QUESTION 4.2.1

Berth-to-berth passage planning

Oil, Chemical, LPG, LNGBridge

What is being checked

The inspector is checking whether every voyage is appraised, planned, executed and monitored from berth to berth, including pilotage and contingencies, and whether plans, records and interviews demonstrate that the procedure is applied during real voyages rather than completed only as paperwork.

Ready onboard

0/6 complete

PROCEDUREThe procedure requires appraisal of charts, publications, weather, security, traffic, machinery status, draft, UKC, reporting and environmental restrictions before building the route.EVIDENCEUse the latest voyage to trace appraisal sources, approved route, waypoint checks, UKC, briefings, execution records, deviations and post-voyage corrections.RESPONSIBILITYThe Master and responsible officers can identify who prepares, verifies, approves and monitors each stage.ROUTE GEOMETRYWheel-over positions, cross-track limits, no-go areas, parallel indexes, clearing bearings and abort points suit the vessel and manoeuvre.CRITICAL POINTSTidal gates, reporting points, fuel changeovers, pilot changes, bridge manning and machinery readiness are time-linked.INDEPENDENT CHECKA second competent officer checks every leg and the Master approves the complete plan before departure.

Practice questions

Answer aloud, then open the preparation point.

1What is the operational purpose of berth-to-berth passage planning?

Every voyage is appraised, planned, executed and monitored from berth to berth, including pilotage and contingencies.

2Show how the procedure was applied on the last voyage.

Use the latest voyage to trace appraisal sources, approved route, waypoint checks, UKC, briefings, execution records, deviations and post-voyage corrections.

3Which decision requires the Master's judgement?

The Master sets safe margins, identifies critical points and decides whether new hazards or changed conditions require amendment, delay or abandonment.

4What happens if the planned control becomes invalid?

Pause progression where necessary, establish safe water and position, reassess the affected leg, amend and recheck the route and rebrief the team before continuing.

5How are changes communicated and recorded?

Brief the affected bridge and machinery personnel, amend the controlled plan or record, obtain required approval and retain the reason and revised limits.

Where an observation may arise

PAPER COMPLIANCE

Records exist but the bridge team cannot relate them to the actual voyage or operation.

CHANGE UNCONTROLLED

A material change is not reassessed, approved, briefed or recorded.

INCOMPLETE BERTH-TO-BERTH

Pilotage, anchorage, canal or terminal legs are omitted.

UNSAFE WAYPOINT

A waypoint, turn or cross-track limit is inconsistent with safe water or manoeuvring ability.

NO REAPPRAISAL

Weather, warning, draft or route change is accepted without new checks.

Master's practical note

Inspect the most constrained turn and the plan's escape option. A route line without an abort decision and safe-water logic is not a complete navigational plan.

Equipment boundary and references

Equipment boundary: Passage planning supports but does not remove the Master's responsibility to respond to actual conditions. Pilotage remains part of the berth-to-berth plan.

References

OCIMF SIRE 2.0 Question Library Part 1, Version 1.0, Question 4.2.1
SOLAS Chapter V regulation 34
IMO Resolution A.893(21)
ICS Bridge Procedures Guide
IMO Resolution A.960(23)

Last reviewed: 2026-09-11