Coastal and Estuarial Tracks

Coastal and Estuarial Tracks will also be constrained by the decisions made at the appraisal stage and should be first drawn on the small scale charts covering large portions of the coastline, preferably from the departure port approaches to the arrival port. This will depend upon proximity of the ports and the charts of the area. In many cases more than one chart will have to be used. These first tracks will form the basis of the plan and from them may be obtained distances and steaming times and when the departure time is known, the ETAs at the various waypoints en rote can be established.

The true direction of the track should be shown close to the track on the chart. This will not necessarily be the course steered to make this track; it only indicates the direction to make good. The course to steer will depend upon various factors at the time of making the passage, e.g. tidal set and drift, leeway, etc.

When completed, these tracks should be transferred to drawn on the large-scale charts of the area to be transversed. Transfer of a track from one chart to another must be done with great care.

To ensure that no mistakes are made, it is good practice to double check this operation by using a range and bearing of the transfer position from a readily identifiable object e.g. a light common to both charts. This can be further confirmed on both charts by checking the latitude and longitude of the transfer position.

2. Answer the following questions

1. What are two stages for planning?

2. What should be done in respect of charts for passage planning?

3. How can you explain notion “no-go areas”?

4. What are the margins of safety?

5. What waters may be considered safe?

3. Discuss the situation concerning who is responsible for passage planning?

4. Explain how the passage plan may be appraised?

5. Give the summary of the following description

Charts and publications

Only official nautical charts and publications should be used for passage planning, and they should be fully corrected to the latest available notices to mariners and radio navigation warnings. Any missing charts and publications needed for the intended voyage should be identified from the chart catalogue and obtained before the ship sails.

For coastal and pilotage planning and for plotting each course alteration point (or waypoint) large scale charts should be used. For ocean passage planning and open water legs smaller scale charts should be used.

Unit 10

1. Read and translate the text

Passage Planning – Part 2