PASSAGE PLANNING:
The purpose of passage planning is to develop a comprehensive plan for the safe passage of the ship from berth to berth.
The plan for the intended passage should identify a route which:
Recognises hazards, and asses associated risks and decision points.
Ensure that sufficient sea room and depth of water is available.
Includes appropriate position fixing opportunities.
Complies with relevant reporting requirements and routeing measures for the ship.
Takes into account anticipated traffic and weather conditions.
Complies with all applicable environmental; protection measures.
So in simple words we can say the purpose of passage planning is to outline the procedure for establishing the most favourable and safest route for the voyage.
Responsibility for Passage Planning
* Navigating Officer must prepare the passage plan from berth to berth, prior to
departure
* Master must verify this plan
* Master must validate the passage plan on ECDIS using the route-checking function
and visual check
*Repeat the above whenever the plan is amended or corrections are applied
*Master must hold the bridge team meeting.
If unable to complete the plan prior to sailing, prepare the first part of the plan and remainder part to be completed as soon as possible after departure.
Company involvement in passage planning: The company’s SMS should include guidance for passage planning. If the company provides a standard passage planning for a particular voyage this must be reviewed on board before departure.
APPRAISAL:
Appraisal is the process of collecting all information relevant to proposed passage which allows risk to be identified and assessed to ensure that the passage plan is safe.
The factors considered in the appraisal part are as follows:
NAVIGATION:
Advice in sailing directions
Anchoring and contingency options.
Availability and adequacy of charts and reliability of hydrographic data.
Availability and reliability of navigational aids.
Available sea room and traffic density.
Communications including GMDSS and MSI.
Pilotage requirements.
Draught restrictions including air draft UKC and squat.
Position fixing requirements.
Reliability of prolusion and navigational equipment’s and defects affecting control or navigation of the ship.
Route selection and waypoint
Routeing and reporting measures.
Weather routeing.
GENERAL/OPERATIONAL
Berth requirements
Bridge manning
Bunker calculations
Cargo considerations
Commercial /charters considerations
Helicopter operations
Mooring operations.
Port entry requirement’s
Security and anti-piracy measures
Strength and stability
ENVIRONMENTAL
Ballast water management
Emission control areas
MARPOL special areas
National and regional requirements
Particularly sensitive sea areas(PSSA)
Port reception facilities
CONTINGENCY
Emergency response plans
Notification and reporting
Passage plan amendments
Up to date official charts and publications should be used
Chief engineer should be consulted for ensuring sufficient fuel, water and lubricants are available or voyage.
CHARTS:
Up to date and official nautical charts to be procured and used for passage planning and appraisal. Any additional charts and publications required for the passage should be identified and procured before departure from the port.
In case of electronic charts, sufficient permits/licenses for the charts required for the intended voyage should be available before departure or the procedure for procuring them should be clearly understood.
FOLLOWING POINTS TO BE KEPT IN MIND WHILE SELECTING CHARTS FOR A VOYAGE:
SCALE: For coastal and pilotage planning and for each course alteration point large scale charts are to be used.
For ocean passage and open water legs, the largest scale charts that are appropriate should be used.
ACCURACY OF CHART DATA: Paper chart and RNC source diagrams allow reliability of chart depth information to be assessed.
CATZOC (category zone of confidence) allows accuracy and reliability of the ENC data to be assessed.
NOTICES TO MARINERS: Notices to mariners should be consulted, some hydrographic offices give Temporary and preliminary notices.
INFORAMTION OBTAINED FROM EACH PUBLICATION:
ADMIRALTY Sailing Directions (Pilots) provide essential information to support port entry and coastal navigation for all classes of ships at sea. Split across 76 volumes, coverage includes the world’s main commercial shipping routes and ports.
Each volume of Sailing Directions contains:
Information on navigational hazards, buoyage, pilotage, regulations, general notes on countries, port facilities, seasonal currents, ice and climatic conditions. This information, when used alongside official ADMIRALTY charts, can help to increase situational awareness on the bridge.
