Navigation

Module Outline:
NAVIGATION (partim 1)
CHARTS
- Describe the principal types of buoys and beacons, and their roles as aids to navigation
- Explain the function of radio and radar beacons.
- Describe the use of traffic separation schemes
- Explain the relationship of Notice to Mariners to nautical charts and publications, and describe the mariner's responsibility to provide information for inclusion in Notice to Mariners
- Interpret navigational warnings and Notice to Mariners
- Apply Notice to Mariners chart corrections to a nautical chart
- Explain the different uses of the nautical chart
- Classify nautical charts according to scale, objectives, edition, and form (paper - digital)
 Describe the content of a nautical chart.
- Differentiate special purpose nautical charts
- Use nautical chart for various applications
- Recognize common charting symbols
- Explain the following components of a nautical chart: datum, projection, scale
- Describe the ENC and ECDIS standards, as well as raster nautical chart standards
- Describe other Electronic Chart Systems (ECS) and formats
- Explain the differences between these electronic charting products
- Describe the ENC production process
- Describe the source and content of sailing directions, light and radio lists, and tide and current tables
 
COLREG (partim 1)
- explanation of the rules of the road
- recognize which vessel should keep clear of the other vessel, in a variety of meeting, crossing, and overtaking situations
- Recognize the lights and day shapes displayed by common vessel types
- Describe the sound signals required when operating in reduced visibility
- Explain the responsibilities of a vessel operating in reduced visibility
 
INSTRUMENTS  (partim 1)
- Describe the capabilities and limitations of magnetic and gyro compasses
- Explain the sources of magnetic and gyro compass error
- Determine and apply corrections for magnetic and gyro compass error
- basic principles of a sextant and its use
- errors of sextant and sextant observations
 
NAVIGATION
- comparison of horizontal and equatorial coordinates in order to create the geocentrical sphere (navigation triangle)
- be able to determine a fix (position) by sextant and pelorus
- Explain the role of pilots for ships entering port
- Describe the responsibilities of the pilot and the vessel master when a pilot is aboard
 
MODULE 3
NAVIGATION (partim 2)
COLREG (partim 2)
- case studies of COLREG
 
INSTRUMENTS (partim 2)
- Explain the basic principles of radar operation, and describe the capabilities and limitations of radar
- Explain the basic principles of ARPA operation, and describe the capabilities and limitations of radar
 
MANOEUVRES
- Describe the manoeuvring capabilities of single and twin screw ships, as well as ships with bow thrusters and omni directional drive systems
- Explain how tows will handle at varying speeds and with varying amounts of tow line
- Describe the component parts of shipboard ground tackle (anchor, chain, windlass, stoppers, etc.)
- Describe how multiple anchors can be used to position a vessel over a fixed location
- Explain how the final position of the vessel can be adjusted
- Demonstrate the ability to manoeuvre a small boat
- Draw a diagram showing how an anchor should be rigged on a small boat
 
METEOROLOGY & OCEANOGRAPHY
- Description of the vertical structure of the atmosphere
- Definition of the following parameters and explanation on how they are measured/classified and what their effect on hydrographic operations is: temperature, humidity, dew-point, frost-point, atmospheric pressure, fog, clouds and precipitation, rain, snow, visibility
- Explanation of the relation between atmospheric pressure and winds
- The origin of geostrophic winds and Guy Ballot's law
- Description of wind circulation around pressure systems
- The effect of friction
- Operate instruments and sensors used to register temperatures pressure, direction and intensity of wind
- Identification of characteristics of weather by simple observation of the sea and the sky
- Recording meteorological parameters according to internationally accepted standards
- Synoptic weather charts
- Weather forecast based on synoptic charts
- Definition of salinity, conductivity, temperature, pressure, density and colour
- Description of the relationship between temperature and salinity in relation to depth
- Wind-waves and swell
- Definition of wave parameters
- Explanation of the elements involved in the wave growth process including typical fetches
- Classification of sea state according to Beaufort Scale
- Wave propagation
- Definition and practical examples of refraction, diffraction and reflection
- Explanation of breaking waves and long-shore and rip current processes
 

Basic knowledge of all subjects, methodology and their practice. The aim of the course is also to convey to those students with a limited meteorological and oceanographic background as well as an insight in meteorological processes (atmosphere, wind, weather) and oceanographic processes (wind-waves and swell, wind propagation, physical properties of the sea water).