CHARTWORK CONCEPTS

Chartwork numericals are a combination of one or more concepts. So it is necessary to understand these
concepts.
A Position Line (PL) means ship is anywhere on this line.
A Position circle (PC) means ship is anywhere on this circle.
A Position fix can be obtained by
- Intersection of 2 or more such PL or PC at the same time.
- Lat/long
- Position can be given by chart datum depth on chart, e.g. 9m.

I) Position Lines(PLs) or Position circles (PCs) can be found by one of the below concepts.

The following concepts give a PC

1. HSA(Ѳ)= 90º or HSA(Ѳ)= <90º or HSA(Ѳ)= >90º
2. VSA
3. Radar distance (Distance off)
4. Doubling the angle on the bow –
i) PC at time of 1st angle ii) PC at time of double the angle iii) PC when Light is abeam
5. Special angles
i) PC at time of 1st angle ii) PC at time of 2nd angle iii) PC when Light is abeam
6. Raising or Dipping
7. First sighted or Last sighted

The following concepts give a PL

1. Bearing of a Light House or Object.
2. PL of a celestial body (Latitude by meridian altitude, Longitude by chronometer, Intercept, Ex-meridian,
Polaris).
3. Transit bearing of Lights.
4. HSA = 0° (Same as transit bearing).
5. HSA = 180° (PL is in between both the Light houses or Objects).
6. When a light has different sectors of lights e.g. WRG
7. When a light has an obscured sector.
8. When 2 lights are equidistant.
9. Depth contour on chart

a) When a light has different sectors of lights e.g. WRG

i) PL is when Light changes from W to R or R to W or W to G or G to W,
ii) PL is when R Light becomes visible or when G Light becomes visible.
b) When Light has an obscured sector.
i) PL is when light was obscured & now becomes visible.
ii) PL is when light was first visible & now becomes obscured

c) When 2 lights are equidistant.

- The perpendicular bisector is the PL.
(Take a distance of more than ½ between the 2 lights & cut on each side. The line joining the 2
intersections is the perpendicular bisector i.e. the PL)
d) Horizontal Sextant Angle (HSA) between 2 Light House or objects gives us a PC or PL
1. When Compass bearings of Light Houses are given
a) If the Ship’s Compass Heading/course is NOT given and the Compass bearings of Light. House
is given, it is a HSA method.
- The side of the Ship’s position can be found by roughly plotting the compass bearings or is opposite
to land.
- When 3 compass brgs are given. First arrange the Light Houses. compass bearings from port to Stbd
(clockwise) with respect to position.
- Then find the difference (i.e. HSA) between the 1st & 2ndCompass bearings.
- Join the 2 lights.
- Do the same for the 2nd & 3rdCompass bearings

i) If HSA (Ѳ) < 90°,

Draw Angle = (90° – Ѳ) towards side of ship’s position or opposite to land and centre of PC will be the
intersection of the 2 angle lines at C,

If HSA(Ѳ) > 90°,

Draw Angle = (Ѳ - 90°)on the opposite side to ship’s position or on the same side as land & centre of PC
will be the intersection of the 2 angle lines at C.
iii) If HSA(Ѳ) = 90°,
centre of the PC is the mid-point(C) between the 2 lights found by using perpendicular bisector
method. - Take a distance of more than ½ between the 2 lights & cut on each side. Joining the 2
intersections will give us the mid-point(C).

iv) If HSA(Ѳ) = 0°, We get a PL.

e.g. brg of A is 300º(C) & of B is also 300º(C) The compass error can be obtained by comparing the True
brg from the chart and compass brg.

