Passage Planning

The Swedish Club launches new voyage/passage planning guide

Gothenburg-headquartered international marine mutual insurer The Swedish Club handles a lot of claims where shortcomings in voyage/passage planning factor in. To address this, it has launched its Passage Plan+ Guide, designed to be an essential resource designed to support shipowners, operators, and navigational officers.

Voyage/passage planning is something that must be carried out for every vessel before departure. Every company has its own procedures and there are many guides defining how it...

https://www.marinelog.com/news/the-swedish-club-launches-new-voyage-passage-planning-guide/

UK MAIB: Lessons learned on the importance of passage planning

Following investigation on the grounding and loss of fishing vessel Coelleira off Scotland, UK MAIB issued a safety flyer to the fishing industry sharing key lessons learned on the importance of passage planning to safe navigation.

The incident

At about 0124 on 4 August 2019, while on passage from fishing grounds, the 30m long-liner Coelleira grounded on Ve Skerries, a group of low-lying reefs 3nm north-west of Papa Stour on the west coast of Shetland, Scotland.

The vessel’s 15 crew quickly...

https://safety4sea.com/uk-maib-lessons-learned-on-the-importance-of-passage-planning/

UK MAIB investigation: Unmanned bridge, improper passage planning lead to grounding

UK MAIB issued an investigation report on the grounding of the fishing vessel Coelleira off Scotland, while on passage to land its catch in Scrabster, in August 2019. The report highlighted that the passage from the fishing grounds to Scrabster was not properly planned and the vessel’s position was not being closely monitored.

The incident

At about 0124 on 4 August 2019, the Spanish owned UK registered fishing vessel Coelleira grounded on Ve Skerries, a low-lying reef of the west coast of the...

https://safety4sea.com/uk-maib-investigation-unmanned-bridge-improper-passage-planning-lead-to-grounding/

Lessons Learned: Always double-check the passage plan

The Swedish Club’s Navigational Claims issue highlights the importance of double-checking the vessel’s passage plan to ensure that the vessel’s navigational path is correct according to all data entered into the navigational equipment.

During night time and with low visibility because of rain, a 700 TEU container vessel was sailing near the coast towards its next port of call. The Master had approved the passage plan and the Second Officer was on the bridge. Therefore, the OOW (Second Officer)...

https://safety4sea.com/lessons-learned-always-double-check-the-passage-plan/

Lessons learned: Sailing in shallow waters leads to grounding

In its latest Safety Digest, the UK MAIB describes a case of a yacht grounding during an ocean race. With respect to this incident, MAIB advised that every vessel sailing at sea needs a passage plan that has identified all potential hazards for the voyage ahead.

The incident

A large commercially operated yacht was taking part in an ocean race. There was a professional skipper in charge and the rest of the crew were amateur sailors, some of whom had previous sailing experience.

At the first day,...

https://safety4sea.com/lessons-learned-sailing-in-shallow-waters-leads-to-grounding/

Ovit grounding: ECDIS incompetence and inexperienced crew in vital positions

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 today on the grounding of the Maltese-registered tanker ‘Ovit’ in the Dover Strait, off UK, in September 2013, that serves as a great example of how minimum ISM breaches can lead to undesired events.

Accident details: At a glance

  • Type of accident: Grounding
  • Vessel(s) involved: Ovit (chemical tanker)
  • Date: 18 September 2013
  • Place: Dover Strait, UK

https://safety4sea.com/cm-ovit-grounding-ecdis-incompetence-and-inexperienced-crew-in-vital-positions/

MS Oliva grounding: Oil spill in one of the world’s most remote areas

“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. The incident is a noteworthy example of navigational error resulting from inadequate compliance with the SMS.

Accident details: At a glance

  • Type of accident: Grounding
  • Vessel(s) involved: MS Oliva (bulk carrier)
  • Date: 16 March 2011
  • Place: South...

https://safety4sea.com/cm-ms-oliva-grounding-oil-spill-in-one-of-the-worlds-most-remote-areas/

Pasha Bulker beaching: A mix of poor SMS, fatigue and bad weather

It is almost 12 years since the Panamanian-flagged 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 resulting from a multi-faced situation of inadequate communication, inefficient SMS, poor judgement due to fatigue and the objective cause of extreme weather conditions.

Accident details: At a glance

  • Type of accident: Grounding
  • Vessel(s) involved: Pasha Bulker (bulk carrier)
  • Date: 8...

https://safety4sea.com/cm-pasha-bulker-beaching-a-mix-of-poor-sms-fatigue-and-bad-weather/

The importance of passage planning in preventing accidents

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.

It was alleged by CMA CGM that the shoal was uncharted. The result was that the grounding took place in an area where the quality of the hydrographic survey had been...

https://safety4sea.com/the-importance-of-passage-planning-in-preventing-accidents/

Unseaworthy judgment made after improper passage planning

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.

Namely, while leaving the Chinese port of Xiamen, the container vessel CMA CGM Libra grounded on rocks after departing from the marked fairway. General average (GA) was declared, but some of the cargo interests declined to contribute voluntarily. They specifically argued that errors...

https://safety4sea.com/unseaworthy-judgment-made-after-improper-passage-planning/

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