Maritime Knowledge Base
Browse questions and answers across marine machinery, merchant navy careers, shipboard operations and maritime glossary terms.
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Marine Machinery
Troubleshooting guides for pumps, boilers, purifiers, compressors and auxiliary systems.
Merchant Navy Careers
Questions about joining the merchant navy, exams, cadetships, ranks and sea-time.
Maritime Glossary
Plain-English definitions of shipping, engine-room, navigation and regulatory terms.
Shipboard Operations
Practical Q&A for watchkeeping, safety, maintenance routines and onboard documentation.
Results for "Passage planning"
What are the four stages of passage planning (appraisal, planning, execution, monitoring)?
Passage planning follows four stages — appraisal, planning, execution and monitoring — that together prepare and carry out a safe voyage from berth to berth.
Maritime GlossaryWhat is SOLAS?
SOLAS explained — the IMO's most important safety convention and the areas of ship safety it governs.
Shipboard OperationsHow is a navigation (bridge) watch properly handed over?
A bridge watch handover requires the relieving officer to be fully oriented — position, traffic, course and dangers — before accepting the watch, and never mid-manoeuvre.
Merchant Navy CareersWhat are the ranks and hierarchy in the merchant navy?
A merchant ship's crew is organised into the deck, engine and catering departments, each with a clear hierarchy of officers and ratings under the overall command of the Master.
Shipboard OperationsWhat is dead reckoning in navigation?
Dead reckoning is estimating a ship's present position from a known past position by applying the course steered and the distance run, without reference to external fixes.
Shipboard OperationsHow do you read a nautical chart?
A nautical chart is a map of the sea showing depths, dangers, aids to navigation and the coastline, read using its scales of latitude and longitude, soundings, symbols and compass rose.
Shipboard OperationsWhat precautions does a ship take in heavy weather?
In heavy weather a ship reduces speed and adjusts course to ease its motion, secures everything for sea, manages ballast and stability, and guards against dangerous rolling.
Shipboard OperationsWhat is bridge resource management (BRM) and why does it matter?
Bridge resource management is the effective use of all the people, equipment and information available on the bridge to navigate safely, reduce human error and prevent accidents.
Shipboard OperationsWhat is under keel clearance and why is it important?
Under keel clearance is the vertical gap between the lowest point of a ship's keel and the seabed — a safety margin that must be maintained to avoid grounding.
