All at Sea - The Navigator Issue 4
In the last edition of The Navigator, we looked at passage planning at sea. Now, the crucial topic of positioning falls under the microscope, as we ask the seafaring community for their views on how to balance the use of traditional positioning techniques with more modern technology.
Any new and reliable technology should be welcomed. However we should learn from the medical profession, where stethoscopes and blood pressure monitors are still used. Knowledge of the basics is essential to form a foundation for a sound building. Let Rule 5 of the Colregs be the guide: keep a proper look out by sound and hearing, as well as by all available means.
Vinode Mohindra
Have you ever suffered a total bridge black-out? I did, during a trans-Atlantic voyage. Our first port of call had no means for repairs, hence we sailed for a month in the ‘old sailing ships way’. We used a magnetic compass, sextant, our beloved chronometer, land bearings and naked eye watch. We suffered no navigation problems or delays. I’ve never trusted blindly in electronics since.
Juan Manuel Lopes
I am very glad to see the stress put on safety. As a check on the GNSS, as well as a back-up for when the GPS might fail, I do feel that it is very important for a proper navigator still to be able to use a sextant and the necessary books to work out the sightings.
Rosalind Miranda
I enjoy being able to use a sextant, which is how I spent my early years of navigation, (and yes we carry two of them), but I think coastal navigation techniques are much more useful and relevant as a back-up for any potential failure of GPS / ECDIS / power supplies.
Hamish Elliott, AFNI
The basic principles of marine navigation should encourage us, whatever our age and experience, to explore any modern concept that links use of eyesight through a bridge window with automatic dead reckoning devices like ECDIS as an alternative positional source to GNSS.
John Ainger
A celestial observation eventually tells you where you were, but today’s technology instantly and constantly tells you where you are. That could be vital.
Reg Kelso
The most important thing is to be able to leave port A and arrive at port B safely and in the most economical manner. As a licensed trainer / assessor, to be on the safe side, I often tell my learners / candidates to keep the old and traditional methods of navigation in one hand and all modern navigational methods in the other - and to always sail with both hands.
Teorae Kabure
We are always interested in hearing your views on the important topics discussed in this publication.
Contact the editor, Emma Ward at navigator@nautinst.org, or look out for the LinkedIn discussion. The next issue looks at electronic charts.
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