The Importance of Passage Planning

Every voyage, no matter how short, should be planned in advance. A well-prepared passage plan ensures you have considered the weather, tides, hazards, timing, and contingencies before you leave the berth. This reduces risk and improves decision-making when you are at sea.

IMO passage-planning guidance uses four connected stages: appraisal, planning, execution, and monitoring. Treat them as a live safety cycle rather than a mnemonic that guarantees completeness: the plan must be checked, briefed, executed, monitored, and revised as the evidence changes.