Vessel Navigator

ITI Vessel Navigator Syllabus (English)

Course Overview

• Trade Name: Vessel Navigator
• Duration: 2 Years (4 Semesters)
• NSQF Level: Level 5
• Eligibility: 10th Grade Pass with Science and Mathematics
• Objective: To train candidates in vessel navigation, chart reading, radar operation, and maritime safety, equipping them for roles as navigators, deck officers, or maritime technicians in merchant navy, fishing vessels, or inland waterways, or for self-employment in maritime consultancy or small vessel operations.
• Certification: National Trade Certificate (NTC) by NCVT

Detailed Syllabus

Semester 1

Trade Theory

• Introduction to Maritime Industry: Types of vessels (cargo, fishing, passenger), role of navigators.
• Safety Practices: PPE (life jackets, helmets), fire safety, man-overboard procedures, first aid.
• Nautical Science Basics: Latitude, longitude, nautical miles, ship’s structure (bow, stern, deck).
• Navigation Tools: Compass, GPS, sextant; principles and usage.
• Chart Work: Reading nautical charts, plotting positions, symbols and abbreviations.
• Maritime Regulations: Introduction to COLREGs (Collision Regulations), IMO standards.
• Engineering Drawing: Ship layouts, deck plans, navigation equipment schematics.

Trade Practical

• Safety Drills: Wearing life jackets, operating fire extinguishers, practicing lifeboat drills.
• Compass Work: Using magnetic compass, correcting for deviation (±1° accuracy).
• Chart Exercises: Plotting positions on nautical charts, identifying buoys and landmarks.
• GPS Handling: Setting waypoints, tracking routes using GPS devices.
• Knot Tying: Practicing bowline, clove hitch, and figure-eight knots.
• Drawing Interpretation: Sketching ship deck layouts, marking navigation stations.
• Project Work: Plotting a coastal route on a nautical chart with waypoints and safety checks.

Hours: Theory: 160 hours | Practical: 240 hours

Semester 2

Trade Theory

• Advanced Navigation: Dead reckoning, coastal navigation, tidal calculations.
• Meteorology: Weather patterns, reading synoptic charts, wind and wave effects.
• Ship Stability: Center of gravity, buoyancy, effects of cargo loading.
• Radar Basics: Radar principles, interpreting radar screens, collision avoidance.
• Communication Systems: VHF radio, Morse code, distress signals (MAYDAY, SOS).
• Maritime Law: SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea), MARPOL (pollution prevention).
• Seamanship: Anchoring, mooring, handling ropes and winches.

Trade Practical

• Navigation Tasks: Calculating courses using dead reckoning, adjusting for tides.
• Weather Observation: Reading barometers, recording wind speed, interpreting weather charts.
• Radar Practice: Operating radar simulators, identifying targets, plotting collision risks.
• Radio Communication: Sending distress calls, practicing VHF radio protocols.
• Stability Exercises: Calculating load distribution, testing ship balance models.
• Seamanship Skills: Dropping anchors, securing mooring lines, splicing ropes.
• Project Work: Planning a voyage with navigation, weather, and communication protocols.

Hours: Theory: 160 hours | Practical: 240 hours

Semester 3

Trade Theory

• Electronic Navigation: ECDIS (Electronic Chart Display), AIS (Automatic Identification System).
• Celestial Navigation: Using sextant for star sightings, calculating positions.
• Bridge Operations: Watchkeeping, bridge resource management, teamwork.
• Emergency Procedures: Abandon ship, oil spill response, piracy countermeasures.
• Ship Maintenance: Deck maintenance, corrosion prevention, navigation equipment care.
• Environmental Practices: Ballast water management, waste disposal at sea.
• Navigation Calculations: Great circle routes, rhumb line navigation, ETA estimation.

Trade Practical

• ECDIS Training: Plotting routes on ECDIS, updating electronic charts.
• Celestial Practice: Taking sun/star sights with sextant, computing latitude (±1’).
• Bridge Simulation: Managing watchkeeping scenarios, coordinating with crew.
• Emergency Drills: Conducting abandon ship exercises, practicing oil spill containment.
• Maintenance Tasks: Cleaning radar antennas, applying anti-corrosion coatings.
• Environmental Work: Inspecting ballast tanks, sorting waste for disposal.
• Project Work: Navigating a simulated voyage using ECDIS and celestial methods.

Hours: Theory: 160 hours | Practical: 240 hours

Semester 4

Trade Theory

• Advanced Bridge Management: Leadership, decision-making, crisis management.
• Automation in Navigation: Integrated bridge systems, autopilot, IoT applications.
• Maritime Economics: Voyage planning, fuel efficiency, cargo logistics.
• Quality Assurance: ISO 9001 standards, maritime safety audits, logbook accuracy.
• Entrepreneurship: Starting a maritime consultancy, small vessel operations, market trends.
• Maritime Trends: Green shipping, autonomous vessels, digital navigation.
• Regulatory Compliance: Port state control, flag state requirements, STCW certification.

Trade Practical

• Bridge Operations: Leading bridge team in simulators, handling complex scenarios.
• Automation Tasks: Calibrating autopilot, monitoring IoT navigation sensors.
• Voyage Planning: Optimizing routes for fuel, preparing cargo loading plans.
• Quality Checks: Maintaining logbooks, conducting mock safety audits.
• Field Exposure: Hands-on training on vessels or maritime institutes (4-6 weeks).
• Environmental Tasks: Implementing MARPOL waste management protocols.
• Project Work: Planning and executing a full voyage simulation, including navigation, safety, and logs.

Hours: Theory: 160 hours | Practical: 240 hours

Additional Components

• Workshop Calculation and Science
  
  • Calculations: Course corrections, fuel consumption, tidal height calculations.
  • Science: Fluid dynamics (buoyancy), optics (sextant), meteorology principles.
  • Hours: 80 hours/year
• Engineering Drawing
  
  • Drawings: Navigation bridge layouts, radar schematics, ship stability diagrams.
  • Hours: 80 hours/year
• Employability Skills
  
  • Communication: Radio protocols, reporting to port authorities, teamwork.
  • IT Literacy: Using ECDIS software, maritime apps, online navigation resources.
  • Soft Skills: Time management, resume writing, interview preparation.
  • Hours: 60 hours/year

Assessment and Certification

• Exams:
  
  • Theory: Written exams per semester (MCQs, descriptive questions).
  • Practical: Tasks like chart plotting, radar operation, bridge simulation, safety drills.
• Evaluation Criteria: Navigation accuracy, safety compliance, communication clarity, voyage planning.
• Certification: NCVT National Trade Certificate (NTC) upon passing all semesters, globally recognized.

Career Opportunities

• Employment: Navigator, deck officer, maritime technician in merchant navy, fishing vessels, or inland waterways.
• Self-Employment: Maritime consultancy, small vessel operations, navigation training services.
• Further Studies: Diploma in Nautical Science, STCW certifications, or marine engineering courses.