Accurate and up-to-date charts are critical for safe navigation. Still, they aren’t enough to keep a vessel fully prepared.
Even with modern ECDIS systems, manually marking key areas with important details is still a good practice to further enhance the ship’s safety.
In this article, we’ll break down the essential information that should be plotted on voyage charts, whether paper or electronic, to ensure a safe and efficient passage.
What are Voyage Charts?
Voyage charts are navigational charts specifically prepared and used for the planning and executing of a vessel’s journey.
These are maps designed for ship navigation and contain details relevant to safe passage. In essence, they are the core of voyage planning.
Voyage charts are carefully selected based on where the vessel passes to reach its destination.
Since navigational charts are not designed to cater to specific ship types, their information is generic, leaving it up to the mariner to adapt the chart to their vessel’s needs.
Why should we mark our voyage charts?
Marking our voyage chart is critical for safe and efficient navigation.
Even with today’s electronic chart system, plotting specific information on specific charts is part of good seamanship.
Port State Control Officers and Vetting Inspectors often check for these markings because they know their importance.
Here are several key reasons:
Enhanced Safety
Marking critical information, such as hazards, no-go areas, and waypoints, helps avoid dangerous areas and ensures a safer passage.
Quick Decision-Making
Important data like safe speeds, contingency plans, and reporting points readily available on the chart enables faster decisions during critical moments.
Situational Awareness
Since each area could have unique challenges, having these parts marked provides the mariner with situational awareness of what to expect when they arrive in that area.
Communication Tool
Sometimes, you see chart markings of position on when to call the master or the engine room for highly specific tasks such as crossing SOx Emission Control Areas (SECA).
Emergency Preparedness
Emergencies could happen at any time and place while the ship navigates.
Plotting the abort points on the chart helps the bridge team better prepare if the situation turns south.
Compliance Requirements
IMO Resolution A.893(21) encourages the bridge team to mark additional details on the charts. You would be surprised if inspectors check these markings.
Many of our vetting observations fall into this category.
Common Details Marked on the Voyage Charts
The following shall be marked on the voyage charts and where it enhances safe navigation as appropriate:
Position Fixing and Navigation Marks
- Parallel indexing (not from floating objects unless they have been first checked for
- position)
- Methods and frequency of position fixing
- Prominent navigation and radar marks
- Landfall targets and lights
- Clearing lines and bearings
- Transits, heading marks, and leading lines
- Positions where the echo sounder shall be activated
- Reporting points
Safety Zones and Avoidance Areas
- No-go areas (the excessive marking of no-go areas shall be avoided)
- Minimum clearing distances in critical sea areas
- Safe distance off
- Anchor clearance
- Abort positions
Voyage Planning and Contingency
- Chart changes
- Significant tides or currents (direction and speed of the current at the actual time of vessel passing the area)
- Contingency plans (emergency anchorages)
- Crossing and high-density traffic areas
Ship Operations and Machinery
- Safe speed and necessary speed alterations
- Changes in machinery status
- Minimum UKC
- Tugs engagement
Since the Second Officer is in charge of voyage planning, he must ensure that this information is plotted adequately on paper or electronic charts.
The master must carefully review such markings to ensure they comply with international regulations and company policy.
May the winds be in your favor.
A family man, he loves writing, reading, investing, and watching the golden hours while sailing.
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