v) If HSA(Ѳ) = 180°, We get a PL

e.g. brg of A is 270º(C) & of B is also 090º(C)

b) If the Ship’s compass heading is given, and the compass bearings of the 2 Light.House.is given, then
it is NOT HSA method.
- First find the compass Error using the ship’s Compass heading, then convert compass brgs to true brgs
and plot directly on the chart. The intersection of the PLs will give the ship’s position.
2. When Gyro bearings of Light. House. are given
If the Gyro brgs of 2 Light Houses. are given and Gyro error is NOT given, then we have to use the
above HSA concept. e.g. Gyro brg of A is 160º(G) &of B is 230º(G), so HSA(Ѳ) = 70º

3. When Horizontal Sextant Angle (HSA) between Light. House. are directly given
e.g. HSA between Light A & Light B is 60º, so HSA(Ѳ)=60º

e.g. Vessel at anchor and 3 Compass brgs of Light Houses. are given: P – 280º(C), Q - 355º(C), R -
095º(C). Find Compass Error. Solution: P – 280º(C) Q - 355º(C), R - 095º(C). P – 280º(C) Q - 355º(C),
HSA(Ѳ) = 75º As HSA(Ѳ) < 90º, Angle = 90º- Ѳ = 90º-75º = 15º Q - 355º(C), R - 095º(C). HSA(Ѳ) = 100º
As HSA(Ѳ) > 90º, Angle = Ѳ - 90º = 100º - 90º = 10º

Compass brgs P = 280º(C), Q = 355º(C), R = 095º(C). If from plot T. brgs of P = 282º(T), Q = 358º(T) R =
096º(T) Compass Error of P = 2ºE Q = 3ºE R = 1ºE Average Compass Error = (2º + 3º + 1º) = 2ºE
3

e) Vertical Sextant Angle (VSA), gives PC

Distance off in Nautical miles = (Height of Light Houses x 1.854)/ VSA in minutes
Ht of Light House= the ht. of Light House given on the chart +/- the diff between MHWS & Present water
level (+ve if present level is below MHWS & -ve if present water level is above MHWS)
VSA = Sextant angle +/- I.E (Off/on)
f) Raising or Dipping (Geographical Range – G.R), gives PC
As the earth is a sphere, the line of sight depends upon the Ht of Eye (H) & Ht of Light House (h).
When the light is raised, the light will be just in the line of sight (vessel goes towards the light).
When the light is dipped, the light just about goes out of line of sight(vessel goes away from light).
G.R(distance from Light House) = 2.095√H+2.095√h Where H - Ht of Eye, h – ht of Light House.

g) First sighted or Last sighted, gives PC

- Find Geographical Range (G.R), if H = 12m & h = 25m
G.R = 2.095√H + 2.095√h = 2.095√12 + 2.095√25= 7.3 + 17.7 = 25nm
- Find Luminous Range (L.R) from the Luminous Diagram using Nominal Range (given for 10nm Met.
Visibility) from chart (e.g. NR of Light House. is 20M) and present meteorological visibility curve (e.g. 5M
met. Visibility)

From LR diagram, LR = 11.8nm

- Compare the G.R & L.R and use whichever is less to draw the PC
- LR < GR, so draw PC for LR = 11.8nm
h) Special angles (Ѳ & Φ)

AC - Distance off at the time of 1st angle (Ѳ), gives a PC BD–Beam distance, AB – distance run
between A & B By Trigonometry, When Cot Ѳ – Cot Φ = 1, where Ѳ =1st angle on the bow & Φ=2nd
angle on the bow Then Run = Beam distance, i.e. AB = CD i) PC at the time of 1 st angle Distance off
(AC) = Beam distance/ Sin Ѳ ii) PC at the time of 2nd angle Distance off (BC) = Beam distance / Sin Φ
iii) PC when light is abeam Distance off (DC) = Beam distance
i) Doubling the angle on the bow, gives PC

i) PC at the time of double the angle BC - Distance off at the time of double the angle (2Ѳ),
gives a PC AB – distance run between A & B AB = BC (doubling the angle on bow method)

ii)PC at the time of 1st angle AC – Distance off at the time of 1st angle (Ѳ), gives a PC
CD - Beam distance AB – distance run between A & B AB = BC (doubling the angle on bow
method) CD = BC x Sin 2Ѳ AC = CD / Sin Ѳ= BC x Sin 2Ѳ / Sin Ѳ AC = (Run x Sin 2Ѳ) / Sin
Ѳ

j) Depth contour on chart, gives a PL e.g. When a ship crosses a10m contour
II) Allowing for Current and/or Leeway
The size of the triangle depends on the time in the question
a) Allowing for Current (when CTS, Engine Speed, Set & Rate given)

