Celestial Navigation (Master 500/1600 GT) / Oceans Navigation (OICNW)

Prerequisites:

Ideally, students attending this course should have completed the applicable sea time for the Oceans Endorsement. Students must have an understanding of basic math and will be required to use a scientific calculator during the course.  This course will also be of value to others who may not be seeking the U.S. Coast Guard license endorsement, or whose experience is not up to the minimum requirements established under ideal conditions. Because of this, entry standards can be adjusted to suit the particular circumstances.

Course Details:

This course provides classroom training in celestial navigation techniques and is intended for individuals who wish to obtain an “Upon Oceans” endorsement on their U.S. Coast Guard License or satisfy the training requirement for OICNW.  The course is of value to others who have a desire to learn celestial navigation techniques. All materials required for the course are supplied as part of your course fee.

Any applicant who has successfully completed your Oceans Navigation/Celestial Navigation
(500/1600 GRT) (CMTIVA-107) course will satisfy:
⦁ The Oceans Navigation examination requirements of:
⦁ Navigation General: Oceans
⦁ Navigation Problems: Oceans
For increasing the scope of an endorsement from near coastal to oceans for the following National Deck Officer Endorsements if completed within one year of application:
⦁ Second or Third Mate of self-propelled vessels of unlimited tonnage
⦁ Master or Mate of self-propelled vessels of less than 1600 GRT
⦁ Master or Mate of self-propelled vessels of less than 500 GRT
⦁ Master or Mate of self-propelled vessels of less than 200 GRT
⦁ Towing Vessel Endorsements
⦁ Master or Mate of Uninspected Fishing Industry Vessels
⦁ Master or Mate of Offshore Supply Vessels; AND
⦁ The Celestial Navigation training requirements of 46 CFR 11.309(a)(4)(viii) for an STCW endorsement as Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch on vessels of 500 or
more gross tonnage (ITC); AND
⦁ The Celestial Navigation standards of competence required by 46 CFR 11.309(a)(3) and 11.319(a)(3); STCW Code Section A-II/1 and Table A-II/1, as amended 2010,
meeting the National Assessment Guidelines from NVICs 12-14(Ch-5) and 02-18(Ch-3) Tasks 1.1.A, 1.1.B, 1.1.C, 1.1.D, 1.1.E, and 1.1.F; AND
⦁ The Celestial Navigation standards of competence required by 46 CFR 11.305(a)(2), The course satisfies applicable requirements, and the following approval is granted subject to
the conditions specified below and in Enclosure (1): 11.307(a)(2), 11.311(a)(2), 11.313(a)(2), and 11.315(a)(2); STCW Code Section A-II/2 and Table A-II/2, as amended 2010, meeting the National Assessment Guidelines from NVICs 10-14(Ch-4), 11-14(Ch-4), and 03-18(Ch-2) Tasks 1.2.B, 1.2.C, 2.1.B, and 2.1.C.

The course covers the following topics:

• Introduction to Nautical Astronomy
• Time and Hour Calculations
• Sunrise, Sunset and the Twilights
• Determination of Greenwich Hour Angle (GHA) and Declination (Dec.)
• Use and Reading of the Sextant
• Correcting the Sextant Altitude (Hs) to the Observed Altitude (Ho)
• Latitude by Polaris
• Computing Latitude by Meridian Altitude Observation
• Computing Amplitude of the Sun
• Assumed Positions
• Determining Azimuth of a Body by H.O. 229
• Finding Navigable Stars on the “Rude Star Finder”
• Determining Intercept and Azimuth to include plotting LOP
• Sailings
• Speed / fuel problems

Examination:

The student will be administered a 15 question Navigation Problems exam with a minimum score of 80% and a 70 question Navigation General exam with a minimum score of 70%.