Simulator Study on Emergency Manoeuvre on Ship Entering Colombo Harbour

Abstract

Colombo Harbour has had its fair share of ship accidents just like any other port. The Harbour breakwater has a comparatively narrow entrance today as it was built in 1800’s when the ships were much smaller. Since then, ship sizes have continued to increase. There is a race amongst companies to build and own the largest ship. A good recent example is the “Ever Given” 22000 TEU ship which blocked the Suez Canal. Now they build the “Ever Accept” an even larger 24000 TEU ship which still will transit the canal. Risk assessments need to be done for the safety of the ports and the safety of other ships in the port. The Harbour water area in Colombo remains the same has even decreased when privatization of QEQ to SAGT took place, which was a big mistake. Large ships have come into the Colombo harbour and have not been able to stop in time due to various reasons and damaged Jetties and other ships and third-party properties in the harbour. Here we look at how to stop such accidents.