A QUARTER CENTURY OF HIGH SPEED CRAFT SAFETY DEVELOPMENT - A CANADIAN PERSPECTIVE

This paper begins with the introduction of the SRN-4 service across the English Channel in late 1968 and briefly reviews the rapid and diverse development of high speed ferries since that time. The impact of the technological advances has been strongly felt in the field of safety regulations and many challenges have been made to well-established tradition; these challenges, and their resulting International Codes of Safety are also reviewed. Canada, like a number of other countries, is in the position of having virtually no high speed craft manufacturing industry, but a significant potential for high speed ferry operation. The Canadian regulatory authority therefore has gained detailed insight over the past 25 years, during certification of numerous craft, into how other countries interpret international safety requirements. They have also gained considerable experience in identifying the needs for operational safety controls of foreign built vessels which are also operating under a foreign flag. The author participated in the development of both the Dynamically Supported Craft (DSC) Code of 1978 and the High Speed Craft (HSC) Code 1966, and draws on the Canadian experience in an attempt to explain the pitfalls of the former, and what may be expected of the latter for countries in the position of Canada. Given the pace of technological development, the paper concludes by speculating whether the 18 years between the DSC Code and the HSC Code will need to be considerably reduced before the next Code is developed.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Fast Ferry Intl Conf, 10th; 22-24 Feb 1994, London, UK. Pprs. Pub by High Speed Surface Craft Associates, Kingston upon Thames, UK [11 p, 3 ref, 2 tab]
• Authors:
  • Wade, R G
• Publication Date: 1994

Language

• English

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Ferries; Regulations; Safety
• Uncontrolled Terms: High speed vessels
• Subject Areas: Law; Marine Transportation; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00708143
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: British Maritime Technology
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 14 1995 12:00AM