Whether your watercraft of choice is a speedboat, yacht, or something in between, knowing the basics of marine navigation is absolutely essential when you’re spending time on the water. Below is Van Isle Marina staff’s quick guide to the basics of navigation. We’ve included some short definitions to go with our roundup of the traditional manual tools that truly experienced sailors swear by, as well as electronic devices with all the bells and whistles.
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Latitude & Longitude – A coordinate system that allows you to pinpoint exactly where you are on Earth, whether on land or at sea. Latitude measures north & south, while longitude measures east & west.
True North – Also known as geodetic north, this marks the position of the geographic North Pole according to the position of the Earth’s axis. Not to be confused with the magnetic North Pole, which shifts by kilometres every year due to moving sea ice, the geographic North Pole is where the lines of longitude converge. The same is true for the South Pole. A sextant can help.
Knots – 1 knot or kn is 1.15 mph or 1.852 km/h, a measure of speed for boats and aircraft. This unit of measurement has been used since the 17th century, when the speed of ships was measured by a rudimentary device made of coiled rope with evenly spaced knots.
This rope was attached to a pie-shaped piece of wood that floated behind the ship and was let out for a certain amount of time. When the line was pulled back in, the number of knots (roughly the speed of the ship) between the wood and the ship were counted.
Nautical Mile – A nautical mile is equal to one minute of latitude and is based on the Earth’s circumference. One nautical mile equals 1. statute (land measured) miles.
Magnetic Compass – Tried and true, and something that every sailor should have on hand since it doesn’t require any electricity to operate. The magnetic compass points to magnetic north and you can read your direction using the needle or the “lubber line.” There are 360 degrees, with 0 degrees to the north, 180 degrees to the south, 90 degrees to the east, and 270 degrees to the west. The direction your boat is heading in measured in degrees relative to magnetic north.
Rules – A set of parallel rulers that determine the angle (degrees) between the starting point and destination. They are attached by swivelling arms that you can “walk” across a nautical chart, while maintaining the correct angle.
Dividers – Used to measure distance on a nautical chart, dividers are used to separate two points on the chart to represent one or many nautical miles.
GPS – Global Positioning System (GPS) devices receive signals from satellites to pinpoint your position, plot your course, and determine speed. They’re increasingly popular among boaters for their simplicity, ranging from very basic to high end, complete with depth alarms and chart plotters, among other extras.
Buoy – An anchored buoy serves as a marker for watercraft. Port hand buoys are green and mark the left side of a passage, or an obstruction in the water. Starboard hand buoys are red and mark the right side of a passage, or an obstruction in the water. A simple rule is to keep green buoys on the left side and red buoys on the right to keep with traffic and avoid hazards. Buoys also come in different shapes and sizes.
Cardinal Marks – There are north, south, east, and west cardinal buoys, which mark the safest direction to travel. These may have a white light on top that each follow a specific pattern, and they’re coloured for easy direction identification:
See complete details on the different types of marks.
Lights – Lights used on buoys for marine navigation are all assigned specific patterns of speed and number of flashes. Cardinal buoys have white lights with a flashing speed and pattern that corresponds to the position on an analog clock. For instance, east buoys flash at a rate of 3 times every 10 seconds. Special types of buoys, like anchorage buoys and cautionary buoys have a yellow light that flashes once every 4 seconds.
Paper Charts – A paper chart is still the most reliable form of charting when on the water and is used to plot courses between point A and point B, determine depth of water, any charted obstructions, navigation aids, and information on currents and tides.
Electronic Charts – The Electronic Navigational Chart (ENC) uses computer software and databases to provide details for charting when on the water, ENC’s use a dynamic map that shows your location in real time. The most complex are Vector charts, which allow you to filter out any layers of
information you may not need at all times, such as location of buoys, direction of current or depth of water. This navigational tool can be used on a waterproof chart plotter, smartphone or tablet, and laptop.
Read More: Important Items to Bring on Your Boat
Whether you’re brand new to boating or a seasoned skipper, we at Van Isle Marina believe it never hurts to brush up on the basics to ensure everyone has a great—and safe—time on the water. Rely on our expertise to help you choose the navigation tools and equipment that are right for you, and pick up a cruising guide, chart or tide book, or other supplies for your aquatic adventures at our Dock Store.
