COMPANY GUIDANCE ON CPA, TCPA AND VISIBILITY

The Master is required to specify in the Master’s Standing Orders the minimum levels for visibility, CPA and TCPA.
The Officer of the Watch (OOW) must call the Master if any item drops below the figure specified and alteration
of course / speed does not eliminate risk of collision or result into developing a close quarter situation with
another vessel. To establish these limits, Masters need to consider at a minimum the following criteria;

(i) Size, manoeuvrability and stopping distance of vessel.

(ii) Location of vessel and proximity to danger.

(iii) Traffic conditions and specific risks such as crossing a TSS or large fishing fleet.

(iv) Experience and ability of bridge watchkeepers

(v) If a piracy area (congested or open waters)

(vi) Weather conditions

(vii) Any other relevant criteria

The below table has been put together after review and feedback from a number of Master’s serving on various
sizes of vessel up to ULCC. Feedback was consistent in that the larger the vessel, the greater the distance or time.

Warning!

Figures stated are for guidance only. Master to detail specific figures when composing Standing Orders.

Note: When preparing Masters Standing & Daily Orders, use the following table to instruct OOW of the minimum
visibility and the MINIMUM CPA / TCPA to call the Master when alteration of speed or course does not eliminate
a close quarter situation with another vessel.

EXAMPLE ENTRY: Give all traffic a wide berth. Call me at TCPA 10 minutes if CPA less than 1.0 NM. Call me if
visibility less than 3NM

Area Description Company Minimum Expectation

TCPA = 10 Visibility
minutes, with (Minimum)
CPA of:
Ocean Crossing major ocean with little No reason to pass close to Less than 1 NM 3 NM
Passage traffic another vessel

Open waters Open waters, moderate traffic Sea Passage following Less than 1 NM 3 NM
standard route (e.g crossing
Bay of Biscay)
Open Waters Heavy traffic Less than 1 NM 3 NM
Open waters Open waters, moderate to heavy e.g North Sea routes and Less than 1 NM 3 NM
 TSS* traffic Arabian Gulf traffic lanes

Open waters Large concentrations fishing Master on bridge 0.25 NM 3 NM

vessels Far East waters e.g off
China / Korea
Confined Approaching port or other e.g Eastern approaches to 0.5 NM or less 2 NM
waters, no congested area Singapore TSS
TSS

Confined Moderate to Heavy traffic e.g. Malacca Straits 0.3 NM or less 2 NM

waters TSS

Very Confined Port Approach, Straits of Dover, Master on bridge At Master's Discretion
Waters Singapore Strait
* In Traffic Separation Schemes (TSS), by design, vessels proceeding in same direction will be closer together. Safe
distance and CPA’s will thus be reduced.

THE TABLE PROVIDES EXAMPLE LOCATIONS AND RANGE FOR EACH CATEGORY COMPANY MINIMUM
EXPECTATIONS ARE INDICATED. AS MASTER YOU ARE FULLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SAFE NAVIGATION OF YOUR
VESSEL AND SPECIFYING THE FIGURE APPROPRIATE FOR THE CONDITIONS.