NAV 3 - QUIZZES

1. Departure and arrival point at the same meridians the departure point is greater than the arrival point, what is
the name of your difference of longitude?
Opposite name

2. What is the side of the plane sailing triangle opposite the course?
Departure

3. If Lo1 is 10° 30′E and Lo2 is 10° 20′W, what is the Difference of Longitude?
20° 50′W

4. Which of the following is the angular distance east or west of the Prime Meridian, measured from 0° to 180°?
Longitude

5. Which of the following is a curve that crosses each meridian at the same angle?
Rhumb line

6. In plane sailing and Mercator sailing, in what quadrant would the course be if the D. Lat. is named south and the
D. Long.is named west?
3rd quadrant

7. What is the true course for S 25⁰ W?

205⁰T

8. What is the true course of S 50⁰ E?

130⁰T

9. Plane Sailing. A vessel sailed from 8⁰ 55′N, 122⁰ 59′E to 10⁰ 56 ′N, 121⁰ 33′E. What is the Mean Latitude?
9⁰ 55.5´ N

10. Plane Sailing. A vessel sailed from 8⁰ 55′N, 122⁰ 59′E to 10⁰ 56 ′N, 121⁰ 33′E. What is the Difference of
Longitude in degrees?
01⁰ 26′W
1. Plane Sailing. A vessel sailed from 8⁰ 55′N, 122⁰ 59′E to 10⁰ 56 ′N, 121⁰ 33′E. What is the Difference of
Longitude in miles?
86 miles W

2. Plane Sailing. A vessel sailed from 8⁰ 55′N, 122⁰ 59′E to 10⁰ 56 ′N, 121⁰ 33′E. What is the Difference of Latitude
in degrees?
02⁰ 01′N

3. Plane Sailing. A vessel sailed from 8⁰ 55′N, 122⁰ 59′E to 10⁰ 56 ′N, 121⁰ 33′E. What is the Difference of Latitude
in miles?
121 miles N

4. Plane Sailing. A vessel sailed from 8⁰ 55′N, 122⁰ 59′E to 10⁰ 56 ′N, 121⁰ 33′E. Which of the following is her
Quadrantal Course?
N 34⁰ 59.5′ W

5. Plane Sailing. A vessel sailed from 8⁰ 55′N, 122⁰ 59′E to 10⁰ 56 ′N, 121⁰ 33′E. Which of the following is her True
Course?
325⁰T

6. Plane Sailing. A vessel sailed from 8⁰ 55′N, 122⁰ 59′E to 10⁰ 56 ′N, 121⁰ 33′E. Which of the following is
her departure?
84.7 miles W

7. Plane Sailing. A vessel sailed from 8⁰ 55′N, 122⁰ 59′E to 10⁰ 56 ′N, 121⁰ 33′E. Which of the following is the
distance she sailed?
147.7 miles

8. Parallel Sailing. In latitude 42° 36´ N, a vessel sailed from longitude 26° 30´ W to longitude 21° 12´ W. What is
the true course?
090°T

9. Parallel Sailing. In latitude 42° 36´ N, a vessel sailed from longitude 26° 30´ W to longitude 21° 12´ W. What is
the departure made good?
234.1 miles

10. Parallel Sailing. In latitude 42° 36´ N, a vessel sailed from longitude 26° 30´ W to longitude 21° 12´ W. What is
the difference of longitude in degrees?
5° 18´ E
1. Parallel Sailing. In latitude 42° 36´ N, a vessel sailed from longitude 26° 30´ W to longitude 21° 12´ W. What is
the difference of longitude in miles?
318 miles E

2. Parallel Sailing. A vessel sailed from Latitude 23° 06´N, Longitude 130° 45´E on course 270°T and covered a
distance of 600 miles. What is the difference of longitude in miles?
652.3 miles W

3. Parallel Sailing. A vessel sailed from Latitude 23° 06´N, Longitude 130° 45´E on course 270°T and covered a
distance of 600 miles. What is the latitude of arrival?
23° 06´ N

4. Parallel Sailing
A vessel sailed from Latitude 23° 06´N, Longitude 130° 45´E on course 270°T and covered a distance of 600 miles.
What is the longitude of arrival?
119° 52.7 E

5. Parallel Sailing. From Longitude 10° 30' W, a ship sailed due West along the equator for 20 hours at 16 knots.
What is the difference of longitude?
5° 20´W

6. Parallel Sailing. From Longitude 10° 30' W, a ship sailed due West along the equator for 20 hours at 16 knots.
What is the longitude of arrival?
15° 50´ W

7. Mercator Sailing. A vessel sailed from 41°29´S, 120° 00´E to 10° 12´N, 091° 26´E. What is the Difference of
latitude in degrees?
51° 41.0´N