Almost 71% of the earth is covered in water, and it can often be scary even to imagine traversing these distant locations without proper tools or equipment. The ever-present danger of the ocean requires precise skills and top-notch equipment to make it safer and more efficient. Over the centuries, the process of navigating the bigger waters has been perfected, from using celestial observations to advanced electronic systems. Today, we use the perfect combination of conventional and modern navigational elements to operate smoother and better. Throughout this blog, we will go through some of the important tools and systems that can help in safer and more secure navigation across the waters:
The magnetic compass system is one of the oldest and most reliable navigational instruments. It utilizes the earth’s magnetic field to indicate the direction towards the north pole. Even with advanced technologies, the magnetic compass remains a mandatory tool. At KDU World, we offer a wide range of high-quality magnetic compass systems from Sperry Marine, which comprises the Jupiter Flat Glass Magnetic Compass, NAVIPOL Magnetic Compass Binnacles, Fluxgate with integrated sine/cosine interface, Universal Digital Repeaters, Analogue Repeaters, and Azimuth Devices – all the components working together to ensure optimum performance in maritime navigation.
Additionally, essential magnetic compass components from Lilliey & Gillie include:
MkS – Magnetic Compass Outfit: MkS features an aluminum binnacle with a telescopic periscope assembly, ensuring accurate navigation for vessels over 150GRT.
MkS-W/MKS-W – Magnetic Compass Outfit: They offer better durability with weatherproof aluminum binnacles and integrated low-voltage lighting, making them suitable for diverse maritime environments.
MkS – Magnetic Compass Outfit: Specifically built for commercial vessels over 150GRT and fishing vessels over 35m, the MkS consists of a telescopic periscope, full compensating magnets, and compatibility with transmitting magnetic compass equipment.
P Transmitting Magnetic Compass: Provides digital output from the magnetic compass, offering NMEA protocol compatibility for easy integration with other navigation equipment and repeaters.
As we know, the gyrocompass operates using the simple principles of physics by using a fast-spinning wheel. The gyrocompass is a more accurate tool for navigation as it is not hindered by magnetic fields or metals and gives more precise readings, making it an essential component of modern maritime navigation.
Our gyrocompasses consist of Sperry Marine – Fibre Optic Gyro Compass -NAVIGAT : A maintenance-free fiber optic gyro compass with no moving parts, ensuring high reliability and dynamic accuracy for maritime navigation. It has been designed for easy installation, and it offers fast startup times, making it ideal for high-speed craft operation. Additionally, we provide gyrocompass accessories from Sperry Marine, which provide improved performance and better convenience.
We also offer Navico – SIMRAD GC80/85 Expanded Gyro System – for both standard and high-speed crafts. The versatile system is available in compact, dual, or expanded control units and can be configured as part of single or multi-gyrocompass setups. Notable features include multiple NMEA outputs, step outputs, Rate of Turn outputs, and compatibility with both DC and AC power sources, ensuring seamless integration with various navigation systems.
If you want to learn more, please visit our website marine navigation equipment.
We all know that radar stands for radio detection and ranging and that it makes up one of the most essential navigational instruments of any maritime vessel. At KDU World, we offer both X-band and S-band radars, notably the VisionMaster Net radar from Sperry Marine, which is the perfect technology to enhance maritime safety. It features advanced clutter suppression, an intuitive user interface, and multi-transceiver support, significantly reducing collision risks and simplifying watch duties in all sea states.
Click here to learn how VisionMaster FT Naval Radar strengthens maritime security.
Well-known Navico radars include –
SIMRAD ARGUS X band & S band: IMO type-approved radar system offering high-performance X-band and S-band configurations, designed for enhanced target detection and situational awareness in commercial maritime operations.
SIMRAD HALO: This radar system provides superior target resolution up to 72 nautical miles, with beam sharpening and multiple operational modes for versatile maritime navigation.
SIMRAD R: Suitable for single or multi-radar setups, this system features a modern user interface with intuitive controls, widescreen displays, and configurations that are compliant with IMO-type approval for various SOLAS vessels.
ECDIS stands for Electronic Chart Display and Information System and is the modern-day counterpart of conventional paper charts. As ECIDS combines radar, AIS, and other navigational components, it becomes a core component of any ship. Our Sperry Marine VisionMaster Net ECDIS provides provision for the quick creation and editing of multiple voyage plans without interrupting navigation and automatically correlates radar and AIS targets to minimize identification errors and simplify watchstanding.
The Simrad ECDIS900 MK5/15 is designed for SOLAS-compliant vessels, including merchant cargo ships and tankers. The system features a standard Windows PC interface with precise navigation, comprehensive route planning and optimization tools, integrated chart management and ordering, a universal radar overlay, and an optional customizable conning display.
AIS stands for Automatic Identification System, and it is important as it is essential to have a system for tracking the real-time information between vessels in the ocean. Most of the AIS systems operate through VHF radio signals and have become mandatory in all modern maritime.
Highly rated AIS systems include:
EM-TREK A200 CLASS A comes with a high-definition color display and is designed for durability with IPx6 and IPx7 weatherproofing standards and offers higher functionalities such as Electronic Navigational Chart (ENC) support and alerts for Man Overboard (MOB) and Search and Rescue Transponder (SART) situations.
