Routeing

Question 1

Factors to consider when deciding on weather routeing?

Answer 1

• Voyage length
• Navigational viable (free from land)
• Free from strong currents, ice, load line restrictions
• Most beneficial in when extreme weather expected
• Type of vessel

Question 2

What can be the different objectives of weather routeing?

Answer 2

• Least time track
• Least time with least damage to hull
• Least damage
• Constant speed
• Fuel saving
• To avoid ice accretion

Question 3

Method of obtaining a Least time Track (this is from the Stone Age), it’s all automated on computers now. But when SQA exams say jump we say how high

Answer 3

• From a start point identify a rough area where least time area will occur.
• Create multiple possible routes
• Using performance curves, expected wave height chart and synoptic chart overlays approximate expected sailing time for 24 hours
• Repeat process and identify least time track

Question 4

Types of message from Weather Routeing company?

Answer 4

• Advisory Message, forecast significant and unavoidable
• Diversion Message, forecast significant and avoidable

Question 5

What is a Hindcast Chart?

Answer 5

• A way of comparing a vessels track and actual weather experienced compared with alternative routes and weather.
• Shows time, fuel and money saved
• Produced by weather routeing companies for vessels

Question 6

Benefits of carrying out Shipboard routeing?

Answer 6

• Cost saving - however increased workload for officers
• Modern ships have access to a lot of similar weather information that a weather routeing company has.
• Ship’s crew can better assess current weather then forecasts
• Master has experience on how his vessel performs in differing conditions

Question 7

Factors for Master to consider when choosing optimum route?

Answer 7

Climatic / Operational
- Currents
- Encountering fog or ice
- Delays or damage to due to adverse weather
- Type of ship, nature of cargo
- Operational tasks required on passage

Commercial
- Instructions from owners or terms of charter party
- Dist of each route
- ETA and fuel consumption
- Time saving / delay and costs of canal
- Load Line Zones

Question 8

What is Climatic Routeing?

Answer 8

• Following recommended routes according to season for a given ocean
• Shows average prevailing conditions from years of data
• Illustrated in Ocean passages for the world and routeing charts

Question 9

What to refer to when considering factors for planning ocean passage?

Answer 9

• Ocean current circulation
• Worse weather in high lats
• Better weather in middle lats (STAC)