The bridge team and the pilot

When the pilot is on board a ship, he will temporarily join the bridge team and should be supported accordingly (see section 3.3.3).

1.3 Navigation policy and company procedures

Every management or shipowning company should have a safety management policy. It should provide practical guidance concerning safe navigation and include:

• a clear statement that safety of life and safety of the ship take precedence
over all other considerations;

• allocation of bridge watchkeeping duties and responsibilities for navigational
procedures;

• procedures for voyage planning and execution;

• chart and nautical publication correction procedures;

• procedures to ensure that all essential navigation equipment and main and
auxiliary machinery are available and fully operational;

• advice concerning emergency responses;

• ship position reporting procedures;

• accident and near miss reporting procedures;

• recording of voyage events;

• procedures for familiarisation training and handover at crew changes;

• a recognised system for identifying special training needs;

• company contacts, including the designated person under the ISM Code.

1.3.1 Master's standing orders

Shipboard operational procedures manuals supported by standing instructions based upon the company's navigation policy should form the basis of command and control on board.

Master's standing orders should be written to reflect the master's own particular requirements and circumstances particular to the ship, her trade and the experience of the bridge team employed at that point in time.

Standing orders and instructions should operate without conflict within the ship's safety management system.

Standing orders should be read by all officers before the commencement of the voyage and signed accordingly. A copy of the orders should be available on the bridge for reference.

Bridge order book

In addition to general standing orders, specific instructions may be needed for special circumstances.

At night the master should write in the bridge order book what is expected of the OOW. These orders must be signed by each OOW when going on watch.

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2 Passage planning

Overview

Passage planning is necessary to support the bridge team and ensure that the ship can be navigated safely between ports from berth to berth. The passage plan should cover ocean, coastal and pilotage waters.

The plan may need to be changed during the voyage; for example, the destination port may not have been known or may alter, or it may be necessary to amend the plan following consultation with the pilot.

If the plan is changed during the voyage, the bridge team on each watch should be consulted and briefed to ensure that the revised plan is understood.

The passage plan should aim to establish the most favourable route while maintaining appropriate margins of safety and safe passing distances offshore. When deciding upon the route, the following factors are amongst those that should be taken into account:

• the marine environment;

• the adequacy and reliability of charted hydrographic data along the route;

• the availability and reliability of navigation aids, coastal marks, lights and
radar conspicuous targets for fixing the ship along the route;

• any routeing constraints imposed by the ship e.g. draught, type of cargo;

• areas of high traffic density;

• weather forecasts and expected current, tidal, wind, swell and visibility
conditions;

• areas where onshore set could occur;

• ship operations that may require additional searoom e.g. tank cleaning or
pilot embarkation;

• regulations such as ships' routeing schemes and ship reporting systems;

• the reliability of the propulsion and steering systems on board.

The intended voyage should be planned prior to departure using appropriate and available corrected charts and publications. The master should check that the tracks laid down are safe, and the chief engineer should verify that the ship has sufficient fuel, water and lubricants for the intended voyage.

In addition, the duty of the master to exercise professional judgement in the light of changing circumstances remains a basic requirement for safe navigation.

Date: 2016-04-22; view: 844