The Oceans Navigation/Celestial Navigation 500/1600 GRT Blended Course covers all subject matter content required for an Oceans Endorsement.
A relevant math review section is included at the beginning of the course, covering topics and formulas useful for this course. Our USCG approval includes the 70 question Navigation General Oceans written exam, for which not all content is covered in this course. For your benefit, there is access to practice Navigation General quizzes which pull from the USCG database of questions.
Learning Objectives
Course content includes: celestial terms, time zones, GHA, LHA, declination, observed altitude, the sextant, sunrise/sunset, sun line and running fix, latitude by Polaris, compass error, stars and planets, and the Sailings. Upon completion of the online content, students will be required to complete two proctored examinations using our USCG approved Halo Exam Monitoring application (requires a computer with a web camera). The assessment tasks required under NVIC 12-14 and NVIC 02-18 1.1.A, 1.1.B, 1.1.C, 1.1.D, 1.1.E AND 1.1.F require in-person assessment, either at Northeast Maritime Institute, or onboard a qualifying vessel with a qualified assessor/officer. Please contact our Registrar’s Office for more details.
Duration
This online course is based on an 80 hour in-person course.
Provided Materials
*Provided materials mailed to students must be returned at end of course (postage will be included)*
- Assessment check-offs and worksheets can be found in the RESOURCES tab of the course.
- We will mail you a references package which includes Tide and Current Tables, Sight Reduction Table excerpts, Universal Plotting Sheets and Approved Calculator for the Exam and Practical Assessment Check Off sheets.
Required equipment/supplies
- Calculator (Use of non-programmable calculator provided/approved by NMI required)
- Pencils
- Erasers
- Plotting triangles (2)
- American Practical Navigator, Bowditch, 1981 (ASIN: B017DLYMJI) or the 2017 version will work fine (Volume II is required for your exams)
- Star Finder circular slide rule (many available on Amazon)
- Sextant (https://www.celestaire.com/product/davis-mark-3-sextant/)
- Universal Plotting Sheets – VPOS (50pg. Pack for $13 on Amazon)
- RECOMMENDED: Dutton’s Nautical Navigation, 15th Edition (978-1557502483)
System Requirements
Internet access is required. The preferred web browser is Google Chrome, but you may use Edge or Safari if necessary.
Approvals
USCG
Any applicant who has successfully completed your Oceans Navigation/Celestial Navigation (500/1600 GRT) (NOREMI-107) course will satisfy:
- The Oceans Navigation examination requirements of:
- Navigation General: Oceans; AND
- Navigation Problems: Oceans
- For increasing the scope of an endorsement from near coastal to oceans for the following National Deck Officer endorsements, PROVIDED the course was completed within one year of the date of submitting a complete application:
- Second or Third Mate of self-propelled vessels of unlimited tonnage;
- Master or Mate of self-propelled vessels of less than 1600 GRT;
- Master or Mate of self-propelled vessels of less than 500 GRT;
- Master or Mate of self-propelled vessels of less than 200 GRT;
- Towing Vessel Endorsements;
- Master or Mate of Uninspected Fishing Industry Vessels;
- Master (OSV), Chief Mate (OSV), or Mate (OSV) of offshore supply vessels; AND
- The Celestial Navigation training requirements of 46 CFR 11.309(a)(4)(viii) for an STCW endorsement as Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch on vessels of 500 or more gross tonnage (ITC).
This course does not satisfy the Terrestrial Navigation or Electronic Navigation training requirements of 46 CFR 11.309(a)(4)(viii).
This course does not satisfy any standards of competence required by the STCW Code, as amended 2010.
Dominica
The online Oceans Navigation/Celestial Navigation Blended Course covers the subject matter content required for Celestial Navigation and Oceans Navigation content and proficiencies for STCW endorsements as OICNW on vessels of 500 GT or more per STCW Code Table A-II/1 and STCW Code Table A/II-2.
Assessments
Written Examination
There are two required written exams for Oceans/Celestial Navigation (500/1600GRT):
- Navigation General: This exam includes 70 questions and requires a passing score of 70%.
- Navigation Problems: This exam includes 15 questions and requires a passing score of 80%.
The written exam can be taken online through HALO° Exams. You will receive 3 attempts for each exam. If you fail all 3 attempts of either exam, you must pay a retake fee of $25.00 for that exam and will require re-enrollment in all or part of the course.
Practical Assessment
- U.S. Licenses
The student will need to demonstrate the practical assessment requirements outlined in NVIC 02-18 and NVIC 12-14; 1.1A, 1.1B, 1.1C, 1.1D and 1.1F. The sign-off paperwork as well as assessor requirements will be mailed with the course materials.
- International Licenses
The student will need to demonstrate the practical assessment requirements outlined in NVIC 02-18 and NVIC 12-14; 1.1A, 1.1B, 1.1C, 1.1D and 1.1F. The sign-off paperwork as well as assessor requirements will be mailed with the course materials.
