Passage Planning Companion »

Passage Planning Companion is your guide to writing a clear, easily understood passage plan, which follows a logical sequence that mirrors the passage being made.

 This practical guide contains a series of headings, prompts and tips to help prepare a passage plan.  The companion is laid down the side of a sheet of paper and the plan for that voyage is written down opposite each heading and prompt. The layout will cover every kind of voyage from a trip round the bay to an ocean crossing.

 Topics covered include routing, pilotage, points of departure, landfalls, weather, tides and currents, safe havens, lights, communications, watch keeping, safety checks and drills, rations, fuel supplies, safety checks and drills, stowage for sea, skipper’s standing orders, crew briefing.

Alastair Buchan

The Complete Passage Planning Practical Companion

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INTRODUCTION

PASSAGE PLAN TIMETABLE

PORT INFORMATION

1. Departure Port
2. Arrival Port
3. Ports of Refuge

ROUTEING

1. Overview
2. Departure Pilotage
3. Passage making
4. Arrival Pilotage

WEATHER

1. Limitations to Departure
2. Weather Trends
3. Weather Forecast
4. Latest Forecast
5. Weather Forecasting en route
6. Single Observer Forecasts

TIDES

1. High and Low Water
2. Set and Drift

TIMINGS

1. Route Timings
2. Gate Timings
3. Hazard Timings
4. Light Timings
5. Sun and Moon
6. Time Zones

COMMUNICATIONS

1. General
2. Safety

FORMALITIES

1. Ship’s Papers
2. Personal Documents

SHIP MANAGEMENT

1. Duty Roster
2. Chain of Command
3. Watch Keeping Systems
4. Daily Routine
5. Standing Orders
6. Victualling
7. Crew Briefing
8. Pre-Sail Checks
9. Drills and Spills

ANNEXES

1. Duties of Watch Officers
2. Duties of Navigator
3. Standing Orders
4. Abandon Ship Checklist

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