Navigation 3
Terrestrial Navigation
Mercator
Intructors:
Sailing
Gregorio S. Ochavillo
Leonil Roderick E. Relon
Topic
Mercator sailing
Meridional parts
Difference of latitude
Difference of longitude
Distance
True course
Objectives
At the of the discussion the students shall be
able to calculate distances and true course by
Mercator sailing.
Mercator Sailing
Formula:
Tan Course = Difference of Longitude / Difference of Meridional Parts
Distance = Difference of Latitude / Cos Course
Solve first the Dlat. and Dlong. Multiply it by 60 minutes to obtain minutes or
nautical miles.
Solve for Meridional parts of each latitude.
Add latitude 1 and latitude 2 if they have the same name, add also the meridional
parts to obtain the difference of meridional parts.
Subtract latitude 1 and latitude 2 if they have different name, subtract also
the meridional parts to obtain the difference of meridional parts.
Calculator function:
Scientific = Lat. / 2 + 45 = Tan log x 7915.7 – Sin Lat. X 23.02 =
S.V. Pam = Lat. / 2 + 45 = Tan = log = x 7915.7 = - Sin Lat. X 23.02 =
Example: 1
Label the Course according to Difference of Latitude and Difference of Longitude.
Dlat. = North
Dlong. = East
Course = 400
Course = N400E
True Course = 0400 T (NE is 1st Quadrant name the T/Co. as is)
Example: 2
The vessel departs from latitude 20025’N, longitude 150015’E to latitude 10037’N,
longitude 170035’W. Find the True Course and Distance?
Given:
Lat.1 = 20025’N Long.1 =150015’E
Lat.2 = 10037’N Long.2 = 170035W
Solution:
Lat.1 = 20025’N MP1 =1243.7 Long.1 = 150015’E
Lat.2 = 10037’N (-) MP2 = 636.4 (-) Long.2 = 170035W
Dlat. = 9048’S DMP = 607.3 Dlong. = 320050’W (If Dlong. is more than
________60’_ x 3600 (-) 1800 Subtract 3600)
Dlat. in’= 588 039 010’ E
____60’ x
Dlong. In’ = 2350 ’
To Determine Course: To Determine Distance:
Tan Co. = Dlong. / DMP Dist = Dlat / Cos Co.
= 2350’ / 607.3 = 588 / Cos 75.5
= 3.8695866 Dist = 2,348 nm
Co. = S 75.5 E (SE is 2nd Quadrant -1800)
1800 -
T/Co. = 104.50 T
To Determine Distance:
Dist. = Dlat. / Cos Co.
=588’ / Cos 75.5
Dist. = 2348.4 nm
Example: 3
At latitude 20025’N, longitude 150015’W a vessel departs going to latitude
10037’S, longitude 100000’E. Find the distance and course of the vessel?
Given: Find:
Latitude1 20025’N Longitude1 150015’W Distance and Course
Latitude2 10037’S Longitude2 100000’E
Solution:
Lat.1= 20025’N MP1 = 1243.7 Long.1= 150015’W
Lat.2= 10037’S (+) MP2 = 636.4 (+) Long.2= 100000’E (+)
Dlat. = 31002’ S DMP = 1880.1 Dlong. = 250015’E
60’ x 3600___ (-)
Dlat. in’= 1862’ = 109045’W
60’_
Dlong. in’ = 6585’
To Determine Course:
Tan Co. = Dlong. / DMP
= 6585’ / 1880.1
Co. = S 740 W (SW is 3rd Quadrant + 1800)
__1800 (+)
T/Co. = 2540 T
To Determine Distance:
Distance = Dlat. / Cos Co.
= 1862 / Cos 740
Distance = 6755.2 nm
Example: 4
You received a distress call from a vessel in position at latitude 30021’N,
longitude 088034’W, and your present position is latitude 24030’N,
longitude 083000’W. Find the true course and distance of the vessel in
distress.
Note: Use own position as latitude 1 and longitude 1.
Given: Find:
Lat.1 = 24030’N Long.1 = 083000’W T/Course and
Distance
Lat.2 = 30021’N Long.2 = 088034’W
Solution:
Lat.1 = 24030’N MP1 = 1507.4 Long.1 = 083000’W
Lat.2 = 30021’N (-) MP2 = 1901.0(-) Long.2 = 088034’W (-)
Dlat. = 5051’N DMP = 393.6 Dlong. =
005034’W
60’ x 60’
x
Dlat. in’= 351’ Dlong. in’= 334’
Tan Co. = Dlong. / DMP
= 334’ / 393.6
Co. = N 40.3 W (NW is 4th Quadrant – 3600)
3600 (-)
T/Course = 319.70 T
Distance = Dlat. / Cos Co.
= 351’ / Cos Co. 40.30
Distance = 460.2 nm
Example: 5
A vessel steam 1,650 nautical miles on course 0770T from latitude 12047’N
and longitude 045010E, what is the latitude and longitude of arrival?
Given:
Steam = 1,650 nm Latitude = 12047’N
T/Course = 0770T Longitude = 045010’E
Solution:
Distance = Dlat. / Cos Co. (Transposed)
Dlat. = Cos Co. x Distance
= 0770 Cos x 1,650 nm
Dlat. in’ = 371.2’
60’ (/) (to convert in Degrees)
Dlat. = 6011.2’N
Lat.1 = 12047’N MP1 = 768.3
Dlat. = 6011.2’N (+) DMP = 383.7
Lat.A = 18058.2’N MP2 = 1152.0
Tan Co. = Dlong. / DMP (Transposed)
Dlong. = DMP x Tan Co.
= 383.7’ x Tan 0770
Dlong. in’ = 1661.9’
60’_ (/)
Dlong. = 027042’E
Long.1 = 045010’E
Dlong. = 027042’E
Long.A = 072052’E
Thank you!
