Your passage requires crossing a bar with a minimum depth of 3.2m at chart datum. Your vessel drafts 2.8m and your UKC policy requires 0.5m minimum. Describe how you plan this tidal gate.

A. Required depth = draft + minimum UKC = 2.8 + 0.5 = 3.3m. Chart datum depth = 3.2m, so you need at least 0.1m of tide above chart datum. Consult Tide Tables for the secondary port (using tidal differences on the standard port). Calculate the time window when the height of tide exceeds 0.1m. Add a safety margin for tidal prediction error (typically 10% of range or 0.2m). Note the first and last safe time of arrival on the passage plan as a tidal gate — if delayed, anchor and wait for the next window. Mark the abort point on the plan (latest time to turn back and arrive at the gate within the window).

B. Required depth = 3.2 + 0.5 = 3.7m. Wait for high water and cross as close to HW as possible — the exact time of arrival is not critical.

C. Chart datum is always the lowest possible tide, so a charted depth of 3.2m is always available. No tidal planning is required.

D. Tidal gates are only relevant for vessels drawing more than 5 metres. For a vessel drawing 2.8m, a charted depth of 3.2m provides adequate clearance at all states of tide.

A. SOLAS V Reg 34 requires that before proceeding to sea, the master shall ensure that the intended voyage has been planned using adequate and up-to-date charts and nautical publications. The four stages are: APPRAISAL (gather all relevant information); PLANNING (lay the plan on charts from berth to berth); EXECUTION (monitor progress against the plan); MONITORING (cross-check position continuously throughout the voyage).

B. SOLAS V Reg 34 requires a passage plan only for voyages exceeding 200 nautical miles. For shorter voyages a verbal brief to the OOW is sufficient.

C. SOLAS V Reg 34 requires the Chief Officer to produce the passage plan and present it to the master for signature. The OOW has no planning responsibility.

D. The four stages are: depart, transit, arrive, anchor. SOLAS V Reg 34 specifies that plans must be filed with the port authority before departure.

A. The shoal is a no-go area. You would draw a no-go zone on the chart with a safety margin added for squat, wave response, tidal variation, and chart accuracy. A clearing bearing or limiting danger line would be drawn to keep the vessel safely clear. The passage plan waypoints must route the vessel outside this zone. The abort point where you could no longer safely turn back or divert must also be marked.

B. Check the tide tables — if the tide adds 1m of water at the time of passing, the available depth is 7.5m which exceeds your draft of 7.2m with 0.3m to spare. Mark this as a tidal gate in the plan and proceed.

C. A 6.5m shoal with 7.2m draft has 0.7m of clearance. This is within MCA-approved underkeel clearance limits and no special marking is required.

D. Report the discrepancy to the chart agent as a possible chart error and proceed on the original route pending correction.