The Basic Navigation Course is a two day shorebased course designed to give students the fundamentals of navigating a vessel with both conventional charts and electronic systems.

It can be conducted over two consecutive or separate days.

The course syllabus is as follows:

• Chartwork and navigational duties including:
  Taking and plotting visual fixes, using electronic navigational equipment for position fixing.
  Use of waypoints.
  Working up dead reckoning and estimated position
  Tidal calculations including heights, streams, secondary ports and tidal vectors.
  Working a course to steer to allow for tidal stream, leeway and drift.
  Knowledge of IALA buoyage.
  Maintenance of navigational records.
  Use of echo sounder and lead line.

•  Pilotage including
  Preparation and execution of a pilotage plan for entry or departure from a harbour.
  Use of leading and clearing lines.
  Use of transits and soundings as pilotage aids.

•  Passage Planning including
  Planning a coastal passage.
  Recognition of navigational hazards.
  Understanding limitations of boat and crew strengths.

•  Rules of the Road including
  Working knowledge of IRPCS.