LESSON 1: Fundamentals of Electronic Navigation

Introduction

Navigation is the art or science of determining the ship’s or aircrafts position and of

conducting a ship or aircraft from one position to another. The problems of navigation are those

of position, direction and distance.

Navigation is divided into four branches: Dead Reckoning (DR), Piloting, Electronic

Navigation, and Celestial Navigation.

1. Dead Reckoning is a method of navigation by which the position of the ship is

calculated from the direction and rate of progress through the water from the latest

well-determined position.

2. Piloting is a near-shore navigation method by which the movement of a ship is

directed by reference to landmarks, navigational aids or surroundings.

3. Electronic Navigation is a method of navigation which employs the use of various

electronic devices. It differs from piloting primarily in the manner of collecting

information.

4. Celestial Navigation is determining the position of the ship through the observation of

celestial bodies such as the sun, moon, planets and stars.

Navigational Aids

Aids to navigation are any device external to a vessel or aircraft intended to assist a

navigator to determine his position or safe course or to warn him from danger or obstruction to

navigation.

Navigational Instruments
A. Electronic Instruments

1. Radio Receiver – receives signals and weather information

2. Radio Direction Finder (RDF) – receiver and a loop antenna which has directional

properties.

3. Radar (Radio Direction and Ranging) – used for obtaining bearings and ranges of

objects in all conditions of visibility.

4. Loran (Long Range Navigation) – measures the difference in the time reception of

two synchronized radio signals which is used to determine a hyperbolic line of

position.

5. Sonar (Sonic Ranging) – uses speed of sound under water. It gives bearing and

distance of objects underwater.

B. Celestial Navigation Instruments

1. Sextant – measuring angular heights of celestial bodies and measuring angles

between two visible objects.

2. Chronometer – accurate clock of superior construction for maintaining accurate time

aboard ship.

3. Ship’s Clock – ordinary clock set to keep standard or zone time.

4. Comparing watch – used for timing celestial observation.

5. Stop watch – useful in piloting for identification of lights and in celestial observation.

6. Star Finder – provides the navigator with positions of the celestial bodies relative to

the position of the observer.

 Basically, electronic navigation is a form of piloting. Piloting is that branch of navigation

in which a ship’s position is obtained by referring to visible objects on the earth whose locations

are known. This reference usually consists of bearing and distance of a single object, cross

bearings on the same objects with an interval between them.

Position in electronic navigation is determined in practically the same way that it is in

piloting. There is one important difference, however. The objects by which the ship’s position is

determined need not be visible from the ship. Instead, their bearings, and in most instances their

ranges, are obtained by electronic means – usually radio.

The advantages of piloting by radio are obvious. The ship’s position may be fixed

electronically in fog or thick weather that otherwise would make it impossible to obtain visual

bearings. Moreover, it may be determined from stations located far beyond the range of even

clear-weather visibility.

Review Questions

1. What is radio frequency spectrum?

2. Why is it important to learn about navigation?

3. In today’s mode of transportation, what is the most effective method of navigation?

Why?