Yaw-checking and course-keeping ability in IMO's ship manoeuvrability standards are reviewed from the viewpoint of safe navigation. Three kinds of virtual series-ships, which have different course instability, are taken as test models. The numerical simulation on Z-test is carried out in order to examine the correlation between known manoeuvrability in spiral characteristics and various kinds of overshoot angle. Then simulator experiments are executed with series-ships in a curved, narrow waterway by six operators(five active pilots and one ex-captain) in order to examine the correlation between known manoeuvrability and degree of manoeuvring difficulty. IMC criteria for yaw-checking and course-keeping ability are discussed and revised criteria are proposed.

Ship manoeuvring simulator has been widely utilized for training mariners, for assessing safety, for developing harbour and port, and for designing ships. We discuss a ship manoeuvring simulator which has been newly developed by Korea Maritime University. We briefly explain the computer network system connected with each other, the interface system between computers and navigational instruments, the mathematical model of ship manoeuvring motion in harbour areas, and also ship and terrain modeling technique. Finally using the simulator an experiment of distance cognition and a real time simulation of berthing/deberthing manoeuvre carried out and the results are shown.