HISTORICAL TRAILS OF SHIP BROACHING-TO

Abstract

The article intends to bring back to light old perceptions about the “broaching-to” behaviour of ships. The signature of broaching-to is the sudden loss of controllability. The phenomenon sometimes ends with vessel capsize. The findings of an investigation into old bibliographical sources are reported, spanning more than 300 years of use of the term. Several citations have been identified in texts of nautical or related content, including voyagers’ records, nautical journals, training manuals, old encyclopaedias and even literary sources and leisure magazines. At a time when broaching-to is considered in the currently formulated new ship stability criteria at IMO, this paper provides a historical perspective on a problem that has maintained relevance despite the changes in ship technology and design.