All of us who have studied the science of navigation hold a special reverence for its fundamental aspects—calculations, plotting courses, and working directly with nautical charts. Paper nautical charts and basic calculation methods are the foundation upon which any electronic navigation system is visualized. A paper chart serves as a record of our navigational computations, a basis for decision-making about current and future courses, and a tool for estimating resources needed for a voyage, alongside weather forecasts. It enables sailors to make both organizational and navigational decisions.
Since the Age of Exploration, paper nautical charts, alongside ship logs, have remained invaluable sources of geographic knowledge and statistical bases for modern navigational calculations.
The maritime industry, while continuously advancing in terms of technical infrastructure, is deeply rooted in tradition, adhering to the principles of “good seamanship.” The maritime and aviation sectors stand at the forefront of developing ever-more accurate and rapid navigation systems. At the same time, the harsh realities of operating in one of nature’s most unforgiving environments compel mariners to steadfastly uphold these traditions.
According to the IMO (International Maritime Organization), good seamanship is defined as “a set of rules and practices established in navigation related to vessel management, which imply specific skills and knowledge… to ensure maritime safety.”
Let us analyse these two facets—progress and tradition—in the context of modern maritime navigation.
Progress in Maritime Navigation
From the perspective of progress, we are light years ahead of navigators from a century ago. Skills like celestial navigation, “rapid” calculations with logarithmic rulers, or working through columns of figures on the navigator’s table have largely faded into history. Today, shipboard electronic navigation systems perform these tasks.
Modern ship navigation relies heavily on GPS positioning, electronic or gyrocompass readings, and a variety of sensors feeding data into a navigation computer with a visual network interface. Automatic route plotting between two points has become routine, and electronic gadgets are trusted implicitly.
The Role of Tradition in Navigation
Despite this technological leap, even the most advanced vessels carry auxiliary “analog” navigation tools, including magnetic compasses, direction finders, and even sextants.
Why does good seamanship mandate maintaining these “ancient” navigation instruments in working order? Why are ship captains legally required to duplicate all electronic routes on paper charts?
Reasons for Potential Electronic Navigation System Failures
- Possible disruptions of global satellite navigation systems due to large-scale conflicts.
- Malfunction of components within the ship’s electronic navigation system.
- Calibration errors in parts of the ship’s navigation system.
- Failure of the ship’s electrical system or parts of it.
Using paper charts as a parallel system, even for periodic recording of electronic navigation data, provides a reliable backup.
In today’s world, navigators have diverse qualifications. Professionals undergo training in accordance with STCW 78/95 (Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping), while recreational yacht skippers follow the standards of the 40th Convention. Consequently, the requirements for professional mariners and amateur skippers differ significantly. For amateurs, there are no fixed rules mandating the use of paper charts or ship logs.
Why Paper Charts Are Essential for Both Amateurs and Professionals
What places amateurs and professionals in the same position regarding the necessity of using paper charts beyond tradition and the logic of electronic system failures?
The COLREGs (International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea).
These regulations emphasize the importance of maintaining situational awareness, decision-making skills, and preparedness—skills that paper charts help reinforce for mariners of all levels.
The rules themselves do not mandate specific requirements for plotting navigation on a chart. However, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea outlines procedures for addressing collisions, determining the degree of culpability of navigators, calculating damages, and more.
Article 98 regulates the captain’s responsibilities:
- Providing assistance to a sinking vessel and its crew.
- Sharing information about their vessel with the other captain.
- Collecting information about the other vessel.
- Determining the location of the collision, circumstances, and extent of the damage.
- Filing a maritime protest.
Failure to comply with these regulations may result in fines or criminal prosecution for the captain.
Now, pay attention!
To submit documents for a maritime protest, the top items required include the working chart and the ship’s logbook!
Of course, in the context of a bareboat charter cruise, the captain is often more focused on the crew’s comfort and safety. Priorities in coastal cruising include short passages and safe docking during bad weather. Typically, the crew is large, but only the skipper is qualified, leaving little time for additional precautions. Moreover, charter companies rarely impose such requirements. However, it’s crucial to remember that, in any situation, your chart can substantiate the validity of your actions before port authorities or an insurance company.
If you are undertaking offshore voyages, the working chart and the ship’s logbook become essential components of watchkeeping duties.
And truthfully, plotting a route on a paper chart in advance forces you to thoroughly examine every inch of the chart and every mile of your path. It enables you to identify potential navigational challenges and hazards.
I wish you fair courses on your charts and chartplotters. May your dream voyages always be safe!
Artem / Chief Sailing Instructor
