OVERVIEW

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

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The teaching unit aims to provide 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, while an operational part 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.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

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:

• Theoretical and practical acquisition of the contents of the teaching unit.
• Elements for evaluating the accuracy of position and passage monitoring.
• Operational activities in lab and bridge simulator environment.

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.

PREREQUISITES

None

TEACHING METHODS

Frontal theoretical lectures are combined 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.

Students with valid certifications for Specific Learning Disorders (SLDs), disabilities or other educational needs are invited to contact the teacher and the School's contact person for disability at the beginning of teaching to agree on possible teaching arrangements that, while respecting the teaching objectives, take into account individual learning patterns. Contacts of the teacher and the School's disability contact person can be found at the following link Comitato di Ateneo per l’inclusione delle studentesse e degli studenti con disabilità o con DSA | UniGe | Università di Genova

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Geodesy and Cartography: The terrestrial sphere and ellipsoid, theorems and equations of operative geodesy. The Geoid. Coordinate systems, reference systems and transformations between them. Cartographic projections. Chart scale, error of graphicism and deformations. Horizontal and vertical datum in nautical charts. 

EXERCISES

Voyage planning: 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: 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

EXERCISES

Coastal navigation: 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.

EXERCISES

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

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)

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

https://corsi.unige.it/10948/p/studenti-orario

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The examination is predominantly written, comprising exercises and multiple-choice questions.

In addition, students are asked to perform a short written assignment on astronomical positioning with direct solution tables. The latter is assigned to each student following successful completion of the written examination.

The examination concludes with a viewing and discussion of the written examination and any supplementary oral questions.

The examination may be taken online in the cases provided for by the University Regulations.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The final grade will take into account knowledge of theoretical concepts and the ability to argue the results of tests and exercises.

FURTHER INFORMATION

None