We will keep you updated
During passage planning the 2nd officer plans a passage apparently clear of visible dangers to navigation. ( IGNORE SHALLOW CONTOUR SETTINGS ) Consequence : The deep draft aframax tanker drawing aft draft of 15.0 m goes aground in safer waters well clear of the visible obstructions on the chart. Lets find out the reason for…
Traditional method of passage planning on paper chart: Using a draft of 14 mtr and applying a 2 mtr safety margin, the second mate would mark off areas with depth 16 mtrs and less, on the navigational chart. These areas would then be highlighted, using a pencil, as a NO GO area and the passage…
Numerous groundings and near misses have occurred on ECDIS equipped ships that could have been avoided but for failures in the setup and use of ECDIS. Like most of the world’s merchant fleet trading internationally, your ship(s) is most likely equipped with an Electronic Chart System (ECS) or Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS)….
Safe practices in navigation are an important aspect of the overall safety of the ship. Perhaps more important than knowing the theory of navigation. Safe Practices are followed because of good planning and commitment by the ships leadership. In the case studies given below it shall be observed that experienced watch keepers and masters involve…
Collisions and groundings are a result of unsafe practices. Let look at the why collisions occur and how they can be prevented by implementing safe practices. Collisions in Fog The majority of collision claims seem to occur in fog or reduced visibility. Statistical analyses of these have shown that: The collision occurs during the watch…
With the emergence of satellite position fixing systems, position determination at sea today has been reduced only to plotting of latitude and longitude read from the GPS screen display. Positions so obtained have very high level of accuracy, provided the equipment is working accurately. Radar and LORAN, where available are very frequently used navigational aids…
POSITION FIXING Good navigational practice demands that the officer of the watch: ● Uses visual navigation aids and Radar to support electronic position-fixing methods, i.e. landmarks in coastal areas and celestial navigation in Ocean passage / Deep waters.● Does not become over reliant on automated navigational equipment, including electronic chart systems, thereby failing to make…
The mystery, the fear and the feeling of – “I don’t want to know” which surrounds the binnacle arises from several causes. Perhaps the greatest is simply the lack of urgency or necessity. There seems to be nothing abroad ship which makes it essential that the navigator should remove unwanted deviation. It is not even…
CHECKS PRIOR USING ECDIS FOR APPRAISAL AND PASSAGE PLANNING Following checks should be carried out by the Navigating Officer while carrying out passage planning on ECDIS: Not all sea areas are covered by ENC charts. The electronic chart coverage for the voyage must be adequate and all relevant charts must be fully corrected. For areas…
Steering Steering a ship is one of the basic skills that you should acquire as a navigating officer. Within the time that you are serving you are required to obtain adequate experience of steering a ship at various stages and develop the skills. The aim of this blog is to explain the theory of steering…