TIPS FOR THE NAVIGATION IN COASTAL

•  Have the following factors been taken into consideration in preparing the passage plan?

- Advice/recommendation in sailing directions

- Ship’s draught in relation to available

- Effect of ‘squat’ on underkeel clearance in shallow water.

- Tides and currents.

- Weather, particularly in areas renowned to poor visibility.

- Available navigational aids and their accuracy.

- Position-fixing methods to be used.

- Daylight/night-time passing of danger points.

- Traffic likely to be encountered-flow, type, volume.

- Any requirements for traffic separation/routering schemes.

- Are local/coastal warning broadcasts being monitored?

- Is participation in area reporting system recommended including VTS?

- Is the ship’s position being fixed at regular intervals?

•  Has equipment been regular checked/tested, including:

- Gyro/magnetic compass.

- Manual steering before entering coastal waters if automatic steering has
been engaged for a prolonged period.

- Radar performance and radar heading line marker aligment.

- Echo sounder.

- Is the OOW prepared to use the engines and call a look-out or a helmsman to the bridge?

- Have measures been taken to protect the environment from pollution by the ship and to comply with applicable pollution regulations?


- Other checks.