Question 1

A skipper with 30 years' experience in local waters had never prepared a written passage plan. How does this relate to the Jean Elaine grounding?

Accepted Answer

Local knowledge covered known routes but gave no protection once the plan changed to an unfamiliar location with no planning done Thirty years of local knowledge was real and valid for the routes the skipper actually knew. It provided no protection at all once the dive team's change of plan took Jean Elaine into an unfamiliar bay he'd never navigated, with no passage plan prepared for it.

Question 2

You're preparing a passage plan for a coastal leg in a yacht drawing 3.2m. At one point the chart shows a least depth of 3.8m at chart datum. What MUST you check before finalising this leg?

Accepted Answer

The tidal height at the time of transit to confirm sufficient under-keel clearance Charted depths are referenced to chart datum (often LAT), so you must add the predicted tidal height for your transit time to get the actual depth, then compare to your draft plus a safety margin to confirm UKC.

Question 3

During your watch the ECDIS gives a "safety contour crossing" alarm. What is the correct response?

Accepted Answer

Assess the situation against the planned route and charted depths, take action to maintain safe water, and inform the Master if there is any doubt A safety contour alarm indicates the vessel may be approaching water shallower than the set safety contour. It must be investigated against the route and charted information, with avoiding action taken and the Master informed as appropriate — never simply silenced.