Marine Passage Planning

Wheel Over & Parallel Indexing

 Revision Manoeuvring Data
Rudder Force
The thrust from the propeller acting on the rudder is referred to as
‘The Rudder Force’.
This provides a transverse force that turns the ship
 Revision Manoeuvring Data
Pivot Point
The point that will trace a ships turning curve.
1 - Initially Stopped Ship
Forward movement is initially resisted. Pivot Point approximately
1/8th from bow. This provides the optimum lever.

Pivot Point
 Revision Manoeuvring Data
Pivot Point
The point that will trace a ships turning curve.
2 – Vessel builds up speed
Pivot Point moves to approximately ¼ from bow

Pivot Point
3 – Steady Speed
Pivot Point to approximately 1/3 from bow. Rudder becomes less efficient.
 Revision Manoeuvring Data
Lateral resistance
As ship progresses through the turn, and slides sideways, a
build up of pressure on the hull resists the forward
movement. This aids the turn.
 Terminology
Wheel Over - Point of initiation of course
change
Advance - Distance ship moved in direction
of initial heading
Transfer - Distance ship moved
perpendicular to initial heading
Drift angle - Angle between ships fore and
aft line and tangent to turning circle
Distance to new course - Distance from
intersection of initial and final heading to
wheel over point.
Change of heading - Angle between initial
and actual instantaneous heading
Rate of turn - Rate of change of heading in
degrees/minutes (Wheel Over)
 Turning Factors
Factors that may affect a turn?
• Draught
• UKC
• Current
• Tide
• Wind
• ‘Ship Speed’
(steady speed or from stopped/dead slow ahead,
when pivot point further forward)

In the diagram the advance and transfer can be measured

from the scale for both a 20° and 35° turn.
Note that an increase in rudder angle reduces the
diameter of the turn.
However, once at a steady speed, the speed at which a
vessel enters a turn will not affect the diameter of the
turning circle. Pivot point is approximately one third of
length from the bow at a steady speed.
 Turning Factors
The turning circle for a vessel in the same condition
applying 20° of wheel would be the same whether
the approach speed was 6 knots or 12 knots.
It is the ‘rate of turn’ that varies, and so the time
taken to complete the turn varies.
However, during a large turn using significant helm a
ship may experience a 30 to 50% speed loss (eg from
12 knots to 6 or 8 knots).
 Turning Data
Required Information?
• Condition (loaded?)
• Direction of Turn
• Initial speed
• Rudder angle
• Change of heading
 Turning Data
Required Information?
• Condition (loaded?)
• Direction of Turn
• Initial speed
• Rudder angle
• Change of heading,
• Instantaneous speed
• Rate of turn
• Advance
• Transfer
• Distance to new course
 Manoeuvring Data
• In simplest form, in graphical
and/or tabular format
• Ship condition stated on diagram
when information compiled
• Same scale for comparing different
graphical data
• Warning stating data different for
other conditions
• Data compiled where depth of
water at least twice ship’s draught
• Manoeuvring diagrams indicate path
of ship’s bridge
 + Ch

• Add waypoint & courses

• Obtain Advance and Transfer from
Manoeuvring Data, based upon
intended:
• Speed (eg half ahead,9
knots, etc)
• Rudder Angle (eg 20 degrees)
• Run approach course on
• Using Transfer distance, mark a
position perpendicular to the
approach course that intersects
with the subsequent course
W/O
• Run the Advance distance back
along approach course
• Mark ‘Wheelover position’
• Mark the intermediate points from
wheelover position, eg every 10°
 + Ch

• Identify a prominent light or

mark on approach, this will
provide a ‘lead’.
• To provide a quick visual
identification of the Wheelover
Position. Find a prominent land
mark and identify the bearing
from it on the approach course.
A conspicuous object on the
beam is often ideal, but not
always possible

W/O
 + Ch

• Parallel Indexing can provide a very

effective means to dynamically W/O
monitor progress.
• XTE
 + Ch

• Parallel Indexing can provide a very

effective means to dynamically W/O
monitor progress.
• XTE
 + Ch

• But what actually happens is…

W/O
Monitoring a wheel over with a
position parallel to your new track.

An ideal wheel over position may have a

conspicuous point on a bearing parallel to your
next course.

W/O
Monitoring a wheel over with a position
parallel to your new track.

