Passage Planning – Essential Steps
- 1. Appraisal
- 2. Planning
- 3. Execution
- 4. Monitoring Passage planning or voyage planning is a procedure to develop a complete description of a vessel’s voyage from start to finish. The plan includes leaving the dock and harbour area, the en route portion of a voyage, approaching the destination, and mooring, the industry term for this is ‘berth to berth’. ...
- Appraising all relevant information.
- Planning the intended voyage.
- Executing the plan taking account of prevailing conditions.
- Monitoring the vessel's progress against the plan continuously.
What is voyage planning and how does it work?
The practice of voyage planning has evolved from pencilling lines on nautical charts to a process of risk management. Monitoring progress and comparing it to the plan are key to passage planning. Passage planning consists of four stages:
How do I start planning my first voyage?
Voyage planning starts with the appraisal stage. Before each voyage begins, the navigator should develop a detailed mental model of how the entire voyage will proceed. The appraisal stage consists of gathering and contemplating all information relevant to the voyage.
What is included in a voyage plan?
A Voyage Plan contains the following: Appraisal - is confirming that you’re intended Voyage Plan is safe. This can be achieved through consultation of relevant publication that will be used in your Voyage Plan. It includes: Planning - In the planning stage, the actual voyage plan is executed.
How do you record your voyage plan?
The IMO explains that the voyage plan should be clearly marked and recorded on the appropriate charts, as well as on CD and/or in a voyage plan notebook. The officers of the navigational watch should have access to the plan at all times throughout the voyage.
Steps in ship voyage planning
Regulations require shipping companies to complete ship voyage planning in four stages. These are:
Challenges of ship voyage planning
Voyage planning is a complex, labor-intensive process that requires intense attention to detail. Repetitive manual input can lead to human error: “Multiplied across vessels, companies and fleets, [voyage planning] can show inefficiency, for an industry where optimal resource use and cost savings are now more important than ever,” noted one expert .
What is the plan phase of a voyage?
Planning – during the planning phase, the ship's navigation officer plots the intended route of the voyage, notes any dangers and gets the plan approved by ship's master prior to the commencement of the voyage. Execution – this phase involves the actual execution of the passage plan, as well as taking any rising factors into consideration ...
What is the final part of the voyage planning process?
Monitoring – the final part of the voyage planning process is monitoring and seeing the plan through to completion. It involves close and continuous monitoring by the officers of the navigational watch.
What are the elements of a ship?
Some of the elements the ship's navigation officer should consider during the planning include: 1 safe speed (taking hazards, the vessel’s maneuvering capabilities, and water depth into consideration); 2 the cargo’s characteristics; 3 when/where to alter the speed, given factors such as daylight and tidal restrictions; 4 the condition and competency of the crew; 5 clearance; 6 meteorological conditions; 7 the certifications and documents of the vessel and crew members; 8 course alteration points; 9 the method and frequency of position fixing; 10 the use of the routing system, reporting protocols and the vessel traffic services; 11 precautions for protecting the marine environment; and 12 contingency plans.
How many elements are in the IMO guidelines?
The IMO lists more than 50 elements in the Guidelines for Voyage Planning that should be considered when creating a plan. The guidelines are specific and thorough “to ensure safety of life at sea, safety and efficiency of navigation, and protection of the marine environment during the intended voyage or passage.”
Why is proper navigation important?
Proper planning and navigation is crucial to accident avoidance. In fact, 80 percent of maritime accidents are the result of errors made by those in charge of navigation, according to SOLAS ANNEX 24: Voyage Planning. A little careful planning can help prevent maritime disasters.
What are the considerations for a small vessel?
SOLAS recommends that smaller vessels at least take the following into considerations before embarking on a trip: weather; tides; vessel limitations; navigational dangers; contingency plan; and. leaving a trustworthy person on shore with the route schedule and details.
What should a ship's navigation officer consider during the planning process?