E.g. a 1 Hour triangle

- Plot the CTS from the position & Cut the Engine Speed
- From the DR plot the Set & Rate gives EP
- Join the Position & EP gives us CMG & SMG

- If triangle is for > or < 1 Hour we use Engine distance & drift.
- Engine distance = {Engine Speed x (Time interval in mins)}/60
- Drift = Rate x (Time interval in mins) / 60

b) Allowing for Current & Leeway

(CTS, Engine Speed, leeway, Set & Rate given)E.g. a 1 Hour triangle
- First plot the CTS
- Then apply leeway track opposite to wind direction
- Cut Engine Speed on the Leeway track
- From DR apply Set & Rate, gives EP
- Join the Position & EP gives us CMG & SMG
- If triangle is for >1 or <1 Hour than we use Engine distance & drift.
- Engine distance = {Engine Speed x (Time interval in mins)}/60
- Drift = Rate x (Time interval in mins)
60

III) Counteracting Current and/or leeway

- This concept is used to find the CTS when CMG is given. CMG may be given by one of the methods.

i. Vessel needs to pass ‘x’ miles off a Light House. or object from a position.
- Draw an arc ‘x’ miles from Light House.
- Draw a tangent to this arc from position. This is the CMG

ii. From present position vessel needs to go to another position e.g. A pilot station.

iii. Three point bearings.

a) Counteracting for Current (Engine Speed, set & Rate given)

- Find CMG
- First from present position ‘A’ apply Set & cut Rate at ‘B’
- From ‘B’ cut Engine Speed on the CMG at ‘C’
- Join ‘B’ & ‘C’, BC = CTS.
- ‘AC’ is the SMG
- ABC is a 1 Hour triangle
b) Counteracting for Current & leeway (Engine Speed, leeway, set & Rate given)
- Find CMG
- First from present position ‘A’ apply Set & cut Rate at ‘B’
- From ‘B’ cut Engine Speed on the CMG at ‘C’
- Join ‘B’ & ‘C’, BC = LEEWAY TRACK.
- ‘AC’ is the SMG
- From ‘B draw apply leeway & CTS towards the wind
- ABC is a 1 Hour triangle

IV) Transfer of PL or PC (Running Fix)

- When 2 or more brgs from a Light House/ Light Houses are given and
CTS, Engine Speed, Set & Rate of current is given.
- A PL can be transferred from any point along the line.
- A PC can be transferred only by transferring the centre of the circle

a) Transfer of PL without current, when 2 brgs given at different times from the same Light House.
- Draw both PLs from the Light House
- Anywhere along the 1st PL, from ’A’ draw the CTS & cut Engine Speed at ’B’.
- Transfer 1st PL to ‘B’
- The PLs will intersect at ‘C’, this is the 2ndposition
- Reverse plot the CTS from ‘C’
- CTS intersects at ‘D’, this is the 1stposition
b) Transfer of PL with current, when 2 brgs given at different times from the same Light House.
- Draw both PLs from the Light House
- Anywhere along the 1st PL, from ’A’ draw the CTS & cut Engine Speed at ’B’.
- From ‘B’ draw the Set & Rate to ‘C’
- Transfer 1st PL to ‘C’
- The PLs will intersect at ‘D’, this is the 2nd position
- Reverse plot the CMG from ‘D’
- CMG intersects at ‘E’, this is the 1st position

