NAV 327

VOYAGE PLANNING

PRELIM WEEK 2

CAPT. SABINO C. JIPOS

TOPICS: Appropriate charts to use for the voyage

Learning Outcomes:
LO1.5: Identify the appropriate and relevant information to be
check in planning a safe voyage

LO1.6: Select the appropriate charts for the voyage with the use of
the chart catalogue
 NAUTICAL CHARTS
Chart Projections:
•Mercator projection
•Gnomonic projection
•Polar stereographic projection

Chart Classification by Scale:

• Sailing Chart – smallest scale charts generally
smaller than 1 : 600,000.
 NAUTICAL CHARTS
• General Charts – intended for coastwise navigation
having a scale ranges of about: 1: 150,000 to 1:
600,000
• Coast Charts – intended for inshore coastwise
navigation having a scale range of 1:50,000 to 1:
150,000
• Harbor Charts – intended for navigation and
anchorage in harbors and small waterways. The scale
generally larger than 1:50,000
For a more detailed guide on chart scaling…
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Small Scales Large Scales
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Large scale maps show a smaller amount of area with a
greater amount of detail.
Small scale maps show a larger geographic area with few
details on them.
Large scale maps are typically used to show neighborhoods,
a localize area, small towns, etc. Small scale maps show a
larger geographic area with few details on them.
Basically, a small-scale map covers a larger geographic
region such as the world; whereas, a large-scale map
covers a relatively small geographic area, such as a 7.5'
quadrangle map.
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How will you select the charts for the passage planning and what
are the things you should keep in mind while selecting the charts?
First things first. We need to select only the largest scale charts for
navigation. This is because of obvious reason that these charts are
in more detail. But does that mean that we do not need the small
scale charts ? Absolutely not !!! We still need small scale charts for
passage planning.
Imagine we just have the large scale charts. It would be so difficult
to draw and transfer courses on these charts. Instead what we do
is, choose some of the small scale charts which covers our voyage
and draw courses on these charts.
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Once we have laid the courses on these charts, we will then have
the waypoints and these waypoints and courses can be laid on
large scale charts.
Now how do we select these small and large scale charts for our
voyage ? There is an old way and a more modern way.
Old way involves using the chart catalogue.
The Chart Catalogue consists of over 3,500 admiralty
charts with coverage appropriate for navigation of deep sea
ocean crossings, passage planning, coastal navigation, port
approaches and harbour berthing.
 Appraisal
Chart Catalogues gives the date of publication, Diagrammatic index of
coverage date of the current edition, the coverage area of publication & titles
of various charts & publication.
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The charts or ECDIS must be of such a scale and
contain sufficient detail as clearly to show;
•1.all navigational marks which may be used by a ship when
navigating the waters which are covered by the chart;
•2.all known dangers affecting those waters; and
•3.Information concerning any ships’ routeing and ship reporting
measures applicable to those waters
•All charts and publications must be of the latest obtainable edition
and be kept up to date from the latest relevant obtainable notices to
mariners and radio navigational warnings.
 PASSAGE APPRAISAL
Gathering all relevant information for the intended
passage from the following :
• Chart Catalogue;
• Navigational charts;
• Ocean Passages of the World;
• Routeing Charts or pilot charts;
• Sailing directions;
• Light lists;
• Tide tables;
• Tidal stream atlases;
• Notices to Mariners;
• Routeing Information / services;
• Radio Signal Information;
• Climatic Information;
• Loadline information;
• Electronic Nav System Info;
• Radio & Local warning;
• Mariner’s handbook; and
• Vessel Stability Information.
• Guide to Port Entry
• Sailing Directions- Provide essential
information to support port entry and coastal
navigation for all classes of ships at sea. It has
approx. 76 volumes all.
• Mariner’s Handbook – contains clear
guidance to help mariners improve their
understanding of maritime navigation, sea and
ice conditions, meteorology and regulations.
• Chart Catalogue – provides a comprehensive
and up-to-date reference of admiralty maritime
data solutions, including standard nautical
charts and publications.
 NP131 ( or The British Admiralty Chart Catalogue) is a
comprehensive reference in graphical and textual form of all
Admiralty charts and publications worldwide, listed by region.
The catalogue gives full details for each chart and publication,
including details of all digital products and Admiralty distributors
worldwide.

