ESSAY (5pts each)

1) Based on the Exxon Chester v. Regal Sword accident, what went wrong? What are the
preventive actions to avoid collision?
Regal Sword violated the following rules:
 RuIe 10- went in the wrong direction of the traffic.
 Rule 19 (b)- maintained excessive speed in fog.
 Rule 5- failed to maintain a proper lookout.
 Rule 7 (c)- made assumptions based on scanty radar information.
 Rule 19 (d)- failed to take action in ample time,
 Rule 8 (b)- made a succession of small course alterations.
 Rule 19 (d) (i) changed course to port

Exxon Chester violated the following rules:

 Rule 19 (b) maintained excessive speed in fog
 Rule 19 (d) failed to take action in ample time.
 Rule 19 (e) failed to take the way off when it became apparent that she could not
avoid a close quarter situation.

Preventive actions to avoid collision:

 Using DR as only means of pos fixing led to enter in the wrong direction of TSS
 They should’ve given more importance to passage planning
 Radar plotting is essential
 Improper communication,
-Not identifying the ship with which you want to communicate, led to a lack of
reply from the other vessel.
 Put lookout in the fore part of ship especially in restricted visibility: dense fog
 No bridge teamwork
-Two officers present on the bridge, not exercising any navigational functions.
The captain was conning the ship, doing navigation, radar observation and VHF
operator. Several functions which cannot be executed properly by one person.
 Small course alteration does not immediately register on the radar plot of the other
ship.
 Alteration of course should not be based on scanty radar information.
 Action, if any, shall be in ample time.
 Do not forget engine telegraph on the bridge is there to be used if needed
-When you are not sure of the situation and you see that it is developing very
fast it is wise sometimes to take all the way off.
 Need for an efficient watch keeping practice.
 Owners should be blamed for the weaknesses of navigational organization of the ship.
 When target is lost on the radar screen do not change course without knowing how it
will contribute to developing situation.