Introduction
Calculating a distance is achieved simply by selecting the From and To ports from the combo boxes and clicking the Calculate button. The calculated distance is displayed and the route used is shown on the map. At this point the route can be adjusted, reversed and/or added to a voyage.
Positioning the mouse over the image to the left will display a brief explanation of each of the main areas of the screen.
Further information is available in the following sections:-
Selecting Ports covers how to select a from or to port.
Calculate a Distance describes how to calculate the reverse distance and adjust voyage variables.
Controlling the Map is an extensive area of functionality and covered in a separate help topic.
Adjust The Route explains how to use the Routing control to get a distance via the appropriate locations.
Creating Voyages illustrates how multiple routes can be combined to produce a complex voyage involving calls at a number of ports or with advanced routing options.
Comparing Distances with Different Routing Options shows how the Add to Voyage functionality can be used to compare distances and routes.
Selecting the From or To port for a distance calculation is done by choosing the port name from the drop down boxes which list the names of ports within the Distance Tables.
These automatically complete the port name as you type within the fields.
This video clip, illustrates selecting Ras Tanura as the From Port simply by typing the letter R A S within the From Port field and selecting the port name from the list of port displayed beginning with those letters and LOOP Terminal as the To Port.
To replay the movie, right click on the image above and select 'play'.
Once the From and To Port have been selected, adjust the Estimated Time of Departure (ETD), Speed and any Weather adjustment factor (Wx, %) and then simply click the calculate button. The Distance, Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) and Route used is displayed on the map. In addition the number of days Steaming Time and any textual description of the routing is displayed.
The Distance Tables fully respect Traffic Separation Schemes and so the distance for the reverse voyage may be different. To calculate that distance, simply click the Reverse button.
The map can be zoomed and panned using the toolbar buttons and it's displayed content can be controlled to show additional overlays.
This is fully described in the related help topic World Map.
Having calculated a distance, the route used is displayed on the map and can be adjusted using the Routing Control setting the check boxes to enable or disable the use of a particular location.
In the following example, a distance between Ventspils and Fujairah is calculated which initially routes via the Suez Canal. We show the routing control being used to disable the use of the Suez Canal which automatically recalculates the distance around the Cape of Good Hope. We then move on to look at the exit from the Baltic which is changed from using The Sound to exiting via Korsor.
To replay the movie, right click on the image above and select 'play'.
In most cases this routing control provide sufficient options to provide the required distance but in some instances may not provide the appropriate level of control. In the following section we'll show how by creating a Voyage we can cope with such a situation.
By default, the Distance Tables will calculate the distance for the shortest route taking into account Environmental, Navigational and Regulatory factors and one which is ASL Compliant. These options may be turned off in the Routing Control by clearing the appropriate check boxes.
With the release of version 1.0.6.22 of the Distance Tables on 31st August 2007, additional routing points were introduced covering a variety of routing options around the Norwegian Coast which are explained in the related help topic Norwegian Routing.
Calculating a series of distances and combining them together into a Voyage gives the ability to calculate a distance involving calls at a number of ports or via more specific routing points.
The Estimated Time of Departure (ETD), Speed and Weather Factors can be adjusted as needed in order to calculate the Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) for each port in the Voyage.
By default the Online Distance Tables would calculate a route from Ulsan to Oita by using the Kanmon Kaikyo entrance to the Japanese Inland Sea. If you wish to avoid that route and enter via Bungo Suido you can calculate the distance in a number of stages.
Firstly ensure the 'Voyage' box is checked, then calculate a distance from Ulsan to Osumi - South of Kyushu. Click the 'Add to Voyage' button.
The From Port will then be set to Osumi and you can enter Oita as the next To Port, Calculate and Add to Voyage.
This procedure can be repeated as required.
In this example, routing points are available to be specified in this manner in order to route via a particular location, however, you can just as easily route via another port. Whilst the resulting distance will be an estimate, with the use of the Measuring Tool described in the World Map topic you are able to get a very close approximation of the distance.
To assist in selecting Routing Points when preparing a voyage such as the above, an 'overlay' of all routing points within the Distance Tables is available.
Turning overlays on or off is also described in the World Map help topic.
In this example image, the routing points around the entrances to Caribbean are displayed.
The names on the overlay are configured to not overlap each other and so it may be necessary to zoom the map in to the extent that they can be fully displayed.
Comparing Distances with Different Routing Options
With the 'Voyage' box unchecked, the Add To Voyage option can be used to compare distances and ETA's calculated with different routing options.
In the following example, the distance and ETA for a voyage from Houston to Los Angeles is compared for the routing options of via the Panama Canal, Cape Horn and finally through the Magellan Straits.
