PLANE SAILING & PARALLEL SAILING
Before discussing about plane sailing and parallel sailing
we must discuss about RHUMB LINE. What is Rhumb
Line? A Rhumb Line is a line on the Earth’s surface,
crossing all meridians at the same angle. It is also
called ‘LOXODROME’. The Equator, all parallel of
latitude and meridians are particular cases of Rhumb
line, as the course along the first is always 0900 or 2700
and the course along any meridian is always 0000 or
1800 . On the surface of the Earth, all other rhumb
lines will be curves spiralling towards the pole of the
hemisphere.
Prepared By Capt. P. C. Biswas
Faculty, SEIET Kolkata
PLANE SAILING & PARALLEL SAILING
This is so because on the Earth the meridian converge
towards the pole. See the diagram.
On a Mercator Chart however, a rhumb line appears
as straight line, as the meridians on a Mercator Chart
are represented as straight lines, parallel to each
other. It can thus be seen that the rhumb line is the
most convenient track to follow as the course of the
ship remains constant for the entire passage. This is
the one of the main advantage that Rhumb Lines can
be represented as straight line on the Mercator Chart.
Prepared By Capt. P. C. Biswas
Faculty, SEIET Kolkata
Prepared by Capt. P. C. Biswas
Faculty, SEIET Kolkata
PLANE SAILING & PARALLEL SAILING
• Small portions of the Earth may be considered
to be a flat or plane surface without
appreciable error. Where the distance
between two places is less than 600 miles or
so, plane trigonometry can be to :
• (a) compute the course and distance between
TWO positions are given..
• (b) calculate the position arrived given the
starting position, course and distance
steamed.
Prepared By Capt. P. C. Biswas
Faculty, SEIET Kolkata
PLANE SAILING & PARALLEL SAILING
• In order to obtain a plane sailing triangle, the course is
first converted from three figure notation into
quadrantal notation (NE, SE, SW and NW). In each
case, the plane sailing triangle will be similar to one of
the triangles shown below, depending on the
quadrantal course – NE, SE, SW or NW. The N-S
component is the d’lat between the two places and
the E-W component, the departure (dep). All the three
sides – dist, d’lat and dep- are expressed in M (nautical
mile). By the by, One Mile = 1852 Mts, or 1.852 km.
Also one km = 0.54 mile.
Prepared By Capt. P. C. Biswas
Faculty, SEIET Kolkata
Prepared by Capt. P. C. Biswas
Faculty, SEIET Kolkata
PLANE SAILING & PARALLEL SAILING
• From the above diagram,
• Dep = dist x Sine course
• D’lat= dist x Cos course
• Tan course = dep/ d’lat
• Using the above formulas, we can solve any type Plane
Sailing problems.
• It can be seen that the plane sailing formulae connect –
dep, d’lat, dist and course only. It does not involve d’long.
Thus, knowing only the d’lat and d’long between two
places, the course or distance between them cannot be
found by the above formulae.
Prepared By Capt. P. C. Biswas
Faculty, SEIET Kolkata
PLANE SAILING & PARALLEL SAILING
To find the course and distance between two positions.
Q1.Find course and distance from 200 10’ N 1790 40’ W to 130 40’ N
1780 10’ E.
From: Lat =200 10’N, Long = 1790 40’W
To : Lat = 130 40’N Long = 1780 10’E
D’lat = 60 30’S, D’long = 3570 50’E
= 0020 10’W
D’lat = 390’S, M’lat = 160 55’
Dep = d’long x Cos m’lat = 130’ x Cos 160 55’
Dep = 124.38’ W, Tan Course = dep/d’lat = 124.38/390
Course = S170 41’W, Dist = Dep / Sin Course
= 124.38’/Sin 170 41’ =409.34M Ans.
Prepared By Capt. P. C. Biswas
Faculty, SEIET Kolkata
PLANE SAILING & PARALLEL SAILING
To find position arrived, given the starting position, course and distance:
Q2. Given the starting position to be 200 11’ N 0720 52’W, course 0320 (T) and distance 238 M, find
the position arrived.
