Introduction to Rendezvous

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Q - What is a rendezvous?
An arranged meeting between two vessels
Q - Why do we rendezvous?
To transfer stores / injured seaman etc. and
to prove to the MCA that we can
Q - First thing we do?
Draw a rough sketch just to see where we are
in relationship to the Target
Q – What do we normally calculate first?
Calculate bearing and distance between the
two vessels (This bearing remains constant)
 Basic Radar Plot
O

Constant bearing from

Plotting, indicating Own V/l’s vector
Relative motion
Of the target

W
A
Completed vector triangle gives
True Vector of Target vessel

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Basic Rendezvous Drawing

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 Typical scenario;

• Two vessels including own.

• One vessel requires some form of
assistance.
• Own vessel required to alter course to
rendezvous with ‘distressed’ vessel.
• Generally ‘distressed’ vessel maintains
it’s own course and speed.

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 Information normally given

1. Given initial positions of both vessels

2. Your vessel speed and sometimes your

course

3. Target vessel course and speed

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 Typical Problems
• Rendezvous required to take place at a given
time or place
1. Time – at sunrise / sunset or twilight
2. Place - at a specific position (SAR)
3. Rendezvous to be the soonest possible (least
time)

• This power-point deals with “least time

Rendezvous”
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 Information Required to Answer
• Course of own vessel to steer for Rendezvous
• Time of Rendezvous
• Rendezvous Position
Additionally, you may have to calculate;
• Time of Sunrise
• Time of Civil Twilight

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 Common Mistakes
• Using the bearing between v/l’s as course
to steer
• Using the distance between v/l’s as the
distance to the rendezvous
• Whether using own v/l or target v/l, using
wrong corresponding speed or wrong
starting position

Don’t rush - think about what you are doing

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 Plane Sailing as per Annex E

• DEP = D’Long x Cos Mean Lat

• Tan Course = DEP

D’Lat

• Distance = D’Lat
Cos Course
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 Plotting sequence

Vecto
r O–R
O Repre
s ents c
ou rse to
steer

Strike Arc - own v/l

speed for 1 hour R

O
Vector T – R
Vector O – T Target vessel 1Hr. vector
Represents closing speed

T Line of constant bearing 12

 From your plot …

Measure the True course to steer (O – R)

Measure vector (O – T) to give closing speed

ETA = Initial distance between vessels

Closing speed

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 Finding position of Rendezvous
• If you calculate the Rendezvous position
using the Target v/l’s position, course and
speed you are using original information.
• If you use your vessel you MAY introduce
inaccuracies resulting from accuracy of
your own plot from which you derived the
course to steer.
• Draw Errors of Vector length & course on
wipeboard [Target & Own V/l’s]

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 Finding position of Rendezvous

• Use the (ETA steaming time) to calculate

how far the target vessel has steamed to
arrive at the Rendezvous.

• We now have to use the Plane sailing

formulae in reverse to calculate this
position.

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 Reversing Plane Sailing formulas

DEP = D’Long x Cos M.Lat D’Long = Dep

Cos M.Lat

Tan Course = DEP DEP = Tan course x D’Lat

D’Lat

Distance = D’Lat D’Lat = Dist x Cos Course

Cos Course

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 Example 1
Vessel A in Position 59°00’N 002°00’E
steaming at 15kts to rendezvous with Vessel
B in position 58°10’N 003°30’E steaming at
040°T x 7kts.

Find;
a) Course to steer for Vessel A
b) Time of the Rendezvous
c) Rendezvous position
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 Draw a rough sketch
Vessel A
59°00’N
002°00’E Course ? x 15kts

040°T x 7kts

Vessel B
58°10’N
003°30’E
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 Calculate distance & relative bearing
Lat A 59°00’N 117°10 Long A 002°00’E
Lat B 58°10’N 2 Long B 003°30’E
D’Lat 00°50’S M.lat 58°35’ D’Long 001°30’E
D’lat 50’S D’Long 90’E

DEP = D’Long x Cos M.Lat = 90 x Cos 58°35’ = 46.913

Tan Course = DEP = 46.913’ = S43°10.5’E = 136.8° T

D’Lat 50’

Distance = D’Lat = 50’ = 68.56’ = 68.6’

Cos Course Cos 43°10.5’
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 Keep updating your sketch
Vessel A
59°00’N
002°00’E Course ? x 15kts

R
Relative bearing
136.8° T x 68.6’

040°T x 7kts

Vessel B
58°10’N
003°30’E
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 1 hour plot – see next slide
Next step is to produce a one hour plot to determine
course to steer and closing speed
1.Use your sketch to assist with the layout of the plot.
2.Draw the relative bearing
3.Select point “T” and draw a vector representing the
target v/l’s course and speed for one hour.
4.Name the end of this vector “R”
5.Set your compass at the speed for own vessel and
using “R” as a reference, strike and arc across the
relative bearing line
6.Name this point “O” 21
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 Information obtained from plot
1. T ~ R one hour vector of target v/l (B)
2. O ~ R Course to steer for own vessel (A)
3. O ~ T Closing speed of both vessels
Course to steer 109° T
Closing speed 14.0kts
ETA = Dist / Speed = 68.6’ / 14kts = 4hrs 54 min
Note = Due to distortion of the plotting sheet and the
human element each person will obtain a slightly
different plot
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 Keep updating your sketch
Vessel A
59°00’N
002°00’E Course 109° x 15kts

R
Relative bearing
136.8° T x 68.6’
Closing speed 14.0kts

040°T x 7kts

ETA 4hrs 54min Vessel B

58°10’N
003°30’E
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 Calculate position of the Rendezvous
Using v/l B, distance to steam = 4hrs 54min x 7kts = 34.3’
Therefore v/l B will travel 34.3’ from its start position to the rendezvous
position

D’Lat = Dist x Cos Course 34.3’ x Cos 40° T = 26.27’N

DEP = Tan course x D’Lat Tan 40° t x 26.27 = 22.0476

D’Long = Dep 22.0476 = 42.06’E

Cos M.Lat Cos 58°23.2’

Lat B 58°10.0’N 116°46.3’ Long B 003°30.0’E D’Lat 00°26.3’N

2 D’Long 000°42.1’E
Lat R 58°36.3’N M.lat 58°23.2’ Long B 004°12.1’E

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 Completed sketch
Vessel A
59°00’N
002°00’E Course 109° T x 15kts

Rendezvous
Relative bearing
58°36.3’N
136.8° T x 68.6’
004°12.1’E
Closing speed 14.0kts

040°T x 7kts
Time to Rendezvous
4hrs 54min Vessel B
58°10’N
003°30’E
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 Always present an answer

Course to steer 109° T

Time to rendezvous 4hrs 54 min

Rendezvous Position
Lat 58°36.3’N Long 004°12.1’E

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End

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