Merchant vessel aspects 1
Improper and inadequate look-out
Some officers on watch (OOW) fail to properly perform look-out duties, e.g., over-relying on navigation equipment like Radar, ECDIS, AIS, whilst neglecting the importance of visual look-out. Furthermore, in nighttime, or restricted visibility conditions, the bridge may fail to maintain sufficient lookout personnel as appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions, resulting in a failure to detect fishing vessels at an early stage.
2 Insufficient risk anticipation
The actual density of fishing vessels during specific periods in China’s coastal waters often exceeds the OOW’s expectations of the traffic environment. This scenario often causes OOWs to fail to develop adequate response plans to address potential risks and dynamic changes in the navigational environment, including:
- Failure to plan routes in advance to avoid dense fishing areas.
- Failure to prepare the vessel in all aspects for immediate manoeuvring.
- Failure to promptly call the master to the bridge for supervision and support when circumstances so demanded.
3 Inappropriate collision avoidance manoeuvres
Failing to take collision avoidance actions in ample time to keep well clear of fishing vessels in accordance with the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS). Accident investigations have shown that some OOWs tend to take action only when approaching fishing vessels at close range, leaving inadequate time for decision-making or leading to hasty judgments and unsatisfactory outcomes.
Some merchant vessels adopt a succession of small course alterations and/or speed adjustments, particularly via autopilot, after determining collision risk. These practices may cause fishing vessels to misjudge intentions and result in collisions due to uncoordinated actions.
Upon entering waters with concentrated fishing vessels, available manoeuvring space for merchant vessels is extremely limited, making effective collision avoidance difficult. Even when taking actions with utmost endeavour, maintaining a safe distance from fishing vessels (and their gear) is challenging. The high density of fishing vessels significantly narrows the margin of error for emergency actions, escalating collision risk.
4 Navigation equipment issues
Due to smaller size and limited radar cross-section, fishing vessels can be difficult to detect effectively on radar, particularly in rough seas. Traditional merchant vessel radar also struggles to distinguish nets from sea clutter, leading to visual detection only at close range.
Over-reliance on AIS data while neglecting radar plotting can result in poor situational awareness. If AIS data are incorrect due to malfunction or interference, inappropriate decisions may follow.
Excessive AIS signals from fishing gear beacons can flood radar screens, impairing OOWs’ ability to identify collision risks.
Fishing vessel aspects
Many fishing vessel accidents stem from poor safety practices and insufficient navigation awareness. Bridge watchkeepers often leave their posts to focus on fishing, compromising lookout duties. Safety awareness is weak: fishing in risky areas, crossing close ahead of merchant ships, and making sudden manoeuvres raise collision
106 | ISSUE 115 | MAR 2026 | THE REPORT
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