Are you planning to spend your offshore permit to go offshore, beyond the 6-mile limit? Well done! But before you can plot your first course on the nautical chart, you still need the right tools. Unlike the coastal license, the offshore license calls for more advanced notions of navigation, including course plotting, bearings and tide calculations. And for this, you need the right equipment. Here's an overview of the equipment you need to prepare for your license.
The navigation ruler, Cras or other authorized model: your best ally
This is the emblematic instrument of the navigator. The Cras rule named after the French commander who invented it, allows you to plot routes, measure bearings or calculate headings on a nautical chart. It may seem intimidating at first, but once you've got the hang of it, it becomes an extension of your hand. Whether you're training or taking an exam, you'll be using it all the time.
SHOM chart 9999
You won't be practicing on a real navigation chart! For the offshore license, you'll use the fictitious chart SHOM 9999 specially designed for the examination. It contains all the necessary elements: lighthouses, landmarks, depths, currents, sounding lines... You'll be able to plot routes, bearings and calculate tidal heights. A must-have. The best advice is to have 2. One for training and 1 blank for the exam. The latter will be kept at the end of the exam.
The dry-point compass: for distances
Another essential tool: dry-point compasses sometimes called a navigational compass. It is used to measure distances on the chart, notably between two points, or to plot time or speed intervals. It is the perfect complement to the navigation ruler.
The (almost) ordinary calculator
There's no need for a high-performance scientific machine college calculator is sufficient, provided it can be used to convert values into degrees, minutes and seconds . This function is essential for switching from GPS coordinates in decimal form to a more "marine" script. Mastering this function can save precious minutes on the exam.
Don't forget: paper, pencil, eraser
Simple, but essential: always keep a good pencil (not too greasy), a clean eraser and, why not, a pencil sharpener handy. On the map, every line counts: precision is key!
With the right equipment, you'll have all the ingredients you need to prepare optimally for your offshore license.
