room and ask the duty engineer to man the engine room incase it is on “unmanned” mode.

3. Appoint Adequate Man Power: It is important that enough man power is present on the bridge in order to keep a close watch on the ship’s course. Additional personnel must be appointed as “lookout” at different locations on the ship. If there is traffic in the area, the officer must inform the engine room to have enough manpower so that the engine is also ready for immediate maneuvering.

4. Keep the Fog Horn Ready : Ensure that the fog horn is working properly for the restricted area. If the horn is air operated, drain the line prior to opening the air to the horn.

5. Reduce Speed: Reduce the speed of the ship depending on the visibility level. If the visibility is less, bring down the ship to maneuvering RPM.

6. Ensure Navigation Equipment and Light Are Working Properly: Ensure that all important navigating equipment and navigation lights are working properly during restricted visibility. The OOW must ensure that the navigation charts are properly checked for correct routeing and a good radar watch is carried out.

7. Stop All Other Works: Though it’s obvious, but never multi-task during restricted visibility even if there are more than sufficient people present on the bridge. Also stop all other deck work and order the crew to go to their respective rooms. This is to prevent injury to personnel working on open deck in case collision or grounding takes place.

8. Open/Close Bridge Doors: Ensure that the bridge door is kept open and is without any obstruction for easy bridge wing access (Considering that the bridge wing is not enclosed). Also, in case of dust or sand storm, close all the bridge openings.

9. Shut Ventilation: If the ship is passing through a sand storm, the ventilation fans and accommodation/ engine room ports must be closed to avoid sand particles from entering bridge, accommodation and engine room.

10. Follow All Procedures: Follow all the important procedures for restricted visibility as mentioned in COLREG Rule -19.  Also monitor channel 16 in the radio and ensure that all important parameters of the ship such as latitude and longitude, time, speed etc. are noted in the log book.

Navigating the ship through restricted visibility area is a critical task which must be carried out with utmost caution and care the officer on watch. Do you know any other important points that must be considered during restricted visibility? Let us know in the comments below.