BLIND PILOTAGE

A Brief By Lance Grindley

Grunt Productions 2007

 Definition:
The navigation of the ship through
restricted waters in low visibility
with little or no recourse to the
visual observation of objects outside
the ship.
 BLIND PILOTAGE
1. Navigation and Pilotage
a) Primary method: Visual
b) Secondary method: Radar
c) Other methods: NAVAIDS

2. Fundamental Navigational Radar

a) Stabilised in azimuth
b) Bearing accuracy 1
c) Range accuracy better than 20 yds (depending on pulse
length)
d) Anti-clutter controls
e) Range scales (1007)
0.5, 0.75, 1.5, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48 miles
f) Fitted with: Electronic Blind Pilotage System
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 PLANNING
TRACK - Chosen by Master, based on
visual plan.
SAFE WATER - Delimited by Limiting
Danger Line (LDL):
Draught+2m-Height of Tide.

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 BLIND PILOTAGE
Where are we in relation to planned
track ?

How much safe water remains ?

How far to run to the next course

alteration ?

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 Parallel Indices

2m

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 5.2c
7.6c

WO

4.0c

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 NMT 13c

NLT 1c

NLT 2c

5.2c
7.6c

WO

4.0c
NMT 11c

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Grunt Productions 2007
 NMT 13c

NLT 1c

NLT 2c

5.2c
7.6c

6.2c

WO

4.0c
NMT 11c

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 NLT 5c

1.3m
NLT 4c 270 (270)
1m

1.4m
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 IN POSITION

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 Radar Errors

Index Errors

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 Ie +/- 50 yds

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 FINDING THE INDEX ERROR
TWO MARK METHOD
Index error

A B

A = True range IE Index error = C (A + B)

B = True range IE 2
C = Charted distance
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 Three Mark Method

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 False Echo

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 Two Ship Method
C (IE)

A(IE) B(No IE)

Range (A) between own ship and other incorporates Index Error.
Range (C) between own ship and false echo also incorporates Index Error.
True Range is therefore C-A which equals B.
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Compare B to A to find Index Error. IE = B - A = C - 2A

 Radar Errors

Index Errors
Strobe Accuracy

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Distortion caused by beam width
D

Coastline

E
C

A1

A2

Direction of
Aerial Rotation

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 Radar Errors

Index Errors
Strobe Accuracy
Error introduced by controls

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Grunt Productions 2007
 Radar Errors

Index Errors
Strobe Accuracy
Error introduced by controls
Inaccuracies by not using shortest
range scale

Grunt Productions 2007

 Radar Errors

Index Errors
Strobe Accuracy
Error introduced by controls
Inaccuracies by not using shortest
range scale
Sloping beach/HOT

Grunt Productions 2007

Grunt Productions 2007
Grunt Productions 2007
 Radar Errors

Index Errors
Strobe Accuracy
Error introduced by controls
Inaccuracies by not using shortest
range scale
Sloping beach/HOT

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 EXECUTION
Ensure chart and PIs are accurate.
Conduct time check.
Maintain constant commentary -
30 yds port of track with a
further 150 yds of safe water to port.
3 cables to run to the wheel over.
Recommend come right to new
course 095 to regain
Grunt Productions 2007