Port Approach and Berthing in Fog

Abstract

In a recent paper on shipborne radar the authors tried to analyze the mental approach of a master or pilot to the problem of handling his ship in a confined space when berthing in fog. The sense of loss that is caused by the absence of direct vision was referred to and various means by which confidence and control might be restored in these circumstances were considered. In that paper only the inadequacies of present-day shipborne radar in meeting these requirements were discussed. The approach to the problem can, however, be broadened to include the whole question of port operation in fog, and the present paper attempts to describe the general requirements and to consider in particular the role of shore-based radar and the manner in which the information obtained from radar or other aids should be presented to the master.

A New Shore-based Radar Equipment

“…The problems associated with the use of radar under these conditions have been very well summarized by Captain F. J. Wylie in a paper published by the Institute. 3 From investigations made and from a general appreciation of the problem, it appears certain that if the high quality shore-based radar information is to play a really useful part in bringing ships into port and in the ultimate of enabling them to dock in zero visibility, methods must be devised by which the shorebased radar information can be transferred without distortion and in full to the bridge of a ship and displayed in a manner which permits the information to be properly utilised. To this end research has been conducted in the Decca Radar Company on the problem of transferring the radar picture by means of a radio link to a remote point with the object of ultimately presenting the shore-based picture on the bridge of the vessel.…”

On the Detection and Differentiation of Microfilariae and the Diagnosis of Canine Heartworm Disease

“…The filter technique (Wylie 1970) is rapid and uncomplicated, and reliable even when the microfilarial concentration is low. Using this technique fewer than expected Dipetalonema reconditum microfilariae have occasionally been observed on the filter, in view of the known microfilarial count of the blood sample.…”

II—The Nature of the Problem

“…The safe navigation of a ship into her berth in fog has from time to time been carried out entirely by shipborne radar, but it is a feat which one may describe as extracting the last ounce from the capabilities of most radars. Captain Wylie, in his paper 'Port Approach and Berthing in Fog', 1 considered the then largest scale of shipborne radar to be still inadequate for manoeuvring, and suggests that a large-scale high-definition shore display should be transmitted to and received by a ship, where it would be displayed either on the ship's own radar screen or on a television screen. Another suggestion was for a beam approach system for leading ships into the berth, .to give complementary assistance to an overall display.…”