PASSAGE PLANNING Flashcards
You are asked to plan a passage from Southampton to the Bahamas, take me through the Appraisal process?
Get the passage planning checklist from the SMS to ensure nothing is missed.
Firstly
- NP131 Chart Catalogue
- overview of the route on large scale gnomonic charts - Gives
rough distance of the passage - Estimate DEP/ARR times
- Fuel or stores stop
- Time zone changes
Once happy with the route I can transfer the passage to a Mercator chart, medium scale for ocean passages, small scale charts for port approaches/ pilotage
- Ensuring all charts and pub’s are up to date
- Ocean Passages of the World: for dist tables, recommended
great circle routes, climatic charts for the extent of ice and wind
conditions
Secondly
- Admiralty Sailing Directions for info on coastal passage at either
end e.g. high traffic densities - Total Tide for ports en route and destination
ALRS - VOL 1 Maritime Radio Stations for Coast stations
- VOL 2 Radio Aids to Navigation, Differential GPS (DGPS), Legal
Time, Radio Time Signals and Electronic Position Fixing System
for AtoN, Racon Beacons, Daylight savings time and dates - VOL 3 - Maritime Safety Information Services for Navtex and
SafetyNET stations and safety information broadcasts - VOL 4 Meteorological Observation Stations for the location of met stations
- VOL 5 - GMDSS for comms for distress and search and rescue,
extracts from SOLAS and ITU regs, MRCC contacts, NAVTEX and
MSI information - VOL 6 - Pilot Services, Vessel Traffic Services and Port
Operations for Port and pilot contacts, VTS information,
reporting systems - Load Line Charts for areas that you can’t enter, might result in a
composite great circle - Security charts to highlight dangerous areas, company SMS
checklist should be consulted when passing through these
areas - MARPOL areas for what and where you can discharge
- Ships routing guide for routing schemes adopted by the IMO
that may need to be followed - Mariners handbook for useful information on a range of topics
Thirdly
* Looking at forecasts for the upcoming route that may affect the
passage of the ship (shipping forecast, company private
forecasting systems, internet, Sat-C, Navtex)
- Contingency plans to consider for the route
Same passage, take me through the planning stage?
The planning stage will be from berth to berth and include
- Visual representation of the voyage
a pilotage plan - Summary of the passage in written form
- Navigational workbook
- Visual representation on a paper chart or ENC Shall include;
- WP’s, Course to steer (MAG too), leg Dist, no go areas, safe
water, nav hazards identified, planned track, turn radius, wheel
over points, clearing bearings and transits, PI lines, reporting
points, decision points, contingency plans, manning levels,
discharge areas, cross-track distances, position fixing features
- WP’s, Course to steer (MAG too), leg Dist, no go areas, safe
What is APEM?
A systematic process for creating a passage plan to ensure all eventualities you may encounter have been considered
Appraisal, Planning, Execution, Monitoring
What is involved in the Appraisal stage of passage planning?
It is when you gather all the information needed for the
intended passage to find the safest and most economical route
from berth to berth.
Items included in the Appraisal stage are:
- Ensure you have all the up to date charts and publications for
the intended passage - Crew requirements, certification and documentation in order
and valid - Ensure the vessel is capable of the passage
- Provisions required, fuel, oil, water, food and consumables
- Weather trends and tendencies are known
- Tidal heights, tidal windows and areas of strong currents
identified - Ports of refuge identified
- Distances of intended legs and fuel range of the vessel are
taken into confederation - Hazardous areas to be avoided identified
What is involved in the Planning stage of passage planning?
This is where you draw your intended passage onto the chart using waypoints and ground tracks from berth to berth, the plan must be made on your primary means of navigation (Paper or Electronic).
Items included in the planning stage are:
- Courses and distances for each leg marked
- Aids to navigation marked
- Hazards and “no go zones” marked
- Parallel index lines drawn in pilotage and coastal areas
- Wheel over points
- Tide critical areas marked (heights and strong currents)
- Radio reporting requirements
- Abort points
- Ports of refuge/ contingency plans
- VTS radio reporting requirements
- Pilot requirements and frequencies
- Call master points
What is involved in the Execution stage of passage planning?
This is where we add additional information to the plan closer to the time of departure.
Items to be included in the execution stage are:
- Weather conditions and forecast
- Determine the time of departure and calculate the ETAs
- With ETAs mark the tidal heights and currents in tide critical
areas - Expected traffic on the passage
- Check for any hazards to navigation in place
- Confirm logistical details such as pilots, berthing and bunkering
- Complete pre departure checklists
- Logbook entries made
- Passage plan to be approved and signed off by captain
What is involved in the Monitoring stage of passage planning?
