04/12/2025
Basic : What is the importance of scrutiny “NO-Go Areas” when preparing voyage planning?
Tip: 1 learning a day = 365 learnings per year.
In navigation, No-Go Areas are sections of water that a vessel must never enter because they are too shallow or unsafe for the ship’s draft and safety margins.
Definition
A No-Go Area is any area on a navigational chart where:
• The charted depth is less than the ship’s draft, PLUS a safety allowance
(squat, tide, under-keel clearance).
• Or where there are hazards that make entry dangerous (reefs, wrecks, rocks, restricted zones).
These areas are marked and avoided during voyage planning to ensure the vessel always remains in safe navigable waters.
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How No-Go Areas Are Determined
When planning a passage, officers:
1. Check vessel draft (actual + expected deepest draft).
2. Add UKC (Under Keel Clearance) requirements.
Example: Required UKC = 1.0 m.
3. Add squat allowance when at speed.
4. Adjust for tide (rising or falling).
5. Compare with charted depths.
Any area shallower than the safe depth = No-Go Area.
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Why No-Go Areas Are Important
• Prevent grounding.
• Ensure safe and deep water navigation.
• Help bridge teams visualize danger zones.
• Support good Bridge Resource Management (BRM).
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How They Are Marked on Charts
• Usually highlighted in red or hatched on ECDIS.
• On paper charts, plotted (“boxed out”) during voyage planning.
• Displayed as areas you must avoid except in emergency.
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Simple Example
If ship’s draft = 10 m
UKC required = 1 m
Squat at planned speed = 1 m
Safe depth needed = 10 + 1 + 1 = 12 meters
Any area with charted depth