Lowestoft, UK to Bergen, Norway - routing options?

[TrondS]

Thanks for the heads up, Ludd. I should have posted this earlier.

The weather turned out great, and with just about 0,5m swells, on about 8-10s period, from the north, and the water appeared flat at times, we chose a direct routing instead of following the coast.

Departed Lowestoft early in the morning, Monday August 15.
From Lowestoft harbor we headed north east directly for the Smiths knoll marker buoy, and from there set a direct course northbound towards Bergen, Norway.
Met only a few fishing vessels, especially at the Dogger bank and when approaching the Norwegian coast.
Except for this, only minor course deviations due to the oil platforms were needed.

Battled with some bad fuel and dirty fuel tanks (which were supposed to be cleaned), so we ended up going to Egersund, Norway instead. Arrived after 2 days 4 hours.

 

[Ludd]

Thanks for the heads up, Ludd. I should have posted this earlier.

The weather turned out great, and with just about 0,5m swells, on about 8-10s period, from the north, and the water appeared flat at times, we chose a direct routing instead of following the coast.

Departed Lowestoft early in the morning, Monday August 15.
From Lowestoft harbor we headed north east directly for the Smiths knoll marker buoy, and from there set a direct course northbound towards Bergen, Norway.
Met only a few fishing vessels, especially at the Dogger bank and when approaching the Norwegian coast.
Except for this, only minor course deviations due to the oil platforms were needed.

Battled with some bad fuel and dirty fuel tanks (which were supposed to be cleaned), so we ended up going to Egersund, Norway instead. Arrived after 2 days 4 hours.

Well done that man! Sounds like a great trip. Thanks for sharing.
.
Too often we don't get the end of the story

 

[TrondS]

Agreed! Always nice to hear how things worked out too.

For anyone else planning a similar trip, the only thing I could add about the direct routing, is that with all the oil platforms in the British sector of the North sea, it was an advantage to depart Lowestoft in the morning. Then most of the nearest platforms were passed during daylight.

 

[Gargleblaster]

Agreed! Always nice to hear how things worked out too.

For anyone else planning a similar trip, the only thing I could add about the direct routing, is that with all the oil platforms in the British sector of the North sea, it was an advantage to depart Lowestoft in the morning. Then most of the nearest platforms were passed during daylight.

Interesting. I always prefer to pass through the oil platforms at night. I think they show up better. But then I prefer to pass through shipping lanes at night as well as I feel the visibility is better particularly when you are waiting for the green light to change red or vice versa if passing in front.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Interesting. I always prefer to pass through the oil platforms at night. I think they show up better. But then I prefer to pass through shipping lanes at night as well as I feel the visibility is better particularly when you are waiting for the green light to change red or vice versa if passing in front.

Unless they're oil rig support vessels, which are lit up so brightly that they ruin your night vision and where the navigation lights are invisible against the glare. As they also seem to move almost at random, and in any direction whatsoever, I found these the greatest problem while coming down from Whitby to Lowestoft.

 

[Boz]

Interesting. I always prefer to pass through the oil platforms at night. I think they show up better. But then I prefer to pass through shipping lanes at night as well as I feel the visibility is better particularly when you are waiting for the green light to change red or vice versa if passing in front.

I think I prefer shipping lanes by night as well, having said that using technology for CPA and TCPA has changed my approach to night passages when short handed i.e. just the two of us. It enables the planning of catnaps and food in the gaps much more effectively.....

You're right about ships deck lights though, why are those orange lights so bright . The achorage off Rotterdam has the loom of a small city.....

 

[TrondS]

Interesting thoughts about preferring sailing at night.
We didn't see many support vessels, and of those we could see, only a couple were moving slowly, say less than 5 knots. The others were stationary.

During this passage, the most challenging were the fishing vessels and their constantly changing courses. Had one interesting situation at night where I had to change course multiple times to avoid one of the fishing vessels. I aimed for a CPA of about 2NM, but as soon as I had changed course to achieve that, the fishing vessel changed their course so the CPA was down to less than 0,5NM. This repeated several times, until the fishing vessel suddenly stopped and then made a 180 degree turn.

I'm also using the AIS and radar very much when navigating shipping lanes and near the oil fields. (During the passage, the radar was in use 24/7)