High quality diagrams and photography to help bridge-crews understand critical information during the passage planning stage.
Worldwide official coverage to support safe and compliant navigation within main commercial shipping routes and ports. This coverage is split across 76 volumes for purchase flexibility.
NOTICES TO MARINERS:
Provides essential corrections and amendments to official nautical charts and publications.
It maybe also used by port authorities and harbourmasters to provide specific local safety information to ships.
LOAD LINE CHARTS:
Provides information on zones and seasonal periods for considerations when determining compliance with load line requirements.
LIST OF RADIO SIGNALS:
Provide information on maritime radio communications, particularly Bessel reporting and VTS, GMDSS and information on availability if MSI.
Volume 1 (NP281) - Maritime Radio Stations (Parts 1 & 2)
Split across two publications, Volume 1 includes radio details for:
Global Maritime Communications
Satellite Communication Services
Coastguard Communications
Maritime Tele Medical Assistance Service (TMAS)
Radio Quarantine and Pollution reports
Anti-Piracy Contact Table
Volume 2 (NP282) - Radio Aids to Navigation, Differential GPS (DGPS), Legal Time, Radio Time Signals and Electronic Position Fixing System (Parts 1 & 2)
Split across two publications, Volume 2 includes radio details for:
Listing of VHF Radio Direction-Finding Stations
Radar Beacons (Racons and Ramarks)
Known operational Automatic Identification System (AIS)
Aids to Navigation (AtoN)
Radio beacons transmitting DGPS corrections
International Standard and Daylight Saving Times and Dates
International Radio Time Signal Broadcast details
Volume 3 (NP283) - Maritime Safety Information Services (Parts 1 & 2)
Split across two publications, Volume 3 includes radio details for:
Maritime Weather Services
Safety Information broadcasts
Worldwide NAVTEX and SafetyNET information
Submarine and Gunnery Warning details (Subfacts and Gunfacts)
Radio-Facsimile Stations, frequencies and weather map areas
Volume 4 (NP284) - Meteorological Observation Stations
This volume includes:
All Met Observation Stations listed worldwide
Volume 5 (NP285) - Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS)
This volume includes:
Worldwide communication requirements for distress, search and rescue
Extracts from SOLAS and ITU Regulations
Distress and SAR (incorporating MRCC and MRSC contacts)
Worldwide NAVTEX and Maritime Safety Information
Volume 6 (NP286) - Pilot Services, Vessel Traffic Services and Port Operations (Parts 1 - 8)
Split across eight publications, Volume 6 includes radio details for:
Detailed Pilot information, contact details and procedures
Vessel Traffic Service information, contact details and procedures
National and International Ship Reporting Systems
Port information, contact details and procedures
OCEAN CHARTS ROUETING CHARTS AND GUIDES:
Provide information on established ocean routes.
Ocean Passages for the World includes:
Individual chapters covering each of the world’s oceans, with details of weather, climate, winds, currents, swell, seasonal factors and ice hazards
Coverage of the world's busiest and emerging trade routes to help bridge crew and shore side staff with route planning and the calculation of arrival times
Numerous route diagrams and tabulated route data to help users find information quickly, as well as chartlets clearly demonstrating the effects of climate, wave heights and load line zones
PORT GUIDES:
Provide port approach details that include information based in on the experience of seafarers.
LIST OF LIGHTS:
Provides information on all lights of navigational significance.
Descriptions of the characteristics of lights and fog signals, together with the equivalent foreign language light descriptions, to help bridge crews with identification
Tables to assist in the calculation of geographical and luminous ranges of lights
Details for all lights listed including the international number, location and/or name, geographical position, characteristics and intensity, elevation in metres, range in sea miles and description of structure
Published in 14 regional volumes (A-P) for simplicity and ease of handling
TIDE TABLES AND TIDAL STREAM ATLASES:
Provides detailed information on tidal conditions in coastal areas, port approaches and harbours.
