Terrestrial Navigation Passage-Planning.pptx
- 2. Passage Plan A passage plan or voyage plan is developed and used by a ship's bridge team to find the safest, and the most favourable and economical route. This comprehensive plan which covers the voyage from berth to berth and is adapted into the bridge management practices, should be detailed and easy to understand.
- 3. Who is in Charge of Passage Planning? The legal responsibility for the passage planning process lies on the vessel's captain. In practice, the captain often delegates such duty to a Navigational Officer, or Officer On Watch (OOW). Navigational Officers (i.e. Captain, Chief Officer, Second Officer, or Third Officer) are essential players for successful onboard management. They exercise responsibility for the people, cargo and the vessel itself from port to port. These officers make important decisions on navigation, communication, general maintenance, day-to-day dock operations and overall ship operation. The important role of ECDIS in Passage Planning is another reason that captains entrust Navigational Officers with this task. Generally, only they possess the necessary experience operating the ECDIS.
- 4. What Comprises a Passage Plan? The passage plan must cover the voyage "berth to berth." This means it starts as the vessel leaves the dock and ends only after the ship completes mooring. Consequently, it also covers the distancing from the harbor area, the transit portion of the voyage and the approach to the final mooring.
- 5. Objectives in Passage Planning 1. Safety of navigation 2. Safety of the ship 3. Efficiency of navigation 4. Protection of Environment 5. Reduction of human error 6. Establishment of proper watchkeeping procedures 7. Monitoring pilotage transit 8. Documentation and record-kepping
- 6. 4 Stages in Passage Planning
- 7. Appraisal This phase takes place before the beginning of the voyage. At this stage, the OOW must elaborate a detailed proposal of how he intends to conduct the passage. In doing so, he is to take a numerous set of factors into account, including: • The Captain's instructions (if any); • The eventual company's guidelines; • The marine environment; • Local regulations and warnings; • Weather forecasts (including tide and currents' predictions).
- 8. While performing this duty, the OOW will resort to a wide range of sources. These include: • A Chart Catalogue comprising different types of charts such as the Load Line Chart and Routeing Chart; • Admiralty sources (Admiralty Sailing Directions, Admiralty List of Lights and Fog Signals, Admiralty List of Radio Signals, Admiralty Distance Tables); • Ocean Passages of The World; • Tide Tables and Tidal Stream Atlas; • Notices to Mariners, Navigational Warnings; • Mariner's Handbook.
- 9. Planning The OOW has at this point collected all the necessary information within the Appraisal. Also, he proposed a general track to the captain. His next task in drafting a passage plan consists of planning the details of the voyage. The OOW will re-scale and lay down the track in the most suitable manner. The plan must also indicate areas of danger (e.g. landfalls, small islands, narrow passages, wrecks, reefs, No-Go Areas). Additionally, planning requires the OOW to provide various forms of information that are relevant to the voyage. The purpose of this requirement is to ensure the safety of the crew, marine life, and to protect the marine environment. SOLAS considers this information necessary to ensure a safe, successful voyage.
- 10. This information includes: • Safe speed; • Necessary speed alterations en-route; • Minimum under keel clearance; • Necessary change in machine status; • Course alteration points; • Methods and frequency of position fixing; • Existing ships' reporting and routing systems and vessel traffic services; • Areas subject to marine environmental protection rules; • Contingency plans in case of emergency, safe anchorage points, aborts.
- 11. After the OOW has finalized the passage plan, the captain needs to approve it. At this point, the OOW enters the plan into electronic navigation instruments. These generally include a GPS unit and one of the following: • Electronic Chart Display and Information System • ARPA system • Chartplotter
- 12. Execution As the name implies, this stage corresponds to the crew's practical execution of the plan. Noticeably, the Resolution regarded this phase as an essential part of the passage planning process. This stresses how the captain must regard the plan as a living document. That is to say, he is under the obligation to review it and change it should unexpected circumstances arise. Examples of such circumstances include meteorological changes, natural hazards, visibility- related factors, traffic conditions and routing information.
- 13. Monitoring This phase requires the crew to monitor the vessel's progress along the planned route. To do so, they employ standard methods including dead reckoning, celestial navigation, pilotage and electronic navigation. Parallel Index is also a useful tool to prevent the vessel from bumping into navigation hazards. During the monitoring phase, the ship must promptly respond to any sudden change in circumstances that may arise. As a consequence, factors like experience, good seamanship and personal appreciation come to play a crucial role. For the same reason, the monitoring phase envisages the cooperation of a deck officer to achieve successful implementation.
- 14. Thank you