Short course300 h · Online · 5 modules

Introduction to Coastal Navigation Course

This course gives you the essential tools to explore the coast safely and confidently under sail or power. You will learn coordinates, courses, distances, nautical units and publications, how to use the chart, correct the compass for variation and deviation and fix your position with bearings and transits, how to work out tides and allow for current and leeway, and how to recognize IALA buoyage, lights and harbor entrances, finishing with a fully planned coastal passage.

Duration300 h
ModeOnline
Start1 December
Modules5
Program diagnosis

Prior knowledge check

These are the skills this program gives you. Tick the ones you already master and we will tell you which part of the syllabus is for you.

Your diagnosis
6of 6 to cover

You are starting from scratch in this subject. The program is designed precisely for that.

About the program

What is the Introduction to Coastal Navigation Course?

This short course is designed for recreational sailors who want to plan and carry out safe coastal passages, beginners looking for a complete introduction to charts, instruments and the rules of navigation, crew members who want to play an active part in navigation, sea lovers preparing for basic boating qualifications, and nature lovers who want to explore the coastline independently and responsibly. You will study the foundations of coastal navigation and nautical publications, chartwork, the compass and courses, tides, currents and buoyage, and how to plan a coastal passage from departure to arrival.

What sets this course apart: it covers the whole of coastal pilotage as a single skill set, from compass corrections and position fixing to tidal calculations, buoyage and harbor approaches, rather than focusing on a single tool; it is built around the real sequence of a passage, with a navigation plan, ports of refuge and the logbook; and it ends with a final project in which you plan a complete coastal passage, combining chart and GPS.

Program typeShort course
ModeOnline
Duration300 hours
Modules5
Start1 December

Program highlights

  • Foundations: coordinates, courses and distances, nautical units, basic instruments, publications and boating qualifications.
  • Chartwork: symbols and scales, plotting courses, measuring distances, fixing position and correcting charts.
  • The compass: variation and deviation, total correction, bearings and relative bearings, and transits.
  • Tides and currents: tidal calculations, current and leeway and how they affect your course.
  • Buoyage and lights: the IALA system, lighthouses and light characteristics and entering harbor safely.
  • Passage planning: the navigation plan, chart and GPS together, ports of refuge and keeping the logbook.
Syllabus

Syllabus of the Introduction to Coastal Navigation Course

5 modules. Select a module to see its content.

Module 1

Foundations of coastal navigation

  • 1.1. Coordinates, courses and distances
  • 1.2. Nautical units
  • 1.3. Basic instruments
  • 1.4. Nautical publications
  • 1.5. Regulations on boating qualifications
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 2

Nautical charts and how to use them

  • 2.1. Symbols and scales
  • 2.2. Plotting courses
  • 2.3. Measuring distances
  • 2.4. Fixing position on the chart
  • 2.5. Chart corrections
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 3

The compass and courses

  • 3.1. Variation and deviation
  • 3.2. Total correction
  • 3.3. Bearings and relative bearings
  • 3.4. Transits
  • 3.5. Practical exercises
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 4

Tides, currents and buoyage

  • 4.1. Tidal calculations
  • 4.2. Currents and leeway
  • 4.3. The IALA buoyage system
  • 4.4. Lights and lighthouses
  • 4.5. Harbor entrances
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 5

Planning a coastal passage

  • 5.1. Preparing the navigation plan
  • 5.2. Using GPS and the chart together
  • 5.3. Ports of refuge
  • 5.4. Keeping the logbook
  • 5.5. Final project: a planned coastal passage
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Plan your pace

Duration and format of the Introduction to Coastal Navigation Course

It is 300 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.

4 h30 h
With 12 h per week
6
months to finish
25 weeks
weeks in total

This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the installment plan.

Faculty

Academic leadership and faculty

The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programs.

Dra. Marina AlcoverDr. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Ing. Diego CifuentesEng. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Cap. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Capt. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Senior Lecturer in Ship Handling, Electronic Navigation (ECDIS/Radar/ARPA) and GMDSS; STCW Compliance and Bridge Resource Management Coordinator
Dr. Pau FerrerDr. Pau FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory
Dra. Nuria LlobregatDr. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Ing. Javier BañulsEng. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Ing. Sofía MarquinaEng. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Ing. Tomás RieraEng. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration Coordinator
Objectives

Objectives of the Introduction to Coastal Navigation Course

01Interpret nautical charts and associated publications, identifying symbols, depths, hazards, aids to navigation and restrictions using up-to-date, corrected information.
02Use coastal navigation instruments accurately, applying chart, tide and publication data to plan and carry out coastal passages safely.
03Apply the rules of the road and avoid collisions near the coast, keeping a VHF listening watch, using visual and electronic aids and anticipating the effects of tides and currents.
04Manage safety and respond to emergencies in coastal navigation, using communication equipment correctly and following established emergency protocols calmly.
05Understand how tides, currents and weather affect coastal navigation and use them to optimize the planning and execution of a passage.
06Fix the vessel's position using coastal navigation techniques, with the chart, compass, log and other instruments, allowing for leeway and current and applying the necessary corrections.
Careers

Career opportunities after the Introduction to Coastal Navigation Course

01Skipper of recreational boats on coastal passages, together with the boating qualification required by the competent authority
02Recreational crew member assisting with navigation and the upkeep of the boat
03Nautical activities leader for dinghy sailing, kayaking or paddleboarding in coastal areas, together with the instructor qualification required locally
04Marina staff handling mooring, assistance to boats and basic maintenance
05Staff at boat rental and nautical tourism companies running coastal excursions
06Volunteer or assistant in coastal research and wildlife observation projects that operate from small boats
Frequently asked questions

Questions about the Introduction to Coastal Navigation Course

Port is the left-hand side of the boat when facing forward towards the bow, and starboard is the right-hand side. The terms avoid confusion because they do not change with the direction a person is facing.

Coastal navigation takes place close enough to land to use visual references such as landmarks, lights and buoys and to reach a port of refuge if needed. Offshore navigation is carried out far from the coast, without those references and with fewer options for shelter.

No. Navalis teaches the subject; boating licenses and qualifications are issued by the competent authority in each country after its own exams and requirements are met. The course covers the navigation knowledge those qualifications usually require.

A magnetic compass is affected by variation, the difference between magnetic and true north, and by deviation caused by the boat's own magnetic fields. Applying both gives the true course you plot on the chart.

No. The course starts with coordinates, units and the chart and builds up step by step to compass corrections, tides and a complete passage plan.

Fully online, through a virtual campus available 24/7, with concise video lessons, chartwork exercises, complementary materials and tutorials with the teaching staff.

The course comprises 300 hours of study across 5 modules of 60 hours each. You can progress at your own pace within the schedule set when you enroll.

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Online admission

Admission process

No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enroll in the same session.

Entry requirements
  • Profile: aimed at recreational sailors, beginners, crew members, sea lovers and nature enthusiasts; no specific qualification is required, although basic experience of boating or water activities and familiarity with nautical terms and charts help.
  • Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
  • Technical resources: a computer, tablet or smartphone with a stable internet connection and an up-to-date browser; dividers, a protractor or plotter and a parallel rule are recommended for the chartwork, but not compulsory.
  • Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
  1. 01
    Application
    Your details, background and documents.
  2. 02
    Instant review
    We check that everything is complete and in order.
  3. 03
    Enrollment
    Choose full payment or instalments and reserve your place.
Start my applicationFrom $168 deposit

Admission is provisional until the committee validates the documents provided. If you do not meet the requirements, the full amount is refunded.

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