Passage Planning Flashcards
What are the stages of a passage plan
APEM
Appraisal
Planning
Execution
Monitoring
What should a passage plan identify
Safe navigation and avoidance of dangerous situations
Prior to proceeding to sea, the Master shall ensure that the intended voyage has been planned using the appropriate nautical charts and nautical publications for the area concerned, taking into account the guidelines and recommendations developed by the Organization.
The voyage plan shall identify a route which:
• Takes into account any relevant ships’ routeing systems;
• Ensures sufficient sea room for the safe passage of the ship throughout the voyage;
• Anticipates all known navigational hazards and adverse weather conditions; and
• Takes into account the marine environmental protection measures that apply, and
avoids, as far as possible, actions and activities which could cause damage to the environment.
SOLAS CHAPTER V
Appraisal
The appraisal consists of gathering all information relevant to the proposed passage and reviewing it. The appraisal process allows risks to be identified and assessed to make sure that the proposed passage plan is safe.
We can break that down into sections • Navigation
• General/Operational
• Environmental
• Contingency
Factors to consider for the appraisal stage
Navigation
• Advice in the sailing directions
• Anchoring and contingency options
• Availability and adequacy of charts and reliability of hydrographic data
• Availability and reliability of navigation aids
• Available sea room and traffic density
• Pilotage requirements
• Draught restrictions including air draught, under keel clearance (UKC)
requirements and squat
• Position fixing requirements
• Reliability of propulsion and steering systems and defects affecting the control or navigation of the ship
• Routeing and reporting measures
• Weather
General/Operational
• Helicopter operations
• Mooring and tug operations
• Port entry requirements
• Security and anti-piracy
- Berth requirements
Environmental
• Emission Control Areas (ECA)
• MARPOL Special areas
• Garbage disposal
• Port reception facilities
Contingency
• Emergency response plans
• Notifications and reporting
• Passage plan amendments
Publications for the appraisal stage
Sailing directions
Ocean Passage / routing charts and guide
Notice to Mariners
Port Guides
List of Lights
List or radio signals
Tide tables and stream atlas
Load Lines charts
Maritime security charts
Appropriate scale of charts
• Planning stage
Planning
Following the appraisal of all charts, nautical publications and other information, a detailed passage plan should be prepared. This should cover the entire passage from berth to berth, including pilotage areas.
The choice of method will depend on whether the ship is certificated for full navigation by electronic means (paperless navigation),
Whether planning with paper charts or with ECDIS, the plotting of the route should follow established procedures that include the details shown below:
Passage planning in ocean waters
When planning ocean passages, consideration should be given to:
• Ocean routeing charts showing ocean currents, winds, ice limits and load lines
• Weather routeing services
• The use of gnomonic projection charts for plotting great circle routes, as appropriate
The following considerations may influence the selection of an ocean route:
• Ocean currents and their impact on ship speed and fuel consumption.
• Weather conditions including anticipated seasonal variations, e.g. heavy weather,
tropical storms, ice and reduced visibility.
• Environmental protection measures and associated requirements that may extend into
an ocean route.
• Landfall targets need to be identified and the expected radar and visual ranges
considered.
Passage planning in Coastal waters
Margins of safety in coastal or restricted waters are likely to be less than for ocean passages because of the available water depth, the proximity of land, coastal infrastructure, increased traffic density and other navigational hazards.
The following factors should be among those considered when planning a passage through coastal waters:
• The importance of passing charted and other features at a safe distance.
• Advice in the sailing directions.
• Available depth of water and tidal information contained in tide tables and tidal
stream atlases
• Availability of visual and radar fixing opportunities
• Ship’s routeing and reporting measures, as well as the availability of VTS
• The reliability of the ship’s propulsion and steering system
• In shallow water, allowance should be made for the increased draught and effects on
steering caused by ship squat, which amplifies with increased ship speed.
Passage planning in pilotage waters
The passage planning for navigation in pilotage waters should contain more information to cover a pilotage phase, including when:
• The ship is navigating in a non-mandatory pilotage area and no pilot has been embarked.
• The ship is in pilotage waters and a pilot is embarked.
• Recommended routes and channel information.
• Procedures for pilotage including pilot boarding points and means of embarkation:
• Local conditions, rules and restrictions on navigation; Reporting and communications
procedures.
