09.02.

2016

PassagePlanningguidelineforoceangoingcargoships

Homepage||TankerNotes||ContainerShipOperations||OceanNavigation||

PassagePlanningguidelineforoceangoingcargoships
Beforeproceedingtosea,theMastershallcarefullycheckthePassagePlan,madeafter
receivingthevoyageinstructionfromtheChartererortheCompany.
PassageplanshallbemadefromberthtoberthactingontheprincipleofSafetyfirst,whilealso
takingoperatingefficiencyintoconsideration.

ThepassageplanshallbepreparednormallybytheSecondOfficer,signedforapprovalby
masterandforunderstandingbyallofficers,beforedeparture.BasedonthisGuide,theMaster
shallcollectnecessaryinformationandreviewthePlanincludingEmergencyContingencyPlans.

Containershipapproach

PreparationOfPassagePlanning
TheMastershallhavetheOfficerincharge(2ndOfficer)tocontroltheCharts,Nautical
publications,etc.,appropriatelyaccordingtoProceduresforControlofChartsandNautical
http://shipsbusiness.com/guidelineforpassageplanning.html

1/6

09.02.2016

PassagePlanningguidelineforoceangoingcargoships

Publicationsandcollectinformationnecessaryforthevoyage.
PreparationofCharts,Nauticalpublications,etc.
PrepareallthenecessaryCharts(BERTHTOBERTH)fortheintendedvoyage
UsechartsofanAppropriateScale.Amongchartsonthesamescale,choosethesuitableone
whichcoverstheShipsFarthestTrack.
Putthechartsintothecorrectorderofuseandalsonumberthemonreverseinserialorderof
use.
PreparethePortPlansandNavigationInformationChartsforthecoastalpartofthevoyage(the
adjacentseaarea).
AllnauticalCharts&Publicationsforthevoyageshouldbefullycorrectedtothelatestavailable
NoticetoMariners,includingNavigationalWarningsandT&Pnotices.

CollectingInformationandDataforPassagePlanning
Dataofthetideandcurrent,thetimeofSunriseandSunset,andtheshipsTimeCorrection
schedule.
DatafromRoutingchartsandvariousnauticalpublicationslikeSailingdirections,ListofLights,
ListofRadioSignals,Oceanpassages,Marinershandbook,etc.
NavigationalRulesandRegulationsthroughthepassage.
(Trafficscheme,Signals,methodofcommunicationswithVTS,etc.)
Draughtandothershipconditions.
SeaandWeatherforecast.
NavigationalWarning.
DistanceTable.
EnvironmentalrequirementsuchasBallastexchange.
ThisnecessaryinformationanddatashallbekeptinproperordersothattheOOWmaycheck
thematanytime.
ConfirmationofpreparationofMaterialsEssentialtoCompletetheVoyage
ThePassageplanshallhavethedescriptionofROB(Fuel,LubricatingoilandFreshwater)on
departure,theirdailyconsumptionandestimatedROBonarrivalasevidencetoprovethatthe
vesselhasconfirmedthatsheisabletoreachthedestinedport,inadditiontocarryingoutthe
requiredproceduresstipulatedinProceduresforPreparationforDeparture.
DrawingthePassagePlanontheChart
NecessaryinformationinthePassagePlanshallbeshownontheworkingchart,However,these
markingshallnotcausethechartsownfundamentalinformationtobeobscured.Ifthe
informationisovercrowded,itshallbeclearedfromthecourselineandshownwithreference
marksonthechart.
Thegeneralinformationwouldincludethecourselineanditsdirection
AlterationpointsWheeloverpointsNogoareasAbortpointsDistanceofffromanobstacle
etc(ParallelIndexing)ClearinglinePointwhereitisnecessarytochangetothenextchartand
theNextchartnumberReportingpointsNavigationalwarningsFishingtrafficareasetc
AdditionalInformationrequiredforEntering/DeparturePortand/orRestrictedWaterPointofS
/BEngine
PointforCallingtheMasterand/ortheChiefEngineer.
PointofSBE(StandbyEngine)
Distancetogotothepilotstation