Course = 0320 (T) = N 320 E Dist.= 238 M
D’lat = dist xCos Course = 238 x Cos 320
D’lat = 201.84’ = 030 21.8’N
Lat left = 200 11’N
D’lat = 030 21.8’ N
Lat arrived = 230 32.8’ N
Dep = dist x Sin Course = 238 x Sin 320 = 126.12’ E
D’long = dep x sec m’lat = 126.12’ x Sec 210 52’= 135.9’E =0020 15.9’ E
D’long = 0020 15.9’E
Long left = 0720 52.0’W
Long arrived = 0700 36.1’W
The Position arrived : 230 32.8’N 0700 36.1’W Ans.
Prepared By Capt. P. C. Biswas
Faculty, SEIET Kolkata
PLANE SAILING & PARALLEL SAILING
By Plane Sailing formulae we can find Set and
Drift of Current: Set and Drift of Current is the
Course and Distance FROM the DR position TO
the fix. Drift is expressed in miles. Where
required, the rate of current can be obtained in
knots by dividing the drift by the number of
hours during which the drift occurred. If DR
position is given and FIX position is given, then
the Course will be Set and Distance will be Drift.
Prepared By Capt. P. C. Biswas
Faculty, SEIET Kolkata
PLANE SAILING & PARALLEL SAILING
• PARALLEL SAILING : When the starting and destination
positions are on the same latitude, the ship could sail
along a Rhumb Line, due East or West. Her track would
therefore lie along the parallel of latitude of the two
places. Sailing in this manner is therefore called
parallel sailing. Since the distance travelled is due East
or West, it is equal to the departure between the two
positions. A very important (good) relationship exists
between Departure and D’long in such cases. Now we
will prove that formulae.
Prepared By Capt. P. C. Biswas
Faculty, SEIET Kolkata
Prepared by Capt. P. C. Biswas
Faculty, SEIET Kolkata
Prepared by Capt. P. C. Biswas
Faculty, SEIET Kolkata
PLANE SAILING & PARALLEL SAILING
Prepared by Capt. P. C. Biswas
Faculty, SEIET Kolkata
PLANE SAILING & PARALLEL SAILING
***** MMD QUESTION *****
2nd November 2021
Q. Two Vessels 45 miles apart on the parallel of
400 30’N, steams 1800 (T),@ equal speeds until
the distance between them is 55 nautical miles.
How far did each vessel steam?
This problem to be solved by parallel sailing
formula. Departure is East –West distance.
That is why distance we will consider as Dep.
Prepared By Capt. P. C. Biswas
Faculty, SEIET Kolkata
PLANE SAILING & PARALLEL SAILING
DEP
180 (T)
0
1800(T)
DEP
d’long
Prepared by Capt. P. C. Biswas
Faculty, SEIET Kolkata
PLANE SAILING & PARALLEL SAILING
We know, Dep./D’long = Cos Lat.
So, D’long = Dep./Cos Lat = Dep. Sec Lat.
From the figure, we can write,
Dep1 x Sec Lat1 = Dep2 x Sec Lat2
Or, 45 x Sec 400 30’ = 55 x Sec Lat2
Or, Cos Lat2 = 55 / 45 Sec 400 30’
Or, Cos Lat2 = 0.929385068
Or, Lat2 = Cos-1 0.929385068
Or, Lat. Arrived ( Lat2 ) = 210 39.7’N
Prepared By Capt. P. C. Biswas
Faculty, SEIET Kolkata
PLANE SAILING & PARALLEL SAILING
Initial Latitude = 400 30.0’N
Final Latitude = 210 39.7’N
D’Lat = 180 50.3’S
Distance = 1130.3 Nautical Miles.
Each Vessel steams 1130.3 Nautical Miles.
Prepared By Capt. P. C. Biswas
Faculty, SEIET Kolkata
PLANE SAILING & PARALLEL SAILING
Q3. A vessel in latitude 470 S long 0530 W steers a course
of 2700 (T) for a distance of 412 miles. Find the position
arrived.
dep /d’long = Cos m’lat
d’long = dep. Sec m’lat
= 412 x Sec 470
= 604.1’ W = 100 04.1’W
Long arrived = 530 W +100 04.1’W
= 0630 04.1’W
Position arrived = 470 S 0640 04.1’W Ans.
