HND Nautical Science

CHARTWORK: Finding the vessels position

OBSERVED POSITION:- The position of the vessel as marked on the Chart and is the ACTUAL position of
the vessel on the Earths Surface, subject to the accuracy of the method used.

Written as Latitude and Longitude or Bearing and Distance from a known point

An observed position is commonly known as a FIX

Can be taken from: visual bearings

Echo sounder
Radar ranges / bearings
Electronic navigational aids(GPS, Loran etc)
Astronomical Navigation
Or a combination of any of the above.

EG: Your vessel obtains a GPS position of 40 30’N 005 30’ W at 0900.

0900
40 30’N

005 30’W

Line up your Parallel Rules with the longitude on the scale at the bottom or top of the chart, draw a
pencil line on the chart at that point. Do the same on the latitude using the scale at the side of the
chart, where the two lines cross is the vessels position.

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DEAD RECKONING:- A PREDICTION of the vessels position based on how far you have
travelled in a given direction

requires : a known starting point

a method of determining direction travelled (Compass)
a method of determining distance (log)

EG From the harbour your ship travels at a speed of 10 knots on a compass heading of 090 ,
where will the vessel be in 1 hour?

Distance = speed x time > 1hr x 10 kts = 10M

On the chart from the harbour, lay off a distance of 10M in a direction of 090

time
10
m 090

Vessels DR position in 1
hours time

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ESTIMATED POSITION:- A PREDICTED position based on the same information as a Dead

Reckoning position with the addition of information relating to tide and/or wind. Or extrapolated from earlier
FIXES.

EG Your vessel is steering 090 at 10 kts and has taken a series of fixes by GPS, at 1000 the GPS
breaks down, what is the EP.

DR positions( Co + Spd)

0800
0900
1000

Estimated position at 1000

The Solid line is the vessels projected Track based on the vessels course and speed, the dotted line is the
vessels ACTUAL TRACK based on the GPS observations, to find the estimated position for 1000, the actual
direction and speed of the vessel ,( the Dotted line), is projected on from the 0900 Fix position, to obtain the
ESTIMATED POSITION.

Note: the above is a good example of how an observed position(gps) can be compared with a DR, such a
difference means there is another factor influencing the vessel, other than course and speed.

Finding your Estimated position using tidal information will be covered later.

Maintaining a DR or EP plot is vitally important as it allows the vessels future positions to be predicted.
It also acts as a check on your other position fixing methods, no single position fix should be relied on 100%,
always cross check with another method if available - the means to provide a DR position should always be
available.

If there is a large difference between the OBSERVED position and the DR or EP, then there must be a reason
for it.

Eg Faulty plotting, electronic Aid faulty, faulty compass, unaccounted tide and or wind etc

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HND Nautical Science

With good experience of the sea, weather and the vessels characteristics an EP can be extremely
accurate, prior to the adoption of Electronic nav aids, EP’s used in conjunction with Astro Nav were
the only way to Navigate when out of site of the coast.

They should still be used by the Prudent Navigator.

Always cross check your position.

If sailing in the vicinity of Natural Geographical Features or Visible Navigational Aids, as well as
using different fixing methods, LOOK OUT OF THE WINDOW, look at the Radar to see if the
picture agrees with the chart.
Check your Echo Sounder to see if the actual depth agrees with the Chart.

For example if your GPS or Electronic Chart shows a Light buoy on your Starboard side, look to
see if it actually is!! If you cannot see it or you see it in the wrong place then something must be
wrong. Either the buoy is out of position or your fix is incorrect.

Over reliance on Electronic nav aids has been the cause of many groundings, when the simple
check of looking out of the window would have indicated the vessels proximity to danger.

DO NOT PLACE ALL YOUR FAITH IN A SINGLE SYSTEM, PARTICULARLY

ELECTRONIC AIDS, THEY ARE NOT INFALLIBLE

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HND Nautical Science

SHIPS HEAD,WATER TRACK AND GROUND TRACK

The Ships Head is the direction the ship is POINTING as indicated on the Compass.
Ships Head is expressed in Degrees,(either True, Compass or Gyro, these will be discussed later)

The Water Track is the direction the ship is MOVING THROUGH THE WATER
Water Track is expressed in Degrees True.

