Tag: Passage Planning

Complying with the ISM Code is at least a prerequisite for a safe navigation. As part of its series on ISM Code-related accidents, SAFETY4SEA focuses on the grounding of the Maltese-registered tanker ‘Ovit’ in the Dover Strait, off UK, in September 2013. 

“The scene at Nightingale is dreadful,” authorities were quoted as saying after the Maltese-registered bulk carrier ‘Oliva’ ran aground in the South Atlantic Ocean, causing an unprecedented oil spill in one of the most pristine regions in the world.

In 2007 the bulk carrier ‘Pasha Bulker’ came out at the Nobbys Beach of New South Wales offering an unusual spectacle for local people. The incident is an interesting case study of inadequate communication, inefficient SMS, poor judgement due to fatigue and the objective cause of extreme weather conditions.

The UK P&I Club published a statement focusing on the importance of passage planning, in light of the 'CMA CGM Libra', transferring cargo with a value in excess of US$500 million as well as about 8,000 tons of bunkers, grounded on a shoal whilst sailing out Xiamen port, China through a recognised dredged channel marked by lit buoys.  

NTSB issued a report on the collision of the bulk carrier 'Yochow' with the articulated tug and barge 'OSG Independence' in the Houston Ship Channel, in June 2018. The report highlights poor bridge resource management as key cause of the accident and fatigue as a significant contributing factor. 

As the North P&I Club informs, the UK Admiralty Court has recently rejected a shipowner’s claim for general average. It specifically concluded that the ship was unseaworthy because of an error in the passage plan. North Club noted that this case has showcased how important a proper berth-to-berth passage planning is, saying that it 'is much more than just putting courses on a chart or ECDIS.'

A year-long research project carried out by the UK and Danish marine investigation authorities has highlighted major concerns over the design and operation of ECDIS and significant shortfalls in the way in which seafarers are training to use the systems.

During the 2019 SMART4SEA Conference, Børge Hetland, Director of Sales & Marketing at NAVTOR, shared the company’s experience from its’ involvement in European Research & Development projects to describe how the emerging technology is expected to transform the four stages of the Passage Planning procedure in the very near future. His conclusion was that e-Navigation has already started to transform the passage planning process, and it will result in enormous time savings for navigators when preparing voyages – which means increased efficiency and consequently cost savings.

The Queensland coastal passage plan (QCPP) AMSA launched and funded has been revised and includes all the feedback that the Authority received from the coastal pilots and pilotage providers. According to it all Masters and coastal pilots transiting these areas should consider the information in the QCPP when preparing their passage plans. Vessel owners, charterers, and agents might also find the document useful in improving the readiness of ships by ensuring voyage plans, waypoints and other planning considerations have been completed in a standardised manner.  

Mr. Tor Svanes, CEO, NAVTOR, notes that passage planning is a huge administrative burden for operators and further talks about key issues to consider when providing e-navigation solutions for vessels. In addition, he mentions that although technology offers benefits for shipping and automation is approaching, human element should always be at the center of attention.