 Despite all recent technological advancements in the field of provision of marine safety, including the newest e-navigation tools and modern satellite systems, as well as the perfectly developed training methods for contemporary navigators, maritime collisions continue to remain a prominent issue in major maritime casualty statistics. While collisions may not always be the leading cause within these statistics, when they do occur, they often lead to significant losses.
These incidents can result in severe consequences, including loss of life and personal injury, marine pollution, fire, explosions, cargo loss, and property damage. A maritime collision is defined as "the violent encounter of a moving body with another." Notably, collisions at sea do not necessarily involve direct contact between two vessels; they may also occur between a vessel and structures such as bridges, wharfs, or cranes. Such incidents are classified as 'allisions'. The foundation of maritime collision law can be traced back to ancient Roman law, which lacked specific navigational rules apart from customary maritime practices and jurisprudence regarding fault and liability for loss or damage. In 1840, the Trinity House navigational rules were established, followed by the first UK statute to incorporate navigational rules in 1846, which evolved alongside additional statutory regulations in 1851, 1854, and 1858.
The first diplomatic conference focused on navigational rules took place in Washington in 1889, convened by U.S. President Benjamin Harrison, resulting in the first comprehensive set of international navigational regulations that came into effect in 1897. Subsequent conferences in Brussels in 1910 and London in 1948 and 1960 made further revisions to the international collision regulations. A significant overhaul occurred in 1972, led by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), culminating in the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, known as COLREGs 1972. These regulations have been adopted by nearly all maritime nations and are "applicable to all vessels upon the high seas and in all waters connected therewith."…
 The present publication belongs to the popular Master's Guide series by The Standard Club. Any ship handler shall have a clear understanding of what is actually happening with the ship under his command - not only that but also, and maybe more important - what will happen with the ship in a short time.
The proper knowledge of the theoretical basics will make it easier to identify the maneuvering characteristics of the ship and quickly evaluate the skills required to control the ship. Such knowledge is considered critically important in a harbor environment when the vessel encounters narrow channels, cross-winds, currents and close quarters situations. In fact, berthing shall be treated as the culmination moment of any voyage - this is the very moment when the ship is mating with a stationary and solid berth.
That is why it requires gentle and precise control which is demonstrated by the ship handlers in harbors all over the world every day. Most of the vessels dock safely most of the time, however the final outcome of the maneuver chosen and conducted by the ship handler is not always fully successful - this may eventually result in a ship demolishing jetties, hitting berths running aground and even colliding with other ships - and this actually happens at a really alarming frequency...
 It goes without saying that no one would like to be reminded about their accidents, however we shall all understand and accept the importance of learning from mistakes. Nowadays, the maritime navigation is aided by the various technically sophisticated integrated systems of e-navigation installed on board most of the vast majority of modern ships to provide precise positioning of the vessel, as well as detecting and heading functions, all making the navigation much easier than it used to be decades and centuries ago.
But still all ship masters and owners shall possess due knowledge of the risks of collision and/or stranding that remain present and shall be accounted for at all times, since failure to do so can eventually result in the severe and even tragic consequences, although the stranding and collision cases are relatively rare today.
The idea of the author of this brilliant title was to remind readers that it is critically important to effectively manage the above mentioned risks, enabling the ship officers to apply the associated rules in a consistent manner, contributing to the safety of the ship, people on board, and environment. It is a great one for those having enough prescience and determination to go through this collection of selected incidents, and analyze the associated situations and root causes.
 The main idea and intention of the authors of this brilliant title was to set out all necessary knowledge as well as the established methods and most workable techniques to be applied by the mariners willing to avoid getting in the risky situations with their anchor handling tug ships, or AHTS for short, when performing their day to day activities.
The forces acting on the ship hull during the routine operations have been analyzed, and capabilities of the vessels discussed in detail together with the relevant shipboard equipment. There are worked real life case studies included by the author in order to better illustrate the hazards experienced in the course of the anchor handling and towing operations.
