Innovative Assistance for e-Navigation-oriented Voyage Planning and Ship Collision Avoidance

Abstract

A new technology called RAPIT for “Rapid Advanced Prediction & Interface Technology” was developed, based on Fast Time Simulation to simulate the ships motion with complex dynamic models in order to immediately display the ships track in an Electronic Sea Chart for intended or actual rudder or engine manoeuvres. This is the basis for the innovative “Simulation Augmented Manoeuvring Design and Monitoring” - SAMMON toolbox: In earlier papers is has been described how this new technology were used to improve the simulator training in advanced ship handling training. Now the time has started that this software will be used for voyage planning on-board ships as a new type of designing a manoeuvring plan for the arrival/departure plans in ports and fairways as enhancement of the common pure way point planning. In a new research project, the Fast Time Simulation has also been used for Collision Avoidance: the innovative technique was tested for simulating the ships motion for extreme evasive manoeuvres as a Stand-On vessel. This ship needs to take action in time if the Give-Way vessel is not following the rules of the road and take appropriate action. The new method allows the prediction of the manoeuvre as the last line of defence taking into account the current speed and other ships and environmental conditions.