What Is Ship Collision?

Written by: Raunekk Edited by: KennethSleight

Published May 25, 2009 Related Guides: Marine LiIe
Sea routes are getting busier day by day as the number oI sailing ships is continuously
increasing. Technology advancement has helped large ships to sail at amazing speeds. But
with an increase in traIIic and speed, the risk oI accidents has also increased drastically.
Maritime Ship Collisions
Ship collision is a kind oI marine accident that results Irom a ship crashing into a still or
Iloating object. Ship collision cases can be a ship to ship, ship to Iloating object, ship to
submarine or ship to still structure collisions. We all have heard about the historic accident oI
the collison oI the ship Titanic to an Iceberg. It was a ship to Iloating object type oI collision.
Collision can also be deIined as the change in structural properties oI a ship as a result oI an
impact with a solid structure. Ship collision is considered to be the worst oI marine accidents
as it leads to extreme adverse eIIects on human and marine liIe.
The sea route traIIic has increased by leaps and bounds and there has also been a sharp
increase in the speed levels. This has led to an increase in the probability oI ships conIronting
collision. Also, higher the velocity, greater the damage caused to the ship.
II the ship has high tonnage and is heavely loaded, the eIIects oI collison can be more drastic
in nature. Maritime Ship collisions have been the reason Ior many major sea accidents in the
past, apart Irom other accidents such as ship grounding.
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11ects o1 Ship Collision
The aIter eIIects oI a ship collision on marine and human liIe are immeasurable . The ship
involved in a collision suIIers Irom heavy structural and stability damage. Apart Irom the
damage to the ship, collision results in the Iollowing eIIects:
O Collision leads to detrimental environmental eIIects. II the ship involved in a collision
is a tanker or a chemical vessel then there are high chances oI the chemical or oil
leaking to the sea. Oil spills, both a major and a minor, can lead to untoward
conditions Ior the marine liIe and also to the near by coastal areas.The huge threat oI
the harmIul cargo leaking to the sea and causing adverse long term consequences to
the local communities, is intimidating.
O inancial loss to both, the ship owner and the nearby local communities is huge.
O Ship collision renders substantial threat to human liIe. There has been accidents in past
when the ship has sanked within minutes, giving no chance to the people on board to
escape.
O Collision with an oIIshore structure or a port leads to inIrastructure damage and thus
cause a heavy blow to human eIIorts. There has been collisions with bridges and port
structures in the past, resulting in heavy Iinancial and eIIorts loss.
What Causes Collision?
Collision is a result oI sheer human error. Amateur maneuvering and loose presence oI mind
oI the master, pilot or navigational oIIicer during the time oI maneuvering, is the root cause oI
any collision. Apart Irom that, slack or Iault in the propulsion system, rudder or any other
machinery can lead to a collision. Error or negligence by a shore personnel assisting in
maneuvering activity can also be a reason Ior such mishap.

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Image Credits
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