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[u01ijr3]

Not entirely sure this is the correct forum but here goes...

I am a computing student who has been set the task of creating a simulation of shipping in the dover straits. We are supposed to make it as accurate as possible so if anybody can answer the following questions I'll be really grateful.

Cheers,

Ian

The Questions:
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* Is there a typically speed for yachts and boats in the dover straits - if so what is it, if not is there a speed that I can assume to be constant?

* Are yachts restricted to certain areas?

* Are there frequent problems with ferries and cargo ships or do these not cause too many problems?

* How quick is it to change the direction of a yacht (on average)?

As I said BIG THANK YOU to anybody who can help!


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[boatless]

Sent a pm with a bit more info on points 1 and 2.

3. Not exactly problems, but if lanes are busy, then positive action is often required.

4. A sailing boat can, in an emrgency, turn 180 degrees in not much more than it's own length.


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[Sybarite]

Sailing yachts (depending on wind) would sail in the range of say 4 to 7 knots. Any slower than that, and given the traffic, they would switch on the engine. (Except for Thirdman.)

No specific lanes for pleasure boats but must cross the commercial lanes at right angles.

No specific speed limits for ships in the commercial lanes except in the case of fog - where they are expected to slow down - apparently purely theoretical given recent posts here which talk of ships running down yachts when they are travelling at 27 knots without visibility!

There is a site here (which somebody will undoubtedly give you) which relates to sea traffics inciodents as officially reported. Makes scary reading.

Good luck with your project.

John

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[scarlett]

Yacht speeds are not constant but as a guide vary at about half the wind speed up to 7knots for usual boats. Less than say three knots and the yacht will put its engine on wherever it is. A yacht with its engine on loses it right of way priority. Motor boat speeds vary from 5 knots to 30 knots generally.

Yachts generally take less than a minute to change course, from start to finish.

You can, for computer purposes, assume that yachts travel in straight lines, at right angles to the shipping lanes but in practise they sail at right angles but travel sideways due to wind and tide. Outside the lanes they do whatever suits their circumstances at the time.

Will your program include allowance for the tides!

Commercial shipping is usually avoided even if a yacht has right of way but this proves difficult sometimes. Both have a duty to avoid collisions whatever the circumstances.

An interesting programming problem. You need to include some artifial inteligence on each craft to allow for the crew not noticing a vessel on a collision course, tiredness and mistakes. When you have produced your simple algorithms why not post them here for them to be checked. I wish you luck with your project.

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[VicS]

You do not indicate your own location. If not too far away then a visit to Dover Coastguards is obviously called for. In any case try contacting them directly. I'm sure they will be willing to help a student with queries like that.

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[snowleopard]

"Are yachts restricted to certain areas?"

in brief, the straits are divided into 5 east-west bands (reading from Dover southward):

inshore zone: small vessels
westbound lane: big ships going west
separation zone: no traffic, the 'central reservation'
eastbound zone
inshore zone.

yachts travel in either direction in either inshore zone. when crossing the channel they must steer at right angles to the traffic.

suggest you Google on "traffic separation scheme" for more detailed info.

when writing your simulation you should take into account that when a big ship sees a yacht approaching from his left he should take avoiding action and the yacht should maintain a steady course. not all ships are that considerate or yachties that brave/stupid!

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[i_sail]

this has got to be a wind up??

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[u01ijr3]

Sadly it's not - I have 2 weeks to write it and have got to revise for exams for 3 subjects & go to lectures as well.

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