UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY

DIVISION OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

DEPARTMENT OF SEAMANSHIP AND NAVIGATION

NAME____________________SECTION_______INSTRUCTOR__________________

NN210 – BASIC NAVIGATION

CHART PREPARATION

I. Materials Required
Chart #18650 San Francisco Bay
Navigation Kit
Chart One (provided electronically)
Advance and Transfer Table (provided electronically)

II. Situation
You are the Navigator onboard USS ARLEIGH BURKE (DDG 51) inbound to
anchor in San Francisco Bay for Fleet Week. Prepare the chart per the checklist attached,
use the gazetteer to identify your navigation aids, and lay down your track according to
the waypoint information provided.
You will choose the appropriate NAVAIDs for all turn bearings and turn ranges.
Also you will select the NAVAIDs to be used for your anchorage’s head bearing and
letting go bearing. You will select 5 additional visual and 5 additional radar NAVAIDs to
the ones already provided - add to the gazetteer. Be sure to complete the track data sheet
by filling in all pertinent track and turn bearing information.

III. Instructions
 Follow the chart preparation checklist as it pertains to the steps involved in
correcting the chart
 Completely fill out Track Data Sheet
 Answer all questions

IV. Amplifying Data: USS ARLEIGH BURKE

 SOA varies along the track (refer to Track Data Table).
 Overall Length: 505ft
 Mast height: 160ft
 Length from Hawse pipe to center line Pelorus: 160ft
 Navigational Draft: 36ft
 Draft: 32ft
 Anchor Chain use minimum required length
 Utilize NOAA to apply the three most recent LNM and NTM
http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/mcd/updates/LNM_NM.html
 Gazetteer
Desig Type Name Lat/Long
VA Visual 37°50′11.5"N 122°28′20"W
VB Visual 37°48′21"N 122°28′02"W
VC Visual 37°48′10"N 122°26′54"W
VD Visual 37°51′12"N 122°25′09"W
VE Visual 37°49′34"N 122°25′20"W
VF Visual 37°48′43"N 122°25′11"W
VG Visual 37°48′41"N 122°24′30"W
VH Visual 37°48′08.5"N 122°24′21"W
VI Visual 37°49′09"N 122°22′17"W
VJ Visual 37°48′35"N 122°21′55"W
VK Visual 37°47′10"N 122°23′32.5"W
VL Visual 37°48′13"N 122°20′29"W
VM Visual 37°46′41.5"N 122°23′06.5"W
VN Visual 37°46′56"N 122°18′36"W
VO Visual 37°46′24"N 122°19′49"W
VP Visual 37°45′21.5"N 122°22′54.5"W
VQ Visual 37°44′43"N 122°22′46.5"W
VR Visual 37°43′36"N 122°21′35"W
VS Visual 37°44′13.5"N 122°16′13.5"W
RA Radar 37°48′40"N 122°28′39"W
RB Radar 37°46′29"N 122°22′55"W
RC Radar 37°48′38"N 122°25′27"W
RD Radar 37°49′36"N 122°22′44"W
RE Radar 37°48′28"N 122°22′03"W
RF Radar 37°47′59"N 122°22′34"W
RG Radar 37°47′36"N 122°22′59"W
RH Radar 37°48′13"N 122°20′29"W
RI Radar 37°46′35"N 122°18′56"W
RJ Radar 37°46′21"N 122°18′18"W
RK Radar 37°45′08"N 122°22′34"W
RL Radar 37°44′24"N 122°22′04"W
RM Radar 37°43′43"N 122°21′25"W
RN Radar 37°49′12"N 122°21′38"W
RO Radar 37°49′55"N 122°28′21"W
RP Radar 37°49′31"N 122°28′44"W
 Use the spaces below for your self-selected NAVAIDS
(ie: Head Bearing, Letting Go Bearing, Turn Bearing/Range)

