Short course300 h · Online · 5 modules

Evolution of Navigation Techniques Course

This course takes you through the history and present of navigation, from ancestral methods based on observing the stars to the precision of satellite positioning. You will learn about the instruments that marked milestones, the influence of science and technology and how traditional techniques fit alongside modern navigation, so you understand the past, present and future of the craft and its impact on the safety and efficiency of navigation.

Duration300 h
ModeOnline
Start1 December
Modules5
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About the program

What is the Evolution of Navigation Techniques Course?

This short course follows navigation from the first coastal voyages to the digital bridge. You will study navigation as orientation, movement and control of maritime space; empirical techniques based on coastal landmarks, currents and experience; early astronomical navigation by the Sun, Moon and stars; the nautical traditions of the Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Chinese and the peoples of the North Atlantic; the compass, astrolabe, quadrant, cross-staff and sextant; dead reckoning; charts, portolans and sailing directions; the chronometer and the longitude problem; nautical almanacs, hydrography and scientific charting; and radio navigation, radar, GPS and GNSS, ECDIS and AIS.

What sets this course apart: a comparative analysis of traditional, instrumental, electronic and digital navigation, with their continuities and breaks; a constant link between technical innovation and the changing skills, responsibilities and professional culture of the navigator; practical examples of how older techniques still support safe navigation today; and a final project in which you study a navigation technique, instrument or system of historical importance and assess it from a historical, technical and operational point of view.

Program typeShort course
ModeOnline
Duration300 hours
Modules5
Start1 December

Program highlights

  • Historical foundations: empirical and early astronomical navigation in ancient and medieval cultures.
  • Traditional instruments: compass, astrolabe, quadrant, cross-staff and sextant.
  • Classic methods: dead reckoning, portolans, sailing directions and the longitude problem.
  • Scientific navigation: nautical almanacs, modern hydrography, geodetic charts and gyrocompasses.
  • Electronic and digital navigation: LORAN, Decca, radar, GPS and GNSS, ECDIS and AIS.
  • Final project: historical, technical and operational analysis of a navigation technique.
Syllabus

Syllabus of the Evolution of Navigation Techniques Course

5 modules. Select a module to see its content.

Module 1

Historical foundations of navigation and the building of maritime knowledge from antiquity to the early modern age

  • 1.1. The concept of navigation in historical perspective: orientation, movement, exploration and control of maritime space
  • 1.2. Early empirical navigation techniques: coastal observation, landmarks, currents and the accumulated experience of navigators
  • 1.3. Early astronomical navigation: the Sun, the Moon, the stars and constellations as a system of orientation on the open sea
  • 1.4. Nautical traditions of ancient and medieval civilisations: Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Chinese and the peoples of the North Atlantic
  • 1.5. The formation of nautical knowledge: oral transmission, sailing directions, seafaring routines and consolidation of operational practice
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 2

Traditional navigation instruments and the development of classic methods of position, course and dead reckoning

  • 2.1. The compass and its revolution in maritime orientation: principles, historical adoption and transformation of ocean navigation
  • 2.2. Instruments for astronomical observation: astrolabe, quadrant, cross-staff and sextant and their role in fixing position
  • 2.3. Dead reckoning and course calculation: speed, time, track, correction of errors and construction of the planned track
  • 2.4. Nautical charts, portolans and sailing directions: the documentary evolution of maritime knowledge and support for passage planning
  • 2.5. Chronometry and the determination of longitude: from the historical problem of the meridian to precision in ocean navigation
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 3

The transition to scientific, hydrographic and instrumental navigation in the modern era

  • 3.1. Consolidation of advanced astronomical navigation: ephemerides, nautical almanacs and methods of sight reduction
  • 3.2. Development of modern hydrography: surveys, soundings, representation of the seabed and safety of navigation
  • 3.3. Evolution of scientific nautical charting: geodetic accuracy, scales, symbology and international standardization
  • 3.4. Introduction of mechanical and electromechanical instruments: logs, gyrocompasses, repeaters and precision aids on board
  • 3.5. Navigation in reduced visibility and on the open sea: procedures, operational discipline and progressive improvement of track control
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 4

Electronic and digital navigation: radar, radio aids, satellite positioning and bridge automation

