Safety of Navigation in the English Channel

Abstract

This paper summarizes recent measures to improve the safety of navigation in the Channel, particularly in the Dover Strait area, and gives the point of view of one administrator involved in these efforts. Much of the material in the paper is already well known and indeed the paper relies heavily on work published by the National Physical Laboratory. The views and opinions in this paper are of course the author's and not necessarily those of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Causes and circumstances of maritime casualties and crew fatalities in British merchant shipping since 1925

“…Crew fatalities through collisions were highest in the North Sea (largely involving coal trading coasters), the River Thames (various ships, sailing vessels, barges and tugs) and the English Channel. These waters have some of the most busy sea lanes and have previously been studied in detail [27][28][29]. CONCLUSIONS 1.…”

Shipping control and the changing use of marine space

“…The first category includes vessels of more than 3000 GRT and the second, vessels of less than 3000 GRT [15]. Over 50 per cent of vessels using the Dover Strait are in the second category.…”

The Avoidance of Accidents at Sea

“…The problem of collision avoidance at sea would be an important one even if accidents were rare, but the evidence suggests that they are much more common than one might expect. 1 In the eight years leading up to May 1963 there were 60 collisions in the English Channel area and in the following eight years the number increased to 94. With the development of navigational aids such as radar one might have hoped for a decrease.…”

“…It would appear that having the use of this 'safety' equipment allows the mariner to take greater risks, but that the risks which are in fact taken are greater than the equipment allows. 1 We would do better to go back to fog horns alone. Even if overconfidence is not the only factor responsible for the increase in accidents, it does, nevertheless, illustrate the importance of the psychological variable in any man-machine system.…”