8. Mercator Sailing. A vessel sailed from 41°29´S, 120° 00´E to 10° 12´N, 091° 26´E. What is the Difference of
latitude in miles?
3101 miles N

9. Mercator Sailing. A vessel sailed from 41°29´S, 120° 00´E to 10° 12´N, 091° 26´E. What is the Difference of
Longitude in miles?
1714 miles W

10. Mercator Sailing. A vessel sailed from 41°29´S, 120° 00´E to 10° 12´N, 091° 26´E. What is her Meridional Parts
1 (MP1)?
2724.66 S
1. What does the term ‘tide’ refer to?
horizontal movement of the water

2. When a Spring Tides does occurs?

Full moon and new moon

3. What type of tide is produced when only a single high and a single low water occur each tidal day?
diurnal tide

4. Which of the following is the vertical distance from the chart sounding datum to the water surface at any stage
of the tide?
range of tide

5. What do you call the tides with higher high and lower low?
Spring tides

6. Which among the choices is a level from which height and depths of tides are measured?
tidal datum

7. How many minutes is lagging occurs to cause high tide each day?
15 minutes later

8. What do you call a small waves formed on the surface of water?

Tide rips

9. What do you call the movement of water towards the shore or upstream?
flood

10. What term is the vertical distance from the chart sounding datum to a high water datum is called?
rise of tide

1. What do you call a current that flows opposite directions with an instant or short period of slack water?
reversing current

2. What term is used to describe when there is no sensible change to the level of tide?
Stand

3. Which of the following refers to the maximum height reached by the tide?
High tide

4. What tides occur when the sun and the moon are in quadrature with the earth?
Neap tides

5. What is the difference in the height between consecutive high and low waters?
Range

6. Which of the following types of tide occurs when there are two high and two low waters each tidal day?
Semi diurnal tide

7. What do you call the direction towards which current flows?

Set
8. What is the other name of flood which is the movement of water towards the shore?
Upstream

9. What do you call the periodic horizontal movement of the water?

tidal current

10. What refers to speed or velocity of the current?

Drift of tides
Longitude – a shorter arc of equator or angle at the pole between prime meridian & meridian through
the point considered.

- Measured East or West

- 0 to 180 degrees East or West.

Prime Meridian – Meridian passing through Greenwhich (England).

- Reference Point.
- 0 degrees Prime Meridian
- 180 degrees Antemeridian or International Date Line or IDL

Difference in Longitude ( D’Long) - The smaller angle at the pole or the shorter arc of a parallel between
the meridians of two places, expressed in angular measure.

A 040 degrees W A 100 degrees E A 120 degrees E

B 060 degrees W B 040 degrees E B 160 degrees W

= 020 degrees W = 060 degrees W = 280 degrees W

= 360 degrees

280 degrees W

= 080 degrees E

Departure ( Along the Parallel of Latitude )

Parallel Sailing = Departure = D’long x cos latitude ( in nautical miles )

D’long Departure

Point A 178 degrees 35 min. W 245 min. W x cos 60 degrees

Point B 177 degrees 20 min. E = 122.5 n.m

= 355 degrees 55 min. E

- 360 degrees

= 04 degrees 05 min. W

04 degrees 05 min. W x 60

D’long = 245 min. W

Course = Path or direction of travel

True Course = angle made at the ship from true north to the ships heading. Measured clockwise.

Quadrantal System = used in plane sailing calculations

Angle is less than 90 degrees

060 degrees true = N 60 degrees E

150 degrees true = S 30 degrees E

210 degrees true = S 30 degrees W

330 degrees true = N 30 degrees W

Rhumb line = a line which crosses the meridians at a constant angle

M’lat

Same hemisphere = add two latitude divide by two

Diff. hemisphere = subtract the higher lat to lower lat. Divide by two. Copy the hemisphere of higher lat.

Plane Sailing formulas =

Sin co = dep / dist

Cos co = D’lat / Dist

Tan co = Dep / Dlat

 Lesson 6 – Sailing problems (Departure and Longitude)

Learning Outcomes
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:

1. Define departure and state its relationship with difference of longitude

Guide Questions

1. How would you define departure? What is its relationship with difference of
Longitude?
Departure and its relationship with the difference of longitude

To clearly establish the difference between the departure and the difference of
longitude
( Dlong,),we have to consider talking about distance. The vertical lines that connect the
north pole and the south pole are meridians or meridians of longitude. The distance
between meridians is called departure when you are not measuring along the equator.
The diatance between meridians when we measure along the equator is called
Difference of Longitude.