Prepared By Capt. P. C. Biswas
Faculty, SEIET Kolkata
PLANE SAILING & PARALLEL SAILING
Q.4. DR Position is 460 44.3’N, 0760 36.3’E and Fix Position is
470 00.6’N, 0760 10.4’E. Calculate the Set & Drift of Current.
DR Lat = 460 44.3’N DR. Long = 0760 36.3’E
Fix Lat = 470 00.6’N Fix Long = 0760 10.4’E
D’Lat = 000 16.3’N D’ Long = 0000 25.9’W
M’Lat = (470 00.6’N + 460 44.3’N)/2=460 52.45’N
Dep = D’Long x Cos m’lat = 25.9’ x Cos 460 52.45’
Dep = 17.705’W.
Tan Course = Dep/ D’Lat = 17.705’/16.3
COURSE Or SET = N 470 20’W = 3120 40’ (T)
Prepared By Capt. P. C. Biswas
Faculty, SEIET Kolkata
PLANE SAILING & PARALLEL SAILING
We know by Plane Sailing Formula,
Dep= Distance x Sin Course
Distance = Dep/Sin Course = 17.705/Sin 470 20’
Distance Or DRIFT = 24.07’ = 24.07M.
Therefore, the Set = N470 20’W =3120 40’ (T).
Drift = 24.1M.
Prepared By Capt. P. C. Biswas
Faculty, SEIET Kolkata
MERCATOR SAILING
Before discussing Mercator Sailing, we should have idea
about MP (Meridional Parts) and DMP (Difference of
Meridional Parts).
Meridional Parts – Meridional Parts for any latitude is the
arc of the meridian, or the angle at the centre of the
Earth, contained between the equator and the parallel of
latitude, expressed in minutes of LONGITUDE. In other
words, the N-S distance between the equator to any
parallel of latitude, expressed in minutes of LONGITUDE,
is called the Meridional Parts (MP) for that latitude. MP
for each latitude is given in Nautical Tables.
Prepared By Capt. P. C. Biswas
Faculty, SEIET Kolkata
MERCATOR SAILING
• DMP(Difference of Meridional Parts) – Difference
of Meridional Parts (DMP) between any two
parallels of latitude is the arc of the meridian, or
the angle at the centre of the Earth, contained
between those two parallels of latitude,
expressed in minutes of LONGITUDE. In other
words, the N-S distance between the two
parallels of latitude, expressed in minutes of
LONGITUDE, is called the DMP between them.
Prepared By Capt. P. C. Biswas
Faculty, SEIET Kolkata
MERCATOR SAILING
• DMP between position A and position B is the
difference between the MP for latitude A and
that for latitude B, both of which are extracted
from Nautical Tables. The rule, whether to add
or subtract, is similar to that for obtaining d’lat
between two places – same NAME subtract,
DIFFERENT NAMES add. Now Nautical Tables
is not allowed in the examination and by the
time you will be using scientific calculator also.
Prepared By Capt. P. C. Biswas
Faculty, SEIET Kolkata
MERCATOR SAILING
We will be using the following formulae to
calculate MP ( Meridional Parts) for each
latitude. The difference between the MPs, we
will get DMP ( Difference of Meridional Parts ).
MP = 7915.7 log10 tan(450 + L/2)
Where, L = Latitude
Latitude Sale= Long Scale x Sec Lat
Prepared By Capt. P. C. Biswas
Faculty, SEIET Kolkata
MERCATOR SAILING
• Where the distance exceeds 600 Miles, it is
recommended that the calculation be done by
Mercator Sailing in order to get more accurate
results than by plane and parallel sailing
method. Mercator Sailing formulae
• D’long / DMP =Tan Course
• For the sake of convenience, the above
formulae can be superimposed on the plane
sailing triangle, as shown here.
Prepared By Capt. P. C. Biswas
Faculty, SEIET Kolkata
Prepared by Capt. P. C. Biswas
Faculty, SEIET Kolkata
MERCATOR SAILING
• Q.1.Find the rhumb line course and distance
from starting position P 020 12’ S 1600 18’W
to final position Q 10O 19’N 1400 40’W.
