Port Passage Planning

Purpose

Port passage planning is carried out to determine the safest and most efficient passage for a vessel proceeding between two points within the harbour area. Detailed plans are required to ensure margins of safety. When complete, the plan becomes the basis for navigation. Equipment can fail and the unexpected happen, so monitoring the ship's progress and contingency planning are also essential.

Scope

Port passage planning must be carried out by all vessels operating within the harbour authority areas with the exception of recreational vessels and vessels under 50 metres in length. It is the responsibility of the ship's master to ensure that port passage plans are drawn up and produced, where required, for inspection. The harbour authority encourages all vessels, as indicated, to undertake port passage planning.

Planning Procedure

The ship's port passage plan should be produced as an adjunct to the vessel's berth to berth voyage plan and should include, where applicable, the following:

  1. The intended track.
  2. Course alterations including wheel-over positions.
  3. Distances off salient points.
  4. Marked areas of danger.
  5. Intended speeds in specific areas.
  6. Information on weather.
  7. Information on tide flows.
  8. Information on under-keel clearances.
  9. Positions where a change in machinery status is required.
  10. Positions where VTS and port reporting is required.
  11. Intended approach/departure to/from mooring position.
  12. Intended mooring arrangement.
  13. Contingency plan in event of an emergency.

Should a vessel become involved in an incident (e.g. a grounding, collision or dangerous occurrence) within the harbour authority area, the master will ensure that all records with regard to the passage, including the plan, can be accessed for investigation purposes.