We can now establish the relationship between the departure and difference of
longitude. The value of the distance between meridians along the equator would remain
the same if we take the measurement along the equator. As we go higher towards the
poles we will have various values for the departure as indicated by the arrows. Along
the equator, the latitude is 0° while at the poles the latitude is 90°. The distances
between meridians is normally used in parallel sailing wherein the ship sails along the
parallel eastward or westward only. So talking about the distance between meridians,
the distance along the equator will always be greater than the distance in higher
latitudes. In other words, as the latitude gets higher towards the poles, the distance
between meridians becomes lesser because the meridians converge towards the poles.
 Lesson 7 - Sailing Problems (True Course and Rhumbline)

Learning Outcomes
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:

1. Define true course and rhumbline

Guide Questions

1. How do you describe true course and rhumbline?

The Rhumb Line – This is the curve on the earth’s surface which represents a line of
constant course, thus crossing all meridians at the same angle. It will appear on the
Earth’s surface as a spiral towards the poles. It represents the track which a navigator
Normally uses when steaming between two points, having calculated or measured the
course from a chart.

True course is the direction of travel of the vessel. It is expressed in three digit
notation in which the observer is imagined at the center of the compass and the
direction of the true north is taken to be the reference direction of 000°. It is measured
from True north, clockwise around the compass from 000° to 360°.
 Lesson 8 - Sailing Problems (Plane Sailing)

Learning Outcomes
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:

1. Demonstrate the uses of plane sailing formula

2. Calculate correctly the course and distance between two positions using the
plane sailing formula
3. Calculate a DR position or an estimated position by using the plane sailing
formula, given course and distance.
4. Solve problem of plane sailing using calculator.
Guide Questions

1. How do you demonstrate the uses of plane sailing formula?

2. How do you calculate the course and distance between two positions using
the plane sailing formula?
3. How do you calculate a DR position or an estimated position by using the
Plane sailing formula, given compass course and distance.
4. How do you solve problem of plane sailing using calculator?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4jSQqWHWqk (Watch video on plane sailing)

. The plane sailing triangles

Plane Sailing may be used to find the course and distance between two positions
which are not in the same latitude. It is used over areas of small distances only. Given
the latitude and longitude of the two positions the difference of latitude (d lat) and the
difference of longitude (dlong) can be readily found.

The dlat and the distance are measured in the same units and can be graphically
represented by the two sides of a right triangle, the distance being the hypotenuse and
the angle between the two sides the course as shown in the figure above.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtArE_i1jHQ Watch video about plane sailing
Plane sailing formula:

Sin Course = Dep/Distance (Opposite/Hypotenuse)

Cos Co = Dlat / Dist (Adjacent/Hypotenuse)
Tan Co = Dep/ Dlat (Opposite/Adjacent)

SOH
CAH
TOA

Given the two sides of the right plane triangle the third side could be determined using
the Plane Sailing formula.

When only the departure ( L1 and Lo1) and arrival position (L2 and Lo2) are given
the Plane Sailing by Mean Latitude can be used. The mean or average of the two
latitudes can be determined by adding the half of the dlat to the Lat1. To solve for the
Departure the formula below can be used:

Departure = D long x Cosine Lat.

To calculate the course and distance between two positions using the plane
sailing formula.

Sample problem:

Find the course and distance from 37° 01′ N 009° 00′ W to 36° 11′ N 006° 02′ W

Procedure:
1. From the two given positons calculate the D lat and the D long. These are
named according to the direction where the ship is heading to determine the quadrant
which the course will lie.
2. Using the mean latitude find the departure.
3. Solve the right angled plane sailing triangle using the D lat and Departure, for
course and distance.

L1 = 37° 01′ N LO1 = 9° 00′ W L1 = 37° 01′ N

L2 = 36° 11′ N LO2 = 6° 02′ W 1/2Dlat = 25′(-)

Dlat = 00° 50′ S DLONG = 2° 58′ E Mean Lat = 36° 36′ N
x 60
Dlat = 50 miles Dlong = 178 miles Mean Lat = 36° 36′ N

Departure = Dlong x Cos Mean Lat

= 178 x Cos 36° 36′
= 142.9 miles

Tan Course = Dep/Dlat = 142.9 ÷ 50 = shift Tan = shift degrees

= 70° 42′ 55″
Course = S 70° 42′ 55″ E SE Quadrant (3rd Quadrant) 180°- course

True Course = 109°T

Distance = Dlat/ Cosine Course 50 miles/ Cos 70° 42′ 55″

= 151. 39 miles or 151.4 miles
°
Things to remember in finding Dlat and Dong:

1. If Lat1 and Lat2, Lo1 and Lo2 have the same names, subtract lesser from
greater and Dlat/Dlong named according to the ship’s heading.
2. If Lat1 and Lat2, Lo1 and Lo2 have different names, add them together
and Dlat/Dlong is named according to ship’s heading
3. If Dlong exceeds 180° subtract it from 360° and reverse the name.
To you calculate a DR position or an estimated position by using the Plane sailing formula,
given compass course and distance?

