What is meaning of Passage Planning ?

1. The condition and state of the vessel, its stability, and its equipment; any operational limitations; its permissible draught at sea in fairways and in ports; its manoeuvring data, including any restrictions;
2. Any special characteristics of the cargo (especially if hazardous), and its distribution, stowage and securing on board the vessel;
3. The provision of a competent and well-rested crew to undertake the voyage or passage;
4. Requirements for up-to-date certificates and documents concerning the vessel, its equipment, crew, passengers or cargo;
5. Appropriate scale, accurate and up-to-date charts to be used for the intended voyage or passage, as well as any relevant permanent or temporary notices to mariners and existing radio navigational warnings;
6. Accurate and up-to-date sailing directions, lists of lights and lists of radio aids to navigation; and
7. Any relevant up-to-date additional information, including:
   • Mariners’ routeing guides and passage planning charts, published by competent authorities;
   • Current and tidal atlases and tide tables;
   • Climatological, hydrographical, and oceanographic data as well as other appropriate meteorological information
   • Availability of services for weather routeing (such as that contained in Volume D of the World Meteorological Organization’s Publication No. 9);
   • Existing ships’ routeing and reporting systems, vessel traffic services, and marine environmental protection measures;
   • Volume of traffic likely to be encountered throughout the voyage or passage;
   • if a pilot is to be used, information relating to pilotage and embarkation and disembarkation including the exchange of information between master and pilot;
   • Available port information, including information pertaining to the availability of shore-based emergency response arrangements and equipment; and
   • Any additional items pertinent to the type of the vessel or its cargo, the particular areas the vessel will traverse, and the type of voyage or passage to be undertaken.
   • On the basis of the above information, an overall appraisal of the intended voyage or passage should be made. This appraisal should provide a clear indication of all areas of danger; those areas where it will be possible to navigate safely, including any existing routeing or reporting systems and vessel traffic services; and any areas where marine environmental protection considerations apply.

Planning

On the basis of the fullest possible appraisal, a detailed voyage or passage plan should be prepared which should cover the entire voyage or passage from berth to berth, including those areas where the services of a pilot will be used.The detailed voyage or passage plan should include the following factors: