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Marine Navigation - Nautical Terms Explained in Simple Terms
Marine Navigation - Nautical Terms Explained in Simple Terms
Marine Navigation - Nautical Terms Explained in Simple Terms
simple terms
Images
Basic Directions
The diameter around which the earth rotates is “The Axis of Rotation”. Where it meets the earth form
the Geographic North and South Poles
The direction in which any point on the earth’s surface is carried (because of the earth’s anticlockwise
rotation) is called East. The opposite direction is West.
Images
AHEAD - In a forward direction, ie in the direction of the bow (front) of the ship
PORT: The left of the ship, facing the bow OR, a harbour.
AIDS TO NAVIGATION Artificial objects to supplement natural landmarks used for navigation. eg
buoys, lighthouses etc. (see pic)
ANCHORAGE A place suitable for anchoring in relation to the wind, seas and the sea bottom.
BEARING - The direction of an object relative to the heading of the ship. Measured in degrees.
BUOY - An anchored float used for marking a position on the water, or for mooring. (see pic)
GIVE-WAY VESSEL A term used to describe the vessel which must yield in meeting, crossing, or
overtaking situations.
STAND ON VESSEL A term used to describe the vessel which may NOT yield in meeting, crossing,
or overtaking situations.
TIDE - The periodic rise and fall of water level in the oceans. See
https://www.brighthubengineering.com/seafaring/25990-tides-how-they-occur-and-how-they-affect-
navigation-at-sea/
A COMPASS ROSE (see pic) is a easy means- for a navigator- of finding direction on the chart and
also plotting a ship’s course, besides taking bearings (angles) of objects with a compass. Called
because it looks like a rose petal opened up, it is graded from 0 degrees to 360 degrees, with 0 being
North, 90 being E, 180 being S and 270 being W.
HEADING (HDG): The direction in which the ship is pointing in any instant.
SPEED(S): The speed of the ship through the water. Always recorded in knots (a sea mile is a knot,
and is 6080 feet)
FIX The ship’s position, plotted on the chart by celestial or land bearings to a known point. (see pic)
COURSE is the intended horizontal direction of travel measured from 000 degrees clockwise through
360 degrees, where 000 is North.
The Purpose of the COLREGS (Collision Regulations at sea) is to cover, by international convention,
anti collision rules any ships belonging to any nationality will follow at sea. Also called ROR or Rules
of the Road.
References
Currents diagram from https://www.geni.org/