5 miles

At 0800H your vessel is 5 miles off South of the lighthouse and sailed on course 045° T
speed 10 knots. What time will your ship be due east of the lighthouse and how far
would your ship be from the light at this time?

Using the plane sailing formula:

Dep/Dlat = Tan Co Dep = Dlat x Tan Co 5 miles x Tan 45° = 5 miles

Dep = 5 miles

Distance = Dlat/ Cos Co Distance = 5/ Cos 45° = 7. 07 mile to DR psn

Time to DR psn = Distance/Speed = 7.07/10 = .707 Hr x 60min/hr= 42.42 mins or

43 miins.

Time to DR position = 0800H + 43 mins = 0843H time when the ship would be due
east of the light.
Solving problem of plane sailing using calculator.

1. Your vessel steers 225° T and makes a departure of 456.8 miles. How far did she
steam?

Solution:

Departure = 456.8 miles True Course = 225° T (3rd quadrant) 225° - 180° = 45°

Course = 45° Sin Co = Dep/Distance

Distance = Dep/Sin Co = 456.8/Sin 45°

Distance = 646.0 miles

2. A vessel made a Dlat of 454.94 miles N and a Dep of 202.55 miles W. Find her true
course and the distance she travelled.

Solution:

Tan Course = Dep/ Dlat = 202.55 miles/454.94 miles = shift Tan = degrees

= 23° 59′ 59.12″ since true course is required, determine the quadrant. This is taken
From the name of the Dlat and Dlong. North and West. (4th Quadrant)
So 360° - 23° 59′ 59.12″ = 336° T

Distance = Dlat/Cos Co = 454.94 ÷ Cos 23° 59′ 59.12″ = 497.99 miles or 498 miles.
 Lesson 9 - Sailing Problems (Parallel Sailing)

Learning Outcomes
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:

1. Use the parallel sailing formula

2. Calculate the course and distance between two positions on the same parallel
3. Calculate the Difference of Longitude for a given distance run along a
parallel.
4. Derive the final position after sailing along a parallel

Guide Questions

1. How do you demonstrate the uses of parallel sailing formula?

2. How do you calculate the course and distance between two positions on the
same parallel?
3. How do you calculate the Difference of Longitude for a given distance run
along a parallel?
4. How do you derive the final position after sailing along a parallel?
The parallel sailing formula

Parallel sailing is used for vessels that are sailing along a parallel of latitude. Its
course must be either east (090° T) or west (270° T). There are two categories
of parallel sailing problems.

1. Problems where the latitude and longitude of the point of departure are given.
The vessel then proceeds on course 090° T or 270° T for a given distance. You
must find the longitude of the point of arrival.

2. Problems where the coordinates of two positions along the same parallel of
latitude are given, and you must find the course and distance between the.
two positions.

Departure/Dlong = Cos Lat is the formula used in Parallel Sailing. It is very

important for you to know the relationship of the Departure to the Dlong and Latitude.
The departure is thedistance between meridians when not along the equator while
Dlong is the distance between meridians when along the equator. As the latitude gets
higher, the departure becomes lesser. The value of the Dlong will always be greater
than the value of departure.
Calculating the course and distance between two positions on the same
parallel

Sample problem:

Your vessel is sailing from Lat. 37° 50′ N, Long. 18° 36′ W, to Lat. 37° 50′ N.
Long. 43° 32′ W. Determine your course and distance by parallel sailing.

Note that Lat. 1 and Lat. 2 have the same value which is 37° 50′ N. Meaning that your
ship is sailing along the parallel of latitude.

Given: Latitude 37° 50′ N. The Dlong can be determined using Long 1 and Long 2.

Long 1 = 18° 36′ W

Long 2 = 43° 32′ W
Dlong = 24° 56′ W (Lo1 and Lo2 have the same name, so subtract lesser from greater)W
X 60 ( to get the value in miles. !° = 60′)
Dlong = 1496′ or miles

Departure = Dlong x Cos Lat = 1496′ x Cos 37° 50′ = 1181.5 miles

The course could only be 090°T or 270°T.

Remember the rule in finding Dlong? Dlong is named according to ships heading. The
Dlong here is named West so the ship’s heading is 270°T

Course = 270° T

Calculate the Difference of Longitude for a given distance run along a

parallel.

