Closed-Circuit Television as an Aid in Ship Control

Abstract

A continuing study of ship's bridge design and ship control conducted by the Defence Research Board of Canada has recognized that the conventional method of issuing and executing verbal orders contains inherent delay and is a possible source of error in ship control. As a partial solution to this problem, it was proposed that ‘the officer originating decisions to change the course and speed should implement these decisions himself through the direct control of helm and engines on the bridge’ (p. 21). It was further proposed that the direct controls be located on a console positioned at the front of the bridge on the centre-line of the ship.The conventional location and arrangement of the bridge restricts visibility, however, in areas close to the ship, and this limited visibility from the bridge often causes manœuvring difficulties. In some instances, distances as great as 800 ft. ahead of the bow and 50 ft. abeam are ‘blind areas’. In most cases, areas aft on the centre-line cannot be seen at all. In an attempt to alleviate these problems, bridges have been extended to the sides of ships, or bridge wings provided so that much of the ship's side can be seen by the conning officer. With direct control from the centre-line and the use of a television system, bridge wings could possibly be eliminated, while still providing better close-in vision.