Duration
14 weeks
Frequency
One course per year
Location
Maritime Warfare School, HMS Collingwood
Ietls
6.5
Aim
To qualify officers as navigation specialists prior to appointment to ocean-going vessels of frigate size and above and to act as a Navigation Instructor or Staff Navigation Officer
Course details
- Passage planning
- Visual Pilotage
- Blind Pilotage and Radar
- Ship handling
- Meteorology
- Relative Velocity
- Navigation aids, GPS/Echo sounders/Logs/Gyros/Sextants (HSA/VSA and
Lattice) - International Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea
- Practical instruction and assessment in a full mission Bridge Simulator conducting visual and blind pilotage by day and night
- Practical instruction and assessment in a Royal Navy warship (FF/DD/OPV) conducting visual and blind pilotage by day and night working closely with the ships Commanding Officer, Navigator, Officer of the Watch and Bridge Team
- Electronic Chart Display & Information System (ECDIS)
- Tides and Time
- Chartwork
- Bridge Resource Management
- Magnetism and Compass Theory
- Naval Gunfire Support
- Astro Navigation
- International Maritime Law
- CASEX and Submarine Safety
- Helicopter Operations
- Communications and Fleetwork (Theory and Practical Naval Manoeuvring)
Requirements
- Rank of Lieutenant with at least 5 years seagoing bridge experience since gaining the National equivalent of the RN’s Bridge Watchkeeping Certificate; of which at least 1 year must have been spent as the Navigating Officer of a Corvette or larger vessel.
- A minimum of 2000 hours certified Bridge Watchkeeping experience
- Eyesight standards are detailed at the front of the chapter
Qualifications gained
Continuous assessment and final examinations to RN standards with pass marks requirement as follows:
- Rule of the Road 90%
- Chart work and Fixing 70%
- Tidal Theory, Tides and Time 70%
- General Navigation & ship handling 2 parts 70%
- Astro Navigation 70%
- Sea Phase 80%
- IMO/STCW95 ECDIS Certification