Course on the use of nautical charts and GPS
Why this course?
The Using Nautical Charts and GPS
course
This course provides you with the essential skills for safe and accurate navigation. Learn to interpret nautical charts, master GPS positioning systems, and combine them effectively to plan and execute your voyages. This course is ideal for both recreational sailors and maritime professionals looking to update and consolidate their knowledge of traditional and modern navigation.
Key Benefits
- Mastery of Nautical Charting: Interpretation of symbols, calculation of bearings and distances, and chart correction.
- GPS Systems Expert: Configuration, data interpretation, and use of advanced navigation functions.
- Chart and GPS Integration: Combining traditional and modern methods for reliable and accurate navigation.
- Safe Route Planning: Development of navigation plans considering factors such as tides, currents, and hazards.
- Navigation Safety: Application of best practices to avoid risks and navigate with confidence in any conditions.
- Modality: Online
- Level: Cursos
- Hours: 150 H
- Start date: 26-07-2026
Availability: 1 in stock
Who is it aimed at?
- Recreational and professional boaters looking to master traditional and modern navigation, integrating nautical charts and GPS.
- Nautical students and sea enthusiasts wanting to acquire a solid foundation in navigation, from basic principles to advanced technology use.
- Recreational and fishing boat skippers needing to update their knowledge and get the most out of their navigation equipment.
- Maritime professionals requiring a comprehensive understanding of navigation tools to improve safety and efficiency in their operations.
- Sea travelers and explorers planning voyages and seeking to navigate with confidence, even in areas without GPS coverage Reliable.
Learning Flexibility
Adapted to your pace: downloadable material, practical exercises, and online tutoring to answer your questions whenever you need it.
Objectives and competencies
Interpreting nautical chart information for accurate navigation:
“Identify hazards, determine position and course, and anticipate changes in environmental conditions.”
Integrate GPS data with the nautical chart to improve positional accuracy:
“Validate the position using visual/radar references and apply drift/current corrections.”
Use GPS as a complementary tool to nautical charts for navigational safety:
Interpret GPS information (position, heading, speed) accurately, complementing it with nautical chart information (bathymetry, hazards, navigational aids) for a correct assessment of the environment and decision making.
Solving navigation problems using a combination of nautical charts and GPS:
Plan the route considering environmental factors (wind, current, tides) and the limitations of the vessel, using information from the nautical chart and confirming it with the GPS, anticipating possible errors and proactively correcting them.
Understand and apply current regulations on the use of nautical charts and GPS in navigation:
Interpret the symbology of nautical charts (paper and electronic) and configure the GPS for safe and efficient navigation, including the management of waypoints and routes, considering the limitations of each system.
Evaluate the reliability of the GPS information and compare it with the information on the nautical chart:
“Identify discrepancies, analyze causes (drift, currents, datum errors) and prioritize the corrected nautical chart.”
Curriculum - Modules
- Comprehensive Maritime Incident Management: protocols, roles, and chain of command for coordinated response
- Operational Planning and Execution: briefing, routes, weather windows, and go/no-go criteria
- Rapid Risk Assessment: criticality matrix, scene control, and decision-making under pressure
- Operational Communication: VHF/GMDSS, standardized reports, and inter-agency liaison
- Tactical Mobility and Safe Boarding: RHIB maneuvers, approach, mooring, and recovery
- Equipment and Technologies: PPE, signaling, satellite tracking, and field data logging
- Immediate Care of the Affected: primary assessment, hypothermia, trauma, and stabilization for evacuation
- Adverse Environmental Conditions: swell, Visibility, flows, and operational mitigation
Simulation and training: critical scenarios, use of VR/AR, and exercises with performance metrics
Documentation and continuous improvement: lessons learned, indicators (MTTA/MTTR), and SOP updates
