The Timing of Collision Avoidance Manoeuvres: Descriptive Mathematical Models

Abstract

This paper examines the frequency distributions of the ranges at which vessels take action to avoid collision. Published data from simulator exercises are employed. Both give-way and stand-on vessels are considered. Lognormal distributions fitted to the data are shown to be superior to those previously published. Underlying ‘causal’ models are developed which are capable of generating the observed distributions.