In the above example, you calculate the Difference of Longitude by either adding or
subtracting the longitude 1 and longitude 2. Subtract the lesser from greater if they
have the same name but add them together when they have different names. If the
Dlong exceeds 180° subtract it from 360° and change its name.
Example: Lo1 170° E + 175° W = 345° W. Subtract this from 360° and change the
name W to E.
360° - 345° = 15° E. This is now your final Dlo. and you multiply this by 60 to get the
value in miles.

How to derive the final position after sailing along a parallel.

Your vessel sailed from Lat. 33° 56′ S, Long. 18° 24′ E and sailed West covering a
distance of 126.4 miles. Determine her arrival or final position.

Solution:
Given: Latitude 33° 56′ S
Departure = 126.4 miles
From the formula Departure/ Dlong = Cos Lat

Dlong = Departure/Cos Lat = 126.4 miles ÷ Cos 33° 56′ = 152.3 miles ÷ 60 to get
the value in degrees = 2° 32.3′ W. (the name of the dlo is west because the because
the problem states that she sailed westward)

To find the Longitude of arrival or the Lo2, apply the Dlong to the Lo1.
Add them together if they have common name and subtract the lesser from greater if
they have different names and copy the name having the greater value.

Lo1 = 18° 24′ E

Dlo = 2° 32.3′ W (-)
Lo2 = 15° 51.7′ E

Remember that in parallel sailing, the ship is sailing along the parallel of
latitude. So latitude 1 and latitude 2 is the same.

The final position or the arrival position is Lat 33° 56′ S, Long. 15° 51.7′ E
 Lesson 10 - Sailing Problems (Mercator Sailing)

Learning Outcomes
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:

1. State the Mercator sailing formula

2. Use the Mercator formula to calculate course and distance between two
positions.
3. Use the Mercator formula to calculate the final position given the initial
position, course and distance
Guide Questions

1. What is the Mercator sailing formula?

2. How do you use the Mercator sailing formula to calculate the course and
distance between two positions?
3. How do you use the Mercator sailing formula to calculate the final position
Given the initial position, course and distance.
The Mercator sailing formula

In Mercator sailing there are several things to consider The Meridional Parts for any
Latitude is the length along a meridian on a Mercator chart between the equator and
that parallel of latitude expressed in units of the longitude scale.

The difference of meridional parts between any two latitudes is the length of a
meridian on a Mercator chart between the two parallels expressed in units of the
longitude scale.

Mercator Sailing may be used to find the course and distance between any two
positions on the earth’s surface on greater distances like over 600 miles.

The Mercator sailing triangle may be imagined to be drawn on a Mercator chart. The
hypotenuse of this right angle triangle represents the rhumb line distance between the
two positions, one side represents the meridian through one of the positions and the
other side the parallel through the other position. The angle between the meridian and
the hypotenuse will be the course angle. The adjacent and the opposite sides must be
expressed in the same units if they are to be used in the solution. The side opposite the
course angle along a parallel can be expressed in units of the longitude scale by taking
the difference in the meridional parts (DMP) between the two latitudes.

The meridional parts for all latitudes are tabulated in nautical tables. The meridional
parts for the two latitudes must be extracted and the difference of meridional parts
(DMP) found from them. The DMP will be the difference between the two meridional
parts if the latitudes carry the same name and will be the sum if they carry opposite
names. The same rules apply in finding the Dlat.

The formula used in Mercator Sailing is

Tan Co= Dlong/DMP

and
Dist = Dlat/Cos Co
Formula for MP by calculator:
MP = Log Tan (Lat ÷ 2 + 45) x 7915.7 = - Sin Lat x 23.3 =

What is the meridional parts for lat 10°?

Log Tan (10° ÷ 2 + 45) x 7915.7 = - Sin 10° x 23.3 = 599.02
Lat 10° ------MP = 599.02

How to use the Mercator sailing formula to calculate the course and
distance between two positions.

Sample problem:

By Mercator sailing find the true course and distance from Lat. 49° 10′ N, Long. 12° 30′W
To Lat. 25° 15′ N, Long. 26° 50′ W.

First we need to get the value of DLAT, DLONG AND DMP. DLAT AND DLO ARE
MULTIPLIED BY 60 TO GET THE VALUE IN MILES.

Lat 1 = 49° 10′ N MP = 3379.7 Lo1 = 12° 30′ W

Lat 2 = 25° 15′ N MP = 1556.6 Lo2 = 26° 50′ W
Dlat = 23° 55′ S DMP= 1823.1 Dlo = 14° 20′ W
X 60 X 60
Dlat = 1435′ Dlo = 860′
Having obtained the value of the three factors, you can now proceed to solve
For the course and distance.