The monitoring stage is when we are underway, the main objective is to monitor the vessels progress against the plan.
- Constant monitoring of the vessels position by multiple means
(never rely 100% on GPS) - Ensure a good navigational look out and GMDSS watch is being
maintained at all times - Ensure ETAs are being met
- Regular checks of navigational equipment on the bridge
- Comply with IRPCS and MARPOL regulations
- Comply with the Masters standing orders
- Any changes need to be approved by the Master
How do you check a chart is up to date?
Notices to Mariners index
Within the paper chart corrections section of each weekly NTM is an index of affected charts. The OOW can cross check this list against the vessel’s chart folio and make a list of which charts require correction. The corrections themselves are found later in the same section.
UKHO Website
The OOW can visit the UKHO website(opens in a new tab) and use the ‘view update list’ function to search for a chart number. A list will be provided containing all relevant corrections published since the latest edition of the chart was released. This can be very useful for cross checking whether a chart is up-to-date.
Scan the QR code
Scanning the QR code in the bottom corner of the chart will immediately load the NTMs result page within the UKHO website for that chart. The OOW just needs to compare the NTM numbers with those on the bottom left-hand corner of the chart.
How do you update a Nautical Chart
To assist in chart corrections, it is useful to consult
- NP 294 – How to Keep your Admiralty Products Up-to-Date’.
The OOW should also refer to
- NP 5011 – Symbols and Abbreviations used on Admiralty Paper
Charts’ to ensure symbols are drawn correctly.
How frequently are chart corrections published in NTMs?
Weekly
Complex chart corrections are often promulgated in what format?
As a block or patch which can be cut out and stuck onto the chart using adhesive.
What should the OOW do with the NTM index of chart corrections?
They should cross-check the NTM index against the vessel’s chart folio index and make a list of which charts require correction.
Smaller chart corrections are usually printed on what type of paper and why?
They are usually printed onto translucent tracing paper. These can be overlaid onto the chart and features (soundings, contours, lat/long grids, etc) on the tracing paper make it easier to position the correction in exactly the right place.
Which publication contains all symbols and abbreviations used on paper charts?
NP 5011 – Symbols and Abbreviations used on Admiralty Paper Charts
Why is magenta ink used for chart corrections?
It stands out clearly as a correction but ensures that the correction will not disappear under red lighting.
What publications do we need for passage planning?
- Admiralty Sailing Directions (Pilot Books)
- Mariners Handbook (NP100)
- Ocean Passages of the World (NP 136)
- Admiralty Lists of Lights and Fog signals
- Admiralty List of Radio signals (Vol 1 - 6)
- Admiralty Tide Tables & Tidal Stream Atlases
- Admiralty Distance Tables (NP 350)
- Norries Nautical Tables
- The nautical Almanac (NP 314)
- M Notices
- IAMSAR Vol 3
- International Code of Signals
Which UKHO publication supports passage planning of port approach and coastal navigation and also contains detailed information on ports?
Admiralty Sailing Directions.
Which UKHO publication provides information on the GMDSS system?
Admiralty List of Radio Signals, Volume 5 - Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS).
Which two UKHO publications are used during celestial navigation?
The Nautical Almanac and the Admiralty Sight Reduction Tables for Marine Navigation.
Which piece of software has largely replaced the use of Admiralty Tide Tables and Tidal Stream Atlases onboard?
Admiralty Total Tide (ATT).
What is an AENP?
Admiralty e-Nautical Publication.
Which UKHO publication gives contact details and procedures for ports around the world?
Admiralty List of Radio Signals, Volume 6 - Pilot Services, Vessel Traffic Services and Port Operations
Which volume of IAMSAR is carried by vessels?
IAMSAR Volume III - Mobile Facilities.
Which IMO convention establishes the principles for maintaining a safe navigational watch?
The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW).
When may a vessel’s Bridge be manned by only one Officer?
If approved by the Master, ‘sole lookout’ may be appropriate in daylight, good visibility, an appropriate navigational and traffic situation, and when a lookout is immediately available to be summoned to the Bridge whenever the OOW deems it necessary.
How might the status of Engine Room manning affect the Bridge?
Many vessels operate with Unmanned Machinery Spaces (UMS) while on passage. When they do, this may increase the number of alarms that sound on the Bridge, increasing the workload on the OOW. This should therefore be taken into account when considered the appropriate level of Bridge manning.
Who must always be physically on the Bridge when the vessel is underway?
A suitably-qualified watchkeeping officer.
How might Bridge manning levels change during a passage?
The Master may decide to increase Bridge manning levels during bad weather, poor visibility or when the vessel is close to navigational hazards or areas of high traffic density. The Bridge manning may also vary from day to night if the vessel operates with a ‘sole lookout’ by day.
