Operational Guide · Registers & Logbooks

# Passage Planning

The four phases — appraisal, planning, execution, monitoring: how to build a berth-to-berth passage plan that truly holds up against the reality of the route.

SOLAS Chapter V passage plan ECDIS bridge team

## Operational Explanation

The passage plan is the detailed planning of the entire voyage, from berth to berth, not just the open-sea route. IMO Resolution A.893(21) defines the process in four phases: appraisal (gathering and evaluating all relevant information), planning (working out the detailed route), execution (carrying out the plan, with a bridge team briefing) and monitoring (continuous verification of the ship's position against the plan during navigation).

An effective passage plan is not a static document drawn up once and filed away, but a living tool, updated with actual weather and sea conditions and constantly verified during execution.

## Regulatory Reference

SOLAS Chapter V, Regulation 34 (Safe navigation and avoidance of dangerous situations) and Resolution A.893(21) (Guidelines for Voyage Planning): an obligation to plan the voyage before departure, taking into account all relevant information and identifying safety margins (under-keel clearance, no-go areas, position-fixing points).

## Scope of Application

Every ship subject to SOLAS Chapter V, for every voyage, regardless of route length or the crew's familiarity with the navigation area.

## Procedure / How to Complete It

1. Appraisal: gather all relevant information (charts, notices to mariners, weather forecasts, port restrictions, available draught).
2. Planning: chart the detailed berth-to-berth route, identifying no-go areas, position-fixing points, safety margins (under-keel clearance) and contingency plans.
3. Verify consistency between the ECDIS plan and any paper back-up.
4. Execution: conduct the bridge team briefing before departure, ensuring all officers involved understand the plan.
5. Monitoring: continuously verify the ship's position against the plan during navigation, updating it in case of deviations or new information (e.g. weather warnings).

### Diagram: the 4 phases of the passage plan (Res. A.893(21))

## Practical Example

Example passage plan entry: "Genoa-Civitavecchia leg: no-go area marked for shallow waters south of Elba Island; position-fixing point every 15 minutes near the coast; minimum required under-keel clearance 2 m at average tide conditions."

## Real Cases

Grounding investigations frequently trace the cause not to the absence of a formal passage plan (often present and filed), but to its failure to be verified during the monitoring phase: the route actually followed deviates from the plan without the bridge team noticing in time, often due to excessive reliance on the autopilot or a single positioning system.

## Common Mistakes Mistake Library

Mistake | Consequence | How to avoid it
--- | --- | ---
Passage plan drawn up only for the open-sea route, not berth-to-berth | Critical port manoeuvring phases not adequately planned | Always extend the plan from berth to berth, including manoeuvring phases
Plan not updated after a significant change in weather and sea conditions | The plan becomes misaligned with the real situation | Treat monitoring as a continuous process, not a one-off check
Bridge team briefing skipped or superficial before departure | Not all officers understand the critical points of the plan | Always conduct a structured briefing with the entire bridge team involved in the leg

## PSC Observations

PSCOs verify the presence of a complete (berth-to-berth) passage plan, its consistency with ECDIS/charts, and — through interviews with the bridge team — the officers' real understanding of the plan.

## Operational Tips

- Treat monitoring as a continuous process throughout the voyage, not a single check at the start of the route.
- Update the passage plan whenever weather and sea conditions change significantly from the initial forecasts.
- Make sure the bridge team briefing explicitly covers no-go areas and critical points of the route, not just the general route.

## Checklist

- Plan drawn up berth-to-berth, not just for the open-sea leg
- No-go areas and safety margins (under-keel clearance) identified
- Plan consistent between primary ECDIS and back-up
- Bridge team briefing conducted before departure
- Continuous monitoring of position against the plan during navigation

## FAQ

What does 'berth-to-berth' mean in passage planning?
It means the plan must cover the entire voyage, from the departure berth to the arrival berth, including port manoeuvring phases and not just the open-sea leg.
What are the four phases of passage planning under Resolution A.893(21)?
Appraisal (gathering information), Planning (working out the detailed route), Execution (carrying out the plan with a team briefing) and Monitoring (continuous verification during navigation).
Must the passage plan be redone for routes already sailed many times?
The plan must still be prepared and verified for every voyage: even on familiar routes, weather and sea conditions, temporary restrictions or notices to mariners may have changed since the last transit.
🎬 Additional photos, videos and interactive diagrams for this topic will be available in a future version of the platform.

## Related Topics

ECDIS GMDSS

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