Why good routes look boring — and bad routes look precise
Contents
Use the links below to jump to any section:
- What a Waypoint Really Is
- Tracks vs Reality: Why Ships Don’t Turn on Points
- The Purpose of Course Design
- Waypoint Placement: Where Errors Begin
- Straight Lines, Safe Curves, and Human Steering
- Turn Anticipation and Wheel-Over Points
- Course Design in Confined Waters
- Over-Precise Planning and the Illusion of Control
- Common Waypoint and Track Failures
- Professional Route Design Thinking
1. What a Waypoint Really Is
A waypoint is not a command.
It is a reference point used to define a route’s geometry.
The ship is not required to pass exactly over a waypoint. In fact, attempting to do so often creates instability, over-steering, and late corrections.
Waypoints exist to shape intention, not enforce precision.
2. Tracks vs Reality: Why Ships Don’t Turn on Points
ECDIS displays routes as straight segments joined at sharp angles.
Ships do not behave this way.
A ship:
- has mass
- has momentum
- responds slowly to helm
- occupies space
Turning occurs over distance, not at a mathematical point.
If a plan assumes instantaneous heading change at a waypoint, it assumes physics does not apply.
Physics always applies.
3. The Purpose of Course Design
Course design is about controlling risk, not drawing neat geometry.
A well-designed course ensures that:
- turns occur in safe water
- deviations remain survivable
- the ship has time to respond
- errors remain recoverable
If a course requires perfect execution to stay safe, it is poorly designed.
4. Waypoint Placement: Where Errors Begin
Many route problems start with waypoint placement that is:
- too close to dangers
- placed at the apex of a turn
- positioned on depth contours
- chosen for neatness rather than safety
A waypoint placed “exactly where the ship should turn” often becomes the point where things go wrong.
Safe waypoints sit before danger, not beside it.
5. Straight Lines, Safe Curves, and Human Steering
Straight-line tracks are appealing because they look controlled.
In reality, straight lines between tight points increase workload and reduce margin.
Professionals design routes that allow:
- gentle alterations
- predictable steering
- early correction
Curves are not sloppy.
They are forgiving.
6. Turn Anticipation and Wheel-Over Points
Ships must begin turning before the planned change of course point.
This anticipation distance depends on:
- speed
- rudder effectiveness
- ship length
- loading condition
Wheel-over points exist to ensure the ship completes the turn where the designer intended — not where the ECDIS line changes direction.
Ignoring wheel-over planning is one of the most common causes of track overshoot.
7. Course Design in Confined Waters
In confined waters, course design becomes critical.
Turns must:
- occur away from channel edges
- account for set and drift
- leave room for correction
- avoid “last-second” geometry
A confined-water course that looks tight on the chart will feel tighter at sea.
Design for discomfort-free navigation, not minimum clearance.
8. Over-Precise Planning and the Illusion of Control
Modern systems encourage over-precision.
Routes with dozens of closely spaced waypoints create the illusion of control while increasing fragility.
Every additional waypoint is another opportunity for:
- confusion
- late alteration
- alarm overload
- human error
Good plans are simple.
Complex plans demand perfect execution.
9. Common Waypoint and Track Failures
Accident analysis repeatedly shows similar design flaws:
- waypoints placed on hazards
- tracks that leave no lateral margin
- turns designed without considering ship behaviour
- copied routes without vessel-specific adjustment
- reliance on ECDIS alarms instead of geometry
These failures are design problems, not watchkeeping failures.
10. Professional Route Design Thinking
Professional navigators design routes backwards from safety.
They ask:
“If the ship drifts, turns late, or slows unexpectedly — do we still remain safe?”
If the answer is no, the course is redesigned.
Routes should absorb error, not amplify it.
Closing Perspective
Waypoints are not instructions.
Tracks are not rails.
They are intentions drawn on paper, executed by imperfect humans on moving water.
A good course does not demand accuracy.
It tolerates inaccuracy without consequence.
That is the difference between planning and drawing.
Tags
waypoints · track design · passage planning · ECDIS routes · wheel-over points · bridge navigation · maritime safety