What is meaning of Passage Planning ?

Passage planning is practical preparation of ship to take a ship from one point to another point in Safe and Economic manner.

Alternatively passage planning can be defined as 

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’.

 Objectives of Passage planning:

• The development of a plan for voyage or passage, as well as the close and continuous monitoring of the vessel’s progress and position during the execution of such a plan, are of essential importance for safety of life at sea, safety and efficiency of navigation and protection of the marine environment.
• The need for voyage and passage planning applies to all vessels. There are several factors that may impede the safe navigation of all vessels and additional factors that may impede the navigation of large vessels or vessels carrying hazardous cargoes. These factors will need to be taken into account in the preparation of the plan and in the subsequent monitoring of the execution of the plan.
• Voyage and passage planning includes appraisal, i.e. gathering all information relevant to the contemplated voyage or passage; detailed planning of the whole voyage or passage from berth to berth, including those areas necessitating the presence of a pilot; execution of the plan; and the monitoring of the progress of the vessel in the implementation of the plan. These components of voyage/passage planning are analysed below. 

Passage planning consists of four stages:

• Appraisal,
• Planning,
• Execution,
• Monitoring

Appraisal

All information relevant to the contemplated voyage or passage should be considered. The following items should be taken into account in voyage and passage planning: