The teaching unit offers a throughout understanding of the procedures that are relevant for the maritime navigation in terms of voyage planning and watchkeeping. It covers competences 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5 of the IMO Model Course for Master and Chief Mate
The teaching unit offers a throughout understanding of the procedures that are relevant for the maritime navigation, also considering the proper sources of law: a theoretical part allows to focus on geodesy, cartography and astronomy items related to navigation and on the statistical approach to measurements, while an operational part, to be carried out also in lab and bridge simulator environment, will focus on the methods that are necessary to carry out a reliable voyage planning and a correct execution, taking into account the use of nautical charts and publications, Aids to Navigation and the International Code of Signals. The position fixing will be analysed both in terms of coastal and celestial navigation considering the use and control of traditional instruments such as the magnetic and gyro compass and the marine sextant. The IAMSAR procedures and some basic ice navigation techniques are also taken into account.
The teaching unit aims to offer a great part of the learning outcomes set in the STCW Table A-II/2 “Specification of minimum standard of competence for masters and chief mates on ships of 500 gross tonnage or more”, function: Navigation at the management level. In particular the theoretical knowledge that are relevant for develping the competences expected by the Functions 1,2,3, of Tables A-II/1 and A-II/2 of the STCW Convention.
The learning outcome are:
The teaching unit provides the tools for achieving the competences required by the STCW Convention.
The teaching unit will develop the following transversal skills and competences (soft-skills): literacy, strategic thinking and critical thinking; effective communication and argumentative skills.
None
Frontal theoretical lectures are alternated with computer-based lectures and in lab and bridge simulator environment, to put the notions into practice in real application situations.
Lessons will be held in the classroom, but will also be available in synchronous and asynchronous online modes.
Innovative teaching tools, such as instant polls, are used both to stimulate students' attention and to test their learning.
The course is held in English.
Working students and students with certified SLD (Specific Learning Disorders), disability or other special educational needs are advised to contact the teacher at the beginning of the course to agree on teaching and examination arrangements so to take into account individual learning patterns, while respecting the teaching objectives.
Geodesy - 8h
The terrestrial sphere and ellipsoid, theorems and equations of operative geodesy.
The Geoid.
Coordinate systems, reference systems and transformations between them.
Cartography - 6h
Cartographic projections
Chart scale, error of graphicism and deformations.
Horizontal and vertical datum in nautical charts.
Statistical approach to measurements - 6h
Source of errors, accuracy and precision
Position and dispersion statistical indexes
APPLICATION EXERCISES
Voyage planning - 20 h
International regulations overview
Introduction to voyage planning
The four stages of navigation
Variables to be considered in the planning stage
Nautical publications
Ship sailing (RL and GC)
Landfall
Clearing bearings
Margins of safety and parallel indexing
Planning and executing a turn
Weather routeing and climatological navigation
Environmental consideration for passage planning
EXERCISES
Celestial Navigation – 15 h
Celestial coordinates systems
PZX triangle
Sun apparent motion and twilight
Moon apparent and real motion
Time in celestial navigation
Use of the nautical almanac
Use of the sight reduction tables
The sextant
Identifying celestial bodies by sight and by calculation
Use of the Star finder
Position fixing in celestial navigation
Meridian passage and latitude calculation
Saint Hilaire method
Compass error check in celestial navigation
Coastal navigation - 15 h
IALA Buoyage system
Lights and AToNs
International Code of Signals
Coastal navigation plotting
Plotting the track
Dead reckoning plot
Use of LOPs for determining position
Running fix
Wind and current consideration
Tidal streams consideration on Admiralty charts
Compasses use and control - 5 h
Magnetic force
Magnetic dip and variation
Magnetic deviation
Gyroscope orientation
Gyro-compass errors
New technologies for gyro-compasses
Compass adjustment
Echo-sounder and log
Ice navigation - 5h
The Polar Code2
Sea ice origin and classification
Ice geographic distribution
Iceberg
Detection of the presence of ice and ice bulletins
Ice accretion on board
Health risks in low temperatures
Winterization
Ship design & construction
Ship equipment
Ice operations
Icebreaker assistance
Environment protection in polar waters
SAR schemes and procedures – 10 h
SAR Organization
Duties and facilities
Co-ordination and co-operation
IAMSAR main content
IAMSAR searching schemes
Handouts provided by the teacher.
Deck Officers and Masters Guide - Richard V. Weinberg (available on amazon https://www.amazon.it/Deck-Officers-Masters-guide-Watchkeeping/dp/B08MHRNMQT)
Ricevimento: By appointment, by calling (+39) 010 335 2421 or sending an e-mail (bianca.federici at unige.it) or a message on Teams
BIANCA FEDERICI (President)
RICCARDO FAVA
ILARIA FERRANDO
ANTONIO BUONINCONTRO (President Substitute)
DOMENICO SGUERSO (President Substitute)
https://corsi.unige.it/10948/p/studenti-orario
The examination is mainly oral, but at the beginning of the oral examination a short written test is offered relating to the geodesy, cartography and statistics exercises carried out during the teaching.
In addition, an essay on astronomical fix with the use of sight reduction tables is required. The latter is assigned to each student that enrols for the exam by Aulaweb
The final grade will take into account the quality of the application carried out (processing and analysis techniques used, strategies for solving any problems encountered), the critical discussion of the results obtained and the expositive capacity, as well as the knowledge of the theoretical concepts.
The quality of the oral and written presentation will be assessed, as it is considered preparatory to the students' future working life, enabling them to better acquire the ability to share ideas and work in a team.
