Passage planning & navigation Flashcards
Where does it state that we have to passage plan?
SOLAS Chapter V Regulation 34 - states that we have to do it
Principles of passage planning
The purpose of passage planning is to develop a comprehensive navigation plan for the safe navigation of the ship from berth to berth.
The plan for the intended passage should identify a route that:
* Recognises hazards and assesses associated risks and decision points
* Ensures that sufficient sea room and depth of water is available
* Includes appropriate position fixing opportunities and intervals
* Complies with relevant reporting requirements and routeing measures for ships
* Considers anticipated traffic and weather conditions
* Complies with all applicable environmental protection measures
What are routing charts?
Routing charts are essential for use in passage planning for ocean voyages. They include:
- wind roses with statistics on the likely direction and speed in that particular area
- ocean currents (thicker the line the stronger the current)
- route and distances between major ports,
- ice limits
- load lines zones
- average barometric pressure
- mean air and sea temperatures
- TRS tracks
- Fog and poor visibility predictions
5 main routing charts: - North Atlantic - South Atlantic - North Pacific - South Pacific - Indian Ocean - 12 in total, one for each month of the year
Appraisal
Collecting and assessing all relevant information required for the intended passage.
Navigation:
- Advice in sailing directions, ocean passages, routing charts and guides, ALRS volumes, list of lights, NtMs, tide tables
- Availability and reliability of charts
- Availability and reliability of navigation aids
- Available sea room and traffic density
- Pilotage requirements
- Draught requirements
- Position fixing requirements
- Reporting requirements
- Weather routing
General:
- Berth requirements
- Bridge manning
- Security and anti-piracy measures
Environmental:
- Emission control areas
- MARPOL special areas
- Garbage disposal
Contingency:
- Emergency response plans
- Notifications and reporting
- Passage plan amendments
Planning
Developing and approving a passage plan based on the appraisal of all relevant information
Three phases: Pilotage, Coastal and Ocean
- Planned track with true course
- Leg distances
- Safety depths and contours
- Cross track distance
- Anticipated WP arrival times
- Conspicuous objects for position fixing
- No-go areas
- Safe water
- Decision/commit points
- Contingency plans & anchorages
- Turn radius
- Load lines
- Ice limits
- Ocean currents
Customizing the chart: No-go areas, safe water, parallel indexing, wheel over points etc
Execution
- Briefing the bridge team on the passage plan.
- Updated weather routing information
- ETA’s to critical points - night/day, tidal windows etc
- Pilot and berthing arrangements
Monitoring
Monitoring the vessels progress against the passage plan. If OOW is ever in any doubt - call the Master.
- Plotting of the ships position at appropriate intervals
- Ship remains within XTD
- Performance of navigation is checked and monitored
- Fuel consumption
Publications carried onboard
Guidance found in SOALS ch V, Mariners Handbook or Masters Guide to the UK Flag
- The Weekly Notices to Mariners
- Annual Summary of Notices to Mariners - NP247 Parts 1&2
- Chart outfit adequate charts for the voyage and of suitable scale. It will include NP5011, Chart Correction Log and Routing Charts
- List of Radio Signals
- List of Lights
- Sailing Directions
- NP100 Mariners Handbook
- Tide Tables
- Tidal Atlases
- Nautical Almanac
- Nautical Tables (Norries)
- IAMSAR Vol. III
- The International Code of Signals
- MSNs, MGNs, MINs
- Operating and maintenance manuals for all navigational aids.
- Offical Logbook
- COSWP - Code of Safe Working Practices
- Ship Captains Medical
How often should you fix your position?
Depends on the 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 - Rule 6
Factors when determining UKC
- Squat due to shallow water effect
- Vessels heel
- Reliability of charted data
- Tidal levels
- Movement of silt/sand
- Changes in water density
- Accuracy of draft
- Accuracy of echo sounder
- Manoeuvrability of the vessel
Masters considerations for passage planning
Master
- Compliance with National and International conventions and regulations
- Certificates in date, available and appropriate for the voyage
- Condition: Fit for the normal perils of the sea, watertight, meets her load line requirements, PMs up to date, no non-conformities in the ships SMS, machinery in good condition, LSA equipment available,
- Crew: Meet MSMD, appropriate certs/qualified, familiarised, adequate experience, well rested and fit for duty, visas
- Conduct: Safe operation of the vessel which the employer has a responsibility for (safe working environment, provide ppe, training, posters etc)
Voyage plan:
- Weather considerations for the time of year
- Contingency plans, fuel stops
- Ensure accurate and up to date charts and publications are available for the intended voyage
- Security - piracy risk, citadel, fly non-essential crew, insurance
- Emission Control Areas
2/O: Passage plan as per SOLAS ch V and following APEM. Bridge/GMDSS checks
C/O: LSA checks and appropriate for voyage (insulated immersion suits), Drills/Training, vessel stowed
C/E: Bunkers, PMs, defects/non-conformities, spares
Chef: Provisions to last voyage, meal prep in bad weather
How would you determine your safety margin?
- Reliability of the chart survey.
- The dimension and manoeuvering characteritics
- Accuracy of the navigational systems to be used.
- Accuracy of echo sounder.
- Tidal streams.
How far should you remain from a danger?
Approx 1.5 - 2nm
Far enough away to remain in safe water, but close enough to continue fixing your position.
An extra margin should be allowed when navigating with the hazard to starboard to allow for an alteration of course to starboard if required
New officer joins, how would you expect him to do the passage plan?
First establish his level of knowledge and experience
Explain my preferences, read and sign navigational standing orders
Establish your expectations. Make sure he does passage plan to the level you expect
Encourage questions/advice
Great circle - what is it and how would you use it?
Shortest distance between two points whos centre is at the centre of a sphere.
Draw a straight line on a gnomonic chart. Then take waypoints at every 15 degrees or navigators preference and transfer to Mercator projection, forming an arc.