GNOMONIC CHART

In order to assist the navigator in finding the Great Circle track between two points, charts are
constructed so that any straight line drawn on them shall represent a Great Circle. These are
termed ‘Gnomonic Charts’, and are formed by projecting the Earth’s surface on to the tangent
plane at any convenient point.
Properties
 Parallels of Latitudes (except the equator) appear as non parallel curves.
 Meridians appear as non parallel straight lines, converging at the poles.
 Great Circles appear as straight lines.
 Rhumb lines appear as curves.
 The projection does not allow representations of areas to be orthomorphic, (in their correct
shape).
 The projection does not allow representations of areas to be in their correct relative
proportions.
 Distances can not be measured.
 Bearings cannot be measured, (except at the tangential point).
Use of a Gnomonic Chart
A Gnomonic Chart may be used to plan a Great Circle or a Composite Great Circle route.
However, the intended route must be transferred to a Mercator Chart for navigational
purposes.

Great Circle:
1. Plot the initial position and the final position on the Gnomonic Chart.
2. Join the initial position and the final position with a straight line.
3. Identify and mark off on the Great Circle track intermediate points, (every 10° longitude
is a common spacing, however a more convenient interval may be used which would
better suit the ship speed or daily run).
4. Obtain the Latitude and Longitude of the intermediate points.
5. Plot the initial position, the final position and the intermediate points onto the Mercator
Chart.
6. On the Mercator Chart join the initial position, the final position and the intermediate
points with Rhumb lines.
Example.
A vessel sailing from West Africa to Sydney, Australia, by Great Circle.
Way Points Lat 35°S Long 25°E and Lat 40°S Long 145°E have been selected as the start and
finish points of the ocean passage.
a) Plot the route on the Gnomonic chart,
b) Transfer the route to the Mercator chart,
c) Obtain the position of the Vertex from the Gnomonic chart,
d) Calculate the position of the Vertex and compare your answer with c).

Composite Great Circle:

1. Plot the initial position and the final position on the Gnomonic Chart.
2. From the initial position plot a straight line tangential to the limiting latitude.
3. Mark the ‘Vertex’ (i.e. the tangential point).
4. From the final position plot a straight line tangential to the limiting latitude.
5. Mark the ‘Vertex’ (i.e. the tangential point).
6. Along the limiting latitude plot the track between the two vertices.
7. Identify and mark off on the Composite Great Circle track intermediate points.
8. Obtain the Latitude and Longitude of the intermediate points and vertices.
9. Plot the initial position, the final position, the intermediate points and the vertices onto the
Mercator Chart.
10. On the Mercator Chart join the initial position, the final position, the intermediate points
and the vertices with Rhumb lines.

Example.
A vessel sailing from West Africa to Sydney, Australia, is to sail the shortest route.
Charterers’ instructions do not permit the vessel to pass the 45°S Parallel of Latitude.
Way Points Lat 35°S Long 25°E and Lat 40°S Long 145°E have been selected as the start and
finish points of the ocean passage.
a) Plot the route on the Gnomonic chart,
b) Transfer the route to the Mercator chart,
c) Obtain the position of the Vertices from the Gnomonic chart,
d) Calculate the position of the Vertices and compare your answers with c).
 GNOMONIC / MERCATOR CHART

a) Describe how a Gnomonic chart, in conjunction with a Mercator chart, is used for;
i) Great Circle Sailing,
ii) Composite Great Circle Sailing.

b) A vessel is to sail from East London, South Africa, to Hobart, Tasmania. As part of the
Passage Planning for the ocean passage the Master has instructed you to plot some
possible routes for appraisal.
Using waypoints Lat 33° 00S Long 28° 00E and Lat 44° 00S Long 147° 00E:
On the Gnomonic chartlet plot;
i) the Great Circle route,
ii) the Composite Great Circle route using limiting Latitude 48° 00S
On the Mercator chartlet plot;
i) the rhumb line route,
ii) the Great Circle route,
iii) the Composite Great Circle route using limiting Latitude 48° 00S.

c) From the Gnomonic chartlet estimate the Latitude and Longitude of the vertices for;
i) the Great Circle route,
ii) the Composite Great Circle route.

d) Calculate the Latitude and Longitude of the vertices for;

i) the Great Circle route,
ii) the Composite Great Circle route.

e) Compare the answers obtained in parts c) and d)