- Fundamentals of Marine Electronics: Voltages, Currents, Power
- Basic Instrumentation: Multimeters, Oscilloscopes, Analyzers
- GNSS/GPS: Operation, Accuracy, Limitations, Corrections
- VHF/DSC Radio: Operation, Calling Procedures, Safety
- Radar and SART/EPIRB: Principles, Operation, Basic Maintenance
- Marine Sensors: Log, Echosounder, Anemometer, Gyrocompass
- Onboard Power Sources: Batteries, Generators, Charging Systems
- Wiring and Connections: Cable Types, Connectors, Best Practices
- Preventive Maintenance of Electronic Equipment: Cleaning, Inspection
- Basic Troubleshooting: Diagnosis and Repair simple
‘
- Introduction to Electronic Navigation: History, Evolution, and Fundamentals
- Global Positioning Systems (GNSS): GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou
- Electronic Nautical Charts (ENC): Types, Formats, Updates (S-57, S-63)
- ECDIS Equipment: Operating Principles, Configuration, and Symbology
- Sensors and Transducers: Log, Gyro, Echosounder, Anemometer
- Data Integration: Visualization and Information Processing
- Alarms and Alerts: Types, Priorities, Response, and Management
- Electronic Route Planning: Creation, Editing, and Optimization
- Navigation Monitoring: Route Tracking, Detection of dangers
- Risk management and safety in electronic navigation
‘
- Introduction to Coastal Navigation: Definitions and Key Concepts
- Nautical Charts: Types, Projections, Scales, and Datum
- Cartographic Symbols: Interpretation of Symbols, Abbreviations, and Terms
- Navigation Instruments: Compass, Log, Sounding Line, Sextant
- Positioning: Traditional Methods (Bearings, Distances) and Modern Methods (GNSS)
- Chart Correction: Notices to Mariners, Nautical Publications
- Chart Handling: Plotting Courses, Calculating Distances and Times
- Influence of Wind and Current: Estimating and Correcting Leeway and Drift
- Using Publications Nautical: Sailing directions, lighthouse lists, tide tables
Coastal crossing planning: Selecting safe routes and landmarks
‘
- Introduction to Navigation: History, Methods, and Fundamentals.
- Traditional Nautical Charts: Types, Projections, Datum, and Scales.
- Nautical Publications: Sailing Directions, Lists of Lighthouses, Notices to Mariners.
- Navigation Instruments: Magnetic Compass, Gyrocompass, Sextant.
- Compass Correction: Magnetic Declination, Deviation, Calibration Methods.
- Bearings and Bearings: Calculation, Correction, and Use in Navigation.
- Position Calculation: Intersection of Lines of Position, Dead Reckoning.
- Introduction to Electronic Navigation: GPS, GNSS, ECDIS.
- Integration of Traditional and Electronic Cartography: Best Practices practical exercises.
- Voyage planning: combined use of traditional charts and ECDIS.
‘
- System Architecture and Components: Structural design, materials, and subsystems (mechanical, electrical, electronic, and fluid) with selection and assembly criteria for marine environments
- Fundamentals and Principles of Operation: Physical and engineering foundations (thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, electricity, control, and materials) that explain performance and operating limits
- Safety and Environmental (SHE): Risk analysis, PPE, LOTO, hazardous atmospheres, spill and waste management, and emergency response plans
- Applicable Regulations and Standards: IMO/ISO/IEC requirements and local regulations;
- Conformance criteria, certification, and best practices for operation and maintenance
- Inspection, testing, and diagnostics: Visual/dimensional inspection, functional testing, data analysis, and predictive techniques (vibration, thermography, fluid analysis) to identify root causes
- Preventive and predictive maintenance: Hourly/cycle/seasonal plans, lubrication, adjustments, calibrations, consumable replacement, post-service verification, and operational reliability
- Instrumentation, tools, and metrology: Measuring and testing equipment, diagnostic software, calibration and traceability; selection criteria, safe use, and storage
- Onboard integration and interfaces: Mechanical, electrical, fluid, and data compatibility; Sealing and watertightness, EMC/EMI, corrosion protection, and interoperability testing.
Quality, acceptance testing, and commissioning: process and materials control, FAT/SAT, bench and sea trials, go/no-go criteria, and evidence documentation.
Technical documentation and integrated practice: logs, checklists, reports, and a complete case study (safety → diagnosis → intervention → verification → report) applicable to any system.
