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Planning and Constructing Coastal Tracks
Considerations
There is a great difference between planning coastal tracks and
great-circle tracks. Coastal tracks often require more attention to
dangers and shoals. Normally coastal navigation may be defined as any
ship operating within 50 nmi of a coastline. Often there are many
shoals or dangers which must be avoided. Let’s look at a real world
example.
Ships departing Norfolk for southern OPAREAs often depart the traffic
separation scheme of Chesapeake Bay and steer on a SE heading.
Careful attention must be paid to this route due to shallow water and
submerged obstructions up to about 25 nmi from the coast in many
places. Also, hazards to navigation when turning south around Cape
Hatteras are too numerous to mention.
The point of this discussion is to make clear the dangers of coastal
navigation. The following rules apply to coastal track construction.
Rules:
Always review all applicable coast pilots and sailing directions
before laying down tracks
Check the proposed track thoroughly for dangers. Never allow the
track to pass within 5 nmi of any danger.
Highlight all coastal aids to navigation
Highlight any shoals, towers, OADS buoys, or other obstructions.
Use the best scale of chart available for any area the ship transits.
Use the following table to construct coastal tracks:
Step
Action
1.
Choose points from a small scale mercator chart that covers the
entire area the ship will transit. Draw lines for tracks and label.
2.
Transfer track to the best scale coastal charts available.
3.
Check each leg of the transit for dangers.
4.
Determine SOA and label each chart with PIM.
5.
Apply all rules making sure to highlight shoal water, dangers,
and NAVAIDs.
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