The Ground Track is the direction the ship is MOVING OVER THE SURFACE OF THE EARTH.
Ground Track is expressed in Degrees True

These three elements may be the same but are often different, depending on the effect that the wind
and tide have on the vessel.

THEY SHOULD ALWAYS BE TREATED AS THREE SEPARATE ELEMENTS.

SHIPS HEAD

WATER TRACK

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HND Nautical Science

GROUND TRACK

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HND Nautical Science

METHODS OF POSITION FIXING

Visual Bearing: the best method to be used when near the coast.
A Compass bearing (several if possible) of a conspicuous object(s) is taken, and
then plotted on the chart, the vessel must then be somewhere on that line.
Bearings are FROM the vessel TOWARDS the object.

Provided the Bearing is accurate,the Observer, ie you, must be somewhere on that line.

Plot the following example on the Chartlet

St Kirk church is bearing 090 . Using the compass rose on the chart, line up your rules with 090
and then move them to the church, draw a line from the church, you are somewhere on that line.
Mark the time down next to the line
If more than one bearing is plotted then a cross bearing position is obtained.(Three if possible)
Do the same with the other Objects.

Eilean Begg Brg 045

Sore Head Lighthouse Brg 000

Bearings are obtained ether from : Azimuth Ring on the compass Repeaters, Hand Held Bearing
compass, Pelorus or Radar.

It is important to remember that every line that is drawn on the chart or taken off the chart is
TRUE, this will be discussed in more depth later.

Range and Bearing: A Compass bearing combined with a Range from an Object to give a Position
Fix.

See Chartlet

Sore Head +Lighthouse is Bearing 045 at 5M

Plot the Compass bearing as you did for the previous example.
Using your dividers measure a distance of 5 M, put the point of the divider on the object(the
lighthouse) and draw an arc so that it cuts the bearing line, this is the vessels position.

Several ranges can be used in a similar way to cross Bearings, again it is best to use three if
possible.

Eg: High Point 4.5M

Sgeir More 6.0M
Eilean Begg 12.5M

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Ranges can be obtained from: Radar, Measured Distance, Range Diagrams, Sextant and
Trigonometry

Transits:

When two objects are observed in line, that is, one behind the other, they are said to be in Transit.
If these two objects are marked on the chart then a position line can be obtained without using a
compass.
Transit as seen from the ship:

St Kirk

Sore Head Lighthouse

Lighthouse and Church seen in Transit

Line up your Parallel rules on the two objects, and draw a line on the chart, just as in a compass
bearing You must be somewhere on that line.
However, because a Transit is an actual Geographical feature, it is not subject to some of the errors
a normal compass bearing can give.

Transits can be used in a variety of different ways:

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To find compass Errors( to be discussed later)

When used in conjunction with a range or bearing, a very accurate position fix
As an aid to anchoring
As an aid to navigating in confined waters, ie Leading lines, clearing bearings

Eg: Anchoring

Leading Marks (chartlet)

Provided that St Kirks Church and Sgeir More are in line, the vessel is in safe water. If the furthest
away mark( St Kirks) is seen to move to the North, then the ship is in danger of hitting the reef off
Sore Head

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A position line can be obtained from a Sectored light, it is similar in many ways to a Transit, in so
far as it is an actual Geographical Feature.

A Sectored light is a lighthouse which has different coloured lights, which are seen in different
segments, these are marked on the chart.

green

white
red

The dotted lines indicate the limits of the sectors, so if a vessel sees the light changing from white to red,
then it must be somewhere on that line.
They are also used in a similar way to Leading Marks to indicate safe water.

For example, if the lighthouse is at the entrance to a harbour, then the area covered by the White sector is the
dredged channel, the red and green sectors indicating shallow water.

Using Depths to fix your Position

Using your Echo Sounder in conjunction with a bearing line can be used to give a fix.

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HND Nautical Science

You get a bearing of the Lighthouse at the same time as your Echo Sounder gives a reading of 20m, where
the two cross is your position.

This can only be used if you can positively identify where on the chart this depth occurs, obviously it will
occur in many places and this is where the accurate use of a DR is invaluable.

In many areas of the world, particularly crossing the Continental Shelves the depth contours change very
steeply and this can be used check the vessels position as it approaches the coast.

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