Navigation Flashcards
How many cables in a NM
10
How many yards in a cable
200 yards
How many yards in 1/2 nm
1000 yards
15 cables in NM
1.5 NM
2000 yards in NM
1 NM
Flashing Characteristics of an East Cardinal Buoy
White Light. Q(3)10s
Name all of the Special Buoys (10)
Cautionary, Anchorage, ODAS, Information, Swimming, Mooring, Hazard, Control, Diving, Keep-Out
What does IALA stand for?
International Association of Lighthouse Authorities
What countries fall in the IALA B system?
The Americas, the Philippines, Japan and Korea.
Identifying Characteristics of a Cautionary Buoy
All yellow cylinder. Flashing 1 yellow
Identifying Characteristics of an Anchorage Buoy
Yellow cylinder with anchor. Flashing 1 yellow
Identifying Characteristics of an ODAS Buoy
Yellow floating hat shape. Flashing 5 yellow every 20s
Identifying Characteristics of a Hazard Buoy
White cylinder with an orange diamond. Flashing 1 yellow
Identifying Characteristics of an Information Buoy
White cylinder with an orange square in centre. Flashing 1 yellow.
Identifying Characteristics of a Control Buoy
White cylinder with orange circle. Flashing 1 yellow.
Identifying Characteristics of a Diving Buoy
White cylinder with flag (red with blue diagonal stripe thru middle) on top. Flashing 1 yellow
Identifying Characteristics of a Swimming Buoy
White cylinder. Flashing 1 yellow.
Identifying Characteristics of a Mooring Buoy
White cylinder with orange top. Flashing 1 yellow.
Identifying Characteristics of a Keep-Out Buoy
White cylinder with a diamond with a cross thru the centre. Flashing 1 yellow.
Flashing Characteristics of a North Cardinal Buoy
White Light. (Q)1s
Flashing Characteristics of a South Cardinal Buoy
White Light. (Q(6)+LFl)15s
Flashing Characteristics of a West Cardinal Buoy
White Light. Q(9)15s
Flashing light characteristics
A light in which a 0.5 second flash is regularly repeated at a rate of 15 flashes per minute (one flash every 4 seconds)
Fixed
A light which appears continuous
Isophase
A light in which the alterations of light and darkness are of equal length
Flashing
A light in which the eclipse is clearly longer than the duration of the flash and in which intervals of light are all of equal duration.
Occulting
A light in which the flash is clearly longer than the duration of darkness and in which intervals of darkness are all of equal duration.
Continuous light alternating between two colours
Alternating
Where would you find information and definitions on lights and flashing characteristics?
CCG List of Lights, Buoys, and Fog Signals
Quick Flashing Characteristics
A light in which a 0.3 second flash is regularly repeated at a rate of 60 flashes per minute (one flash every second)
Long Flash
A light in which a flash of 2 seconds duration is repeated at a rate of 6 flashes per minute (one flash every 10 seconds)
Very Quick Flash Characteristics
A light in which a flash is regularly repeated at a rate of 120 flashes per minute (a flash every 0.5 second)
Port Hand Buoy flashing characteristics
Green Light. Flashing
Starboard Hand Buoy flashing characteristics
Red Light. Flashing
Black (or green) square in white background with green retro-reflective border
Port Hand Day Beacon
Red. Red light (Fl)4s. Top Mark is a single red cone pointed upwards.
Starboard Hand Buoy. Keep to Starboard
Green retro-reflective square on white diamond with a red border.
Port Bifurcation/ Junction Day Beacon
Starboard Junction Buoy (Bifurcation Buoy) Flashing Characteristics
Red Light. Composite Group Flashing: Fl(2+1)6s.
Which side to leave a navigation aid of lateral significance is determined by the
“upstream direction”
Red retroreflective triangle on white diamond with red border
Starboard Bifurcation Day Beacon. Preferred channel is to port. Keep on stbd side
Isolated Danger Buoy
Black with one horizontal red band. Two black spherical topmarks.
