Introduction to Maritime Navigation

This book, Introduction to digital navigation, has been written for the use of officers and ratings who have a requirement to understand the problem of navigation at sea. The navigator, whether of a 10 ft dinghy or a 150,000 tonne oil tanker, has a problem which is simple to define but difficult to solve. The navigator must first determine their position, on a surface which is always in motion and is otherwise featureless. They must then determine the position to which they intend to navigate and plot a course between these two positions. They must be able to do so whilst avoiding the myriad dangers which, by their very nature, are often hidden from the eye. Finally, they must achieve this feat in a machine, in many cases, will be large, valuable, and (compared to say a car, an aircraft or even walking), slow to alter course or speed.