Abstract:
Most of the accidents are caused by human error at sea so, decision making process made by navigators should be more computerised and automated. The supported decision making can be a step forward to decrease the risk of collision. This paper, in this respect, aims to present a deterministic approach to support optimum collision avoidance trajectory. This approach involves a collision avoidance course alteration. A web-based application coded with "JavaScript" programming language on the "Processing" software platform which allows the own ship to change her course in a deterministic manner to avoid collision optimally has been introduced. Algorithm structure of the method has been formulated and organized according to the International Regulation for Preventing Collision at Sea (COLREGs). The experimental tests results have revealed that the system is practicable and feasible and considerably outperforms heuristic-based method. It is thought that the developed method can be applied in an intelligent avoidance system on board and provides contribution to ship collision avoidance process, automation of ship motion control and ship traffic engineering.