DIST TB TR ADV/
WP# LAT/LONG LEG TRUE MAG SPD DEG RDR
(yds) (Tº/Rº) (yds) XFER
37°49′06"N
1A 122°28′16"W
1 15 V(_)- R(_)-
37°49′06"N
2A STD
122°24′34"W
2 10 V(_)- R(_)-
37°47′07"N
3A STD
122°22′16"W
3 10 V(_)- R(_)-
37°44′36.5"N
4A STD
122°21′42"W Approach
Track 5
Anchorage for
Anchor Explosives
NO.12
Anchorage Circles Radius (yds)
HB LGB
Letting Go Circle
(Tº/Mº) (Tº/Rº)
V(_)- R(_)-
Drag Circle

Swing Circle
DIST TB TR ADV/
WP# LAT/LONG LEG TRUE MAG SPD DEG RDR
(yds) (Tº/Rº) (yds) XFER
37°45′05"N
1B 122°20′15"W
1 10 V(_)- R(_)-
37°47′53.5"N
2B STD
122°21′59"W
2 12 V(_)- R(_)-
37°48′56"N
3B STD
122°23′38"W
3 12 V(_)- R(_)-
37°50′27"N
4B STD
122°24′20"W
4 12
37°50′35"N
5B 122°26′24"W
V. Questions

1. What is the bottom type at your anchorage? (1 pt)

2. What publication did you use for question 1? (1 pt)

3. What is the length of anchor chain needed for your selected anchorage? (2 pts)

4. How many shots of anchor chain will you use? (1 pt)

5. Are there any hazards within your expected swing circle? (1 pt)

6. Do you feel comfortable in the selected the anchorage? Why? (2 pts)

7. Explain your decision-making process in selecting NAVAIDS for turn bearing and
turn range of the 4th leg. (2 pts)

8. Which two radar navigation aids from the gazetteer are poor choices and why?

(4 pts)
 CHART PREPARATION CHECKLIST

Action Initials
1 Chart number ___________
2 Identify chart for use and ensure chart is the latest edition using the Hydro
Product Catalog, Notice to Mariners and Local Notice to Mariners.
3 Locate Notice to Mariners updates via the internet:
http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/mcd/updates/LNM_NM.html
4 Make all corrections on chart with corrections carefully annotated in the
correction tree located in left margin of chart. The correction tree will have
three columns: NTM number, date and printed initials of person responsible for
making correction to chart. If corrections are temporary in nature annotate with
pencil; otherwise, all corrections will be made with black ink
5 Highlight Geodetic Datum and Variation in yellow.
6 Highlight chart sounding datum (feet, fathom or meters) in yellow. Outline all
shoal water on chart with a blue Sharpie Permanent Marker, Ultra-Fine Point.
(A fine point is preferred over a wide tip in order not to cover important
chart information.)
7 Create the track using a Pencil. Once done, trace with a Black, Ballpoint Pen.

ERASE CROSS HAIRS AT THE WAYPOINTS BEFORE YOU INK THE

TRACK!
8 All tracks clearly labeled with True and Magnetic Headings, Speed of Advance
(SOA), and Distance in Yards. Track data boxes will be placed along the track
for all legs; they will be parallel to the track and not to interfere with charted
information. Trace all data boxes with a Black, Ballpoint Pen.
9 Use NAVAID Gazetteer to identify both Visual and Radar Navigation Aids.

Visual aids will be outlined by a Circle using a Black, Ballpoint Pen; the
Staedtler Professional General Purpose Template 5/8” will be used. Fill in each
circle using a Yellow Highlighter. Label the NAVAID with the two-letter
identifier as indicated on the gazetteer. Visuals will start with a “V,” for
example “VA”.

Radar aids will be outlined by a Triangle using a Black, Ballpoint Pen; the
Staedtler Professional General Purpose Template 5/8” will be used. Fill in each
triangle using a Blue Highlighter. Label NAVAID with two-letter identifier as
per gazetteer. Radar aids are identified by the letter “R,” for example “RA”
10 Plot Advance and Transfer for each turn. Create the slide bar at your turn point
using a Green Marker. Remember, the slide bar is used to determine a new
turn bearing when a vessel is either left or right of track.

