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A valuable function of ECDIS is to continuously display position fixes and at the same time, monitor a detection area ahead of the ship for hazards to navigation. This detection area may have a different name depending on the manufacturer, but common terms include‘safety frame’ ‘safety cone’ ‘look ahead window’‘antigrounding cone’ and‘danger detection’ ECDIS will…
Finding the Quadrant – Northern Hemisphere Northern Hemisphere If the wind veers she is in the right hand semicircle (Dangerous Semicircle)If the wind backs she is in the left hand semicircle (Navigable semicircle) Navigable Semicircle Northern HemisphereProceed at maximum practical speed, alter courses as wind backs, keeping the wind between 1 and 4 points on…
Weather routeing is the procedure of ensuring that the ship makes an ocean passage in the least possible time conducive to the safety of the vessel. In order to do effective weather routeing the following steps must be considered⦁ Ships performance curves must be drawn⦁ Understand a wave chart⦁ Draw the shortest possible track⦁ Obtain…
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…