The system comes with clearance and ETA calculations that can be dynamically updated with minimum user effort during the planning process, the UKHO said.
Research has shown that 64% of ships trading internationally use a passage planning tool provided by their company, which is typically spreadsheet-based.
Supporting Port State Control and SMS requirements, APP helps navigators calculate safe clearances based on the squat effect, as well as waypoint ETAs and required leg speeds within a plotted route.
Integrating ADMIRALTY TotalTide allows users to automatically add tidal heights and times to squat calculations. Passage Planner constantly checks results against given parameters, highlighting any potential dangers that become obvious when the plan is created or changed.
There are many advantages of using APP over a spreadsheet-based system, the company claimed. For example, with APP, passage plans include a detailed summary of tidal predictions and AVCS permit status for the planned passage and are saved as a single compressed file making the sharing of plans quick and simple between other APP users, such as sister ships and the shore.
Plans are automatically updated and revalidated when dates, times and other key facts change – saving repetitive manual rework - and can then be generated, viewed, saved and printed in PDF format.
Danny Wells, UKHO’s product manager, said: “Clearance calculations are constantly validated against given parameters in the current passage plan, informing the user of any discrepancies.
“By integrating with other ADMIRALTY applications and having the ability to share routes with popular makes of ECDIS, the new ADMIRALTY Passage Planner will help bridge officers create their passage plan with increased speed, accuracy and compliance," he said.