Planning Coastal Navigation PDF

Chapter 1 Planning Coastal Navigation Objectives: 1- Students learn how to prepare Navplan 2- Students learn thinking and search for sailing best route 3- Students learn under keel clearance and how to determine safety distance from a navigational dangerous 4-...

Chapter 1 Planning Coastal Navigation Objectives: 1- Students learn how to prepare Navplan 2- Students learn thinking and search for sailing best route 3- Students learn under keel clearance and how to determine safety distance from a navigational dangerous 4- Students learn how to initiate a passage plan 5- Students learn the nature of Traffic Separation Schemes TSS areas and Precautionary Areas 6- Students learn Planning Coastal Navigation in Coral Regions -1-  Chapter 1 Planning Coastal Navigation 1- Check Lists and Navplan Preparations a) Programme: (1) Dates: Establish dates of intended passage as early as possible (2) Outline Briefing: The outline of Speed of Advance (SOA) and any significant known factors (e.g. Hurricane season etc.). The navigation officer should brief the commanding officer and Operations Officer on the outline passage concepts as soon as possible. (3) CO's Input: If the Commanding Officer (CO) wishes to make any inputs into the intended outline plan. b) Appraisal: appraisal of the following items should be carried out as soon as possible and details noted in the Navigation Officer's Workbook : (1) Heights of Tide (HOT) and under keel Clearances along the route. (2) Limiting Danger Line (LDL). (3) ETDs / ETAs and refined Speed of Advance (SOA). (4) Predicted Tidal Stream / Currents with their likely strength and direction. (5) Statistical meteorology (likely sea state, wind, Fog, ice, Currents etc). (6) TSS, shipping lanes / traffic density, likely concentrations of fishing vessels. (7) Exercise opportunities / exercise areas / submarine transit lanes / air lanes. (8) Rendezvous / Replenishment at Sea (RAS) requirements / planning. (9) Maritime Jurisdiction, Innocent Passage and Diplomatic Clearance. (10) Intelligence requirements / planning. (11) Restrictions on high-power radar / sonar / communications in certain areas. (12) Mined Areas and Munitions Picked up at Sea. (13) Temporary & permanent Notices to Mariners / Radio Warning Logs. -2-  (14) Use of Time Zones and Time Zone changes. (15) Chart Catalogue (NP 131) / Electronic Chart equivalent. Detailed Planning: Large-Scale Navigational Charts (1) Exactly as in Ocean Navigation, large-Scale navigation charts may now be drawn up (or ENCs / RNCs Installed / Loaded if using WECDIS / ECDIS). Full Navigational Information: Full navigational information should be shown on large-Scale navigation charts. In particular; the Limiting Danger Line (LDL) for the correct Height of Tide (HOT) must always be constructed for all dangers in the vicinity. (2) Transferring Tracks to Adjacent Paper Charts: With paper charts, it is essential that tracks on adjacent charts are transferred correctly by two different methods and that distances to run are consistent. 2- Criteria for Route Selection The following additional guidance should be taken into consideration for Route Selection: a) Planning for Fog in Coastal Navigation. (1) Speed: The effect on the SOA of possible Fog should be addressed at the planning stage, particularly for narrow or congested waters. (2) Operational Navaids: For a Coastal Navigation passage in Fog with operational radio navaids (eg DGPS / GPS, Radar, Echo Sounder etc.), it makes little difference if the ship stays inshore or well offshore, other than consideration of the density of shipping. b) Planning for Heavy Weather in Coastal Navigation: (1) Speed: The effect on the SOA of possible Heavy Weather should be addressed at the planning stage, particularly for exposed waters. (2) Shelter and Sea-Room: The direction from which Heavy Weather is likely, opportunities for shelter and availability of sea-room to leeward -3-  should it be necessary to Heave-To (particularly if Heaving-To with a quartering sea). In Heavy Weather, a passage to leeward of islands is normally preferable to a windward passage. c) Traffic Routing Systems and Reporting Requirements: Coastal Navigation routes may run through International Maritime Organization (IMO) or 'National' routing systems (e.g. Traffic Separation Schemes (TSSs); the appropriate routing and reporting regulations must be observed. d) Visual Fixing by Night: Islands or headlands without navigational lights may still be used for visual night Fixing. They often stand out well with night vision aids or may be clearly visible on dark clear nights from background illumination or moonlight. e) Clearance from the Coast and Offshore Navigational Dangers. f) Under keel Clearances and LDLs. g) ETDs / ETAs and Refined SOA - Factors. h) Territorial Seas and Internal Waters: In Coastal Navigation, vessels are likely to impinge on Territorial Sea boundaries and may encounter national Internal Waters, particularly when entering foreign ports. All warships have the right of 'Innocent Passage' through Territorial Seas but are limited in their activities while doing so. i) Mine Danger Areas: (1) Surface Navigation: The vast majority of former mined areas have now been cleared and those that remain are generally considered safe for surface navigation. Exceptionally, if areas are not considered safe for surface navigation, they are shown on Admiralty charts as 'Mine Danger Areas'. -4- (2) Anchoring, Trawling and Seabed Activity: There is a real danger of encountering unexploded ordnance if anchoring, trawling or carrying out seabed operations of any kind in former mined areas. j) Cross-Checking Information: All available sources of navigational and other information should always be cross-checked. -5-