c) Transfer of PL with current, when 2 brgs given at different times from the different Light Houses.
- Draw the PLs from Light House.1 & Light House.2
- Anywhere along the 1st PL, from ’A’ draw the CTS & cut Engine Speed at ’B’.
- From ‘B’ draw the Set & Rate to ‘C’
- Transfer 1st PL to ‘C’
- The PLs will intersect at ‘D’, this is the 2nd position
- Reverse plot the CMG from ‘D’
- CMG intersects at ‘E’, this is the 1st position

d) Transfer of PL with current, when 1 PL & 1 PC is given at different times from the different Light
Houses.
- Draw the PL from Light House.1 & PC from Light House.2
- Anywhere along the 1st PL, from ’A’ draw the CTS & cut Engine speed at ’B’.
- From ‘B’ draw the Set & Rate to ‘C’
- Transfer 1st PL to ‘C’
- The transferred 1st PL will intersect the PC at ‘D’, this is the 2nd position
- Reverse plot the CMG from ‘D’
- CMG intersects the 1st PL at ‘E’, this is the 1stposition
e) Transfer of PC with current, when 2 PC’s are given at different times from the different Light
Houses.
- Draw the PC from Light House.1 & PC from Light House.2
- From the centre of the PC ’A’, draw the CTS & cut Engine speed at ’B’.
- From ‘B’ draw the Set & Rate to ‘C’
- Take the radius of PC1 and draw from ‘C’ the transferred PC1
- The transferred PC1 will intersect the PC2 at ‘D’, this is the 2ndposition
- Reverse plot the CMG from ‘D’
- CMG intersects the PC1 at ‘E’, this is the 1stposition

f) Transfer of PC with current, when1 PC & 1 PL is given at different times of different Light House.
- Draw the PC from Light House.1 & PL from Light House.2
- From the centre of the PC ’A’, draw the CTS & cut Engine speed at ’B’.
- From ‘B’ draw the Set & Rate to ‘C’
- Take the radius of PC and draw from ‘C’ the transferred PC1
- The transferred PC will intersect the PL at ‘D’, this is the 2nd position
- Reverse plot the CMG from ‘D’
- CMG intersects the PC at ‘E’, this is the 1stposition

g) Transfer of PC with current, when PC1 (first sighted) & PC2 (Light Dipped) is given at different
times of same Light House.
- Draw the PC1 & PC2 from Light House.1
- From the centre of the PC ’A’, draw the CTS & cut Engine speed at ’B’.
- From ‘B’ draw the Set & Rate to ‘C’
- Take the radius of PC1 and draw from ‘C’ the transferred PC1
- The transferred PC1 will intersect the PC2 at ‘D’, this is the 2nd position
- Reverse plot the CMG from ‘D’
- CMG intersects the PC1 at ‘E’, this is the 1st position

V) Find the Actual Set & Drift when actual position (D) after sometime is not on the CMG.
- First by Counteracting method find the CTS
- Then draw the planned leeway track from A & cut the Engine distance for the required time interval.
- Join the DR & the Position2 ‘D’. This is the Actual Set & Drift.
DR

VI) Find the position & time when the light will be abeam.
- First by Counteracting method find the CTS
- Then from the Light House draw the beam bearing (=CTS +/- 90º).
- The beam Brg will intersect the CMG at ‘D’.
- Measure AD = DTMG
- TTG = DTMG/SMG x 60’

