Current, Leeway

Set & Drift

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 Some Definitions
Positions

FIX + time (Fix) - This is the position of a vessel as determined by the

intersection of two or more position lines.
It is denoted by the symbol below with the time of observation.
D.R. + time (Dead Reckoning) - This is the position based on the true course
and distance run through the water from the last known position. Denoted by
the symbol below with time

E.P. + time (Estimated Position) - This is the position of best possible

approximation based on course and distance since the last known position,
with an estimation for Set, Drift and Leeway. Denoted by the symbol, with
time.
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Some Definitions
• COURSE (Co) - The Intended Heading on the compass

Course to Steer - The course related to the compass used by the helmsman.

Course made good - The (CMG) is the actual course over the ground
between 2 observed positions.

Distance and Speed - These are generally related to the vessels movement
through the water. i.e. ascertained from the log or calculated from engine
revs.
• Distance made good - These are related to the Speed made good,
measurement between 2 observed positions i.e. over the ground.

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Some Definitions
SET - The direction towards which a current and/or tidal stream flows.

DRIFT - The distance covered in a given time due to the movement of a current and/or tidal stream.

RATE OF DRIFT - The speed of the current and/or tidal stream.

DRIFT ANGLE - The angular difference between the track through the water and the track over the
ground.

LEEWAY - The effect of the wind blowing the vessel to leeward. It depends on the winds strength
and direction, type of vessel and its draught. Generally estimated from experience.

LEEWAY ANGLE - The angular difference between the ships heading and the track through the
water.

POSITION LINE - It is a line on the chart on which the vessel lies or has lain. It may be straight as in a
bearing or curved as in ranges.

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V/L Position Plotting Symbols

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Leeway
The effect of wind on the course steered is
called the “Leeway”.
Leeway is the angle between the ship’s fore
& aft line and the line of the wake (track) left
behind her.
In other words, it is the angle between the
course steered and the course made good.
It is estimated (approx.) in number of
degrees to the leeward side, according to the
direction & the force of the prevailing wind.
In practice the leeway is estimated by the
navigator as so many degrees to Port or Stbd
& necessary allowance made for it in
computing the course to steer. 6
Dead Reckoning (D.R.) Position
• This is a position of the ship found by allowing for the courses steered
and distance steamed through the water from a fixed position or any
starting position.
• When a ship steers a certain course or courses, she does not
necessarily arrive at her D.R. position, obtained by allowing only for
the course steered and distance steamed. This is due to the effect of
wind and current etc. on her hull & superstructure

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Estimated Position (E.P.)
The calculated position, which a
ship is expected to reach after
allowing for her course and
Speed and estimated leeway
and the current (set & drift)
is called the Estimated Position.

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Observed Position (or FIX)
• Observed position on the other hand, is the actual true position of
the ship, which may be ascertained by any means such as terrestrial
bearings, astronomical observations, or using the electronic aids to
navigation.
• The observed position is the most accurate one, because it is based
on the actual observations, whereas the accuracy of the Estimated
Position will depend entirely on the estimates of the wind and current
made by the navigator.

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Set and Drift of the current
• The course and the distance between the D.R. position and the observed position
is the Set and Drift of the current during the period under the reference.
(Assuming there is no leeway)
• Explanation: if a ship starts from position A at 0400 hrs & steers a course of
060°(T) for 64 miles & reaches DR position B at 0800 hrs.
• At 0800 hrs observed position of the ship is obtained by terrestrial bearings i.e. at
“C”.
• Then direction of BC i.e. 125°(T) is the set of current & the distance BC i.e. 6 miles
is the drift of the current from 0400 hrs to 0800 hrs. Hence the rate of the current
experienced is 1.5 knots.
• AC represents the course & the distance made good.
• NOTE: It must always be remembered that the set & drift of the current is
always from D.R. position to the Observed Position.
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Set and Drift of the current

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Plotting Positions

• Plotting a Dead Reckoning (DR) and Estimated Position’s (EP’s)

It is now time to consider plotting DR’s and EP’s - finding Set and Drift
and making allowance for tides, currents and wind. As you will
remember, a D.R. position uses true course steered and vessels speed
only. If we start at position P (fix) and steer 090°T for one hour, we
arrive at position Q (D.R.) as shown on the chart extract drawing Figure
4.8.