Some of the elements the ship's navigation officer should consider during the planning include: safe speed (taking hazards, the vessel’s maneuvering capabilities, and water depth into consideration); the cargo’s characteristics; when/where to alter the speed, given factors such as daylight and tidal restrictions;
What is a voyage plan?
A Voyage Plan or Passage Plan is intended to make the Bridge Management Team to be well informed about the intended voyage of the vessel, including its contingency plans in the event of an emergency. The Voyage Plan is from berth to berth and must be updated in case there are any changes made from the original plan. The Captain is the overall responsible for the proper, safe approval of the plan and may delegate a responsible officer who will create it. As we all know, Voyage Planning is normally delegated to the Navigating Officer of the ship. A Voyage Plan contains the following:
What is the planning stage of a voyage?
Planning - In the planning stage, the actual voyage plan is executed. The charts must be neatly and well prepared giving due regard to safety and contingencies in the event of an emergency. It includes:
What is an appraisal in a voyage?
Appraisal - is confirming that you’re intended Voyage Plan is safe. This can be achieved through consultation of relevant publication that will be used in your Voyage Plan. It includes:
What is a safe and executable voyage plan?
A safe and executable Voyage Plan is the aim of every deck officers, to safely navigate the ship from one port to another. I have discussed from my previous post “How to make a Voyage Plan“, the basic things that you need on making your Voyage Plan. I will be discussing today at Pinoy Maritime, a more specific aim of making a Voyage Plan.
What to ask the captain of a ship?
You must ask the captain regarding distance-off coasts, additional instructions and information from the charterers and agent of the destination port, restrictions during the voyage with regards to your draft and air draft, tides and currents of the destination port, reporting procedures during the passage or voyage, and so-on. I will elaborate it later as we start discussing about the checklist and the plotting.
What is a voyage planner?
The Voyage Planner is an efficient tool of Live Map Toolbar, that will help you estimate profitability, plan and track voyages, all in one place.
What is the origin point of a voyage?
The origin point of your voyage can be a port, any point on the map or the current position of a specific vessel, while the destination point must always be a port. You can fill in the field by
How to revert MarineTraffic route?
Your latest edit can be reverted by clicking on the “Undo” icon. At any point, you can go back to the initial MarineTraffic suggested route by clicking the “Undo” icon in the left panel, just below the route details. Route Suggestions welcome
How many legs can you have on a voyage?
You can add more destinations, creating voyages with up to 9 legs in total. To do so, either click on a port icon on the map or click on “Add new leg destination” under the destination field and search for a port.
How to account for weather delay?
To account for weather delay expected, complete the Delay input in the form of a percentage. This will affect the operating speed used in all calculations per leg.
Can you select a vessel in a single speed mode?
Here you can select a specific vessel (if you have not done so in the Map view). You may also choose between Single Speed or Multiple Speeds mode. When in Single Speed mode, the speed is pre-populated with the one in Voyage Options (Left Panel in Map).
Can you see all waypoints at once?
NOTE: Depending on the route length and zoom level, not all waypoints are visible at all times. This is why seemingly consecutive waypoints may not be consecutively numbered, when at a zoom level below 9. For full visibility zoom in as much as your route requires, or from zoom level 9 and above, in order to view all available waypoints.
What is voyage planning?
2. Planning. 3. Execution. 4. Monitoring. Passage planning or voyage planning is a procedure to develop a complete description of a vessel’s voyage from start to finish.
Why is voyage planning important?
Having and using a voyage plan is of essential importance for safety of life at sea, safety and efficiency of navigation and protection of the marine environment. Voyage planning is necessary for all types of vessels on all types of voyages, and the plan’s scope should be based on all information available, should be “berth to berth,” ...
What is a good passage plan?
A good passage plan will include a track line laid out upon the best-scale charts available. This track is judged with respect to at least nine separate criteria given in Guidelines including under-keel clearance, safe speed, air draft, the use of routing and reporting services (TSS and VTS), and the availability of contingencies in case of emergency.
