Overview
Groundings, collisions, near misses, and navigational incidents continue to rank among the most costly and preventable maritime accidents. In many cases, investigations reveal deficiencies in passage planning, ECDIS configuration, ENC management, bridge team performance, situational awareness, or procedural compliance.
Matau-Marine provides independent Navigation & Passage Planning Appraisals designed to identify navigational risks before they lead to incidents, claims, inspection findings, or reputational damage.
Our appraisal process evaluates the quality and effectiveness of navigational planning, voyage preparation, ECDIS utilization, bridge procedures, and documentation practices.
Using practical operational experience, industry best practices, and lessons learned from real grounding and collision cases, we assess whether bridge teams are effectively managing navigational risks and complying with company, industry, and regulatory expectations.
Challenges We Address
Many navigational incidents originate from:
- Inadequate passage planning
- Incorrect ECDIS settings and safety contours
- Poor ENC management and route verification
- Complacency and overreliance on electronic navigation
- Ineffective bridge resource management
- Deficiencies in navigational documentation
- Incomplete voyage appraisals
- Failure to identify and mitigate navigational hazards
These weaknesses frequently contribute to:
- Groundings and collisions
- Near-miss incidents
- P&I and hull insurance claims
- Port State Control deficiencies
- SIRE 2.0 observations
- RightShip findings
- Internal audit non-conformities
Industries & Vessel Types
Suitable for:
- Shipowners and Ship Managers
- Tanker Operators
- Bulk Carrier Operators
- Container Shipping Companies
- Offshore Operators
- Passenger Vessel Operators
- Yacht and Superyacht Management Companies
Applicable to all vessel types, particularly those subject to:
- TMSA Requirements
- SIRE 2.0 Inspections
- RightShip Assessments
- Port State Control Inspections
- Internal Navigation Audits
Key Benefits
✓ Reduced grounding and collision risk
✓ Improved passage planning quality
✓ ECDIS and ENC best-practice verification
✓ Enhanced bridge team performance
✓ Stronger navigational risk awareness
✓ Improved documentation and recordkeeping
✓ Increased readiness for PSC, SIRE, and RightShip inspections
✓ Practical recommendations based on real operational experience
✓ Optional follow-up training and mentoring
Typical Workflow
1. Documentation & Procedure Review
Assessment of navigation procedures, SMS requirements, and company standards.
2. Passage Planning Appraisal
Review of completed voyage plans, route checks, appraisals, and monitoring arrangements.
3. ECDIS & ENC Assessment
Evaluation of safety settings, safety contours, alarm management, chart corrections, and route validation.
4. Bridge Team Practice Review
Assessment of bridge resource management, navigational practices, and situational awareness.
5. Risk Findings Report
Identification of weaknesses, observations, and potential operational risks.
6. Recommendations & Improvement Plan
Practical actions designed to improve navigational safety and operational performance.
Learning From Incidents Before They Happen
Our assessments incorporate lessons learned from actual grounding, collision, and navigation-related incidents to help bridge teams recognize risks early and strengthen safe navigational practices.
Better Planning. Better Decisions. Safer Navigation.
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