Automatic collision avoiding support system for ships in congested waters and at open sea

Ensuring the safety of navigation is always a matter of great importance in the maritime industry. Even with the abundance of navigation aids, marine traffic collisions are still happening, mostly due to human errors in judging traffic information and/or controlling the ship. Our aim in this study is, therefore, to provide an automatic tool for the ship officer in determining the optimal collision avoiding strategy in all prevailing traffic conditions at sea. The route-producing algorithm is an evolutionary one based on Bacteria Foraging Optimization. To improve its performance, an adapting scheme has been employed. A suitable form of the cost function has also been suggested to take into account the traffic rules. It is later shown through simulation studies that the algorithm is suitable, efficient and robust.