Each volume of Tide Tables includes:
*Daily high and low-water times and heights for standard ports, time and height differences for secondary ports and harmonic constants for all ports where they are known
*Methods of prediction and information about the effects of meteorological conditions on tides
*Additional information on exceptional tidal factors provided for each area
MARITIME SECURITY CHARTS:
Provide security advice and information about reporting schemes in designated areas.
PLANNING:
Following the appraisal of all charts, nautical publications and additional information, a detailed passage plan should be prepared. This should cover the entire passage from berth to berth, including pilotage areas.
Planning for any one section of a route should be undertaken using wither all electronic or all paper charts rather than a mixture of chart types.
Prepare the passage plan complying with vessel-specific checklist and Company forms,divided into following legs:
Berth to open sea (For example - Pilot station)
Open sea transit
Transit through restricted waters (For example - Singapore strait transit)
Pilot station to berth
Whether planning using paper charts or ECDIS, the plotting of the route should follow established conventions that include the following details when applicable:
Planning of Vessel’s Routing
Comply with vessel-specific checklist for passage planning. In addition to the checklist,
consider the following local factors:
Any exceptional phenomena typical to the area - for example, abnormal waves SE
of South Africa
Local regulations or speed restrictions
Special routing and other measures through piracy prone areas - refer to the ‘List
of areas of perceived enhanced risks or listed areas’ by ‘Joint War Committee’
(JWC)
Master must confirm that the planned passage is the safest and economical considering the size, draught and type of cargo carried.
Marking of Information on Charts
Mark or highlight the following information on chart (paper or ENC) so that important
information is readily available, enhancing safe navigation:
1. Position when navigating across safety contours (Refer to NMM chapter ‘ECDIS’)
2. Parallel indexing (not from floating objects)
3.Methods and frequency of position fixing
4.Prominent navigation and radar conspicuous marks
5.No-go areas (excessive marking is discouraged)
6. Landfall targets and lights
7. Clearing lines and bearings
8. Transits, heading marks and leading lines
9. Significant tides or current
10. Required speed and changes in machinery status
11. Minimum under keel clearance
12.Positions where the echo sounder must be activated and recordings started
13.Crossing and high density traffic areas including fishing traffic and zones
14.Safe distance off danger, including underwater obstructions
15. Removal of anchor lashings
16.Contingency plans
17. Abort positions
18.VTS and reporting points
19.Air draft when passing under overhead obstructions
20.Wheel over positions and turn radius for course alterations
21.MARPOL, PSSA and local environmental regulated areas
22. Chart changes, if using paper charts
When marking, take care of following:
* Do not obscure the details and overcrowd the working areas of chart
*Record the information away from the track, drawing attention towards it
*On paper charts, do not use ink to mark courses or highlight any information. Erase
all previous courses and unnecessary information
SOME POINTS TO REMEMBER WHILE MAKING MARKINGS ON CHARTS:
Marking of No-Go Areas:
Mark all depths less than the maximum static draft + maximum squat and underwater
obstructions, near and around the course as No-Go Areas.
(Static draft is the deepest draft when vessel is not making way and is not subject to sea or squat and swell influences.)
Position Fixing Method and Interval:
Decide the position fixing frequency and method at the planning stages.The frequency of position fixing must be such that the vessel does not run into danger
during the interval between fixes.
Platforms or Installations:
Do not use platforms or installations as waypoints.
When laying out courses, never direct the course line towards an installation, but to a safe position outside the 500 m safety zone.
Give wide berth to platforms or installation as far as safe to do so.
Passage Planning in Ocean Waters:
Using guidance from the routing charts and ocean passages for the world, select the
optimum ocean route evaluating great circle or rhumb line tracks.When deemed necessary, Master to request weather routing advice and use discretion to follow the advised route.
Passage Planning in Coastal Waters and Restricted Waters:
Approach port or anchorages in accordance with the recommendations given in sailing
directions and port information.
