A New Definition of a Collision Zone For a Geometrical Model For Ship-Ship Collision Probability Estimation

In this paper, a study on a newly developed geometrical model for ship-ship collisions probability estimation is conducted. Most of the models that are used for ship-ship collision consider a collision be-tween two ships a physical contact between them. The model discussed in this paper defines the collision criterion in a novel way. A critical distance between two meeting ships at which such meeting situation can be considered a collision is calculated with the use of a ship motion model. This critical distance is named the minimum distance to collision (MDTC). Numerous factors affect the MDTC value: a ship type, an angle of intersection of ships’ courses, a relative bearing between encountering ships and a maneuvering pattern. They are discussed in the paper.