• Lat P = 020 12’S Long P = 1600 18’ W
• Lat Q = 100 19’N Long Q = 1400 40’ W
• D’lat = 120 31’N D’long = 0190 38’ E
• i.e. 751’N i.e. 1178’ E
Prepared By Capt. P. C. Biswas
Faculty, SEIET Kolkata
MERCATOR SAILING
• From Nautical Table :
• MP of P = 132.03 S
• MP of Q =622.37 N
• DMP = 754.4N
• Tan Course =d’long / DMP = 1178 /754.4
• Course = N 570 22’E
• Dist = d’lat x Sec Course = 751 x Sec 570 22’
• = 1392.6 Miles. Ans.
Prepared By Capt. P. C. Biswas
Faculty, SEIET Kolkata
MERCATOR SAILING
Q.2 Find the course and distance from 120 14’ N
0730 12’E to 230 37’S 0100 19’ E.
From Lat-120 14’N Long -0730 12’E
To Lat-230 37’S Long -0100 19’ E
d’lat = 350 51’S d’long = 0620 53’W
= 2151’ S = 3773’W
MP for Lat 120 14’N = 739.6 N
MP for Lat 230 37’ S = 1458.9 S
DMP= 2198.5’ S
Prepared By Capt. P. C. Biswas
Faculty, SEIET Kolkata
MERCATOR SAILING
• Tan Course = d’long / DMP
• = 3773 / 2198.5
• Course = S 590 46.2’ W
• Distance = d’lat x Sec Course
• = 2151 x Sec 590 46.2’
• = 4272.3 Miles Ans.
Prepared By Capt. P. C. Biswas
Faculty, SEIET Kolkata
MERCATOR SAILING
• Q.3. Find the Course and Distance from P in
latitude 150 32’ N longitude 0240 06’W, to Q
• In latitude 450 56’N longitude 0640 38’ W.
Lat. of “P” 150 32’ N Long. 0240 06’W
Lat. of “Q” 450 56’N Long. 0640 38’W
D’Lat = 300 24’N D’Lon. 0400 32’W
= 2432’W
Prepared By Capt. P. C. Biswas
Faculty, SEIET Kolkata
MERCATOR SAILING
MP for 150 32’ = 943.6’
MP for 450 56’ = 3109.8’
DMP = 2166.2’
Tan Course = D’Long/ DMP
= 2432.0/2166.2
Course = N 480 18’W
Distance = D’Lat/Cos Course = 1824/Cos 480 18’
= 2741.90 Miles
Prepared By Capt. P. C. Biswas
Faculty, SEIET Kolkata
MERCATOR SAILING
***** MMD Question came in Nov,2021*****
*****MMD Question,came in June, 2022*****
Q.4. Find by Mercator principle the position
arrived if the starting position was 360 48’N 0850
53’W, Course 2410 (T) and distance sailed is 1897
miles.
ANSWER:
Position arrived: Lat- 210 28.3’N
Long – 1170 41.6’W
Prepared By Capt. P. C. Biswas
Faculty, SEIET Kolkata
MERCATOR SAILING
Course = 2410 (T) = S 610 W, Distance = 1897 M.
d’lat. = distance X Cos(Course)
= 1897 X Cos610
= 919.7’S
Lat. Left = 36048.0’N
d’lat. = 15019.7’S
Lat. Arrived = 21028.3’N
We will calculate MP (Meridional Parts) by the formula,
MP = 7915.7log10tan{450+(Lat/2)}
MP for Lat. Left = 7915.7log10tan{450+(36048’/2)}
= 2377.6
MP for Lat. Arrived = 1319.60
Prepared By Capt. P. DMP
C. Biswas = 1058’
Faculty, SEIET Kolkata
MERCATOR SAILING
d’long/DMP = tan(Course)
d’long = DMP X tan(Course)
= 1058 X tan610
= 1908.6’
= 31048.6’W
Long.Left = 085053.0’W
d’long = 031048.6’W
Long. Arrived = 117041.6’W
Position Arrived = Lat. 21028.3’N
Long. 117041.6’W
Prepared By Capt. P. C. Biswas
Faculty, SEIET Kolkata