What is the difference between a lookout and a helm?
A lookout is focused on maintaining a good lookout, whereas a helm is focused on steering the vessel. If the lookout is asked to take the wheel, they are not considered able to maintain a good lookout, unless on a small vessel with unobstructed, all-round visibility.
As a minimum, a handover during a navigational watch should include?
The estimated or actual position of the vessel.
The current heading, course and speed.
Confirmation of the intended courses and speeds according to the passage plan and any dangers to navigation which are expected to be encountered.
The content of the Masters Standing Orders, Night Orders and any other specific instructions.
Consideration of tides, currents, weather conditions, visibility and their impact on navigation.
The status of propulsion equipment currently in use, including whether or not the Engine Room is manned.
The status of all navigation and Bridge equipment, including GMDSS and other communications equipment.
Gyro and magnetic compass errors.
Traffic conditions and vessels that may require avoiding action to be taken.
Any ongoing operations onboard and the status of planned work.
The status of environmental discharges and the proximity of environmental limits.
The day shapes, lights and sound signals in use as per the COLREGs.
Any other pertinent information that may affect the watch.
When should the OOW not commence the handover?
The OOW should not commence the handover if they are in doubt whether the relieving watch are capable of carrying out their duties, such as through intoxication with drugs or alcohol, or due to fatigue. They should also not commence the handover when a manoeuvre is in progress.
What should occur before the handover begins?
The relieving Officer should be given time to allow their eyes to adjust and to begin to gain situational awareness. They should also review the Master’s Standing and/or Night Orders.
If the relieving Officer is fatigued to the point that the OOW believes that they will not be able to safely carry out the watch, what should they do?
They should immediately call the Master and not hand over the watch.
What should the handover process at sea end with?
A formal and explicit exchange of the conn.
When the Master is on the Bridge, who gives helm orders?
It depends on which of the Officers on the Bridge at the time has the conn. The presence of the Master on the Bridge doesn’t relieve the OOW of their responsibility to keep a safe watch until formally and explicitly relieved.
Which MGN gives guidance on the maintenance of a safe navigational watch?
MGN 315 (M) - Keeping a Safe Navigational Watch on Merchant Vessels
Which part of the STCW Convention relates to watchkeeping?
Chapter VIII. Part A of the STCW Code contains ‘Standards Regarding Watchkeeping’ and Part B contains ‘Guidance Regarding Watchkeeping’.
What are the three key priorities of a safe navigational watch?
The safety of the vessel, its crew and the protection of the marine environment.
Which of the COLREGs requires the maintenance of a good lookout?
Rule 5.
What must the OOW do regarding the passage plan in order to maintain a safe navigational watch?
The OOW must execute the approved passage plan and inform the Master if they need to deviate from the planned track and/or leave the planned cross-track corridor.
Is the OOW permitted to operate the engines without seeking permission from the Master?
Yes. The engines must always be at the disposal of the OOW so that they can take action, if necessary.
What should the OOW do if they are on the Bridge with the Pilot and they are in doubt as to their actions or intentions?
The OOW should seek clarification from the Pilot and, if doubt still exists, they must notify the Master immediately and take whatever action they deem necessary before the Master arrives.
When and why is the Pilot Card used?
The Pilot Card, presented to the Pilot by the Master during the Master/Pilot Exchange, provides an overview of the vessel’s particulars, current condition and crucial manoeuvring information.
How should the Bridge be manned while at anchor?
Although the STCW Code does permit the Master some leeway, best practice dictates that the Bridge should be manned by a suitably-qualified Officer at all times while at anchor.
Which Code gives guidance on the keeping a watch at anchor, in port and during cargo operations?
The STCW Code.
During a cargo watch, the OOW should ensure that the vessel is loaded in accordance with which plan?
The cargo plan.
What action should the OOW take on receiving a weather warning?
The OOW should immediately inform the Master.
How should the OOW monitor the vessel’s position while at anchor?
The OOW should continuously monitor the vessel’s position, using a variety of independent means, such as radar ranges and bearings from conspicuous points and/or visual bearings/transits, in addition to GNSS/ECDIS anchor watch functions.
When keeping a deck watch in port, what should the OOW monitor regarding the crew?
The OOW should monitor the crew and ensure that they are working safely and using appropriate PPE, and that risk assessments, Permits-to-Work and toolbox talks are in place. They should also ensure that sufficient crew are onboard at all times to enable the vessel to respond to an emergency.
What action should the OOW take when they suspect that the vessel is dragging anchor?
They should immediately call the Master. In the time it takes for the Master to come to the Bridge or if they cannot be reached, the OOW should take all actions required for the safety of the vessel, such as mustering the anchor party and veering more chain and/or ordering the Engine Room to start main engines.
