Pilotage Plan Preparation

A detailed pilotage plan should be prepared well in advance — ideally during passage planning, not during the final approach when the crew is tired and conditions may be deteriorating. The plan transforms complex chart information into a clear, step-by-step guide that can be followed under pressure.

Begin with chart preparation: study the approach on the largest-scale chart available. Mark the intended track, identify all buoys and marks you will pass, note the charted depths along the track, and highlight any hazards close to the route. Calculate the tidal height for your expected arrival time to determine whether there is sufficient water over any bars, sills, or shallow patches.

Identify key bearings and transits that confirm you are on the safe approach. Note the bearing and distance between successive waypoints, and record transits or leading marks that define the safe channel. For each leg of the approach, decide how you will know you have reached the next turn point.

Set up clearing bearings to keep clear of specific dangers — draw these on the chart and write down whether the bearing must be kept 'not less than' or 'not more than' the critical value. Note the minimum depth you expect along each leg and the charted depth at which you should abort the approach.

Record the lights you need to identify on the approach (with colours, characteristics, and periods), the harbour VHF working channel and port control call sign, and any traffic signals displayed at the entrance. Note the times of high and low water and the direction of tidal streams at each stage of the approach.

Finally, plan contingencies: what will you do if visibility drops, if a key light is extinguished, if the engine fails, or if you cannot identify your position with certainty? A good contingency plan identifies a safe abort point, an alternative anchorage or harbour, and actions for the most likely failures. Write the complete plan on a waterproof cockpit card, brief every crew member on their role, and rehearse the critical actions before the approach begins.