Tan Co = Dlong/DMP = 860 ÷ 1823.1 = Shift Tangent = degrees.

Course = 25° 15.3′ = S 25° 15.3′ W

Note: The quadrant for the course is given by the directions of the Dlat and
Dlong.

(Southwest quadrant or 3rd quadrant) in finding the true course in the 3rd
quadrant, add the course to 180° so
25° 15.3′ + 180° = 205° 15.3′ T. You can now round this off to whole number
of degrees
True Course is 205° T.
To solve for the distance
Distance = Dlat/Cos Co = 1435 ÷ Cos 25° 15.3′ = 1586.7 miles
Distance = 1586.7 miles

How to use the Mercator sailing formula to calculate the final position
given the initial position, course and distance.

Sample problem:

A vessel in position 25° 47′ S, 163° 48′ E, steered 038° T for 2475 miles. Find her arrival
position.

Solution:

Dlat = Dist x Cos Co = 2475 x Cos 38° = 1950.3′ ÷ 60 to get the value in degrees
Dlat = 32° 30.3′ N (N because 038° T is in the 1st quadrant or the NE quadrant).
Remember again your rule that the Dlat is named according to ship’s heading.

Having obtained the value for the Dlat, you can now solve for the Lat2 and then solve for
the DMP.

Lat1 = 25° 47′ S Lat1 = 25° 47′ S MP = 1591.9

Dlat = 32° 30.3′ N(-) Lat2 = 6° 43.3′ N(+) MP = 401.2(+)
Lat2 = 6° 43.3′ N Dlat = 32° 30.3′ N DMP = 1993.1
Having obtained the value of your DMP you can now solve for Dlong and then the Lo2.

Dlo = DMP X Tan Co = 1993.1 x Tan 38° = 1557.2 ÷ 60 = 25° 57.2′ E. East because
the true course 038°T lies in the 1st quadrant or the NE quadrant. Go back to your
rule again. The Dlo is named according to your ship’s heading.

Lo1 = 163° 48′ E

Dlo = 25° 57.2′ E (+)
Lo2 = 189° 45.2 E (exceeding 180° so it must be subtracted from 360° and reverse its
sign).

360°
189° 45.2′ (-)
170° 14.8′ W (the name or sign is changed or reversed)

The arrival position is Lat. 6° 43.3′ N, Long. 170° 14.8′ E

 Lesson 11 - Tides

Learning Outcomes
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:

1. Demonstrate basic knowledge and understanding of tides

2. Define ‘spring tides’, ‘neap tides’, ‘height of tide’ ‘high water’ and ‘low
water’,
‘mean high water springs’.’ mean high water neaps’, ‘mean low water
spring’,
‘mean low water neaps’, ‘range’, ‘chart datum’, ‘highest astronomical tide’

3. Find the time of a desired height of tide

4. Find the predicted time and height of high and low water at the standard
and secondary ports

Guide Questions

1. How would you demonstrate your basic knowledge of tides?

2. How do you define ‘spring tides’, ‘neap tides’, ‘height of tide’, ‘high water’ and
‘low water’, ‘mean high water spring’, ‘mean high water neaps’, ‘mean low
water spring’, ‘mean low water neaps’, ‘range’, ‘chart datum’, ‘highest
astronomical tide’?
3. How do you find the time of a desired height of tide?
4. How do you find the predicted time and height of high and low water at the
Standard and secondary ports?
Tides

Tides and tidal streams are the result of gravitational attractions between astronomical
bodies, mainly the earth and the sun, and the earth and the moon. The gravitational
force between two bodies varies as the product of the masses and inversely as the
square of the distance between the bodies.. If the earth moon system is considered,
there is therefore a difference between the gravitational force acting between the solid
earth and the moon, and that acting between the moon and the water on the earth
directly under it. This will cause an excess of water directly beneath the moon which is
referred to as a tidal wave. Similarly the gravitational attraction between the solid earth
and the moon is greater than the force between the moon and the water on the
opposite side of the earth and a tidal wave is caused on the side of the earth away from
the moon. Variation in the height of water at any place on the earth will occur as the
earth rotates with respect to these tidal waves, giving two high waters and two low
waters with each rotation. The period of rotation for the solar tidal wave is once per day
and for the lunar tidal wave once in 24h 50m, which is the period of rotation of the
earth with respect to the moon.

