Passage Planning IMPORTANT Flashcards
What is the objective of a passage plan?
To determine the safest and most economical route for a voyage, from Berth to Berth
According to Regulation 34 of SOLAS chapter V, What is considered in a passage plan?
The plan shall identify a route which:
1. 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 systems
- Takes into account Marine environmental protection measures that apply, and avoids, so far as possible, actions that cause harm to the environment
What is the Appraisal stage?
Collecting and assessing all relevant information required for the intended passage
What is the Planning stage?
Developing and approving a passage plan based on the outcome of the appraisal of all relevant information
What is the Execution stage?
Briefing the Bridge team on the passage plan. Navigating the ship in accordance with the passage plan
What is the Monitoring stage?
Checking the progress of the ship against the passage plan
Four sections of the appraisal stage
Navigation
General/Operational
Environmental
Contingency
Appraisal stage: Overview of the voyage (navigational/Operational)
- Begin by asking for the Masters instructions on this voyage/previous experience/Previous passage plans
- Berthing requirements/contingency plans or anchorages
- MSO’s
Company Standing Orders - Relevant and updated charts/publications
Relevant MSNs, MGNs, and MINs - Notice to Mariners
- Ships Routeing Guide/Weather routeing
- Mariners routeing charts
- Mariners Handbook
- Port entry requirements
- Security and anti piracy measures
- Operating and maintenance instructions for bridge navigational aids
Appraisal stage: Environmental
Collecting and assessing all relevant information required for the intended passage
Emission Control Areas
MARPOL special areas
Garbage disposal
Port reception facilities
Appraisal stage: Coastal Passage/Pilotage
Collecting and assessing all relevant information required for the intended passage
Admiralty Sailing Directions
Admiralty List of Lights and fog signals
Admiralty Tide Tables
Tidal stream atlases
Guide to Port Entry
Documents, Appraisal stage: Ocean Phase
Collecting and assessing all relevant information required for the intended passage
Ocean Passages for the World
Gnomic Charts/Mercator projections
Navigational Tables
Nautical Almanac
Load Line Charts
Appraisal stage: Emergency Planning
Collecting and assessing all relevant information required for the intended passage
IAMSAR Vol 3
Ship contingency plans (SMS)
International Code of Signals
Annual Summary of Notice to Mariners
Planning stage: Pilotage
Developing and approving a passage plan based on the outcome of the appraisal of all relevant information
Turn radius for each course alteration
Wheel over positions for each course alteration
Commit point
Pilot requirements on board
Channel information
Berth details, tugs, anchorages
Planning stage: Coastal Phase
Developing and approving a passage plan based on the outcome of the appraisal of all relevant information
No-go areas
Routeing and reporting requirements
Parallel Indicies
XT Distances required
Reliability of Source data and CATZOC
Safe water (allowing for HOT, UKC and Squat)
Clearing bearings/ ranges based on charted features
Conspicuous charted features for position fixing
Reliability of machinery and steering gear
Tidal height and stream information
Decision points for critical manoeuvres
Contingency plans, including anchorages
Planning: Ocean Phase
Developing and approving a passage plan based on the outcome of the appraisal of all relevant information
Anticipated Waypoint arrival times
Cross track distances
Identification of Navigational hazards
Leg distances
Planned track with true course and compass/gyro
Safety depths and contours
The following Considerations may influence the selection of an ocean route:
Ocean currents (speed/fuel)
Weather (including seasonal variations)
Environmental protection measures
Landfall targets and their needs for identification
Company Procedures
Vessels Load line status
How do we determine safe water?
Ship conditions, draft and overall performance
Effects of ocean stream, tidal currents and tide itself
Under Keel Clearance
Distance off from shallow waters, obstacles etc
How de we determine UKC?
Allowance for squat and certain speeds
Accuracy of actual draft
Reliability of echo sounder
Manoeuvrability of the vessel
Reliability of source data
Predicted tides at time of, including tidal window
Heeling conditions
Changes to water density on passage (change to draft)
Ability to fix position
Areas of mobile bottom (sand, silt)
Ability to use PI’s
Reduced depths over pipelines and other obstructions
What is parallel indexing?
A means of continuously monitoring the cross track tendencies of a vessel whilst navigating, in relation to the passage plan. Should be practiced in clear weather during straightforward passages.
How often do we fix our position?
Should be such that the ship is kept free from danger between fixes, and if deviation occurs, action can be taken to guarantee safety of the ship
Depends on distance of navigational hazards, and the time to run before the next fix. This is heavily influenced by the safe speed decided in prior. (Rule 6 to be taken into account)
Execution Stage:
Briefing the Bridge team on the passage plan. Navigating the ship in accordance with the passage plan
Once the Master has decided on an ETD, final calculations can be made:
Weather routing for the intended days of passage
Tidal heights and streams for critical points of passage
ETA at waypoints legs calculated, posting of additional lookouts where necessary
Traffic conditions/proximity to nav hazards
Any Amendments, master signs
What does a passage plan briefing entail?
Addresses key factors identified in the checklist:
Watch rotor
Critical points of plan
Dangers outlined in risk assessment
Weather factors
Detailed description of plan, with all members signing off having understood the briefing
Monitoring stage, Three P’s of Maintaining a safe navigational watch: People
Fully licensed OOW at all times
Fit for duty
Additional personnel in heavy weather
Additional lookout in hours of darkness
Maritime English
Monitoring stage, Three P’s of Maintaining a safe navigational watch: Procedures
Maintain a proper lookout
Conduct Proper Handovers
Fixing of position, cross checking
Monitoring Bridge equipment
Monitoring of running gear and Steering gear
Monitoring AtoNs/XTE
Monitoring Weather, sea state and visibility
Following IRPCS, reference to Rule 5, 6, 7, 8
Listening watch on GMDSS equipment
Ensure compliance with MARPOL
Internal Lookout
Display the correct Lights and Shapes
Safety and Fire rounds
Safety of passengers
Monitoring stage, Three P’s of Maintaining a safe navigational watch: Publications
Bridge log, comprehensive recording of ongoing events during your watch
GMDSS log
Compass error log
Garbage log
Fuel record Book
Any relevant ISM checks
Examples of monitoring techniques:
Bearings of charted objects
Heading transits
Clearing bearings
Beam bearings/transits
Radar range and bearing
PI’s
Which MGN Replaced Safety of Navigation, and Implements SOLAS chapter V?
MGN 610
Which book has a glossary of navigational terms?
(we go here if we don’t know the meaning of a word!)
NP100
Which MGN speaks to keeping a safe navigational watch on merchant vessels?
MGN 315
There are circumstances that may require an amendment to the passage plan during the monitoring stage, these may be:
Change in weather routeing instructions/conditions
Change in ships orders/destination port
SAR response
Advice/Info from VTS
Navigational warnings
Detected hazards on the planned route
Benefit of a Great Circle Route
Disadvantage of a Great Circle Route
Shortest distance between two points
Takes vessels high into high latitudes, therefore experiencing worse weather and swell/possible Ice limits
Benefit of a Rhumb Line
Straight line to follow, Cuts all meridians at the same angle