VII) RAISING or FIRST SIGHTING or DISTANCE OFF – THE LIGHT θº ON THE PORT or STBD BOW
(when Engine Speed is given & without current)
- Find: AC = (GR- Raising) or (GR or LR whichever less - First Sighting) or (Distance off)
- Draw the Position Circle from the Light with AC as radius.
- Find: Beam distance (BC)= AC x Sin Ѳ
- Draw a tangent to the beam distance arc, from present position. This is the CTS
- At position ‘A’, the light will be Ѳº on the port bow.
- Measure DA = DTG
- Find: (Time to go) TTG = DTG/Engine Speed x 60’
VIII) Raising or First Sighting or Distance Off, the Light RIGHT AHEAD with current)
- Find: AC = (GR - Raising) or (GR or LR whichever less - First Sighting) or (Distance off)
- Draw the PC from the Light with AC as radius.
- Find: Drift (BC) = AC x (Rate / Engine Speed)
- Mark the Drift on the Set at B.
- Draw a line from position to ‘B’. This is the CMG
- Measure AB= DMG
- Find: SMG = AB x (Rate/Drift)
- Measure DA = DTMG
- Find: (Time to go) TTG = DTMG/SMG x 60’

IX) Raising or First Sighting or Distance Off, the Light RIGHT AHEAD without current)
- Find: BC = (GR - Raising) or (GR or LR whichever less - First Sighting) or (Distance off)
- Draw the Position Circle from the Light with BC as radius.
- Draw a line from ‘A’ to ‘C’. This is the CTS.
- Measure distance AB = DTG
- Find: (Time to go) TTG = DTG/Engine Speed x 60’
X) Find the Unknown, when from a position various alterations of courses &/or current and a PL/PC
are given (1 unknown)
e.g. various A/Cs & set is given. Find drift. - First plot all the KNOWN Courses & Set from the present
position. - The UNKNOWN should always be plotted at the end. - Then plot the PL/PC from the Light
House - Where the Set & PL/PC intersect the UNKNOWN (Drift) can be found. - The 2nd Position is the
point of intersection.

XI) Find the Unknown, when from a position various alterations of courses &/or current and
2ndposition is given (2 unknowns)
e.g. various A/Cs & set is given. Find drift& Engine Speed between 0800-0830. - First plot all the KNOWN
Courses from the 1stposition. - Then plot the 0800-0830 Course - Then plot the PL & PC from the Light
House to obtain the 2ndPosition. - Plot Set, reverse from 2ndPosition. - Then measure the UNKNOWNs
(Engine distance between 0800-0830 & Drift).
XII) Find the CTS after a interval of time to have a Light Abeam on the Port or Stbd side, without
current
- First draw a circle with radius of Engine distance for the time interval. - Then draw tangents on either
side of the circle from the Light House. - Join the Position & tangent pts on either side. These are the CTS
to have the Light abeam on port or stbd side of the ship as shown in the figure.

XIII) Three – Point bearings from Light House./Point/object

- This concept gives us the CMG
- We can find 1 unknown & the 3 Positions
- OR When a position is given, we can find 2 unknowns & the other 2 positions
- If Ship’s Compass heading and 3 Compass brgs of Light House are given at different times. Find
Compass Error & convert to true brgs and do the question by 3 point bearings method
- There are 5 types of 3–point brgs
-
a) When 3 brgs at different times are given from a single Light House./Point/object.
b) When 2 brgs at different times are given from a single Light House./Point/object & a position is
given.

c) When brgs are given at different times from 2 different Light Houses, intersect at a point & a
position is given.
d) When brgs from 3 different Light Houses are given at different times intersect at a point.

e) When 3 brgs at different times are given from a single Light House./Point/object and 1 brg from
a different Light House./Point/object intersect to give a position.

f)
i) 3 point brgs, CTS, Engine Speed & Set are given. Find DRIFT of current & all 3 positions OR 3 point
brgs, CTS, Engine Speed & Rate are given. Find SET of current & all 3 positions
- Draw all 3 brgs from the Light House
- Draw a line perpendicular to 2ndbrg through the Light House.
- Find the ratio of time interval between 1st& 2nd brg and between 2nd& 3rdbrg.
- Cut the ratio from the Light House. - first at ‘B’, then at ‘C’
- Draw a line parallel to 2nd brg, from ‘B’ to intersect at ‘D’
- Draw a line parallel to 2nd brg, from ‘C’ to intersect at ‘E’
- Join ‘D’ & ‘E’, this is the CMG.
- From ‘D’ draw the CTS & cut the Engine dist at ‘F’
- 1. If Set is given, From ‘F’ draw the Set. ‘FG’ is the Drift
- 2. If Rate is given, find Drift & from ‘F’ cut Drift at ‘G’. Direction ‘FG’ is the SET
- Through G transfer the PL1
- Where the Transferred PL1 intersects PL3 is the Last Position
- Draw a reverse CMG from last Position & find other 2 Positions.