It consists of 37 sections, which gives the date of publication,

date of current edition, coverage area of a publication,
diagrammatic index of coverage and titles of various charts and
publications. It also gives the details of the agent from whom to
procure them with the price of each item.
Ocean Passages of The
World
Ocean Passages for
the World (NP136) supports
the planning of deep-
sea voyages on most major
routes. A wealth of
information on ocean voyage
planning. Each chapter offers
advice on winds, weather,
climate and seasonal
factors, currents, swell and
ice hazards; and the shortest
routes between ports and
important positions.
• Ocean Passages of the World – Supports the
planning of deep-sea voyages on most major
routes, with details of weather, currents, ice
hazards and distances between major ports.
• Routing Charts – essential for use in voyage
planning for ocean voyages, This includes
routes and distances between major ports ,
ocean currents, ice limits, load lines and wind
roses.
• Light Lists – is a detailed lists of navigational
aids including lighthouses
• And other lighted navigational aids, unlighted
buoys, radio beacons, day beacons and racons.
• Tide Tables – contains easy-to-use height,
timing and tidal stream information to support
the planning of departure and arrival times.
• Notice to Mariners – Advises Mariners of
important matters affecting navigational safety,
including new hydrographic information
changes in channels and aids to navigation,
and other important data.
Notices to Mariners
Notices to Mariners (NtM) are
corrections to nautical charts and
publications. Notices to
Mariners contain information
which is vitally important to safety
at sea as mariners are obliged to
keep their products up-to-date
with NtM until a new edition is
issued. They also
advise mariners of important
matters affecting navigational
safety, including
new hydrographic information,
changes in channels and aids to
navigation (AtoN), and other
important data.
It should not be forgotten
that all charts to be used
on a voyage are to be
corrected and updated.
If a new edition of the
needed chart is
published, where
possible it is to be
requisitioned prior to
departure of the vessel.
With regards to the
updating of the charts to
be used in a voyage, the
Cumulative List of
Admiralty Notices to
Mariners (NP 234 A/B) is
to be consulted.
• Routing Information Services – With the
help of network operators all over the world,
our routing information service(RIS) employs
a globally distributed set of Remote Route
Collectors(RRC) typically located at internet
exchange points, to collect and store internet
routing data.
• Radio Signal Information – Provides
information on all aspects of Maritime Radio
Communications, helping bridge crews to
manage communication and comply with all
reporting regulation throughout the voyage.
• Electronic Nav System Information – is the
harmonized collection, integration, exchange,
presentation and analysis of marine
information on board and ashore by electronic
means to enhance berth to berth navigation
and related services for safety and security at
sea and protection of marine environment.
• Stability Information – this allows the Master
to be able to determine the operating
guidelines, loading restrictions, and ensure
compliance with applicable intact and damage
stability regulations.
 Appraisal
The following publications should be consulted when voyage planning;
International Code of Signals (IMO)
•IAMSAR Manual Vol.III
•Mariners’ Handbook (UKHO)
•Merchant Shipping Notices, Marine Guidance Notes and Marine Information
Notes (MCA)
•Notices to Mariners (UKHO)
•Notices to Mariners Annual Summary (UKHO)
•Lists of Radio Signals (UKHO)Â
•Lists of Lights (UKHO)
•Sailing Directions (UKHO)
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•Nautical Almanac
•Navigational Tables
•Tide Tables
•Tidal Stream Atlases
•Operating and Maintenance Instructions for Navigational Aids carried by
the Ship
The navigator responsible for planning the voyage should also use
their personal experience and if available any previous voyage
plans.
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Safety contours should be established and information relating to
weather, current, tides, chart datum, draft, speed, environmental
limits, air draft, squat and general hazards, such as high traffic
concentrations, should be prepared and made available.
The concept of safety contours is a key function specific to
electronic charts and the whole safety of the passage is dependent
on this information being correct. So, if a navigator fails to set this
correctly, then an incident might occur.
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During route planning, an indication will be made if the route is
planned to cross the ship’s safety contour. At the time of route
monitoring, ECDIS should give an alarm if, within a specified
time set by the navigator, own ship is likely to cross the safety
contour.
The division between ‘safe’ and ‘unsafe’ water is highlighted by
chart coloring (usually blue color used to indicate unsafe area and
white or grey for safe area).
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Safety Contours:
Personal Experience

Undeniably, the best source

information that
the Navigating Officer can
have to be used in planning
a voyage is his personal
experience, especially if the
planned voyage has been
already made in previous
experiences.
The minimum separate criteria given in the
Guideline for Voyage Planning…
All along the Voyage Plan the track is judged with respect to
separate criteria given in the Guidelines for Voyage Planning.
These Criteria are the basis for the Mandatory requirements to be
presented on the chart in planning a safe voyage and are
considered as the main elements to ensure safety of life at sea,
safety and efficiency of navigation, and protection of the
environment.

These include:
• Safe speed - having regard to the proximity of navigational
hazards, the manoeuvring characteristics of the vessel and its
draught in relation to the available water depth;
 Appraisal
After setting the safety contour, the next task is to set up a
safety domain. IMO specifications require ECDIS to trigger
alarms in the following circumstances:
1.If, within a specified time set by the mariner, the vessel will
cross the safety contour
2.If, within a specified time set by the mariner, the vessel will
cross the boundary of a prohibited area or of a geographical area
for which special conditions exist. (no go areas, restricted or
prohibited areas, naval exercise areas etc.
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3.When the specified cross track limit for deviation from the
planned route is exceeded (distance to be determined by mariner)
4.If, continuing on its present course and over a specified time or
distance set by the mariner, the ship will pass closer than a user-
specified distance from a danger (eg obstruction wreck or rock)
that is shallower than the mariner’s contour or an aid-to navigation
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To achieve the above, mariners should specify a safety
domain for the vessel, effectively contained by the
following parameters:
1.In depth, by the safety contour and safety depth
2.In forward extent, by the look-ahead time or look-ahead range
3.In lateral closeness by a specified distance
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The safety domain requires the navigator to input the vessel /
voyage specific parameters and so this must be done at this
stage. Master should be consulted to determine these
parameters prior
installed.
END OF WEEK 2

Thank You!