- Black over Yellow
- Two Black Conical Topmarks facing Upward
North Cardinal Buoy. Safe water to North
- Black with Yellow Band
- Two Black Conical Topmarks facing Away from Each Other
East Cardinal Buoy. Safe water to East
- Yellow over Black
- Two Black Conical Topmarks facing Down
South Cardinal Buoy. Safe water to South
- Yellow with Black Band
- Two Black Conical Topmarks facing Toward Each Other
West Cardinal Buoy. Safe water to West
Fairway Buoy
Red and White vertical stripes. Red spherical topmark.
Port Hand Junction (Bifurcation) Buoy Flashing Characteristics
Green Light. Composite Group Flashing: Fl(2+1)6s.
Fairway Buoy Flashing Characteristics
Morse Code A
Formula for Golden Rule
(Bearing Difference X Range in NM)/ 3
What unit is the golden rule answer in?
Hundreds of Yards
If I am travelling 7kts, I will travel _____ cables in 6 minutes
7
If I am travelling 5kts, in 3 minutes I will travel ____ hundreds of yards
5
Isolated Danger Buoy Flashing Characteristics
White Light. Group Flashing: Fl(2)5s
A lights luminous range in a homogeneous atmosphere in which the meteorological visibility is 10nm
Nominal Range
What are range markers?
Two fixed aids to navigation which line up when a vessel is on the correct track (usually used in the approach to a harbour or the navigation of a narrow channel).
15 minutes is ____ of an hour
1/4
30 minutes is ____ of an hour
1/2
45 minutes is ____of an hour
3/4
Speed: 6kts Time: 6minutes Distance:?
6 cables
Speed: 12kts Time: 60 minutes Distance:?
12 NM
If the front range marker is to the right of the back range marker, are you port or starboard of track?
Port
What three things can a major navigation aid have to assist sailors to locate it?
Light, sound (fog signal) and radio beacon (RACON).
Speed: 5kts Time: 36 minutes Distance:?
30 cables. 3 NM
Degrees off: 5 Range: 3NM Distance off: ?
500 yards
If the front range marker is to the left of the back range marker, are you port or starboard of track?
Starboard
Degrees off: 6 Range: 10NM Distance off: ?
2000 yards. 1 NM
600 yards in cables
3 cables
3000 yards in cables and NM
15 cables. 1.5 NM
20 cables in NM
2 NM
35 cables in NM
3.5 NM
5NM in cables
50 cables
What does RACON stand for? What does it mean?
Radio beacon - means that this navigational aid will emit a radio beacon (usually morse code) that can be seen on radar.
What is a sector light? What is it used for?
A light that can only be seen within a certain arc of visibility, often split into colours with specific arcs of visibility. Used in as a lead light to assist sailors with maintaining the proper course (similar to range markers).
Degrees off: 3 Range: 3NM Distance off: ?
300 yards
When proceeding upstream towards a sector light, if you see red, are you port or starboard of track?
Starboard.
What type of light would flash 2 times, then 3 times, followed by a period of darkness totalling a period of 10s before restarting this pattern?
Composite group flashing - Fl(2+3)10s
When proceeding upstream towards a sector light, if you see green, are you port or starboard of track?
Port
How do you figure out the visibility of a light in a certain range of visibility?
Use the graph, line up the nominal range of the light (X-axis) with the visibility in nm (y-axis). Where these two lines intersect is the visibility of the light.
You are transiting along a track of 210 at 12kts. Your sternmark bears 032 and is 2.5nm away. Are you port or stbd of track? How far?
Stbd of track by 165yds
What is twilight?
When the sun is between 0-18 degrees below the celestial horizon.
What is civil twilight?
When the sun’s centre is 6 degrees below the celestial horizon.
What is nautical twilight?
When the sun’s centre is 12 degrees below the celestial horizon.
When are morning / evening stars taken?
Between civil and nautical twilights.
What is astronomical twilight?
When the sun’s centre is 18 degrees below the celestial horizon.
What is the period of total darkness (PTD)?
The time between nautical twilights unless the moon is up during this time.
What is an azimuth?
The direction of a celestial body in relation to an observer in a given position.
Name the three types of considerations you must make when passage planning.
Environmental, terrestrial and operational.
Name three terrestrial considerations you may make when planning a passage.
- Navigation dangers
- Availability of aids to navigation
- Navigation warnings
- Local considerations (eg: speed limits, wake restrictions)
- Traffic type and density
- Own ship’s capabilities
Name three environmental considerations you may make when planning a passage.
