CoastalNAVIGATION
Plotting and PilotingThe modern chart shows us positions of many recognizable navigation aids like churches and lighthouses, which facilitate the approach of a coastal area. This concept originated from a chart by Waghenaer and proved a milestone in the development of European cartography. This work was called "Spieghel der Zeevaerdt" and included coastal profiles and tidal information much like the modern chart. It enables us to find the angle between the North and for example a platform, as seen from our position. Taking a bearing on this oilrig with a compass provides us with a compass course. This course first needs correction for both variation and - via ship's heading - deviation before plotting a Line of Position (LOP) in the chart. Our position is somewhere along this line.
Ranges
A precise way to obtain a LOP (and without a compass) is to locate two navigational aids in line.
The image on the right shows us four examples of ranges, each consisting of two nav. aids.
One of the four ranges consists of two lights that are intentionally placed to provide a LOP. These pairs of lights are called Range lights or Leading lights. In this case they indicate the channel between the shallows along a true course of 50° .
Even when there are no man-made structures available, a range can be found by using natural features such as coastlines and islets.
The example on the left shows a yacht that will avoid the dangerous wreck as long as the islets don't overlap.
The Position FixTo construct our position fix we need two of these lines of position to intersect each other. Fix is the initial element of the ship's navigational and dead reckoning (see below) plot. A fix is the ship's position on the earth at some given point in time. A fix is determined by the simultaneous intersection of LOP's. Often however, a triangle occurs when a third LOP is added in the construction. This indicates that there are errors involved in at least one of the bearings taken. In practice, we should consider each LOP as the average bearing in a wider sector of, for instance 10°. Bearings create more certainty about our position when they are perpendicular to each other. Yet, bearings on distant objects bring about more uncertainty in our position fix as the sector widens. If moving fast you should not put any time between the bearings. In the next example we will plot our position fix by taking bearings at two light vessels just of the coast of Willemsen Land. To plot in the chart we will use a soft pencil and avoid drawing lines through the chart symbols. This to prevent damage to the chart when you have to erase the construction. Since we use our steering compass for our bearings the same deviation table can be used. We will assume the variation to be -1° and the ship's compass heading 190°. Hence, from the deviation table we find a deviation of -4°. The construction:
Although we didn't have a third LOP creating the dreaded triangle, we still have to doubt the accuracy of our position fix. Then, if three or more LOP's were used, and a nice point was not achieved, we again are left with some ambiguity. This could be caused by any number of reasons, including instrument errors, erroneous identification of a navigation aid, sloppy plotting, or error by the bearer taker, among others. In this case, we will assume that we are at the worst possible position (i.e. closest to the nearest navigational hazard).
The Estimated Position
It is sometimes impossible to obtain more than one LOP at a time. To determine the ship's position using only one navigation aid, we can use a running fix (see below). However if a running fix is not possible, we can determine an estimated position.
Dead Reckoning
Dead reckoning is a technique to determine a ship's approximate position by applying to the last established charted position a vector or series of vectors representing true courses and speed. This means that if we have an earlier fix, we plot from that position our course and 'distance travelled since then' and deduce our current position.
0930: We start off with a Fix and plot
0945: Our estimation about our speed
1000: and so on...
Dead reckoning is crucial since it can provide an approximate position in the future. Each time a fix or running fix is plotted, a vector representing the ordered course and speed is originated from it. The direction of this course line represents the ship's true course, and the length represents the distance one would expect the ship to travel in a given time. This extrapolation is used as a safety precaution: a predicted DR position that will place the ship in water 1 meter deep should raise an eyebrow...
Running FixUnder some circumstances, such as low visibility, only one line of position can be obtained at a time. In this event, a line of position obtained at an earlier time may be advanced to the time of the later LOP. These two LOP's should not be parallel to each other; remember that the optimal angular spread is 90°. The position obtained is termed a running fix because the ship has "run" a certain distance during the time interval between the two LOP's.
0905:
Our tacking sequence starts with a solid position Fix. 0916: We obtain a single LOP and construct a corresponding (same time) dead reckoning position. Our estimated position is constructed by drawing the shortest line between the DR and the LOP (perpendicular). 0926: No LOP's at all. We tack and construct a DR position. 0934: We obtain a LOP on Oil Rig 2. To use the first LOP we advance it over a construction line between the two corresponding DR positions. We use both its direction and distance.
To use the LOP obtained at the earlier time, we must advance it to the time of the second LOP. This is done by using the dead reckoning plot. First, we measure the distance between the two DR positions and draw a construction line, which is parallel to a line connecting the two DR positions.
Danger Bearing
Like the dead reckoning positioning the danger bearing is an important tool to keep the ship out of trouble. First, the navigator identifies the limits of safe, navigable water and determines a bearing to a prominent landmark. This bearing is marked as "No More Than" (NMT) or "No Less Than" (NLT), depending on which side is safe. Hatching is included on the side that is hazardous, along with its compass bearing.
Turn Bearing
The Turn bearing - like the danger bearing - is constructed in the chart in advance. It should be used as a means of anticipation for sailing out of safe waters (again like the danger bearing and dead reckoning). The turn bearing is taken on an appropriate navaid and is marked 'TB'. As you pass the object its bearing will slowly change. When it reaches the Turn bearing turn the vessel on her new course.
Snellius Construction
Willebrord Snellius
- a 16th century mathematician from Leiden NED - became famous for inventing the loxodrome and his method of triangulation.
The advantage: deviation and variation can be left out since the angles (here 40° and 50°) are relative ones. Moreover, a sextant can be used to obtain angles between objects at greater distances, which with a compass would be less precise.
Notation
OverviewLine Of Position (LOP): The locus of points along which a ship's position must lie. A minimum of two LOP's are necessary to establish a fix. It is standard practice to use at least three LOP's when obtaining a fix, to guard against the possibility of and, in some cases, remove ambiguity.Transit fix: The method of lining up charted objects to obtain an LOP. Leading lights or Range lights: A pair of lights or day marks deliberately placed to mark a narrow channel. Position fix: The intersection of various LOP's. Crossbearing: The use of LOP's of several navigational aids to obtain a position fix. Remember to use an optimal angular spread. Running fix: The use of an advanced LOP. Make sure to use only the corresponding DR positions. Also don't use the EP for advancing the first LOP. Dead reckoning: Determining a position by plotting courses and speeds from a known position. It is also used to predict when lights become visible or to determine the set and rate of a current. Estimated position: Combine a corresponding DR position with a single LOP to get an EP position. Snellius construction: Another way to combine three compass bearings to obtain a position fix. The advantage over a crossbearing is that both magnetic variation and deviation don't need to be taken into account. Course: (C) The direction in which a vessel is steered or is intended to be steered (direction through the water). Speed: (S) The speed of the boat through the water. Set: (SET) The direction in which the current is flowing (see chapters 6,7 and 8). Drift: (DFT) The speed (in knots) of the current (see chapters 6,7 and 8). Default heading is True course (M = magnetic , C = compass). Default time is 24 hour clock ship time else GMT.
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