Advanced Marine Navigation
Advanced Piloting is the second in the sequence of USPS courses on navigation. It continues to build coastal and inland navigation skill, allowing the student to take on more challenging conditions, unfamiliar waters, limited visibility, and extended cruises.
GPS is embraced as a primary navigation tool while adding radar, chartplotters, and other electronic navigation tools. As with Piloting, the course includes many in-class exercises, advancing the student's skills through hands-on practice and learning.
Topics covered include:
- Review of skills learned in Marine Navigation (Piloting)
- Advanced positioning techniques such as advancing a line of position
- Use of electronics, radar, depth sounders, autopilots, chartplotters, and laptop computer software
- Hazard avoidance techniques using electronics (e.g., "keep out" zones in GPS)
- Collision avoidance using radar and GPS
- Working with tides
- Piloting with wind and currents
- The "Seaman's Eye" working with simple skills for checking that you are on course
This course will be taught in 7 three-hour sessions including time for review and the multiple choice open book exam.