If the navigator is aware of the existence of a current or tidal stream he

can make an allowance for it and plot an Estimated Position (E.P.)

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D.R. & E.P.

As illustrated the vessel has been

steering 090°(T) for one hour at 7.0
knots. The navigator estimates that
the tide has been running to the north
at 2 knots during that time. Given the
starting position at “P” the D.R. is
plotted at “Q” - then one hour’s set
and drift is applied to give the
estimated position at “R”
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Leeway

We will now consider Leeway.

If a vessel is steering 090°(T)
with a southerly wind, which is
expected to cause 10° leeway
(this is ascertained through
vessel experience) then the
vessel’s track will be 090°(T).
In practice it would be far more
sensible to adjust the vessel’s
course, counteracting expected
leeway so that the desired
track is achieved. See example
Fig 4.10.
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Allowance for Leeway
Example:

A vessel is required to make

good a course of 060°(T) in a
strong South Easterly wind
which is expected to cause 5
degrees leeway.
Figure 4.10: Allowance for
Leeway

Course to make good 060°(T)

To counter leeway + 5 
Course to steer 065°(T)
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Finding Set & Drift

If a reliable fix places a vessel in a

position which is different from the D.R.
position, that difference will be the result
of current and/or tide (and possibly
wind).
In the illustration a vessel obtained a
good fix at 0600 (position “A”) and set
course 285°(T) at a speed of 10 knots. At
0630 the D.R. was at position “B”, but a
reliable fix showed the true position to
be at “C”. In this case the set is 050°(T)
and the drift is 1.0 mile. Since the time
period was thirty minutes the rate of the
current was 2 knots.
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To Counteract a known Stream or Current

If the navigator knows the direction and speed of a tidal

stream, the course to steer to counteract that tidal
stream can be found.

From the starting point “A”, a vessel needs to make good

a track of 080 (T) to arrive at position “B”. The tide is
known to set 200 (T) at 2 knots. The vessel’s speed is 10
knots.

To find the course to steer:

1. Lay of the required course to make good, “AB”.

2. Plot one hour’s set and drift from “A” to “C”.
3. With centre “C” lay off ship’s speed - the distance she
will travel through the water in one hour - to point “D”
4. The direction “CD” is the true course to steer from “A”
5. The distance “AD” is the speed that will be made good
6. To find the E.T.A. at “B” the distance “AB” is divided by
the speed made good “AD”
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To Counteract Tidal
Stream & Wind
The tidal stream must be
counteracted first. The correction
for leeway is applied to the result.
Figure 4.13: Constructing a
Triangle from Tidal Stream and
Wind

The Triangle A.C.D. is for

construction only and can be of
any size depending on chart scale.

For ease of calculation it is usually

made to 1 hr. or intervals thereof. 18
Counteracting Tidal Stream
& Wind
Example:
It is required to make good a
course of 090°(T) with a tide
setting 220°(T) at 4 knots and a
northerly wind causing an
estimated leeway of 6 degrees.
Ship’s speed is 13 knots. What is
the true course to steer?
From the vector plot - course to
steer to counteract tide 076°T
to counteract wind -6°
Therefore: course to steer to
counteract wind and tide 070°T 19
Running Fix With Tide
As was previously discussed, the accuracy
of a running fix depends on the accuracy
of the course and speed made good
between bearings.

If the navigator is aware of the existence of

a tidal stream or current, allowance must
be made for set and drift experienced in
the time interval between bearings.

If the vessel is steering 040°(T) at 10 knots,

the tide is setting 090° at 3 knots and the
run is 30 minutes between bearings then
the first bearing must be transferred ahead
5 miles in a direction of 040° and 1.5 miles
in a direction of 090°. The illustration is as
shown. 20
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