This is the first book to cover the Global Marine Distress and Safety System (GDMSS) in a comprehensive and readable way. GDMSS is now being developed to provide a new global communications and locating network to alert search and rescue services, and all students of navigation or maritime technology, and practising navigation officers, will need to be trained in its use. This accessible reference textbook provides students and new radio operators with all the knowledge necessary for a complete understanding of GMDSS and its related systems.

Maritime navigation has rapidly developed since the publication of the last edition of the title with methods of global position fixing for shipping becoming standardized. As in the previous two editions, this edition will provide a sound basis for the understanding of modern navigation systems and brings the student or professional up-to-date with the latest developments in technology and the growing standardization of maritime navigation techniques. Developed with close scrutiny from the US Merchant Marine Academy and the major maritime navigation centres in the UK, out-dated techniques have been replaced by an expanded section on the now standard Navstar GPS systems and the Integrated Nav. In addition, a new chapter on the application of electronic charts will also be included, as well as problems at the end of each chapter with worked solutions.

This is the first book to cover the Global Marine Distress and Safety System (GDMSS) in a comprehensive and readable way. GDMSS is now being developed to provide a new global communications and locating network to alert search and rescue services, and all students of navigation or maritime technology, and practising navigation officers, will need to be trained in its use. This accessible reference textbook provides students and new radio operators with all the knowledge necessary for a complete understanding of GMDSS and its related systems.

Maritime navigation has rapidly developed since the publication of the last edition of the title with methods of global position fixing for shipping becoming standardized. As in the previous two editions, this edition will provide a sound basis for the understanding of modern navigation systems and brings the student or professional up-to-date with the latest developments in technology and the growing standardization of maritime navigation techniques.

Developed with close scrutiny from the US Merchant Marine Academy and the major maritime navigation centres in the UK, out-dated techniques have been replaced by an expanded section on the now standard Navstar GPS systems and the Integrated Nav. In addition, a new chapter on the application of electronic charts will also be included, as well as problems at the end of each chapter with worked solutions.

Table of Contents

· Radio wave propagation and the frequency spectrum

· Depth sounding systems

· Speed measurement

· Loran-C

· Satellite navigation and the GPS

· Integrated bridge systems

· Electronic charts

· The ship's master compass

· Automatic steering

· VHF direction finding

· GMDSS

· Computer functions

· Digital terms

· Dare communications

· NMEA protocol

· USCG Navcen