ii) 3 point brgs, Engine Speed, Set Rate are given. Find CTS & all 3 positons OR
3 point brgs, CTS, Set& Rate are given. Find Engine Speed & all 3 positions
- Find the CMG (DE) as explained above.
- From ‘D’ draw the Set & cut the Drift at ‘F’
- From ‘F’ cut the Engine distance on the CMG at ‘G’. Direction of ‘FG’ is the CTS
- If CTS is given from ‘F’ draw the CTS to intersect the CMG at ‘G’. ‘FG’ is the- Engine distance
- Through G transfer the PL1
- Where the Transferred PL1 intersects PL3 is the Last Position
- Draw a reverse CMG from last Position & find other 2 Positions.
iii) 2 point brgs, CTS, Engine Speed are given. Find SET & RATE of current & other 2 positions OR
2 point brgs, SET, RATE are given. Find CTS & Engine Speed & other 2 positions OR 2 point brgs,
CTS, Set are given. Find Engine dist & RATE of current & other 2 positions OR 2 point brgs, CTS,
RATE are given. Find Engine dist & SET of current & other 2 positions OR 2 point brgs, Engine speed,
Set are given. Find CTS & RATE of current & other 2 positions OR 2 point brgs, Engine speed, Rate
are given. Find CTS & SET of current & other 2 positions
- Draw the 2 brgs from the Light House.
- Join the position to the Light House& make it 3 point brgs
- Draw a line perpendicular to 2nd brg through the Light House.
- Find the ratio of time interval between1st & 2nd brg and between 2nd & 3rd brg.
- Cut the ratio from the Light House. - first at ‘B’, then at ‘C’
- Draw a line parallel to 2nd brg, from ‘B’ to intersect at ‘D’
- Draw a line parallel to 2nd brg, from ‘C’ to intersect at ‘E’
- Join ‘D’ & ‘E’, this is the CMG.
- Transfer the CMD through Position at ‘F’.
- The CMG will intersect PL1 at ‘J’ (Position at 0830) & PL2 at ‘I’ (Position at 0900).

1. If CTS & Engine Speed are given. From ‘F’ draw the CTS & cut Engine Speed at H (DR).
Join ‘H’ to ‘I’. ‘HI’ = Set & Rate of current. OR
2. If SET & RATE are given, From ‘I’ draw reverse Set and cut Rate on Set at ‘H’ (DR).
Join F to H. ‘FH’ = Engine Speed & CTS OR
3. If CTS & Set are given, From ‘F’ draw the CTS & from ‘I’ draw Reverse Set to intersect CTS at ‘H’
(DR).
Measure ‘HI’ = (Rate) & Measure ‘FH’ = (Engine Speed). OR
4. If CTS & RATE are given, From ‘F’ draw the CTS & from I draw RATE arc to intersect CTS at ‘H’ (DR).
‘HI’ = SET & Measure ‘FH’ = (Engine Speed). OR
5. If Engine Speed & SET are given, From ‘F’ draw the Engine Speed arc &from ‘I’ draw reverse SET to
intersect Engine Speed arc at ‘H’ (DR).
Measure ‘HI’ = RATE & ‘FH’ = CTS OR
6. If Engine Speed & RATE are given, From ‘F’ draw the Engine Speed arc & from I draw RATE arc to
intersect Engine Speed arc at ‘H’ (DR).
‘HI’ = SET & ‘FH’ = CTS