Plan de estudio - Módulos
- Comprehensive Maritime Incident Management: protocols, roles, and chain of command for coordinated response
- Operational Planning and Execution: briefing, routes, weather windows, and go/no-go criteria
- Rapid Risk Assessment: criticality matrix, scene control, and decision-making under pressure
- Operational Communication: VHF/GMDSS, standardized reports, and inter-agency liaison
- Tactical Mobility and Safe Boarding: RHIB maneuvers, approach, mooring, and recovery
- Equipment and Technologies: PPE, signaling, satellite tracking, and field data logging
- Immediate Care of the Affected: primary assessment, hypothermia, trauma, and stabilization for evacuation
- Adverse Environmental Conditions: swell, Visibility, flows, and operational mitigation
Simulation and training: critical scenarios, use of VR/AR, and exercises with performance metrics
Documentation and continuous improvement: lessons learned, indicators (MTTA/MTTR), and SOP updates
- Fundamentals of Marine Electronics: Voltages, Currents, Power
- Basic Instrumentation: Multimeters, Oscilloscopes, Analyzers
- GNSS/GPS: Operation, Accuracy, Limitations, Corrections
- VHF/DSC Radio: Operation, Calling Procedures, Safety
- Radar and SART/EPIRB: Principles, Operation, Basic Maintenance
- Marine Sensors: Log, Echosounder, Anemometer, Gyrocompass
- Onboard Power Sources: Batteries, Generators, Charging Systems
- Wiring and Connections: Cable Types, Connectors, Best Practices
- Preventive Maintenance of Electronic Equipment: Cleaning, Inspection
- Basic Troubleshooting: Diagnosis and Repair simple
‘
- Introduction to Electronic Navigation: History, Evolution, and Fundamentals
- Global Positioning Systems (GNSS): GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou
- Electronic Nautical Charts (ENC): Types, Formats, Updates (S-57, S-63)
- ECDIS Equipment: Operating Principles, Configuration, and Symbology
- Sensors and Transducers: Log, Gyro, Echosounder, Anemometer
- Data Integration: Visualization and Information Processing
- Alarms and Alerts: Types, Priorities, Response, and Management
- Electronic Route Planning: Creation, Editing, and Optimization
- Navigation Monitoring: Route Tracking, Detection of dangers
- Risk management and safety in electronic navigation
‘
- Introduction to Coastal Navigation: Definitions and Key Concepts
- Nautical Charts: Types, Projections, Scales, and Datum
- Cartographic Symbols: Interpretation of Symbols, Abbreviations, and Terms
- Navigation Instruments: Compass, Log, Sounding Line, Sextant
- Positioning: Traditional Methods (Bearings, Distances) and Modern Methods (GNSS)
- Chart Correction: Notices to Mariners, Nautical Publications
- Chart Handling: Plotting Courses, Calculating Distances and Times
- Influence of Wind and Current: Estimating and Correcting Leeway and Drift
- Using Publications Nautical: Sailing directions, lighthouse lists, tide tables
Coastal crossing planning: Selecting safe routes and landmarks
‘
- Introduction to Navigation: History, Methods, and Fundamentals.
- Traditional Nautical Charts: Types, Projections, Datum, and Scales.
- Nautical Publications: Sailing Directions, Lists of Lighthouses, Notices to Mariners.
- Navigation Instruments: Magnetic Compass, Gyrocompass, Sextant.
- Compass Correction: Magnetic Declination, Deviation, Calibration Methods.
- Bearings and Bearings: Calculation, Correction, and Use in Navigation.
- Position Calculation: Intersection of Lines of Position, Dead Reckoning.
- Introduction to Electronic Navigation: GPS, GNSS, ECDIS.
- Integration of Traditional and Electronic Cartography: Best Practices practical exercises.
- Voyage planning: combined use of traditional charts and ECDIS.