The highest high waters and the lowest low waters will occur when the lunar and the
solar tide wave coincide that is when the moon and sun are in line or almost so near to
new and full moon. At these times the two tides reinforce giving spring tides. At first
and third quarter when the two tidal waves are in opposition they partially cancel giving
lowest high waters and highest low waters, which are termed neap tides.
Tides are the rise and fall of sea levels caused by the combined effects of
the gravitational forces exerted by the Moon and the Sun, and the rotation of the Earth.
Tide changes proceed via the following stages:

 Sea level rises over several hours, covering the intertidal zone; flood tide.
 The water rises to its highest level, reaching high tide.
 Sea level falls over several hours, revealing the intertidal zone; ebb tide.
 The water stops falling, reaching low tide.
Definitions
Highest astronomical tide (HAT) – The highest tide which can be predicted to
occur. Note that meteorological conditions may add extra height to the HAT.
Mean high water springs (MHWS) – The average of the two high tides on the days
of spring tides.
Mean high water neaps (MHWN) – The average of the two high tides on the days of
neap tides.
Mean sea level (MSL) – This is the average sea level. The MSL is constant for any
location over a long period.
Mean low water neaps (MLWN) – The average of the two low tides on the days of
neap tides.
Mean low water springs (MLWS) – The average of the two low tides on the days of
spring tides.
Lowest astronomical tide (LAT) and Chart datum (CD) – The lowest tide which
can be predicted to occur. Some charts use this as the chart datum. Note that under
certain meteorological conditions the water may fall lower than this meaning that there
is less water than shown on charts.
Chart datum – The arbitrary level from which chartered soundings and tidal height
prediction are expressed. This level is chosen so that the sea level will rarely fall below
chart datum.
Height of Tide – Is the vertical distance from the chart sounding datum to the water
surface at any stage of the tide.
High Water or High Tide – is the maximum height reached by tide.
Low Water or Low Tide – the minimum level to which the tide falls. The rate of rise
and fall is not uniform. From low water, the tide begins to rise slowly at first but at an
increasing rate until it is about halfway to High Water. The rate of rise then decreases
until High Water is reached and the rise ceases. The falling tide behaves in a similar
manner.
Spring Tides – Tides with higher high and lower low. They occur at times of new and
full moon when the sun and moon are in conjunction and at opposition with the earth.
Neap Tides – Tides with lower high and higher low. They occur at times of first and
third quarters when the sun and moon are in quadrature with the earth.
Range – Is the difference in height between consecutive high and low waters.
Tide – is the rise and fall of water
Finding the time of a desired height of tide

Part I of the Admiralty Tide Tables Vol 1, gives the predictions of the times and the
heights above chart datum of these high and low waters for a number of selected ports
throughout the coverage area which includes UK, Ireland and European Channel ports.
These ports are called Standard Ports. For each Standard Port there is also a tidal curve
plotting the relative tidal heights between a low water and the next low water, against
the interval of time from the nearest high water. This tidal curve also contains a
graphical means of finding height of tide between the times of high and low waters.
Part II of the tide tables gives tidal predictions for a large number of secondary ports.
The information is such that the tidal predictions can be made for these ports by
application of corrections to a Standard Port which has tides of a similar nature. The
Standard Ports are tabulated in geographical order starting in the UK at Falmouth and
following the coast anticlockwise followed by Irish ports starting at Dublin, and then to
the European channel ports from Hook of Holland to Brest including the Channel
Islands.
To find the times and heights of high and low water at a Standard Port

These may be extracted directly from Part I of the Admiralty Tide Tables Vol I for the
required Standard Port, and for the required date. (see extracts from ATT Vol I). The
times will be in the official standard time kept at the place which for the United
Kingdom is Universal Time (GMT). For ports which do not keep UT the difference
between the zone time and UT is shown at the top of each page of predictions. The
sign attached to this correction is appropriate to correct the tabulated times to (UT).
The user must apply any corrections to obtain any summer time that may be in force.

Example (refer to extracts from ATT Vol i)

Find the time of high and low water at Avonmouth on the morning of 29th January
and the depth of water at these times at a place off Avonmouth where the charted
sounding is 4.2 meters. Find also the predicted range of tide.

From ATT Vol I HW 0723 Height 13.4 meters

LW 0147 Height 1.4 meters

Depth of water = charted depth + height of tide

Depth at high water 13.4 + 4.2 = 17.6 meters

Depth at low water 1.4 + 4.2 = 5. 6 meters
Predicted range 12.0 meters

Finding the predicted time and height of high and low water at a Standard Port
This is done with the aid of the tidal curve given with the Standard Port. There is one
curve for spring tides given in full line, and one for the neap tides given in dotted line
where it diverges from the spring curve. For times between springs and neaps then an
interpolation between the two curves should be made if necessary. To establish which
curve to use the range for the tide in question should be compared to the mean spring
and neap ranges given in a small box above the curves. Thus for the example given above
the predicted range of 12 meters is very close to the mean spring range of 12.2 meters.
The mean neap range is 6.0 meters. This tide on 29th January is therefore slightly below
a mean spring tide, and the spring curve is used.