When planning a coastal or restricted passage consider the following factors:
1. Do not go too close to land or hazards when allowing for favourable current or
Weather
2.Follow applicable rules when passing through TSS or recommended routes
3.Use conspicuous lights, beacons and other landmarks for position fixing
4.Allow sufficient margin of safety on both sides of plotted track for manoeuvring and
keeping clear of traffic
5.Plan the track to facilitate transit in the starboard side of the fairway, for collision
Avoidance
6.For port approaches, decide safe speed considering the traffic, number of vessel
anchored and the depths available
Passage Planning in Pilotage Waters:
When planning in pilotage waters, consider the following:
*Pilots may not board or disembark at the charted boarding grounds
*Diverting to anchorage without prior notice or without assistance of pilot
*An alternate passage to berth
Contingency Planning:
For better response of bridge team during emergencies, consider the worst-case scenarios
and contingency actions that may be needed.
Contingency planning must include but not be limited to the following:
* Abort points
* Alternate routes
* Available anchorages
* Waiting areas
* Emergency berths
EXCECUTION AND MONITORING:
The ships passage should be monitored to ensure that it is in accordance with the plan as checked and approved by the master and as briefed to the bridge team.
Compliance with the passage plan should be closely monitored by the OOW :
Check that the ships position is maintained within an authorised XTD , including the following alterations of course to avoid collision or following a planned alteration of course.
By fixing the position of the ship at a frequency dependant on the prevailing conditions and proximity of navigational hazards.
By cross checking the ships position by all available means including:
1.By visual or radar fixing techniques using ranges and bearing of targets
2.Echo sounder to monitor chartered depths and contours.
* By monitoring the integrity of information displayed on the navigational equipment.
NAVIGATION IN COSATAL OR RESTRICTED WATERS:
Navigation to be conducted on most suitable large scale ENC, RNC or paper charts available.
The position if the ship is fixed at frequent intervals by most appropriate means.
All relevant navigational marks are positively identified by the OOW.\
The OOW is aware of the mandatory reporting schemes.
The OOW takes into account the ships draught and manoeuvring characteristics which may affect navigation in restricted waters.
The OOW is aware of squat characteristics for individual loading conditions and effect of ship speed on squat.
MONITORING TECHNIQUES:
1.Azimuth bearings if chartered objects to fix the ships position.
2.heading transits which can provide an additional check for use when altering course.
3.Beam transits which can provide an additional check for use when altering course.
4.Clearing bearings which can be used to check that ship remains within safe area.
5. On RADAR: use parallel indexing, radar bearings, radar ranges.
MONITORING A PASSAGE PLAN ON ECDIS:
The correct passage plan is loaded on primary and back up ECDIS terminals.
The safety settings particularly depth safety contours are set in compliance with the SMS and reflect the current operational status of the ship including the actual draft.
Information from all sensors connected to the ECDIS is available and correct.
Keep in mind the capability and limitations of the ECDIS.
Always select the individual chart symbol to get additional information on it.
Avoid obscuring the chartered features and information’s, do not overload the ECIDS display with information.
Use the benefits of looking ahead feature.
Carry out radar overlay.
Display of relative or true vectors and appropriate information of them.
The bridge team should be aware of software anomalies and how to deal with them.
Q1 in chart work paper is always on Passage planning and it is compulsory let us see how to go about a question:
Create a rough idea on how you want the route to be.
Before you decide the track mark the no go areas.
Carry out parallel indexing wherever possible.
Carry out clearing ranges and clearing bearings wherever possible.
Mark the wheel over point or wheel over line.
Abort point or point of no return to be marked.
Mark the next chart.
Important events such as call master, Notice to E/R, VHF reporting
Marking of war zones, ECA areas, special areas as per MARPOL to be marked.
Piracy areas.
Contingency anchorage and overhead clearance if required to be marked.
Let’s TAKE AN EXAMPLE AND MAKE A PASSAGE PLAN:
We are asked to create a passage plan from pilot point to a coordinate given in question, given vessel is a VLCC 19.5m.