An ideal wheel over position would have a

conspicuous point on a bearing parallel to your
next course.
This ensures that irrespective of whether the
vessel is to the:
• Port side, or;
• Starboard side of the first track
then the vessel will still be on the new track W/O
once the turn is completed.
The only difference will be on the new track
either:
• Earlier, or:
• later.
 Wheel Over - Risavika Turn Exercise
Chartlet: Approaches to Risavika
M.V.Norvega is laden and bound for Risavika Oil Terminal
berth (58˚ 55.4´N 05˚ 34.7´E).

The passage requires the ship to pass to the:

• West of Steinbaen shoal (58˚55.6´N 005˚32.3´E), and ;
• North of Midtfjaera shoal (58˚55.8´N 005˚32.4´E)

Using the sectored lights to assist in the safe navigation.

[Positions given in brackets are approximate and are for

identification purposes only.]
 Wheel Over - Risavika Turn Exercise

M.V.Norvega Manoeuvring data

Length Overall 240.0m Distances in metres
Beam 42.0m Angle of Turn Advance Transfer
Summer Draft 13.5m 15 450 35
Summer DWT 88750.0 tonnes
30 620 91
Service Speed 14.5 knots
45 750 190
Bridge Control Manoeuvring Range 4.0 to 12.0 knots
60 830 317
Using the supplied manoeuvring information 75 920 470
determine the wheel over position and plot the 90 930 627
predicted track of the ship from the wheel over 105 907 780
position until settled on the new course. 120 852 926
135 756 1042
150 627 1140
165 487 1291
180 335 1370
 Wheel Over - Risavika Turn Exercise
Plot the required rhumb line
tracks
 Wheel Over - Risavika Turn Exercise
Advance and Transfer Data
Manoeuvring data
Alteration 358°T to 098°T = 100° Distances in metres
For a 100° turn: Angle of Turn Advance Transfer
• Advance = 915 metres 15 450 35
• Transfer = 729 metres. 30 620 91
(interpolation) 45 750 190
60 830 317
75 920 470
90 930 627
105 907 780
120 852 926
135 756 1042
150 627 1140
165 487 1291
180 335 1370
 Wheel Over - Risavika Turn Exercise
Advance and Transfer Data

Alteration 358°T to 098°T = 100°

For a 100° turn:
• Advance = 915 metres
• Transfer = 729 metres.

Construct the Transfer Line

The ‘Transfer’ line is parallel to
the approach course line.
 Wheel Over - Risavika Turn Exercise
Advance and Transfer Data

Alteration 358°T to 098°T = 100°

For a 100° turn:
• Advance = 915 metres
• Transfer = 729 metres.

Measuring back along the

‘Transfer Line’, construct the
‘Advance’ line.

The ‘Advance’ line is

perpendicular to the approach
course line. It is NOT parallel to
the new course line.
 Wheel Over - Risavika Turn Exercise
Advance and Transfer Data

Alteration 358°T to 098°T = 100°

For a 100° turn:
• Advance = 915 metres
• Transfer = 729 metres.

We now have our wheel over

position
 Wheel Over - Risavika Turn Exercise
NB! Some Manoeuvring Tables
also give the ‘Distance to
Alteration’.

‘Distance to Alteration’
information allows quick and
easy determination of the
‘Wheel Over’ position.
 Wheel Over - Risavika Turn Exercise
Construct ‘Advance
and Transfer’ positions
for each 15° of turn‘
Plot the Advance
distance from the
Wheel Over position On
along the approach Track
course line.
Plot the Transfer 35m
distance perpendicular
to the approach course
line. 450m
When the ship has Wheel
turned 15° the Advance Over
will be 450 metres and
the Transfer 35 metres.
 Wheel Over - Risavika Turn Exercise
Construct ‘Advance
and Transfer’ positions
for each 15° of turn‘

Plot the remaining

positions On
Track

35m

450m
Wheel
Over
 Wheel Over - Risavika Turn Exercise
Complete the track
of the ship

On
Track

Wheel
Over
Practical method:
729m
On a sheet of paper,
from a corner mark
the ‘Transfer’ and
‘Advance’ distances.
915m
Practical method:

On a sheet of paper,
from a corner mark
the ‘Transfer’ and
‘Advance’ distances.

Placing the paper

edge on to the
approach course,
transfer the marks to
the chart.
Practical method:

On a sheet of paper,
from a corner mark
the ‘Transfer’ and
‘Advance’ distances.

Placing the paper

edge on to the
approach course,
transfer the marks to
the chart.

We now have the

‘Wheel Over’ and ‘On
Track’ positions.