What is the next stage of the voyage?
The next stage of the process is known as the planning stage. Once information is gathered and considered, the navigator can begin the process of actually laying out the voyage. The process involves projecting various future events including landfalls, narrow passages, and course changes expected during the voyage. This mental model becomes the standard by which the navigator measures progress toward the goal of a safe and efficient voyage, and it is manifested in a passage plan.
How many elements are there in the passage planning guidelines?
The Guidelines specify fifty elements of passage planning, some of which are only applicable in certain situations.
What is the third stage of passage planning?
The third stage of passage planning is the execution stage. The IMO was careful to include execution as part of the process of passage planning.
What are the next two stages of a sailing plan?
In the next two stages i.e., execution and monitoring, the plan is used as a guideline, and the sailing is executed taking into consideration various factors, both observed and predicted.
How many steps are involved in a ship's passage planning?
A ship’s passage planning involves 4 major steps/stages. They are as follows:
What are the next two stages of a sailing plan?
In the next two stages i.e., execution and monitoring, the plan is used as a guideline, and the sailing is executed taking into consideration various factors, both observed and predicted.
What is passage plan?
A passage plan is a comprehensive, berth to berth guide, developed and used by a vessel’s bridge team to determine the most favourable route, to identify potential problems or hazards along the route, and to adopt Bridge Management Practices to ensure the vessel’s safe passage. SOLAS Chapter 5, Annexes 24 & 25 titled “Voyage Planning” and “Guidelines for voyage planning” respectively, give specific regulatory information with regard to the passage plan.
What is a contingency plan?
Contingency planning will include alternative routes, safe anchorages, waiting areas, emergency berths.
What is the master of the ship discussing with the chief navigating officer?
In this stage, the master of the ship discusses with the chief navigating officer (usually the Second Mate), as to how he intends to sail to the destination port. (In some cases it may be required for the master to plan the passage). This is the process of gathering all information relevant to the proposed passage, including ascertaining risks and assessing its critical areas. This involves information extracted from publications as well as those within the chart. The appraisal will include details from:
When approaching constrained waters, the vessel might be in a position beyond which there is no possible action but to proceed?
For example, the vessel enters an area so narrow that there is no room to return . It is for this purpose that a position is drawn on the chart showing the last point wherein the passage can be aborted.
What is the most important part of a ship's operations?
One of the most integral parts of a shipping operations is the cargo or voyage planning , which is mainly undertaken by a navigational officer of a ship.
Key Points of Voyage Planning and Why Make A Passage Plan
The Four Point to Consider During A Voyage Planning
- If you are a professional officer, of course you will know about this point, but the aim of this article is to remind and keep constant in mind how to make a good passage plan for your ship.
Appraisal
- From consulting all relevant publications the potential dangers on the voyage are identified. After considering existing routeing schemes, environmental factors, reporting systems and vessel traffic services a clear indication of a safe route can be obtained. Important point to covering during the appraisal phase are: -Gathenng of information -Consider manoeuvring characteristic…
Planning
- Tracks can be laid on the chart from berth to berth indicating the pre-determined margins of error. Danger areas are marked on the chart, as are points, which could be useful to navigation. In the event of an emergency contingency plans are also considered. The plan is approved by the Master prior to sailing and must be kept onboard the vessel for 12 months. -Plot true course on charts. …
Execution
- Once the departure time is known the estimated time of arrival at the destination can be found. ETA’s at critical points in the plan can also be determined. Times of high water and a clearer indication can be gained of the conditions the vessel is likely to face throughout the voyage. -Once departure time is known calculate accurate tidal heights and tidal flows -Obtain latest meteorolo…
Monitoring
- The vessels progress is continually checked against the planned route. Any necessary deviations are amended in the plan and the bridge management team advised. The navigational equipment is monitored and checked on passage and prior to departure. -Obtain regular weather forecasts. -Cross check all position . fixing methods. -Regularly check all navigational equipment. -Update E…