DIALOGUE

CONTEXT

My partner and me are going to be evaluated by an officer and we were revising

some information about the preparation of a voyage which is named passage
planning and exchanged some details related to equipment, documents,
calculations and communications.

DIALOGUE

Brandon: Hey Daniel, I have searched some information about the passage
planning and I realized it involves many complexities that the second officer has
to do on board. In short words, it is not an easy task. The passage planning is
made from berth to berth.

Daniel: Thats right the preparation of a voyage includes equipment to be

used, some mandatory equipment, documents, calculations and
communications.

B: Yeah, what can you tell me about the necessary equipment involved in the
passage planning?

D: Well, according to my research I found some equipment that need to be

ready for the passage planning. For instance, , the OOW needs to check the
RADAR, ARPA, ECDIS, AIS, gyro compass, magnetic compass, echosounder,
GPS, Voyage data recorder, NAVTEX and bridge telegraph.

B: Oh, I seebut you are forgetting something really important

D: What are you talking about?

B: Im talking about engine equipment such as main engine, auxiliary engine

and the steering gear.

D: Oh, I see. I didnt know about that. So, this equipment is checked during the
preparation of the passage planning.

B: Exactly! This equipment has to work correctly before ships departure from
the berth.

D: Good to know! And tell me who is engine equipment checked by?

B: Well, the engine

D: Thanks for the information!

B: Dont worry man, I wanted to tell you that something that caught my attention
during my research was the documents that a vessel needs to start its voyage.
D: Of course, thats an interesting topic Well, according to my research I
found six mandatory documents in total.

B: Mmmm just six documents. I think there are more documents required for
the voyage. I might be wrong, but would you mind giving me more information
about it?

D: Not at all, well my friend I found six documents in total. Two of them
related to the crew which are crew list and passenger list which shows the
number of crew members and passengers on board. Also, two other documents
related to cargo that are bill of lading and cargo manifest. Together with that,
the narcotic list which is issued by the master is also mandatory for the passage
planning. Finally, the maritime declaration of health related to the arrival of all
vessels.

B: I agree you up to a point.and tell me what about the others? Arent s

crews effects declaration and ships store declaration requirements to make the
passage planning?

D: No, those documents are showed by the master in cases of inspections such
as vettings, port state control, etc and they are not mandatory to make the
passage planning. They just need to be ready in cases of any inspection.

B: Oh thats good to know. I had no idea about that situation.

D: Tell me.what have you found about calculations?

B: Well, there are some calculations have to be done for the passage planning.

D: Sorry to interrupt my friend, I found on the web that the most important
calculation done by the second officer is the calculation of leg distances and the
Estimated Time of Arrival for each leg.

B: Well, it is an important calculation but there is more. I divided the information

I got from the bridge procedures guide and other websites in three groups which
are Stability information, navigation information and chart information.

D: Stability calculations? Are they important?

B: Definitely! The second mate needs this information to prepare the passage
planning. This information includes drafts , trim, displacement, ballast condition,
KG (distance from the keel to the centre of gravity), GM, etc.

D: GM? What do you mean by GM?

B: GM is the distance from the vessel centre of gravity (G) to the Transverse
Metacentre (M), measured in metres.
D: Ok, I get it. I also found on the web that ship data such as length between
perpendiculars, maximum breath and maximum speed are important to prepare
the passage planning.

B: Exactly! That is what I was going to say.

D: Ok, and related to chart information, what information is it included?

B: Well, the second mate has to identify all charts for the route to the next port
and correct them.

D: Yeah! These corrections are according to notice to mariners, right?

B: Of course! Also, the navigation officer has to plot the charts and establish the
true course for each leg.

D: Totally agree! Are no go areas also indicated in the chart?

B: Yeah, they are. Abort points, reporting points and no return points are also
indicated.

D: Reporting points? What do you mean by that?

B: Well, reporting points are specific points where the ship has to report its
position to Vessel Traffic Service ( VTS)

D: Ok, thanks. One more thing, What nautical publications are used by the
second officer in the preparation of a voyage?

B: Well, I found several publications such as Sailing Directions, Tide tables, List
of lights and fog signals, Ships routeing, guide to entry port, etc.

D: Sounds interesting, in addition to your information, the catalogue of charts

and publications are really important for the voyage.

B: Yes, it is. Going to the next point, what can you tell me about
communications?

D: Well, the master supervises and checks the elaboration of the passage
planning done by the second mate. The master talks with the second mate and
selects the route which is expected Minimum Fuel Consumption and Minimum
hours under way.

B: Thats correct. I also found that the Master must be guided by Owners,
Charterers and Local Regulations regarding passage and offshore distances,
often with regard to protection of the marine environment.

D: Yes, it is right. What information can we find in the passage planning related
to communication?
B: The second mate indicates the channels for the reporting system in case of
departure and arrival in the passage planning. Also, the passage planning
shows the channels to communicate with the pilot.

D: Interesting! Are emergency communications included in the passage

planning?

B: Of course! The passage planning shows emergency communication which

includes distress, urgency and safety messages.

D: Ok, ok I get it! Well, Brandon, it was nice to exchange information. I learned
some important data I didnt know. I have to go home!

B: No problem Daniel, it is always good to talk about these topic related to our
career. See you tomorrow man!

D: Ok, see you!