Ship Captain how-to

How to Plan a Coastal Passage

Planning keeps ships safe.

Updated By the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team
Quick answer

Planning keeps ships safe. In short: check; check; check, then complete the remaining steps below.

Step by step

  1. Check charts.

  2. Check weather.

  3. Check tides and currents.

  4. Mark hazards.

  5. Set waypoints.

  6. Brief the crew.

Safety reminders for ship captains

  • Follow COLREGS
  • Run regular drills
  • Respect weather
  • Manage fatigue

USCG · MMC · TWIC · Port · Starboard · Master: see the full ship captain glossary.

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