Celestial Navigation (Operational Level)

  • Length19 Days
  • Pre-requisiteTerrestrial & Coastal Navigation (TCNAV)

Course Description

This course (MITAGS-114) is required by all Able Seamen upgrading to 500/1600/3rd Mate licenses as it satisfies the OICNW training requirements for Celestial Navigation. The course covers the most common forms of position fixing by celestial bodies. Subjects for this course include nautical astronomy, sextant, sight reductions, time of sunset, time of sunrise, and star identification.  *Please note that this course was previously two weeks, but we have expanded to three weeks based on attendee feedback.

  • This course satisfies:
  • Provided that this training was completed within one year of the date of application, the oceans navigation professional examination requirements of:
    • o   Navigation General: Oceans

      o   Navigation Problems: Oceans

      For increasing the scope of an endorsement from near coastal to oceans for the following National Deck Officer Endorsements:

      o   Second or Third Mate of self-propelled vessels of unlimited tonnage

      o   Master or Mate of self-propelled vessels of less than 1600 GRT

      o   Master or Mate of self-propelled vessels ofless than 500 GRT

      o   Master or Mate of self-propelled vessels of less than 200 GRT

      o   Master or Mate of Uninspected Fishing Industry Vessels; AND

      ·       The Celestial Navigation training requirements of 46 CFR l l .309(a)(4)(viii) for an STCW endorsement as Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch on vessels of 500 or more gross tonnage (ITC); AND

      ·       The Celestial Navigation standards of competence required by STCW Code Section A­ II/2 and Table A-II/2, as amended 2010, meeting the National Assessment Guidelines from NVICs  1O-l4(Ch-3),  11-l 4(Ch-3), and 03-18 Tasks 1.2.A, 1.2.B, 1.2.C, 2.1.A, 2.1.B, and 2.1.C; AND

    • The Celestial Navigation standards of competence required by STCW Code Section A­ IVI and Table A-WI , as amended 2010, meeting the National Assessment Guidelines from NVICs 12-14(Ch-4) and 02-18 Tasks I.I.A, 1.1.B, 1.1.C, 1.1.D, 1.1.E, and  1.1.F.

    • Applicants who have successfully completed your course need not present completed "Task Control Sheets" for these assessments in application for STCW certification.

Prerequisites- Terrestrial & Coastal Navigation (TCNAV).

Suggested Courses/Skills- See NVIC 12-14 & 13-14.

What You Will Learn

  • Use celestial bodies to determine the ship’s position
  • Identify and select stars
  • Determine estimated time of arrival
  • Adjust the sextant
  • Find latitude by Polaris
  • Determine the zone time of sunrise/sunset
  • Solve Parallel and Mercator sailing problems
  • Solve Great Circle and Composite Sailing problems
  • Use gnonomic charts for planning voyages
  • Nautical Astronomy
  • Sextant and Altitude Correction
  • Sight Reduction and Lines of Position (all
    bodies)
  • Meridian Transit (all bodies)
  • Time of Sunrise/Sunset
  • Star Identification and Selection

What You Should Bring

  • Dividers
  • Triangles
  • All practical Navigation Equipment
  • Calculator

Why You Need Celestial Navigation Training

While coastal navigation training is a critical part of any Officer In Charge of a Navigation Watch education and the upgrade process from being an Able Seaman, it's not sufficient. Even with previous navigation experience, celestial navigation skills are vital. If you have not yet taken a celestial navigation course, it's important that you take one as soon as possible to help complete your skill set.

With celestial navigation skills, you will not be solely dependent on the need of GPS technology, and you should also never be “lost at sea.” Once you've completed our course, you'll have a clear understanding of how to find your position anywhere at sea with just your sextant and a clear view of the moon, stars, sun or planets. This course satisfies many important training requirements and will be necessary to upgrade your Mate license.

With this course, you'll have the opportunity to gain complete proficiency in celestial navigation techniques, including dead reckoning, star identification and selection, logbook procedures, route planning, error analysis and more. You'll have all the tools you need for oceanic navigation once you combine your previous navigation experience with the skills you learn in our celestial navigation course.

In addition to receiving the necessary credentials, you can expect to grasp this material to a much greater extent than if you try learning celestial navigation on your own. At MITAGS-PMI you'll have the benefit of top-notch training from highly skilled maritime professionals using thoroughly tested and approved training techniques. When the course is complete, you can expect to have full confidence in your ability to accurately cross oceans all over the world.

This training program is a comprehensive one, with real-world application delivered by established leaders in maritime professional instruction. In addition, our relationships with maritime employers all over the country will give you access to assistance when applying for seafaring positions with your new credential.

What You Need to Register

To register for your course, you'll need to create an account with MITAGS-PMI. Once you've created your account and provided all the necessary information, you can select the course that fits your scheduling needs below. After you have registered, be sure you arrive at the appropriate location with all the materials required to successfully complete the work needed for this course. Those materials include the following.

How Can I Find a Celestial Navigation Course Near Me?

PMI is located at 1729 Alaskan Way South, Seattle, WA, 98134. If you have any questions, just call us at 888-893-7829. Our MITAGS campus is located at 692 Maritime Boulevard, Linthicum Heights, MD, 21090, 866-656-5568. We offer not only celestial navigation courses but also a wide range of maritime courses to help you expand your knowledge base and qualify you for more jobs in the maritime industry. Discounts are available at our on-campus hotel for those taking courses with us. Register for your course now!

Calendar

Related Courses

No related courses found

Available Dates - BALTIMORE

  • CourseCelestial Navigation (Operational Level)
  • DateMay 05 2025 to May 23 2025
  • Price$2,725
  • Add to cart
  • CourseCelestial Navigation (Operational Level)
  • DateDec 01 2025 to Dec 19 2025
  • Price$2,725
  • Add to cart

Available Dates - SEATTLE

  • CourseCelestial Navigation (Operational Level)
  • DateFeb 02 2026 to Feb 20 2026
  • Price$2,725
  • Add to cart

Questions? Contact a School Advisor.