- Water levels (tides) and currents
- Time of day
- Weather
You’re on course 120, your leadmark is 118 at 5nm. Are you port or starboard of track? How much?
330x starboard of track
You’re on course 150, your leadmark is 156 at 2nm. Are you port or starboard of track? How much?
400x port of track
Name three operational considerations you may make when planning a passage.
- Start and end positions, ETD, ETA, SOA
- Mission/operation context
- Consorts
- Possible delays
- Equipment or mechanical problems
- Bridge team restrictions (eg: fatigue)
What are the steps of passage appraisal?
- Make a list of charts and load/assemble them (electronic and paper) in the best possible scale.
- Lay preliminary tracks and study charts (lights, buoys, chart symbols, chart notes, etc.).
- Consult Sailing Directions (CAN) or US Coast Pilot (USA) for information regarding your passage.
- Consult notices to mariners, notices to shipping, CANHYDROPACs
- Environmental research (weather, astro, tides and currents)
- Determine traffic expectations, radio frequencies and CIP channels.
- Consider the FLEX, equipment status, routing (ETA, ETD) and any other restrictions.
- Edit and complete tracks on ECPINS and paper charts.
- Prepare and present a navigation brief.
How can you look up the meaning of chart symbols?
- Query in ECPINS
- Chart 1
Where can you find the charts required for a passage?
- ECPINS chart index
- CHS/NOAA chart catalogue
What publications would you consult to find relevant local information for your passage?
- Sailing Directions (CAN)
- US Coast Pilot (USA)
- Notices to shipping / Notices to mariners
- Canhydropacs (HSO notices)
Where would you find astro information?
- Total tides
- Nautical almanac
- USNO website
Where can you find information about tides?
- Total tides
- Canadian tide and current tables
- CHS/NOAA tides websites
Where can you find information about currents?
- Total tides
- Canadian tide and current tables
- Current atlas and Murray’s tables
- CHS/NOAA tides websites
What sources would you consult regarding expected traffic?
- Chart notes
- Sailing directions
- Ferry schedules
What sources would you consult regarding radio frequencies and calling in points?
- Chart notes
- Sailing directions
- CCG Radio Aids to Marine Navigation
What are the two speed log types?
Dopler and electro-magnetic
What are the phases of the moon in order for the northern hemisphere?
New, Waxing Crescent, 1st Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full, Waning Gibbous, Last Quarter, Waning Crescent
How does the moon “fill”/ “empty” in the northern hemisphere?
From left to right.
How would the moon appear to “fill”/ “empty” in the Southern Hemisphere?
From right to left
Your leadmark bears 012 and is supposed to bear 009, at a range of 3 nm. How far off track are you? If you alter 6 degrees to regain, how long will it take to regain your track at 10 kts?
You are 300x starboard of track. At 6deg, it would take you 9 minutes to regain
When passing a light on your port side, the 2OOW takes the range by radar. The range is 350 yards. The planned CPA on the chart was 500 yards. How are you for track? If your planned track is 022, and you alter right 032 to regain, how far will you travel before regaining? At 9 kts how long will it take you to regain?
150x port of track. You would travel 900x before regaining. At 9kts it will take you 3 minutes to regain.
Red fluorescent triangle on white background with a red border.
Starboard Hand Day Beacon
Green. Green light (Fl)4s. Top mark is green cylinder
Port Hand Buoy
Green with red horizontal band. Green light Fl(2+1)6s. Top mark is a single green cylinder.
Port Bifurcation Buoy
Red with green horizontal band. Red light Fl(2+1)6s. Top mark is a single red cone point upwards.
Starboard Bifurcation Buoy
What countries fall in the IALA A system?
Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Africa, the Gulf and some Asian countries.
Group Flashing
Flashing light in which the flashes are combined in groups, each group including the same number of flashes, and in which the groups are repeated at regular intervals. The eclipses separating the flashes in the group are of equal length and shorter than the darkness separating the groups
Quick Flashing
A light exhibiting rapid regular alterations of light and darkness
Very Quick Flashing
A light exhibiting very rapid regular alterations of light and darkness
What is the difference between IALA A and IALA B?
In IALA A lateral marks are the opposite colour (Red is a Port Hand Buoy, Green is a Starboard Hand Buoy).