Journey planning, category I. competencies

Boatmaster exam

Sample task – Journey planning, competence at management level

The sample task below presents the structure of the case study exam and the expected planning logic. When solving the task, the planning of the route, cargo, crew, documentation, fuel, technical equipment and safety aspects must all be taken into account.

Subject
Journey planning, competence at management level
Exam type
Case study exam
Downloadable sample task

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Sample task

You have to transport animal feed from Antwerp to Budapest by motor vessel “ES-QIN” (length 86 m, width 9.50 m). Plan the first 3 days of this journey. The “ES-QIN” is equipped to standard S2. When sailing in standing water and carrying its maximum load, the craft reaches an average speed of 16 km/h; the vessel is operated in continuous journey mode. The crew are on board for 14 days and then have 14 days’ leave; the current crew have already been on board for 10 days. Today is your first day on board as the boatmaster. Assume that your crew have just taken all the required rest periods. The animal feed to be transported has a specific weight of 0.65 t/m3. The only hold has a volume of 2,000 m3 up to the coaming. Loading will commence shortly. The vessel uses gas oil as a fuel, the bunker capacity of the craft for the main engine is 25,000 litres and is distributed between 2 on-board bunker tanks. There is currently still a total of 4,000 litres of gas oil in the two bunker tanks. The craft consumes an average of 180 litres per hour with the engines operating at full load. The additional required data (cargo capacity certificate, water level, expected water level, shallow water section report, bridge parameters, notices to skippers) can be found in the annex to the assignment*. There is no possibility for lightening or transshipment (shifting) during the journey.

When planning your journey, enlarge on the following aspects, in particular:

I. Sailing route and navigation
  1. Describe the sailing route. Which waterways will you be using? Which police regulations will apply to you and on which stretches of your journey? How much time are you allowing for each stretch and why?
  2. Also consider ecological and economic aspects in your journey planning.
  3. What are the maximum permissible dimensions (length, width) of vessels navigating on the waterways you have selected? What are the bridge clearances for your journey section, and what will you have to bear in mind when passing bridges?
  4. How are you calculating the relevant fairway depths on your stretch, and how are you taking account of the weather situation of recent days and upcoming days when determining the draught of your craft.
II. Cargo
  1. What amount does the cargo depend on , and how are you calculating the maximum amount of cargo that you can carry on board? What will you need to bear in mind when loading with regard to water levels? How much cargo are you allowed to take on board?
  2. Explain how you will respond to any great reductions in water level that may occur.
  3. How and where do you have to stow the cargo on board? Describe how you will achieve optimum capacity utilization of the holds with regard to a nautically economical trim of the craft. Describe how you would optimally trim your craft.
  4. What will you need to bear in mind during the journey regarding to the cargo?
  5. What will you need to bear in mind during loading and unloading?
III. Crew
  1. Which and how many crew members must be on board during the journey?
  2. How long may crew members normally be on duty on board, and when must they normally take a rest or break? How long must each of these rests or breaks be?
IV. Documents
  1. What documents relating to the vessel, cargo and/or crew will you need to have on board?
  2. What will you need to bear in mind regarding to their validity?
  3. What documentation will you have to do during the journey in everyday operation?
V. Fuel
  1. Calculate the fuel consumption for the journey section you have to plan and where and how much fuel you will be bunkering. What will fuel consumption be like on a stretch regulated by weirs or a canal compared with that on a free-flowing river?
  2. What precautions will you take during the bunkering procedures?
VI. Devices and equipment on board
  1. What determines the technical devices for the journey that have to be on board and which devices are they?
  2. What maintenance or inspection of technical devices might you have to perform during the journey?
  3. What will you need to bear in mind regarding to the use of ropes and wires on board?
VII. Life on board and health and safety at work
  1. How will you organize the provision of food for the crew on board during the journey?
  2. Which health and safety at work rules will you have to observe during the journey, e.g. regarding to access to the craft, the use of hazardous substances or the cleaning of enclosed spaces?
  3. What briefings will you have to give to the crew?
  4. What precautions will you take regarding to possible emergency situations on board?
  5. What measures will you take in everyday operation to prevent water from penetrating the vessel, and what measures will you take in the event of flooding?
  6. What will you need to bear in mind regarding to environmental protection?

Important notes

The start of loading and the start of the journey will be specified in the exam task; for practice purposes, these dates may be freely chosen.

*For practice, you may use the cargo capacity certificate of the vessel on which you are currently serving (in the case of a passenger vessel, instead of loaded cargo you may calculate with fuel, drinking water, and ballast).

Sources for practice

The additional required information can also be found on the following websites:

During practice, you may freely change the type of cargo loaded, the vessel type, route, speed, etc. It is recommended to prepare the task for the vessel on which you are currently serving.

Recommended literature:

Assessment

The assessment of the specific task in the examination is based on the competence elements listed below. The examiner must evaluate 10 elements. The candidate may achieve a maximum of 10 points for each element, and for a successful result, at least 7 points must be achieved in each evaluated element.

# Examination element
1. Navigation on European inland waterways, including locks and ship lifts, in accordance with navigation agreements concluded with the transport operator.
2. Consideration of technical structures and waterway profiles, and the application of precautionary measures.
3. Ensuring the crew requirements necessary for the safe operation of the vessel in accordance with applicable regulations.
4. Taking measures to ensure the watertight integrity of the vessel.
5. Consideration of specific requirements related to the transport of cargo and passengers.
6. Preparation of a cargo stowage plan, including knowledge of loading operations and ballast systems, ensuring that hull stress remains within acceptable limits.
7. Supervision of loading and unloading operations with regard to safe transport.
8. Consideration of the effects of cargo and cargo operations on longitudinal trim and vessel stability.
9. Verification of the actual tonnage of the vessel, use of stability and longitudinal strength diagrams, and stress calculation tools, including ADB, for checking the cargo stowage plan.
10. Communication with passengers in emergency situations.
11. Verification and monitoring of the validity of the vessel certificate and other documents related to the vessel and its operation.
12. Compliance with safety regulations in all work processes, applying relevant safety measures to prevent accidents.