Approved Celestial Navigation Refresher

Description

Stay compliant and confident at sea with our 1-day Approved Celestial Navigation Refresher Training Course, specifically designed for deck officers, masters, and maritime professionals who need to update or refresh their celestial navigation skills in accordance with STCW and flag state revalidation requirements. This hands-on, classroom-based course offers a practical review of key celestial navigation concepts including the use of a sextant, sight planning, reduction of celestial sights, plotting techniques, and determining position by celestial bodies such as the sun, moon, planets, and stars.

Led by experienced instructors with extensive seafaring backgrounds, the course is structured to build confidence through clear demonstrations, guided practice, and real-world examples. It’s ideal for those who haven’t used celestial navigation recently, are preparing for certificate revalidation, or simply want to sharpen their traditional navigation abilities. With a focus on practical skills and regulatory compliance, the training is fully approved by relevant maritime authorities and meets the latest international standards. Upon successful completion, participants will receive a certificate of attendance, supporting professional development and enhancing onboard readiness.

Certification Details

Approved Refresher Training in Celestial Navigation 

Who is it For?

Any blue water / deep sea personnel, whether leisure yacht crew or merchant deck officers.

Prerequisites

Previous training in celestial navigation.

Delivery

Webinar or classroom.

Content

• Sextant Use and Maintenance

  • Identification of sextant parts

  • Common sextant errors and methods of correction

  • Performing vertical and horizontal sextant observations

• Chronometer and Time Systems

  • Use and maintenance of the chronometer

  • Understanding UTC, GMT, and Chronometer Time

  • Understanding and applying Local Mean Time (LMT), Zone Time (ZT), and Standard Time (ST)

• Compass Error and Deviation

  • Calculation of compass error and deviation using azimuths of celestial bodies and amplitude of the sun

  • Determining compass error using Polaris

  • Evaluating the reliability of compass errors derived from celestial observations, including random and systematic errors

• Celestial Calculations and Position Fixing

  • Using the nautical almanac to determine the time of the sun’s meridian passage

  • Applying True Zenith Distance (TZD) and declination to find latitude

  • Correcting true altitude of Polaris to obtain a position line and latitude

  • Applying the Marc St. Hilaire method (calculation or short method tables) to derive a position line and fix

  • Plotting position lines and fixing the vessel’s position using celestial observations

• Celestial Sphere and Almanac Use

  • Understanding the key components of the celestial sphere

  • Using the nautical almanac to determine Greenwich Hour Angle (GHA), Local Hour Angle (LHA), and declination for the sun, stars, and planets

  • Applying altitude correction tables from the nautical almanac

  • Predicting twilight, meridian passage, sunrise, and sunset times

• Star and Planet Sight Planning

  • Understanding factors influencing the suitability of celestial bodies for observations

  • Using planet and star diagrams from the nautical almanac

  • Pre-computing star altitudes and azimuths using star charts or short method tables for sight planning

  • Use of a star finder and identifier

  • Recognizing major star constellations

• Error Analysis and Fix Accuracy

  • Identifying and managing random and systematic errors in celestial navigation

  • Understanding and resolving the “cocked hat” in position fixing