M a n d a t o r y Use Of C o l l i s i o n A v o i d a n ce E q u i p m e n t Proposed

The Coast Guard has issued a proposal to require all self-propelled vessels of 10,000 gross tons or more, that carry oil or liquid hazardous materials in bulk as cargo or in residue, to install an electronic relative motion analyzer (ERMA) by July 1, 1982. The proposal applies to U.S. vessels and foreign-flag v e s s e l s which call at U.S. ports.

The device, mandated by the Port & Tanker Safety Act of 1978 (P.L. 95-474), is designed to assist a ship's bridge watch officer in evaluating the patterns of radar "returns" from an object to determine the object's speed and direction of motion. This system is also referred to as a "collision avoidance aid" or "automatic radar plotting aid." In the preamble to the proposal, particular mention is made that compliance is not limited just to tankers, but applies to "each selfpropelled vessel which carries oil or hazardous materials in bulk as cargo or in residue." The Coast Guard estimates the average cost of the equipment at $70,000 per vessel, and forecasts a possible 10-percent reduction in vessel collisions and ramming. Exact specifications appear in the February 21 Federal Register.

Maritime Reporter Magazine, page 9, Mar 1980

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Maritime Reporter

First published in 1881 Maritime Reporter is the world's largest audited circulation publication serving the global maritime industry.