13. Route Planning
13.1
Introduction
A route plan defines the navigation plan from starting point to the final destination. The plan includes:
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Route name
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Name, latitude and longitude of each waypoint
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Radius of turn circle at each waypoint
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Safe channel limits
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Chart alarm calculation based on channel limits against chart database and user chart danger
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Deadband width
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Minimum and maximum speed for each leg
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The navigation method (rhumb line, great circle)
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Fuel saving
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ETD for the first waypoint
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ETA for the last waypoint
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Ship and environmental condition affecting the ship speed calculation
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Name of the user chart to use during route monitoring together with this planned route
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Name of the pilot data to use during route monitoring together with this planned route
Using the above-mentioned data, the system calculates speed, course and length for each leg, ETAs for each
waypoint, fuel consumption and WOP for the Autopilot FAP-2000. It also calculates safe water areas based on
operator-defined channel limits. The calculated data is displayed in tabular form that can be printed as a documented
route plan and also stored in a file for later use. The route files thus formed contain the trackpilot commands for
each waypoint.
Main functions of route planning are:
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Define waypoints
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Define turnings for each waypoint
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Define channel limits for each leg (a leg is the line connected between two waypoints). The channel limits are
used to detect chart alarms when you are planning or monitoring your route.
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Define the speed for each leg
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Calculation for ETD and ETA
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Calculation for most economical sailing
13-1