http://shipsbusiness.com/guidelineforpassageplanning.html

2/6

09.02.2016

PassagePlanningguidelineforoceangoingcargoships

PointsToBeKeptInMindInPassagePlanning
IndrawingupaPassagePlan,theMastershallNOTbetoomuchswayedbyhowtoshortenthe
distancebutSelectanOptimalshiptrack
OceanandOpenWaters
Entertheplannedshiptrackonasmallscalecharttoobtainitsapproximatedistance.The
followingareamongthepointstobeconsideredwhensettingshipcourseline:
Selectanoptimalshipscourse.(GreatCircle,CompositeorRhumb.Lineintheorderof
preference,subjecttoprevalentweatherconditions)
UseinformationfromSeaandWeatherforecastand,incaseaWeatherServiceisadopted,
informationonrecommendableShipsRouting.
Besidesaboveanalyzing,theMastershallselecttheroutewhichisexpectedMinimumFuel
ConsumptionandMinimumHoursUnderWay.
CoastalandRestrictedWaters
Inthecaseofcoastalandrestrictedwatersnavigation,therearecertainrestrictionsonthe
navigationofshipsduetotheavailablewidthofchannel,waterdepth,heavyshippingtraffic,
IMOtrafficseparationschemesetc.
Followingshallbeconsideredwhendrawingupthecourseline
NoGoAreas
Whilesafelynavigablewatersarerestrictedbysuchfactorsasdraught,underkeellearanceand
tidalconditions,therearesomeCautionaryZonescalled'NoGoArea'wheretheshipcannot
navigatesafely.Theseareasmustbeshownbycrosshatching(usingonlyPencil)inregions
closetochartedtrack.
TominimizetheriskofgettingstrandedevenintheoccurrenceoftroubleontheEngineor
Steeringsystem,secureasmuchdistanceaspossiblefromtheCautionaryZone.
PutdowntheDistanceoffClearlyonthechartusingParallelIndexingfromtheobstacles.
SafeWater
AroundtheNoGoArea,secureSafeWaterwheretheshipcannavigatesafelybytakingMargins
ofSafetyintoconsideration.
IndeterminingSafeWaterconsiderthefollowing:
ShipconditionssuchasDraftandManeuveringPerformance
EffectsofOceanstream,TidalcurrentandTide
UnderKeelClearance
DistanceofffromtheShallowwaters,Obstaclesetc
UnderKeelClearance(UKC)
UKCthroughthevoyage,shallbekeptinprinciple,atleast20%oftheShipsDraftInRestricted
WaterssuchasPorts,CanalsorFairways,theUKCmaintainedmustbeatleast10%oftheships
draft.
Dependinguponthecircumstances,however,itisnecessarytogreatlyincreasethesemargins.
WhendeterminingUnderKeelClearance,considerthesepoints:
SquatoftheshipduetoShallowwatereffectandthenecessitytoReduceSpeedtodecreaseits
http://shipsbusiness.com/guidelineforpassageplanning.html

3/6

09.02.2016

PassagePlanningguidelineforoceangoingcargoships

effect
ThevesselsHeeling(duetoWindorTurning)andPitchingmovement
ReliabilityofChartedDepthData
PredictedTidalLevelsincludingifanyexpectedNegativeSurge
AreasofMobileBottom(Silting/Sandwaves)
AnychangeinWaterDensityinpassage(anditseffectondraft)
AccuracyofActualDraft
ReduceddepthsoverPipelinesandotherObstructions
IntherareinstancewhenavesselisrequiredtoentertheportwithUKCoflessthan10%,the
Masteristonotifythemanagingofficepriortransit.Heshouldalsodosoifheisinanydoubt
thatsufficientclearancecanbemaintainedthroughoutthevoyage.

SpecialUKCpolicyforVLCC&DeepDraughtvesselsTransitingthroughMalaccastraits&
Singaporestraits(Shallbecompliedinadditiontoabove):
a.MaximumpermissibleloadingdraughtbytheCompanyisrestrictedto20.50meter,while
transitingtheMalacca/SingaporeStraits
b.FollowLocalregulationsasperRulesfortheStraitsofMalacca&SingaporeStraits
c.VLCCsonherladenvoyagescanpassBUFFALOROCK(Singapore)duringtheDaytimeHigh
Tideonly.
d.MinimumallowableUKCtomaintainwhenpassingentirepassageis3.50meter(OneFathom
BankandBuffaloRock),
EXCEPTwhenpassingEASTERNBANK,intheseasonofNorthEastMonsoonattheSouthChina
Sea,whereMinimumallowableUKCtomaintainis4.00meter.
Tidalwindow
Wherethewatersareaffectedbylargetidalvariation,adequateUKCmaysometimesbe
attainableonlyduringtheperiodthatthepredictedtidehasachievedagivenheightandvessel
wouldneedtowaitforthesuitabletimetoCrosstheBar.
Coursealteration&wheeloverpositions
Alterationpointsshouldbemarkedoffwithbearings/rangesofterrestrialtargetsand/or
geographicalcoordinates.Wheeloverpositionsshallbemarkedusingshipsmaneuveringdata
whilenavigatinginconfinedwatersandlargescalecharts.
Parallelindexing
Thisisusefulmethodofmonitoringcrosstracktendencyinanyconditionofvisibility.Itisa
particularlyvaluabletoolapproachingportandduringpilotagewhenthemasterisableto
continuallymonitorthevesselspositioninthiswaywhiletheOOWplotsthepositionobtained
fromotherdata.
Regulations
MastermustbeguidedbyOwners,CharterersandLocalRegulationsregardingpassageand
offshoredistances,oftenwithregardtoprotectionofthemarineenvironment.
AbortsandContingencies
EvenifaPassagePlanhasbeenwellplannedandconducted,theremaybesomecasesin
restrictedwaterswhenthePassagePlanwillhavetobeabandonedduetochangein
circumstances(likeequipmentfailure,portinstructionsetc)
TheAbortPointisapositiontobemarkedonthechartedcoursewheretheshipmayabandon
http://shipsbusiness.com/guidelineforpassageplanning.html

