[Admin]

1. Objective
To develop a voyage or passage plan for close and continuous monitoring of the vessel’s progress & position. Importance of safety of life, navigation and protection of marine environment shall be heed within the Guidelines for the execution of such plan.

2. Appraisal
– Condition & state of vessel (Stability, equipment, any operational limitations; permissible draught at sea, fairways and in ports; manoeuvring data, including any restrictions);

– special characteristics of cargo carried, its distribution, stowage and securing on board

– competent and well-rested crew

– up-to-date certificates and documents for vessel, equipment, crew, passengers or cargo

– appropriate scale, accurate and up-to-date charts for intended voyage (including NTMs and Radio Nav Warnings)

– up-to-date ASD, LLFS, ALRS (Admiralty Publications)

– relevant up-to-date information, incl;

.1 Routeing guides & passage planning charts (By competent authority E.g. UKHO);

.2 Current and tidal atlases and tide tables;

.3 Meteorological info

.4 weather routeing

.5 existing ships’ routeing and reporting systems, VTS and marine environmental protection measures (Ship’s Routeing Guide publication)

.6 volume of traffic density likely to be encountered

.7 pilot station (reporting point for Port Control, P/Stn using the assigned VHF Channels)

.8 guide to port entry (Look for port info, appropriate terminals, water density, shore-based emergency contacts)

.9 additional items pertinent to the type of vessel or its cargo, the particular areas the vessel will traverse, and the type of voyage or passage to be undertaken.

3. Planning
– detailed plan shall be from berth to berth including those areas where the services of a pilot will be used. (As of today’s concern, always pick the safest, most economical (check currents and winds), shortest possible route)

The planning should contain the following elements:

.1 plotting the intended route or track on appropriate scale charts. Indicate T course, intended speed, waypoints (indicate prominent points such as pilot embarkation/ disembarkation point, landmarks, major lights, VTS reporting lines, MARPOL Special Areas, BWM concerning areas, No-Go-Areas, Abort Point (where ship is still able to turn around and follow her reciprocating course should she deem proceeding further will put her in danger), Point of No Return (where the ship can no longer alter her set course except proceeding towards her intended course), contingency anchorages, etc.)

.2 for the safety of life, navigation and protection of marine environment the list of elements should be included but not exhaustive to:

– safe speed (refer to COLREGS Rule 6 – Safe Speed for interpretation)
– speed alteration en route (due to squat/ heel effect, bank cushion effects)
– min UKC at critical areas
– position where a change of machinery status is required (E.g. Stand By Engine – S.B.E. marked on course line)
– alteration points considering planned speed and any expected effect of tidal steams and currents
– method and freq of position fixing
– use of TSS and reporting system (Refer to Ship’s Routeing System publication)
– considerations relating to protection of marine environment (Measures to apply when transiting in MARPOL Special Areas or BWM Special Area)
– contingencies

4. Execution
– Finalized the plan as soon as ETD of current port confirmed. ETA to next port usually changes so a rough estimate using intended speed and DTG – pilot-to-pilot will be calculated for such ETA.

Conduct pre-departure checks on all equipment, cargo, status of machinery, means of embarkations, expected level of tides as per Tidal Atlases or Admiralty Tide Table, met/ nav warnings concerning the intended route (particularly in areas where low visibility accompanied with traffic) to be brought forward to the attention of Master as well as OOWs.

As every Master would say, ‘Better be safe, than sorry.’ Refer to the Master’s Standing Orders with regards to addressing your doubts prior to executing the planned voyage.

5. Monitoring
– The passage plan shall be kept readily accessible at all times for Master and OOWs to refer to.

– The progress of the vessel shall be closely and continuously monitored. Any changes to the plan should be made consistent with these Guidelines and clearly marked and recorded.

• This topic was modified 8 months ago by Admin.
• This topic was modified 8 months ago by Admin.
• This topic was modified 8 months ago by Admin.
• This topic was modified 8 months ago by Admin.

[Author]

Posts