Course Alterations and Wheel Over

In the open sea and offshore coastal waters when navigating on small-scale large area charts, course alterations will usually coincide with the planned track intersections. This will not be the case in confined waters when navigating with large-scale charts and where the margins of safety may be so close as to require the ship to commence altering course at the wheel over position, some distance before the track intersection in order to achieve the new planned track.

Usually the pilot using his judgement, based upon his experience will determine such wheel over. However, ship’s officers, hot having such experience should determine such wheel over positions from the ship’s manoeuvring data and mark them on the chart. Suitable visual and radar cues should then be chosen to determine when the ship is at the wheel over position. The best cues for large alterations of course consist of Parallel Indexes or visual bearings parallel to the new track, whereas for small alterations a near beam bearing is often better.

Even when the pilot has the con the wheel over position should be shown on the chart so that the OOW will be aware of its imminence and importance. It is also part of the ship’s officers’ monitoring of the pilot.

2. Answer the following questions

1. What considerations should be taken while selecting the track?

2. What are the factors to determine distance off danger?

3. What should be done in case of deviation from the track?

4. What should be done in case of course alterations?

3. Give the summary of the following text

Notes on passage planning in coastal or restricted waters

By comparison with open waters, margins of safety in coastal or restricted waters can be critical, as the time available to take corrective action is likely to be limited.

The manoeuvring characteristics of the ship and any limitations or peculiarities that the ship may have, including reliability problems with its propulsion and steering systems, may influence the route selected through coastal waters. In shallow water, particularly if the ship is operated at speed, ship squat can reduce underkeel clearances.

Ships' routeing schemes and reporting systems along the route, as well as vessel traffic services, should be taken into account.

Coastal weather bulletins, including gale warnings and coastal navigational warnings broadcast by coast radio stations and NAVTEX, may require changes to be made to the route plan.

4. Give the summary of the following text