Wednesday 4 November 2015

Interesting Navigation Instruments

By Carey Bourdier


Many types of navigational instruments are used on ships, whether they are large commercial vessels concerned with transportation or fishing or perhaps ships that are run by the Coast Guard or our Navy. Each instrument has a specific use, and some are used to measure speed, some locate objects in the distance, some help determine a ship's precise location. Some of these navigational aids have been around for hundreds of years, while others are newer and while highly accurate, rely on electricity in order to operate. Here are just a few examples of what you might find on board a ship.

Telescopic marine alidades are one type of navigational equipment. Telescopic marine alidades are instruments that are used to determine the terrestrial bearing of an object in relation to your ship. It is usually mounted on a bearing compass repeater or bearing compass when used. Obviously, knowing where another object is located can be very important when navigating a large ship.

A three-arm protractor is also an interesting piece of equipment used in navigation. This instrument is also used inland and not in ships, although in these days, the GPS is more often used. When used in ships and while out on the water, this instrument is one of the quickest means to determine the location of the ship. The latitude and longitude can be determined through calculations made with data determined through the use of this instrument. Navigational charts are also used together with this instrument.

Other equipment such as binoculars and telescopes also are used in navigation. These are optical instruments that are used so that when a person looks through the instrument, objects will look bigger. A binocular is two similar telescopes mounted together and the person using will use both eyes. Telescopes are only with one scope and the person will only use one eye with the instrument. Three dimensional images will be seen with binoculars since both eyes are used. With the use of binoculars, images are more natural, and the object is bigger. Objects that are very far can still look natural and the image is clear and bigger despite the distance. However, high-powered telescopes can be mounted to a ship and these provide excellent viewing of faraway objects.

Navigational sextants are also instruments used in ships and in general navigation. A sextant is an instrument and device used to measure angles between two objects. Two mirrors are used and in navigation, the horizon is viewed through this mirror. The other mirror is movable and light from an object or the sun is used for its reflection. The angle between the two is then read through the scale in the instrument. Navigational sextants are very important instruments used in navigation because of the accuracy of these instruments.

Other instruments important in navigation are electronic equipment such as radar and sonar. These instruments are used to locate objects by sending out a sound wave or radio wave and these waves bounce off of an object, helping determine the objects position. Sound waves are mediums used in sonar and radio waves with radar. These can be used to determine the distance between the ship and another ship or perhaps to locate something under the water.




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