In this chapter you will learn how to
use the activist in practice as an agent
navigation and how to use the functions
and features in a safe and efficient way
during a voyage the active system is
only one of many complicated modern
electronic navigation aids found on
today's modern ship bridge which a
navigator is expected to handle in an
efficient safe and professional way in
order to do so the navigator must have a
good theoretical navigational background
sufficient navigational practice
theoretical knowledge about the active
system architecture functions and
features practical experience in the use
of active systems connected system is a
very impressive system even when seen
through the eyes of a professional
navigator but no navigator should ever
forget that all systems do have
limitations and the fact that these
limitations are very often well hidden
and or not mentioned in the system
manuals the most important thing to know
about modern computerized systems is
their limitations knowledge concerning
their functions and features is quickly
accessible with a little interest in
practice the only way to get to know the
limitations of a system is to study
available material about the subject
system manuals and by practical use
under safe conditions the seafarers
training certification and watchkeeping
code does not specify any special
training in the use of activist st CW
table a2 one considers the act is
training to be a part of the training in
understanding a chart as a modern active
system is just as complicated as an r /
and this lack of detailed training
requirements may pose a hazard to ships
sailing with activist operated by
untrained navigators
the reduction of presented information
or proper selection of only relevant
information is often an important task
when setting up an active system
connected system which simultaneously
present all available information tends
to be overloaded and therefore important
information may be cluttered and less
visible a basic and very important thing
to understand and take into account at
all times when using a cactus is the
fact that no system is better than the
weakest chain that is rubbish in rubbish
out vital information for any active
system is own ships position
whenever own ship position is wrong
actis chart information is wrong
simple as that active systems except
position input from a number of
positioning devices as well as dead
reckoning most active systems today are
connected to a GPS and/or dgps this
means that stable and good positioning
can be expected
most of the time however the navigator
should never forget to check his
position as often as practicable by all
available means in order to detect any
malfunction or inaccuracies in the
navigation system used as input to the
actus positions are always referenced to
something this something is referred to
as the charts datum and there are
hundreds of different charged atoms
around this means that the navigator at
all times must know what chart data does
the ship's positioning system connected
to the actus use what chart datum is the
actual electus chart to use whenever the
date amused by the positioning system
and the chart are different known
corrections must be taken into account
today the active system is often
connected to an integrated bridge system
or forms a part of an integrated bridge
system
I a system where the radar upper or tow
pilot positioning routing log gyro x6
cetera are connected and work as one
system several options for automatic
sailing become available to the
navigator depending on the ship position
that is open sea coastal or restricted
waters the navigator may select between
several sailing options here are some
examples of possible sailing options
found on an integrated ship bridge
system course mode great circle or rum
line sailing corrected course mode track
mode cause mode is a sailing mode
normally used in open waters and for
long-distance sailing as this mode will
give the shortest distance between two
points
no correction for offset is made but the
ship will home to the destination
corrective course mode is used in waters
where it is necessary to correct for
wind and correct
correction for offset is made but no
attempt to follow the original plan
track is made
in track mode the system will calculate
the optimal path back to the original
plan track track mode is used in
restricted waters whenever it is
important to stay exactly on the plant
track for a professional navigator it's
a matter of course that the roots
selected for actual sailing is properly
checked before is activated and used for
actual sailing parameters used when
planning the root must still be valid in
order to maintain required safety
margins if not the route may have to be
changed before it can be used safely
examples of parameters which may have
changed after the selected route was
programmed our ship draft available
position accuracy engine reliability
steering gear reliability etc navigation
with an active system especially when
the actus is connected to an integrated
bridge system changes the work situation
for the navigator a lot conventional
navigation with manual plotting of shift
position in the chart heavy traffic
manual course change in restricted
waters is a task that puts a heavy
workload on the navigator a good working
actress reduces the navigators workload
a lot especially when connected to a
properly working integrated system then
the navigators role is more or less
changed from actually doing the various
tasks to monitoring these tasks seen
from a safety point of view this should
be very good since it gives the
navigator more time to check important
parameters and monitor the traffic more
closely sailing with a cactus requires a
highly-qualified navigator with a sound
and positive skepticism towards
computerized systems active systems used
by unqualified and Oren trained
navigators who believe everything
presented by the actus will surely
caused a number of groundings in the
future take the necessary time and
effort
to really get to know your actus this
will definitely save you a lot of work
and trouble in the future it may someday
save your career or even your life ball
wash