Marine Link
Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Navigation

Navigation, derived from the Latin words "navis" (meaning  "ship") and "agere" (meaning "to drive") is the process of accurately determining the position and controlling the movement of a craft or vehicle along a desired course. This is accomplished by finding the navigator's position compared to known locations or patterns.

Early instruments used for determining latitude were the quadrant, (which measured the altitude of the polestar or the noonday sun,) the astrolabe and the sextant. Longitude was originally fixed using chronometers and tables showing yearly positions of celestial bodies. The first mariners to explore the world’s oceans developed standard ways of observing and recording their location, the routes they traveled, wind and water currents, and other useful facts. These records, logs, and journals made it possible find their way home and pass along their observations. Each successful voyage became a part of an expanding collection of reliable maritime information.

Modern navigation systems are part of a tightly coordinated and widely integrated transportation system in which each vessel must be responsible for staying on course, avoiding collisions, minimizing fuel consumption, and keeping on schedule. Modern navigation systems make use of many traditional tools, such as compasses, charts, instruments; but over the past century radio beacons, satellite networks and global positioning systems have been relied upon with increasing frequency to determine a ship’s position.

Ship compasses are usually stabilized by gyroscopes and installed in housing which properly compensates for the vessel’s motion. Charts are another essential navigational tool- position is fixed using charts of known locations in concert with instruments that calculate a vessel’s relative bearing. Dead reckoning is a method which relies on recording the accurate velocity calculated by gyroscopes and computer analysis of the vessel’s acceleration.

Tags: Navigation

The first tow of 2024 goes through Lock and Dam 2 in Hastings, Minn., on March 17. (Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)

First Tow Through Lock 2 Kicks Off Navigation Season on the Mississippi

The first towboat of 2024 passed through Lock and Dam 2, in Hastings, Minn. on Sunday…

Gas Garnet vessel (Credit: NYK)

NYK and Astomos Energy Christen New Jointly-Owned Dual-Fuel LPG Carrier

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Source: Wärtsilä

Wärtsilä Delivers Simulator to Sharjah Maritime Academy

Wärtsilä has supplied its latest simulator technology to the prestigious Sharjah…

(Credit: CENTCOM)

US Military Strikes Back After Pinocchio Vessel Attack

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(Image: Furuno)

Furuno Unveils TZtouchXL With Risk Visualizer And AI Avoidance Route

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Source: Posidonia Exhibitions

Posidonia 2024 Exhibitors Anticipate Paradigm Shift as AI Gains Traction

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Credit: Tokyo Keiki

ClassNK Grants Innovation Endorsement for “ACE Function”

ClassNK has granted its Innovation Endorsement for Products & Solutions to a straight…

Post-cyclone Dredging Underway in India's Port of Krishnapatnam

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(Photo: U.S. Central Command)

US Says it Struck Missiles, Drone that Posed Threat to Red Sea Ships

The U.S. military said it conducted strikes on Thursday against anti-ship missiles…

Participating in the traditional Kagami-biraki ceremony, Jeremy Sutton, CEO, Swire Shipping (center, in blue tie); Chris Robertson, Country Manager – Japan, Swire Shipping (rightmost); share a toast together with former Swire employees (blue traditional Happi coats) and the current Japan team. Image courtesy Swire Shipping

Swire Shipping Opens Branch Office in Japan

Swire Shipping commemorated the opening of its new Japan branch office in Tokyo on February 21…

© Nightman1965 / Adobe Stock

Vessel Attacked by Missiles Southeast of Yemen's Aden

Two missiles were fired at a vessel in an attack southeast of the Yemeni port city of Aden on Thursd

© Alex Ruhl / Adobe Stock

Parana River Reopens to Vessel Traffic with Draft Restrictions

Argentina's Parana River, a global grains thoroughfare, reopened to shipping traffic…

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