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Course Outline & Syllabus

Instructor:      Captain S. J. Beuth

                        Office #W024  (office hours posted).

                        Phone:  362-7414                    Fax:  362-7495           

                        E-Mail:  sbeuth@cfcc.edu

TEXT: CHAPMAN PILOTING, Seamanship & Small Boathandling, ed. by E. Maloney, pub. by Hearst Marine Books, 64th edition, 2003.  Parts IV and V to be covered.

Or, the 63^rd edition, 1999, may be used, Chapters 15, and 17 through 25 to be covered.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course provides training in marine piloting and electronic navigation techniques.  Topics include use of charts, instruments, navigation aids, compasses, nautical publications, radar, GPS, LORAN, depth sounders, and computer software, with an emphasis on plotting techniques.  Upon completion, students shall be able to demonstrate competence in the safe navigation of vessels utilizing and interpreting information obtained from navigational aids.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:  To equip the student with the ability to navigate a vessel using nautical charts, plotting instruments, compasses, aids to navigation, electronic navigation systems, and computers.  Students will acquire the ability to accurately, at all times, know where they are on the water, and how to reach their destination.

HOURS, CREDITS, REQUISITES

            Course hours per week: Class 2, Lab 3.

            Semester hours credit: 3.

            Prerequisites: None

            Corequisites: None

ATTENDANCE  POLICY: According to CFCC policy, a student must attend at least 80% of the scheduled class hours in order to receive credit for the course.  Attendance is marked at the beginning of each class.  Late arrivals must personally see the instructor during a class break or at the end of the class for appropriate credit to be allowed.  Each student is responsible for keeping track of accrued absence hours.  A student may leave a class early only after informing the instructor of the need to do so.  Students absent more than 16 hours will receive a "No Credit" grade.  If it becomes necessary for a student to withdraw from the course, this must be processed before the sixteenth hour of absence, and before the last three weeks of the academic semester.

CONDUCT:  In an effort to assist in proper building maintenance and to provide an atmosphere conducive to learning, students are not permitted to eat, drink, or smoke in the classroom.  Students are encouraged to participate in classroom discussions, but to refrain from individual private conversations.  Cell phone use is not permitted in the classroom.

REQUIRED MATERIALS:

            1. Nautical chart #12221TR, Chesapeake Bay Entrance

            2. Plotting instruments:

                        a. 1 set of navigational dividers

                        b. 1 set of parallel rulers, or navigational triangles, or course plotter.

SAFETY: Students must adhere to safety requirements  Those who ignore or willfully disobey safety requirements will be subject to discipline which may involve dismissal from the class.

GRADING:      45% on three tests.

                        25% on three quizzes.

                        25% on timely, accurate submission of lab assignments.

                        5% on timely, and thorough completion of submitted written assignments.

            Final Grade obtained using CFCC grading scale:

                        A         92-100

                        B          84-91

                        C         76-83

                        D         68-75

                        F          below 68

OUTLINE OF INSTRUCTION:

            1. Preliminary considerations; history of navigation; basic definitions

            2. The nautical chart; plotting instruments.

            3. The compass; compass errors; course plotting.

            4. Dead Reckoning; time-speed-distance calculations.

            5. Position determination by piloting methods; LOP's and fixes.

            6. Current Sailing: determining and compensating for set and drift of the current.

            7. Electronic Navigation

                        a. Radio wave theory.

                        b. Satellite navigation, GPS.

                        c. LORAN

                        d  EPIRBs

                        e. Radar

                        f. Depth finding

                        g. Radio communications

                        h. Electronic charting systems

                        i. Use of computers

            8. Navigational Publications

                        a. Tide and Tidal Current Tables

                        b. U.S. Coast Guard Light List

                        c. U.S. Coast Pilot

                        d. Bowditch, useful tables

                        e. Notice to Mariners

                        f. Radio Aids to Navigation

            9. Aids to Navigation

                        a. Buoyage systems

                        b. Lights and sound signals.

For this page and all other pages in the Marine Technology sub-site - "The views and opinions expressed are strictly those of the page author and not necessarily those of Cape Fear Community College."