4/6

09.02.2016

PassagePlanningguidelineforoceangoingcargoships

herpassageandbeabletoreturn(orholdpositionsafely).
Takecarewhenmarkinganabort.Attheabortposition,thereshouldbesufficientsearoomfor
theshiptoundertakeanyofthefollowingmaneuversinsafety:
Turnaround
Stopinsafewaters
Anchor
Oncethispointispassed,theshipiscommittedandmustcontinueonthepassage.
ContingencyPlanningbytheMastershallbedoneinadvancewhichmayincludeAlternative
routes,Safeanchorages,Waitingareas,Emergencyberthetc.,afterpassingtheAbortPoint.
Positionfixing
Thefrequencyofthepositionfix,asamaximum,shouldbesuchthattheshipiskeptfreefrom
dangerbetweenfixesandifadeviationoccurs,avoidingactioncanbetakentoguaranteethe
safetyoftheship.
0therinformation
Otherinformationmaybeincludedinpassageplansuchasreportingpoints,Pilotboardingarea,
Tugengagement,Heavytrafficarea.Also,Anecdotalinformationtobeincludedbasisprevious
voyagesorexperience.
Changesordeviationinpassageplan
Anychangesordeviationmadetotheplanshouldbemadeconsistentwiththisprocedure.
Bridgeteammeetingshallbeheld&newsupplementarypassageplanshallbemadetocover
changesordeviationinroutetoensuresafepassageofvessel.Suchchangesordeviationclearly
markedandrecordedinDeckLogbook.

RelatedInfo:
GuidetowatchofficerforusingECDIS
Guidetowatchofficerforshipsnavigation
Actionbyvesselsnavigatingincongestedwater
Actionbyvesselsnavigatinginanareaofrestrictedvisibility
Shipsnavigationinconfinedwatercheckitem
Heavyweathercountermeasuresforprudentnavigator
NaticalPublicationscorrectingprocedureandrelevantguideline
Deckofficersguidelineforsafeanchoring
Meetingroughseaconditionsbycontainerships
Parametricrollcountermeasures

http://shipsbusiness.com/guidelineforpassageplanning.html

5/6

09.02.2016

PassagePlanningguidelineforoceangoingcargoships

Otherinfopages!
ShipsCharterpartiesRelatedterms&guideline
StevedoresinjuryHowtopreventinjuryonboard
EnvironmentalissuesHowtopreventmarinepollution
Cargo&BallastHandlingSafetyGuideline
ReefercargohandlingTroubleshootandcountermeasures
DGcargohandlingProcedures&Guidelines
SafetyinengineroomStandardprocedures
QuestionsfromuserandfeedbackReadourknowledgebase
Homepage

ShipsBusiness.comismerelyaninformationalsiteaboutvariousaspectsofships
operation,maintenanceprocedure,preventionofpollutionandmanysafetyguideline.The
proceduresexplainedhereareonlyindicative,notexhaustiveinnatureandonemustalwaysbe
guidedbypracticesofgoodseamanship.
Userfeedbackisimportanttoupdateourdatabase.Foranycommentorsuggestionsplease
Contactus
SiteUseandPrivacyReadourprivacypolicyandsiteuseinformation.
//Home//Termsandconditionsofuse
Copyright2015www.shipsbusiness.comAllrightsreserved.

http://shipsbusiness.com/guidelineforpassageplanning.html

6/6