Container ships and blind spots

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westernsailor

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Following the posting a number of weeks ago of the address for the Panama Canal webcams, I have been dropping in to the site occasionally.

Looking at the different type of ships, and in particular container ships, the crews must have very significant blind spots. Some ships appear to have containers stacked 11 high right up to the bridge windows and extending the length of the ship.

Considering that these normally ships travel very fast, it has reminded me to give them a very wide berth.



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Good advise.I watched a film of the MCA interviewing the master of a German container ship which had boxes not just up to bridge windows but incredibly <font color=red>above</font color=red>the height of the windows.

His comment was "I cant see through fog and I cant see through containers.So what?

Worrying I thought.But once the top layer have fell off into the Channel at least he would be able to see again./forums/images/icons/crazy.gif

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Re: 5 Cables is a good rule

Anything within 5 cables of the bow is hidden.

If you can't see the bridge widows it's unlikely they can see you.

Of course in tight areas like the Solent they are likely to have a man in the bow. Whether he speaks the same language as the bridge team is also a potential problem.

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Re: 5 Cables is a good rule

Does it really matter since they mostly cannot take avoiding action in the distance they cant see anyway?

<hr width=100% size=1>this post is a personal opinion, and you should not base your actions on it.
 
Re: Flesh on the bones

Annex to IMO Resolution A751 (18) (4th November 1993)

Extract from INTERIM STANDARDS FOR SHIP MANOEUVRABILITY


4.3.1 Turning ability
The advance should not exceed 4.5 ship lengths (L) and the tactical diameter should not exceed 5 ship lengths in the turning circle manoeuvre;

4.3.2 Initial turning ability
With the application of 10° rudder angle to port/starboard, the ship should not have travelled more than 2.5 ship lengths by the time the heading has changed by 10° from the original heading;

4.3.4 Stopping ability
The track reach in the full astern stopping test should not exceed 15 ship lengths. However, this value may be modified by the Administration where ships of large displacement make this criterion impracticable.

Toms note. Note that 4.3.4. makes no mention that many ships engaging in what you might describe as a "crash stop" will complete the manouvre facing back the way they came from. They're unlikely to even try it up a creek.

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5 blasts

Interesting that it is recorded as 'Keep clear', rather than 'What are your intentions?'!

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Re: Flesh on the bones

Fascinating bit of info there Peppermint. Bears not the slightest relationship to what I was told by the German skipper of a large box carrier I took to the Canaries. He talked of a supertanker he had taken up the channel (he was a very experienced freelance skipper) needing half an hour to stop from full speed, and several miles room to turn through 90deg. It was, apparently, a single screw vessel despite the huge size.

He also made it clear that whilst he would do his best to avoid a collision with a yacht, in many circs he simply didnt have the ability because of manoeuverability and draft.

<hr width=100% size=1>this post is a personal opinion, and you should not base your actions on it.
 
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