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Principles of Navigation
Maritime · 18 hours

Principles of Navigation

Foundational Navigation for Seafarers (Non-STCW)

About This Course

A foundational navigation course covering the principles every seafarer needs: the Earth and coordinates, charts and publications, compass and magnetism, dead reckoning and estimated position, tides and aids to navigation, and passage planning and position fixing. Interactive video lessons, guided reading, and knowledge-check quizzes throughout.

What You'll Learn

The Shape of the Earth & the Nautical Mile
Latitude and Longitude
Direction, Bearing & Relative Position
Chart Projections & the Mercator Chart
Chart Symbols, Abbreviations & Reading a Chart
Chart Corrections & Nautical Publications
The Magnetic Compass & Variation
Deviation & Compass Error
Converting Between True, Magnetic & Compass
Dead Reckoning (DR)
Estimated Position (EP) & Set and Drift
Course & Distance Made Good
Tides & Tidal Heights
Tidal Streams & Currents
Aids to Navigation: Lights, Lighthouses & the IALA System
The Four Stages of Passage Planning
Methods of Position Fixing
Electronic Navigation: GPS, Radar & ECDIS

Course Curriculum

6 modules · 18 lessons · 18 hours

1

The Earth, Coordinates & Position

The shape of the Earth, latitude and longitude, measuring position, and the nautical mile.

The Shape of the Earth & the Nautical MileLatitude and LongitudeDirection, Bearing & Relative Position
2

Charts, Publications & Nautical Information

Chart projections, symbols and abbreviations, chart corrections, and key nautical publications.

Chart Projections & the Mercator ChartChart Symbols, Abbreviations & Reading a ChartChart Corrections & Nautical Publications
3

Compass & Magnetism

Magnetic and gyrocompasses, variation, deviation, compass error, and converting between true and compass.

The Magnetic Compass & VariationDeviation & Compass ErrorConverting Between True, Magnetic & Compass
4

Dead Reckoning, Estimated Position & Course Made Good

Plotting DR and EP, accounting for wind and current, and determining the course and distance made good.

Dead Reckoning (DR)Estimated Position (EP) & Set and DriftCourse & Distance Made Good
5

Tides, Currents & Aids to Navigation

Causes of tides, tidal heights and streams, lighthouses and buoys, and the IALA buoyage system.

Tides & Tidal HeightsTidal Streams & CurrentsAids to Navigation: Lights, Lighthouses & the IALA System
6

Passage Planning, Position Fixing & Electronic Navigation

The four stages of passage planning, methods of fixing position, and the safe use of electronic aids.

The Four Stages of Passage PlanningMethods of Position FixingElectronic Navigation: GPS, Radar & ECDIS
$195.00USD
18 hours
6 modules · 18 lessons
Certificate of completion
Passing score: 70%