This document provides guidance on planning ocean passages and includes details to consider such as publications to reference, tidal information, sunrise/sunset times, navigation methods, passage route planning, chart requirements, weather factors, ship traffic considerations, operational factors, international maritime regulations and signals to send for coordination and reporting. Planning involves determining estimated times of departure and arrival, tidal conditions, fuel requirements, garbage disposal compliance and indicating planned routes, course alterations and rendezvous on charts.

1. Ocean Passage Planning
Publications
- AMN Volumes I – IV
- FLOO’s
- FOS
- Admiralty Distance Tables
- Ocean Passages for the World
- Routeing Charts
- RNCP9
- PLAGO’s
- Distance between ports of arrival and departure
- Tidal Information
- Recommendation from sailing directions
- Traffic Separation Schemes
- Forecast weather
- Sunrise / Sunset
- Fixing methods available
- Range and visibility of lights
- Navigation Work Book
Details Of Departure
ETD ETA
Tidal Data Tidal Data
Sunrise / Sunset Sunrise / Sunset
Notes on Entry
Passage Details
Distances / Routes
Charts Required
Sunrise / Sunset
Tidal Stream
Standard Calculations
Ocean Currents
Ports Working Hours
Factors
ETD / ETA
Tidal Restrictions
Ports Working Hours
Administration Details i.e. Store Ship
Weather en route
Fog / low visibility (slow speeds)
Prevailing Wind (Flying ops)

2. Effect on speed of rough weather
Choice of route
Traffic Separation Scheme
Shipping
- Fishing
- Traffic bottlenecks
- Land on starboard side
- Narrow channels
- Canals
- Areas of heavy traffic
Operations / Exercises en route
- RAS / RV’s
- Firings
- Power trials
- MOBEX
- OOW Manoeuvres
- Machinery Breakdowns
Territorial Limits
- Detailed in Annual Summary of Notices to Mariners
- DIPCLEAR
- Right of innocent passage
Fuel
- Fuel Demands (FLOOs)
- Economical Speeds
- Consumption data
- Fuel allocation in FOS
Gash disposal
- MARPOL regulations
- Special areas
Distance off dangers
- Minimise risk of grounding
- Close enough to ID shore marks
- Under keel clearance
Routeing Charts
- Routes and charts between ports
- Ocean currents
- Wind roses
- Ice limits
- Air / dew point / sea temperatures

3. - Barometric pressure
- Incidence of fog / gales / storms
Great circle / composite track
Plan on one small scale chart then transfer to the largest usable chart.
Indicate:
- DTR (Distance to run)
- Time of course alterations
- Tidal stream currents
- RV’s
- Sunrise / Sunset
Passage Graph
Signals
- Request NAVMOVE (FLOO 1301, RNCP9)
- Mail Diversion Signal (RNCP9)
- NAVTRACK (Especially when travelling with other units)
- DIPCLEAR (CB3012, FLAGO, BR2)
- Visit Letter (FLAGO)
- LOGREQ (RNCP9, FLOO)
- Request Trax / Spax (FLOO)
- RAS Signal (App 4, ATP16)
- Operation Signals (with navigation input)
In Company
- Co-ordinated entry / departure signals
- Navtrack points
- Intentions
On Passage
- Nav PIM Signals (RNCP9, FLOO)
- Met Reports (FLOO)
- Oceanographic Reports (FLOO)
Port Guides