ROUTE PLANNING WITH A CHARTPLOTTER


A skipper is preparing a journey from Dolphin Marina (within Port Fraser) to Stevenstown using a chart plotter for route planning.


1. Explain why the chartplotter’s ‘Go To’ function would not be suitable for navigating directly to waypoint S’town.


2.


The chartplotter’s auto-routeing function is used to create a route from the vessel’s starting position to waypoint S’town.


a) What information about the vessel must first be programmed into the chartplotter for the auto- routeing function to work?


b) What does this symbol indicate and what action would you take?


c) The auto-routeing function names the waypoints in numerical order. Why is it good practice to rename the them?


3. Refine the exact location of the waypoints so that it will be possible to verify their position using independent means such as transits, proximity to a buoy, bearings or depth.


Annotate the new position on each chartplotter snapshot and explain what features and techniques you would use to verify your arrival at each waypoint.


a) WPT3 b) WPT4 c) WPT5 d) S’town


4. Prior to departure a warning message appears on the chartplotter. Suggest two factors that may cause a position fix to be lost?


5. The issue with the chartplotter is resolved and the journey commences. Once the vessel is clear of Port Fraser you practice MOB recovery and press the chartplotter’s MOB button as part of the exercise. What does the MOB function do?


6.


a) How does the chartplotter calculate the ETA for a route? b) How reliable is the ETA? Explain why.


c) The chartplotter shows the vessel’s position an hour into the journey. How does this compare with where you expected to be at this time?


7. What does the icon indicate? Is AIS information alone sufficient to make a decision about what action to take?


8. You zoom-out the chartplotter, overlay a radar picture and set a variable range marker (VRM) on Stevenstown harbour wall. Explain how this can help to verify your position.


9. Why does good practice necessitate the use of visual tools and techniques during the pilotage phases of a journey?


L K I J G E F


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