All at Sea - The Navigator Issue 37
We welcome your news, comments and opinions on the topics covered in The Navigator
Visual value
Understanding visual cues is crucial for safe navigation at sea. Here are some useful insights and online resources to help you increase your knowledge and skills.
If you spot any broken links, or would like to suggest resources that we have not included here, please do get in touch!
Safety first with The Navigator
We are currently navigating in the Caribbean Sea from Kingston, Jamaica to Rio Haina, Dominican Republic and expecting a rough sea due to Hurricane Beryl. As an officer in charge of passage planning, reading The Navigator helps me find key points to apply, especially around safe navigation.
Caroline Lea, Third Mate, Malayan Colleges Laguna, Philippines
OCEAN’s Seven
The Operator-Controlled Enhancement of Awareness in Navigation Project, or OCEAN Project, has released seven free training videos in collaboration with The Nautical Institute. They address gaps in navigational awareness and maritime safety and provide mariners with the tools they need to navigate safety in today’s dynamic maritime environment.
You can watch the videos here.
Up periscope
Visual navigation is so important for all kinds of ships – even submarines. Why, in the age of GPS, AIS and inertial navigation systems, are visual navigation and visual referencing required at all? All these systems are only as good as the data they receive. Over time, they can degrade, which is why all navies validate their data by using other means of navigation, including visual techniques. Being able to use visual navigation cues once you draw close enough to land is key – and you have to be able to do it in 20 seconds.
By using all visual bearings available to you, you can find an estimated position and arrive at the desired location at exactly the right moment. In other words, you know where you are – and where you are not.
Look back at The Navigator
Don’t forget to revisit previous issues of The Navigator for information about collision avoidance (issue 2, February 2013), lookout (issue 19, October 2018) and weather (issue 21, June 2019)
Access past issues of The Navigator here.
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