Chapter 4 - EXECUTING THE PASSAGE/VOYAGE PLAN Flashcards
EXECUTING THE PASSAGE/VOYAGE PLAN (final details)
Final details will need to be confirmed when the actual timing of the passage can be established
ETAs for Tide
Expected Times of Arrival at critical points to take advantage of favourable tidal streams.
Tatics of EXECUTING THE PASSAGE/VOYAGE PLAN
ETA for Daylight
ETAs at critical points where it is preferable to make a daylight passage or with the sun behind the ship.
Tatics of EXECUTING THE PASSAGE/VOYAGE PLAN
Traffic Conditions
Traffic Conditions at focal points
Tatics of EXECUTING THE PASSAGE/VOYAGE PLAN
Destination ETA
ETA at destination particularly where there may be no advantage to he gained by early arrival, or where a pilot boarding time has been confirmed.
Tatics of EXECUTING THE PASSAGE/VOYAGE PLAN
Tidal Streams
Tidal Stream information, obtained from the chart or tidal stream atlases, can be included in the planned passage when the time of transit of the relevant area is known. Ideally, courses to steer should be calculated prior to making the transit, though in fact, strict adherence to the planned track will automatically compensate for tidal streams. Current information can also be obtained and shown on the chart.
Tatics of EXECUTING THE PASSAGE/VOYAGE PLAN
Plan Modification
It must always be borne in mind that safe execution of the passage may only be achieved by modification of the plan in the case of navigational equipment becoming unreliable or inaccurate or time changes having to be made e.g. delayed departrne.
Tatics of EXECUTING THE PASSAGE/VOYAGE PLAN
Additional Personnel
To achieve safe execution of the plan it may be necessary to manage the risks by using additional deck or engine personnel. This will include an awareness of positions at which it will be necessary to:
1 Call the master to the bridge for routine situations such as approaching the coast, passing through constrained waters, approaching the pilot station etc.
2 Change from unattended to manned machinery space.
3 Call an extra certificated officer to the bridge.
4 Make personnel, in addition to the watchkeepers, available for bridge duties such as manning the wheel, keeping look out, etc.
5 Make personnel, in addition to the watchkeepers, available for deck duties such as preparing pilot ladders, clearing and standing by anchors, preparing berthing equipmen~ engaging tugs, etc.
Tatics of EXECUTING THE PASSAGE/VOYAGE PLAN
Briefing
Before commencing the voyage/passage it will be necessary to brief all concerned. This ensures that all personnel are aware of their involvement in the proposed planned passage/voyage and also gives them the opportunity to query or comment on any part of the plan that they do not fully understand. Briefing may take place over a considerable period of time. As the actual commencement of the voyage approaches, certain specific personnel will have to be briefed so that work schedules and requirements can be planned.
In particular, any variation from the routine running of the ship, e.g. doubling of watches, anchor party requirements etc. must be specifically advised to involved personnel, either by the master or the navigator. Such briefing will require frequent updating and different stages will have to be re-briefed as the voyage progresses. Briefing will make individuals aware of their own part in the overall plan and contributes to their work satisfaction.
Tatics of EXECUTING THE PASSAGE/VOYAGE PLAN
Fatigue
Prior to the commencement of the passage, and in certain cases, during the passage, it may be necessary for the master to ensure that rested and unfatigued personnel are available. This could include such times as leaving port, entering very heavy traffic areas, bad weather conditions or high-risk situations such as transiting a narrow strait etc. This availability can be achieved, within the limits of the total number of persons available, by ensuring that watchkeepers of all descriptions are relieved of their duties well in advance of being required on watch in order that they may rest.
This could require changes to routine watchkceping periods, extending certain watches or even curtailing watches but it is at the master’s discretion and he should not hesitate to make such changes.
Tatics of EXECUTING THE PASSAGE/VOYAGE PLAN
Passage/Voyage Preparation
One of the basic principles of management is ensuring that the workplace is prepared and readied for the ensuing task. This will normally be the task of a junior officer who will prepare the bridge for sea. Such routine tasks are best achieved by the use of a checklist but care has to be taken to ensure that this does not just mean that items on the checklist are ticked without the actual task being done.
Tatics of EXECUTING THE PASSAGE/VOYAGE PLAN
Bridge Preparation
At the time designated by the master, the officer responsible should prepare the bridge by:
1 Ensuring that the passage plan and supporting information is available and to hand. It is likely that the navigating officer responsible for preparation of the passage plan will have made these items ready; nevertheless, their readiness should still be confirmed. Charts should be in order, in the chart drawer and the in use chart be available on the chart table. It is bad practice to have more than one chart on the table at a time, as information read from one and transferred to the other may not be correct.
2 Checking that chart table equipment is in order and to hand, e.g. pens, pencils, parallel rules, compasses, dividers, note pads, scrap pads, etc.
3 Checking that ancillary watchkeeping equipment is in order and to hand, e.g. binoculars, azimuth rings, Aldis lamp, etc.
4 Confirming that monitoring and recording eqUipment, e.g. course recorder, engine movement recorder is operational and recording paper replaced if necessary.
5 Confinning that the master gyro is fully operational and correct and repeaters aligned. The magnetic compass should be checked.
6 Checking that all instrument illumination lamps are operational and their light levels adjusted as required. The availability and whereabouts of spares should be checked.
7 Checking navigation and signal lights.
8 Switching on any electronic navigational equipment that has been shut down and the operating mode and position confinned.
9 Switching on and confinning the readouts of echo sounders and logs and confinning associated recording equipment.
10 After ensuring that the scanners are clear, switching on and tuning radars and setting appropriate ranges and modes.
11 Switching on and testing control equipment i.e. telegraphs, combinators, thrusters and steering gear as appropriate.
12 Switching on and testing communications equipment both internal (telephones and portable radios) and external (VHF and MF radios, NAVTEX, I:-IMARSAT and GMDSS system, as appropriate.)
13 Testing the whistle.
14 Ensuring that clear view screens and wipers are operational and that all window, are clean.
15 Confirming that all clocks and recording equipment are synchronised.
16 Ensuring that the workplace is in correct order, lighting is as it should be, doors and windows open and close easily, temperature controls are set as appropriate and movable objects are in their correct place.
17 Switching on and correctly entering the ship’s data. into the AIS.
18 After ensuring that there is no relevant new information on the Telex, Fax or Navtex advising the master that the bridge is ready for sea.
Tatics of EXECUTING THE PASSAGE/VOYAGE PLAN