• Details of the prospective berth, tugs and/or anchorages; and
• Contingency planning for unforeseen issues.
• No go areas
No-Go Areas
While safely navigable waters are restricted by such factors as draught, under keel clearance and tidal conditions, there are some Cautionary Zones called ‘No-Go Areas’ where the ship cannot navigate safely. These areas must be shown by cross hatching (using only pencil) in regions close to charted track.
To minimize the risk of getting stranded even in the occurrence of trouble on the Engine or Steering system, secure as much distance as possible from the Cautionary Zone.
Put down the distance off clearly on the chart using parallel indexing from the obstacles.
Safe Water
Around the No-Go Area, secure Safe Water where the ship can navigate safely by taking Margins of Safety into consideration.
In determining Safe Water, consider the following:
• Ship conditions such as draft and manoeuvring performance.
• Effects of ocean stream, tidal current and tide.
• Under Keel Clearance.
• Distance off from the shallow waters, obstacles etc.
Under Keel Clearance (UKC)
When determining Under Keel Clearance, consider these points:
• Squat of the ship due to shallow water effect and the necessity to reduce speed to
decrease its effect.
• The vessels Heeling (due to wind or turning) and pitching movement.
• Reliability of charted depth data.
• Predicted tidal levels including if any expected negative surge.
• Areas of mobile bottom (silting/sand-waves).
• Any change in water density in passage (and its effect on draft).
• Accuracy of actual draft.
• Reliability of echo sounder.
• The manoeuvrability of our vessel.
• Ability to fix our position.
• Ability to use a PI.
• Reduced depths over pipelines and other obstructions.
Parallel indexing
Parallel index techniques provide the means of continuously monitoring a vessel’s position in relation to a pre-determined passage plan. Parallel indexing should be practiced in clear weather during straightforward passages, so that watch-keepers remain thoroughly familiar with the technique and confident in its use in more demanding situations (in confined waters, restricted visibility or at night).
How often to fix position
Position fixing
The frequency of the position fix, as a maximum, should be such that the ship is kept free from danger between fixes and if a deviation occurs, avoiding action can be taken to guarantee the safety of the ship.
The frequency of fixing should depend on the distance from navigational hazards and
the time the ship would take to run into danger before the next fix. This depends mainly
on the ships speed. New improved working for the flash card you must go into Rule 6!
• Execution stage
Having finalised the voyage or passage plan, as soon as time of departure and estimated time of arrival can be determined with reasonable accuracy. The voyage or passage should be executed.
Consider
• The reliability and condition of the vessel’s navigational equipment.
• Estimated times of arrival at critical points for tide heights and flow.
• Daytime versus night-time passing of danger points, and any effect this may have on
position fixing accuracy.
• Traffic conditions, especially at navigational focal points.
• Meteorological conditions, (particularly in areas known to be affected by frequent
periods of low visibility) as well as weather routeing information.
Monitoring the passage plan
Compliance with the passage plan should be closely monitored by the OOW:
• To check that the ship’s position is maintained within an authorised cross track error,
including following alterations of course to avoid a collision or waypoints.
• By fixing the ship’s position at a frequency based on existing conditions and the
proximity of navigational hazards.
• By cross-checking the ship’s position using all appropriate means, including:
• By visual and/or radar fixing techniques using ranges and bearing of charted objects.
• By echo sounder to monitor charted depths and contours.
• By monitoring the integrity of information displayed on navigational equipment.
Monitoring should be undertaken using appropriately prepared electronic or paper charts.
Monitoring techniques
Monitoring techniques
The following visual techniques should be used when monitoring the passage in coastal and pilotage waters or the safety of the ship at anchor:
• Bearings of charted objects to fix the position.
• Heading transits, which can provide a leading line along which a ship can safely steer.
• Beam transits, which can provide an additional check when altering course.
• Clearing bearings, which can be used to check that a ship remains in a safe area.
• When charted features visible by radar appear on the display, radar can be used for
monitoring.
The following techniques should be used for passage in coastal and pilotage waters, particularly in conditions of restricted visibility or at night:
• Parallel indexing recommended to ensure the ship’s track is maintained.
• Radar bearings and Radar ranges.
Where ECDIS is integrated with radar Radar overlay should be used!
