A STUDY ON THE LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE IN THE TRAFFIC SEPARATION SCHEME IN COLLISION REGULATIONS AMONG THE DECK DEPARTMENT SEAFARERS

This study aimed to determine the effectiveness and knowledge of seafarer officers in traffic separation scheme. The gathering of data was conducted in Pagbilao Quezon, Lucena City, Sampaloc Quezon, Mauban Quezon and Atimonan Quezon through descriptive research. A total of 30 seafarer respondents who already had their license of being Officer onboard a ship and familiar to use and navigate in traffic separation scheme answered the survey questionnaire. Results revealed that that all ships and targets passing the traffic separation scheme were following the collision regulation and because of the traffic separation scheme all vessel using this system saves more time and fuel. Also, vessels using traffic separation scheme can have a shorter voyage. Traffic separation scheme is limited for transiting that is good prior to the synchronization of ships on a particular narrow channel and limits the traffic at sea and most effective in a narrow and heavy traffic volume area. However, the disadvantages of the traffic separation scheme system include that collision is deem to exist when ships and targets does not follow the rules of the road. In Traffic Separation Scheme ships are not allowed to counter flow inside. Lower speed is required when transiting in a traffic separation scheme and some traffic separation scheme are quite narrow and hard to maneuver. Meanwhile, The problems encountered in using traffic separation scheme include that vessels must avoid the fishing boats sailing inside the traffic separation scheme. Collision deem exist when high density traffic inside a separation scheme is observed. Since traffic separation scheme was introduced to reduce such accidents like collision, it is recommended that seafarers including all ranks from management level, operational level and support level must understand the different rules in navigation such as the rule of the roads or the “collision regulation” not only to gain knowledge but also to prevent accidents that cause by being reckless or not following rules. Moreover, they also need additional commitment on their works because most of the disadvantages of the traffic separation scheme is that they need to have much effort on their performance to modify and analyzed each situations in navigating especially in navigating near congested waters or narrow channel. They should also need to have seminars or trainings regarding the content of collision regulation for them to keep refreshed all of the navigational rules because 80% of the ship accidents are comprised by human error.