Mark all the NO GO AREAS AS APPLICABLE.
We know the draft here, so mark out all no go areas as per this draft keeping a good safety margin.
Mark the courses as shown above, they should be of big font so that it can be viewed from a distance also.
Write down information in boxes as shown above regarding the plotting interval.
Write down important events.
It’s a good practice to compare the echo sounder reading with the contour reading in the movement book, try to include this in the passage plan.
If time permits (IN THE MMD PAPER) include clearing bearings and clearing ranges.
WHAT IS CLEARING BEARING:
SUPPOSE OUR VESSEL IS TO GO FROM POINT A TO B AS SHOWN BELOW:
LETS TAKE A POINT ON THE COURSE, AND MEASURE THE BEARING TO LIGHT W.HWK TO BE 60 DEG T AS SHOWN BELOW.(THIS IS DONE IN PLANNING STAGE)
NOW DURING THE COURSE OF THE VOYAGE WE OBSERVE THE BEARING OF THE LIGHT AT THE POINT MARKED ON THE COURSE.
IF THE BEARING IS GREATER THAN 060T THAT MEANS THE VESSEL IS ON THE PORT SIDE OF THE COURSE AS SHOWN BELOW,PORT SIDE IS DANGER SIDE AS WE ARE MOVING CLOSE TO LAND AND WRECKS.
IF THE BEARING OBTAINED IS LESS THAN 060 T THAT MEANS THAT THE VESSEL IS ON THE STBD SIDE OF THE COURSE LINE AS SHOWN BELOW, STBD SIDE IS SAFE SIDE.
SO WE CAN CONCLUDE THAT IF THE BEARING IS MORE THAN 060T, THE VESSEL IS IN DANGER, BUT IF IT IS LESSER THAN 060T, THEN VESSEL IS SAFE.
SO THE CLEARING BEARING HERE WOULD BE WRITTEN AS NOT MORE THAN 060 T OR NMT 060T.
THE GYRO ERROR TO BE OBTAINED BEFORE CONVERTING GYRO BEARING TO TRUE BEARING
WHAT IS CLEARING RANGES?
Let’s SAY THAT VESSEL IS MOVING FROM POINT A TO B AS SHOWN BELOW.
NOW DURING THE PLANNING WE MARKED THE BEAM RANGE OF LIGHT W.HWK TO BE 5 MILES AS SHOWN BELOW
DURING THE COURSE OF THE VOYAGE WE TAKE A RADAR RANGE WHEN W.HWK IS ON PORT BEAM,WE GET RANGE AS 3’.
SO THE VESSEL IS ON PORT SIDE AS RANGE OBSERVED IS LOWER THAN WHAT WE HAD PLANNED, SO VESSEL IS IN DANGER.
NOW IN SAME SCENARIO IF VESSEL IS ON STBD SIDE OF COURSE LINE IT WILL HAVE A LARGER RANGE AS SHOWN BELOW
THUS WE CONCLUDE THAT IF THE RANGE IS MORE THAN 5 MILES VESSEL IS SAFE AND IF RANGE IS LESS THAN 5 MILES VESSEL IS IN DANGER.
SO IN THE PASSAGE PLANNING WE WOULD WRITE THIS AS CLEARING RANGE NOT LESS THAN 5 MILES OR CLEARING RANGE NLT THAN 5 MILES.
SOME OTHER COMMENTS YOU CAN INCLUDE IN PASSAGE PLAN:
IF HEAVY TRAFFIC IS EXPECTED WRITE DOWN “HEAVY TRAFFIC EXPECTED”
STRANGE CURRENTS OR FEATURES WRITE IT DOWN.
UNCHARTERED RIGS EXPECTED
IN YOUR ANSWER SHEET MAKE A WAYPOINT TABLE AS SHOWN BELOW.
MAKE A ROUGH SKETCH OF YOUR COURSES AS PLOTTED ON CHART IN ANSWER SHEET.