‘
- System Architecture and Components: Structural design, materials, and subsystems (mechanical, electrical, electronic, and fluid) with selection and assembly criteria for marine environments
- Fundamentals and Principles of Operation: Physical and engineering foundations (thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, electricity, control, and materials) that explain performance and operating limits
- Safety and Environmental (SHE): Risk analysis, PPE, LOTO, hazardous atmospheres, spill and waste management, and emergency response plans
- Applicable Regulations and Standards: IMO/ISO/IEC requirements and local regulations;
- Conformance criteria, certification, and best practices for operation and maintenance
- Inspection, testing, and diagnostics: Visual/dimensional inspection, functional testing, data analysis, and predictive techniques (vibration, thermography, fluid analysis) to identify root causes
- Preventive and predictive maintenance: Hourly/cycle/seasonal plans, lubrication, adjustments, calibrations, consumable replacement, post-service verification, and operational reliability
- Instrumentation, tools, and metrology: Measuring and testing equipment, diagnostic software, calibration and traceability; selection criteria, safe use, and storage
- Onboard integration and interfaces: Mechanical, electrical, fluid, and data compatibility; Sealing and watertightness, EMC/EMI, corrosion protection, and interoperability testing.
Quality, acceptance testing, and commissioning: process and materials control, FAT/SAT, bench and sea trials, go/no-go criteria, and evidence documentation.
Technical documentation and integrated practice: logs, checklists, reports, and a complete case study (safety → diagnosis → intervention → verification → report) applicable to any system.
- Introduction to Coastal Navigation: Basic Concepts, Maritime Safety
- Navigation Instruments: Compass, Log, Sextant, Binoculars
- Nautical Publications: Sailing Directions, Lighthouse Lists, Notices to Mariners
- Positioning Systems: GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, DGPS
- Electronic Nautical Charts (ENC): Formats, Symbols, Updates
- ECDIS: Configuration, Alarms, Route Planning
- Radar: Operating Principles, Settings, Target Identification
- ARPA: Target Tracking, CPA/TCPA Calculation, Evasive Maneuvers
- AIS: Information, Applications, security
- Communications: VHF, MF/HF, GMDSS
‘
- Introduction to Coastal Navigation: Definitions, risks, and responsibilities.
- Nautical Charts: Types, scales, projections, and sources of information.
- Nautical Chart Symbols: Interpretation of symbols, abbreviations, and notes.
- Navigation Instruments: Compass, log, sounding line, sextant (optional).
- GPS and GNSS: Operation, accuracy, limitations, and datum.
- Bearings and Bearings: Taking bearings, correction for declination and deviation.
- Course and Speed: Calculating true course, effective speed, and speed over ground.
- Voyage Planning: Determining the route and waypoints and safety considerations.
- Tides and currents: Prediction, influence on navigation and safety.
- Safety in coastal navigation: Emergency procedures, safety equipment and communication.
‘
- Introduction to Maritime Navigation: History, Basic Concepts, and Terminology
- Nautical Charts: Types, Projections, Datum, Scales, and Corrections
- Cartographic Symbols: Interpretation of Symbols, Abbreviations, and References
- Navigation Instruments: Compass, Log, Sounding Line, Sextant, and Binoculars
- GPS and GNSS: Operation, Accuracy, Errors, and Reference Systems
- Route Planning: Calculating Courses, Distances, and Estimated Times
- Declination and Deviation Correction: Using Deviation Tables and Curves
- Tides and Currents: Prediction and Effect on Navigation
- Safety in Navigation: Risk factors, collision prevention, and emergencies
Basic maritime legislation: COLREG, SOLAS, and other relevant regulations
‘
- Introduction to Nautical Cartography: History, Chart Types, and Projections
- Nautical Symbols: Interpretation of Symbols, Abbreviations, and Conventions
- Traditional Nautical Charts: Characteristics, Use, and Maintenance
- Chart Corrections: Notices to Mariners, Nautical Publications
- Geodetic Reference Systems: Datum, Ellipsoids, and UTM Projection
- Positioning: Traditional (Sextant) and Modern (GNSS) Methods
- Earth’s Magnetism: Declination, Variation, and Compass Correction
- Nautical Publications: Sailing Directions, Lighthouse Lists, Tide Tables
- ECDIS (Electronic Chart Display and Information System): