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VHF Radio Risks in Collision Avoidance

- The use of VHF radio in collision avoidance can be dangerous and lead to misunderstandings, even when the language is not an issue, as it can distract from following the Collision Regulations. - Identifying vessels and interpreting messages accurately is difficult over VHF radio, especially at night or in poor visibility with multiple vessels. Misunderstandings are still possible even with positive identification. - Rather than use VHF radio, mariners should comply with the Collision Regulations to avoid collisions, as valuable time can be wasted trying to communicate instead of following the established safety protocols.

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151 views2 pages

VHF Radio Risks in Collision Avoidance

- The use of VHF radio in collision avoidance can be dangerous and lead to misunderstandings, even when the language is not an issue, as it can distract from following the Collision Regulations. - Identifying vessels and interpreting messages accurately is difficult over VHF radio, especially at night or in poor visibility with multiple vessels. Misunderstandings are still possible even with positive identification. - Rather than use VHF radio, mariners should comply with the Collision Regulations to avoid collisions, as valuable time can be wasted trying to communicate instead of following the established safety protocols.

Uploaded by

Atiq Bhatkar
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© © All Rights Reserved
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MARINE GUIDANCE NOTE

MGN 167 (M + F)

Dangers in the Use of VHF Radio in Collision


Avoidance
Note to Ship owners, Masters, Skippers, Officers and Pilots of Merchant Ships, Yachts and Fishing
Vessels

This note supersedes Marine Guidance Note MGN 27 (M+F)

Summary

● Although the use of VHF radio may be justified on occasion in collision avoidance, the
provisions of the Collision Regulations should remain uppermost, as misunderstandings
can arise even where the language of communication is not a problem.

1. There have been a significant number of with the Collision Regulations. There is the
collisions where subsequent investigation has further danger that even if contact and
found that at some stage before impact, one or identification is achieved and no difficulties
both parties were using VHF radio in an over the language of communication or
attempt to avoid collision. The use of VHF message content arise, a course of action might
radio in these circumstances is not always still be chosen that does not comply with the
helpful and may even prove to be dangerous. Collision Regulations. This may lead to the
collision it was intended to prevent.
2. Uncertainties can arise over the identification
of vessels and the interpretation of messages 4. In 1995, the judge in a collision case said "It is
received. At night, in restricted visibility or very probable that the use of VHF radio for
when there are more than two vessels in the conversation between these ships was a
vicinity, the need for positive identification is contributory cause of this collision, if only
essential but this can rarely be guaranteed. because it distracted the officers on watch
Even where positive identification has been from paying careful attention to their radar. I
achieved there is still the possibility of a must repeat, in the hope that it will achieve
misunderstanding due to language difficulties some publicity, what I have said on previous
however fluent the parties concerned might be occasions, that any attempt to use VHF to
in the language being used. An imprecise or agree the manner of passing is fraught with
ambiguously expressed message could have the danger of misunderstanding. Marine
serious consequences. Superintendents would be well advised to
prohibit such use of VHF radio and to instruct
3. Valuable time can be wasted whilst mariners their officers to comply with the Collision
on vessels approaching each other try to make Regulations."
contact on VHF radio instead of complying

1
5. Although the practice of using VHF radio as a
collision avoidance aid may be resorted to on
occasion, especially in pilotage waters, the
risks described in this Note should be clearly
understood and the Collision Regulations
complied with.

Navigation Safety Branch


Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Spring Place
105 Commercial Road
Southampton
SO15 1EG

Tel: 023 8032 9138


Fax: 023 8032 9204

January 2001
[File ref: MNA 5/50/294]

An executive agency of the Department of the


Environment, Transport and the Regions

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