Mainly aimed at the masters of the AHTS vessels and their crew members, the volume will be equally useful for the rig movers, tow masters and other specialists, including even the shore support personnel. The information is presented in a professional way, very understandable and concise, and the contents will be easily understandable for the mariners at all levels of skill and experience. It is definitely a must read book for all those intending to participate in the anchor handling and/or towing activities.
 This manual is expected to provide the ship designer, shipbuilders and all personnel involved in ship operation with the technical knowledge and guidance required to properly determine the design practices for the safe mooring of their vessel at the wharves and fixed piers in sea ports and harbors.
The huge and technically complex vessels of today featuring significant wind exposure and deep drafts are posing serious mooring challenges to the masters, ship designers and pilots. the mooring incidents, should they occur, are commonly very costly - such incidents have already emphasized the demand for much better understanding of the fundamental mooring design principles.
It should be noted that none of the existing standards or construction codes specifically address the design of the mooring/berthing facilities. The present manual is aimed to give the required background in order to make sure that the designed mooring structures are technically sound and reliable, i.e. to assure that they will provide a safe berth for the ships.
The content of the Manual covers such important topics as the basic design requirements, various operational considerations, mooring principles, fender systems, hardware and fittings, equipment, maintenance issues, forces acting on the vessel and many other important aspects.
 The latest release of the widely acknowledged and world popular marine industry Guide to the bridge procedures issued by ICS with the intention to provide such valuable guidance to the ship Masters, officers on watch, shipping companies and various training entities. The present publication is often referenced in the footnote of many IMO conventions.
This is the revised edition of the Guide, that continues the established tradition to cover all internationally recognized industry standards as well as the recommendations that have been adopted by the IMO; moreover, this edition also addresses the 2010 amendments to the IMO STCW. This convention introduces the enhanced BRM (standing for the Bridge Resource Management) training for all ship officers who are considered to be in charge of the navigational watch. In addition, this volume contains the very useful bridge and emergency checklists that would be very helpful to the crew members, including the checklists for ECDIS familiarization.
The authors of the publication have paid particular attention to the growing importance of the voyage planning process. We would definitely recommend that one copy of the Guide is carried on the navigation bridge of every marine ship and some copies are there in the technical departments of the shore offices. For sure, this document does not need any introduction...
 Have a look in this second edition of the practical guide released to shed some light on the major aspects of the bridge team management. Nowadays, most of the marine accidents take place due to the lack of operational system that would allow for detection and prevention of the human mistakes.
The content of the present volume has been designed specifically to make the sea voyages be performed in a safe way through provision of the detailed and clear explanations of how the various parts of the bridge team management shall be carried out. The material contained in the first edition of the volume has been significantly reworked and updated with the very latest IMO recommendations explained in a good seafaring language.
One of the key requirements for the safe manning and operation any vessel is having the high class and duly equipped crew. This is actually what every Captain and officer wishes; however, same is not always possible, considering the difficult economic times.
Sometimes the crew consists of the personalities possessing different sort of abilities, and working on the equipment that should be replaced long time ago. But, it is still possible to reach maximum results providing that every single team member plays his or her role, and this is what the present volume is about.
 You must definitely have a look in this piece of classics, if you are a true enthusiast of navigation. The publication was first released in 1900, and was in use for teaching the students of navigation throughout more than a century. Just imagine that! The arrangement of the material is not typical for the modern navigation textbooks but is quite traditional for the titles of elder generations.
It starts with the general information about mathematics – arithmetic and logarithms, since the author considered the knowledge of these essential and must-have one before you proceed any further. After that, some information is provided on the tools that are used in compass and nautical chart work, followed with the instructions on practical use of compass.
There are different types of sailing covered in the next chapter, including parallel and plane sailing, traverse and middle latitude sailing etc. after that, there is a separate chapter devoted to the charts, and this concludes the first part of the volume. The second part, in turn, covers such all aspects of the nautical astronomy which is obviously something that every mariner shall have a good understanding of even today, in the world and time of electronic navigation.
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