Procedure
1. Extract from ATT Vol I the times and heights of the high and low waters which
bracket the time for which the prediction is required. This time should be expressed
in the same time zone as the tidal predictions for the port.
2. Subtract the height of low water from the height of high water to give the predicted
range.
3. On the bottom scale to the left of the tidal curve, marked L.W. Hts.m. mark the low
 water obtained for this tide.
4. On the top scale to the left of the curves marked H.W. Hts.m. mark the height of
high water obtained for this tide. Join this point with the low water marked in 3,
with a straight line.
5. Take the difference between the time for which prediction is required and the time
of high water. This is called the interval from high water. Note whether it is negative
(rising tide) or positive (falling tide)
6. Compare the predicted range with the mean spring and neap ranges given above
the tidal curves. This will determine whether the spring curve or the neap curve
should be used and if interpolation is necessary.
7. Enter the tidal curves on the bottom scale directly beneath the curves at the point
of the established interval from high water. Draw a vertical to meet the curve to be
used (springs or neaps) or to a point between the two if interpolation is to be done.
From this point draw a line horizontally to meet the straight line drawn in 4. From
this point go up or down to the top or bottom scales and read off the height. This is
the height of tide above chart datum at the time selected.

Example (refer to the figure)

Find the height of tide at Avonmouth at 1530 GMT on 9th April and hence the depth of
water at a place where the charted sounding is 2.0 meters.

From ATT HW 1730 Ht 11.3 meters

LW 1136 Ht 2.5 meters ……………………………….1
8.8 meters= predicted range……….2

time HW 1730
time required 1530
int from HW -0200 (rising tide)…………………………3

From tidal curve spring range = 12.2

neap range = 6.0
predicted range = 8.8 (assumed half way between
springs and neaps)……………..4

From Figure ht of tide = 9.0 meters

(see constructed lines) charted sounding = 2.0
depth of water = 11.0
How to find the predicted time and height of high and low water at secondary
ports.

Unless indicated otherwise in the tide tables the tidal rise and fall at a secondary port
are similar enough to those at its Standard Port for the Standard Port tidal curves to be
used for the secondary port. After finding the times and heights of the high and low
waters at the secondary port the problem is then identical to that for the Standard Port.
The spring and neap ranges at the secondary port must be found for comparison with
the predicted range to determine which of the two curves to use.

Procedure

1. Extract the times of the high and low waters which bracket the time in question, for
the Standard Port together with the heights.
2. Apply the time differences to obtain the times of high and low water at the secondary
port. Be careful that after application of the time differences the times do not bracket
the time in question. If this happens then new times will have to be taken for the
 Standard Port. Apply the height differences to find the heights at the secondary port.
3. Subtract the height of low water at the secondary port from that of high water
to obtain the predicted range.
4. Take the difference between the time in question and the time of high water to
find the interval from high water.
5. Apply the secondary port spring and neap height differences to the heights of
MHWS, MHWN, MLWS and MLWN for the Standard Port to obtain these values
for the secondary port.
6. Subtract the height of MLWN from the height of MHWN to obtain the neap range
and the height of MLWS from MHWS to obtain the spring range. Compare this with
the predicted range to determine whether to use the spring or the neap curve or if
interpolation is necessary between the two.
7. Enter the tidal curve for the Standard Port with the interval from high water and
extract the height of tide in the same manner as described for the Standard Port
problem.

Example

Find the height of tide at Clevedon (ATT 525) at 1000 UT on 16th March. What will be the
under keel clearance of a vessel of draft 8.1 meters, when passing over a shoal of
charted depth 3.4 meters?

HW Ht LW Ht
Avonmouth 0842 12.6 1533 1.7……………………………..1
Differences -0019 - 0.4 -0024 -0.0………………………………2
Clevedon 0823 12.2 1509 1.7
1.7
10.5 = predicted range ………………………………….3

seasonal correction is zero for both ports

High water Clevedon 0823

Time in question 1000
Interval from HW +0137…………………………………………………………………4

MHWS MHWN MLWN MLWS

Avonmouth 13.2 9.8 3.8 1.0
Differences - 0.4 -0.2 +0.2 0.0
Clevedon 12.8 9.6 4.0 1.0………..5
1.0 4.0
Spring range = 11.8 5.6 = neap range ………………………….6

Predicted range = 10.5 use spring curve

 From spring curve height of tide =
10.0………………………………….7
charted sounding = 3.4
depth of water = 13.4
draft = 8.1
clearance = 5.3 meters

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ci3LSaZLLbk (Watch video about tides)