ERASE YOUR ADVANCE AND TRANSFER CALCULATION LINES

BEFORE YOU INK!
From each turn bearing, at 100-yard increments, mark distance to turn out to
1000 yards. At 1000-yards, mark distance to turn out at 500-yard increments

11 Connect turn bearing to turn point with dotted line and labeled along length of
dotted line. Turn bearings are labeled with a two-letter designator off NAVAID;
for example, “TB “VA” 123T/245R”. Turn bearings are labeled in True and
Relative bearings. Turn bearings are traced in Black, Ballpoint Pen.

Connect turn range to turn point with dotted arc and labeled along length of
dotted arc. Turn ranges are labeled with a two-letter designator off NAVAID; for
example, “TR “RA” 500 yards”. Turn ranges are traced in Black, Ballpoint
Pen.

12 Create Command Review Box using a Black, Ballpoint Pen, using the
following format:

Prepared by: _______________________

Reviewed by: ______________________
Approved by: ______________________

Sign your name on the “Prepared by” line when checklist is complete.
13 Fold and label the chart. Fold the chart in fourths (with the back side out).
Label in legible 1” print letters on the bottom right hand corner of the chart , the
chart name and number. If you have other charts, immediately above the label,
write the number of the previous chart on the track and immediately below the
label, write the next chart number on the track. The numbers of the previous
and next charts should be 1/3” lettering.

For example:
Chart: 13224
Chart 13223 Narragansett Bay Including Newport Harbor
Chart 13218

Trace the Chart Label using a Black, Ballpoint Pen.

14 Identify and mark anchorage point.

Remember, when identifying an anchorage the following are taken into

consideration: Depth of water, Shelter from seas, Characteristics of the haven
bottom (mud, sand, etc), Charted obstructions (wrecks, buoys, shoal water, etc),
and other vessels at anchor, prominent navigational aids to include a “Head
Mark” and a “Letting Go Bearing,” and identifiable NAVAIDS for day and
night in order to fix ship’s position.
15 Determine total amount of anchor chain needed considering the type of bottom,
the expected wind and current.

Usually 5-7 time the water depth

16 Layout Approach Track.

Identify the Head Mark NAVAID, and lay out your approach track (normally no
shorter than 1000 yds) based on the Head Mark. Label course 1-2 inches above
track, course should be in true and magnetic (omit SOA).

From your Head Mark, draw a dashed line to the center of your anchorage, and
label Head Mark along dashed line; for example, “HB VC 090 T/093 M”.
17 Layout Letting Go Circle. Draw circle around the center of the anchorage with a
radius equal to the distance from the ships hawspipe (where the anchor chain
runs out of the ship) to the pelorus (where the bearing is shot from the pilot
house or bridge wing.) Label the circle “LGC”.
18 Layout the “Letting Go Bearing”.

Identify LGB NAVAID, this NAVAID is as close to 90 degrees off the approach
track. Draw a dashed line tangent from your LGC to your LGB NAVAID.
Above the dashed line label LGB; for example, “LGB VD 270T/200R”.
Remember, LGB will have a true and relative bearing.
19 Layout Range Arcs. Draw range arcs in 100 yds increments across the track
measured outward from the Letting Go Circle to 1000 yds. Draw range arcs
across track outward from the Letting Go circle at 1200 yds. Draw range arcs
across track outward from the Letting Go circle at 1500 yds. Draw range arcs
across track outward from the Letting Go circle at 2000 yds. Label each range
arc with its appropriate distance to the anchorage.
20 Anchoring Computations:

Compute Swing Circle: Radius equal to length of chain + overall length of ship.

Compute Drag Circle: Radius equal to the length of chain + distance from
hawspipe to the centerline pelorus.
 Chart Grading Criteria

ITEM Points Comments

General
Overall Neatness 10
Filled-out Checklist, Data Sheet, Gazetteer 2
Correctly highlighted all specified information 2
NTM completed correctly 2
Correction tree present and correct 2
Shoal water marked correctly 5
NAVAIDS correctly drawn (size/color) 2
Correct placement of NAVAIDS 5
Track Data Boxes present and correct 10
Command Review Box present and correct 2
Chart labeled correctly on outside 2
Plot track correctly and safely 11
Advance and Transfer correctly plotted 10
Turn Bearing and Turn Range correctly plotted 10
Anchorage correctly plotted 10
Questions 15
Total (100 points)