Interesting Navigation Instruments

By Carey Bourdier


Many types of navigational instruments are used on ships, whether they are large commercial vessels concerned with transportation or fishing or perhaps ships that are run by the Coast Guard or our Navy. Each instrument has a specific use, and some are used to measure speed, some locate objects in the distance, some help determine a ship's precise location. Some of these navigational aids have been around for hundreds of years, while others are newer and while highly accurate, rely on electricity in order to operate. Here are just a few examples of what you might find on board a ship.

Telescopic marine alidades are one type of navigational equipment. Telescopic marine alidades are instruments that are used to determine the terrestrial bearing of an object in relation to your ship. It is usually mounted on a bearing compass repeater or bearing compass when used. Obviously, knowing where another object is located can be very important when navigating a large ship.

Another piece of equipment that needs no electricity but still is very helpful is the three-arm protractor. In these modern days, a GPS system is often used, but the three-arm protractor still can be used to quickly determine a ship's location, which certainly can be important if electrical systems fail. Calculations can be made with data measured from this instrument, and the latitude and longitude can be determined. Jointly used with this navigational instrument are navigational charts.

Binoculars and telescopes are interesting optical instruments also used in navigation. These are instruments used to make things look bigger when you look through these instruments. Binoculars are two telescopes that are the same and connected together and used with the person looking with both eyes. A telescope is only one scope and only one eye is used. With binoculars, a three dimensional image is seen because both eyes are used. Using a binocular can produce an image that is more natural for the person looking at an object. Even with objects that are far, the image seen will still be clearer and look bigger.

In general navigation, navigational sextants are instruments used with great importance. Measuring angles between two objects can be made, and this is where sextants are used. This is a navigational instrument with two mirrors used and the first is used to view the horizon. Light from the sun and its reflection is used, and this is the function of the second mirror because it is movable. The instrument's scale will then be used when reading the angle between the two.

Sonar and radar are also navigational equipment that is very important in navigation and these high-tech devices are very accurate. These tools bounce waves off of objects in order to determine the distance of the objects in relation to your vessel. As the names suggest, radio waves are used in radar and in sonar, sound waves are used. On the ground and in the air, radio waves are used, and under the surface of the water, sound waves are used as medium.




About the Author:



0 comments:

Post a Comment