  • 4.1. The emergence of radio navigation: radio direction finders, LORAN, Decca and the first electronic positioning solutions
  • 4.2. Marine radar and the transformation of track monitoring: detection, identification of echoes and prevention of collision risk
  • 4.3. Satellite navigation systems: GPS, GNSS and the evolution of real-time position fixing
  • 4.4. Electronic charts and ECDIS: data integration, digital passage planning and decision support
  • 4.5. AIS, maritime traffic ecosystems and situational awareness: information exchange and navigation in congested waters
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Module 5

Evolutionary analysis of navigation techniques and final project in historical, technical and operational interpretation

  • 5.1. Comparison of traditional, instrumental, electronic and digital navigation: continuities, breaks and effects on maritime safety
  • 5.2. The relationship between technical innovation and the changing craft of the navigator: competences, responsibilities and professional culture
  • 5.3. Methodologies for analyzing navigation techniques in historical and operational perspective: sources, cases and comparative criteria
  • 5.4. Development of an applied case on a navigation technique, instrument or system of importance in maritime history
  • 5.5. Preparation of the final report: analytical structure, historical context, technical assessment and operational conclusions
At this stage
60 hestimated workload
5 wkweeks at your pace
Plan your pace

Duration and format of the Evolution of Navigation Techniques 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 Evolution of Navigation Techniques Course

01Interpret and apply up-to-date nautical information, using electronic charts and nautical publications and reading their symbology, depths and hazards to navigation correctly.
02Use satellite positioning and electronic charts, integrating GPS and ECDIS data for safe navigation and reacting promptly to deviations or unexpected hazards.
03Handle traditional and modern navigation instruments, interpreting their data and adjusting the navigation efficiently to reduce risk and keep to the best route.
04Adapt navigation strategies to different weather and sea conditions, interpreting forecasts, assessing wind, waves and currents and adjusting route and speed accordingly.
05Apply current maritime rules, interpreting SOLAS, MARPOL and other international conventions and relating them to specific operational situations.
06Optimize navigational efficiency and fuel consumption through trim and ship handling techniques that reduce resistance, taking weather and sea state into account.
Careers

Career opportunities after the Evolution of Navigation Techniques Course

01Navigation trainerteaching the principles and history of navigation, from celestial methods to ECDIS, GPS and radar.
02Digital charting specialistproduction and updating of electronic nautical charts and geospatial databases.
03Navigation technology consultantadvising organizations on the adoption of advanced navigation systems.
04Navigation equipment technicianinstallation, repair and maintenance of electronic navigation equipment.
05Navigation data analystinterpreting navigation data to optimize routes and improve maritime safety.
06Maritime heritage communicatorexplaining historic instruments and techniques in museums, exhibitions and outreach.
Frequently asked questions

Questions about the Evolution of Navigation Techniques Course

The magnetic compass, which made it possible to hold a course out of sight of land; later the marine chronometer solved the problem of longitude at sea.

Its dependence on clear skies: without a visible Sun or stars, navigators had to rely on dead reckoning and experience until conditions improved.

Both. It follows the historical evolution of navigation but always connects each technique to its operational use and to how traditional methods still support modern navigation.

Yes. One module covers radio navigation, radar, GPS and GNSS, ECDIS and AIS and how they transformed situational awareness on the bridge.

No. An interest in the history of navigation is enough; basic knowledge of geography and charts helps you get more out of it.

No. Navalis teaches the subject matter; licenses and certificates of competency to navigate are issued by the competent maritime authority. The course is a solid complement to the certificates you already hold.

Through activities in each module and a final project in which you analyze a navigation technique, instrument or system in its historical context and assess it technically and operationally.

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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 bridge officers and experienced navigators who want to update their knowledge, nautical and maritime transport students, staff of shipping companies and maritime consultancies, maritime instructors and trainers, and navigation and maritime history enthusiasts; an interest in the history of navigation or experience of maritime, air or land navigation is enough, and basic knowledge of geography, charts and positioning systems is helpful.
  • Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
  • Technical resources: a computer with a stable internet connection, an up-to-date browser and software to view PDF documents and multimedia content.
  • 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 $200 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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