The Navico SIMRAD V Class A and SIMRAD V Class B both offer advanced vessel tracking and safety compliance. The V is an IMO-approved Class A system with a 3.5-inch LCD, seamless NMEA integration, and reliable data transmission for SOLAS vessels. The V, a high-powered Class B AIS with SOTDMA technology, offers superior range, faster updates, and durable IP67-rated construction, making it ideal for light commercial vessels. Both ensure enhanced situational awareness and seamless connectivity with Simrad navigation systems.
Additionally, we also provide the Jotron Tron AIS TR- complete IMO package featuring a 7-inch touchscreen display, a robust transponder, GPS and VHF antennas, and seamless ECDIS integration. With durable, weather-resistant construction and advanced safety alerts
GPS, or Global Positioning System, has become an integral part of most of the modern mobility devices. GPS works by leveraging information from the satellite to give more precise and accurate details about vessels in the sea. In modern maritime vessels, it is integrated with ECIDS, autopilot, and radar systems to offer smoother operations across the sea. Our GPS systems from Navico consist of the following:
SIMRAD P/P: an advanced GPS navigation system designed for precise maritime positioning and navigation. They feature high-resolution displays and user-friendly interfaces, ensuring accurate route planning and real-time tracking for enhanced maritime safety.
SIMRAD HS80A/MX575D DGPS: IMO type-approved GNSS compasses that provide reliable heading, rate of turn, and position data. They support GPS and GLONASS, offering heading accuracy better than 0.5° RMS and sub-meter DGPS positioning accuracy. These systems include integrated DGPS sources like SBAS and Beacon (MX575D), ensuring enhanced navigational performance.
SIMRAD HS75 GNSS: a compact multi-GNSS compass supporting GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, and QZSS constellations. It delivers heading accuracy of 0.75° and precise positioning, all within a small form factor measuring just 35 cm in length, making it ideal for installations with limited space.
NAVIKNOT
A speed log device is used to measure a vessel’s speed and record the distance traveled across the waters. This system helps in accurate data calculation to maintain proper charting of routes, obtain the ETA, manage fuel consumption, and increase the overall efficiency of the ships. There are different types of speed logs – doppler logs, electromagnetic logs, and other systems – that provide accurate data and enhance your journey and security.
We provide Sperry Marine NAVIKNOT – the perfect system for precise maritime speed measurement, utilizing electromagnetic, Doppler, and satellite-based sensors to measure both Speed Over Ground (SOG) and Speed Through Water (STW) with an accuracy of ±1% or 0.1 knots, whichever is greater. Designed for various vessel types, from small pleasure crafts to large crude carriers, the system features a large color TFT display for clear visualization of longitudinal and transverse speeds, supporting docking maneuvers and enhancing navigational safety.
KDU World offers well-established Lilley & Gilley speed log systems:
Type Approved EM Speed Log System: A high-precision electromagnetic speed log providing real-time Speed Through Water (STW) measurements with MED type approval for accurate maritime navigation.
Type Approved EM Speed Log System: Advanced electromagnetic speed log delivering precise longitudinal and transverse speed data, ensuring compliance with IMO and SOLAS regulations.
Type Approved Speed Log, Wind & Weather System: A multifunctional system combining electromagnetic speed measurement with wind and weather monitoring for enhanced vessel performance and situational awareness.
The well-renowned Skipper speed logs include
The autopilot system has become one of the most functional advancements in the maritime industry. An autopilot system helps in controlling the ship’s steering while maintaining the navigation course with minimal human interference. As we know, this system takes away the pressure from navigators, especially on long periods of journeys. The well-known autopilot systems include
Sperry Marine NAVIPILOT n: A state-of-the-art adaptive autopilot system designed for fuel-efficient and precise vessel control, featuring advanced algorithms for dynamic coursekeeping and integration with navigation sensors.
Navitron NT888G: A renowned autopilot system with adaptive steering capabilities, offering precise heading control and seamless integration with gyrocompasses and GPS for optimized route efficiency.
Navico SIMRAD AP70 & AP80: Professional-grade autopilot systems providing advanced steering control, customizable sailing modes, and network integration for enhanced navigational accuracy and fuel optimization.
Taking the reins over tough seas can only be done through a combination of traditional and modern navigation systems. Whether it’s a small fishing boat or a large ship, having the right systems and equipment on board helps in maintaining the course, avoiding obstacles, and getting in touch with the authorities in case of emergencies. Compasses, echo sounders, GPS, ECDIS, AIS, and other essential tools make the journey across waters easier and safer.
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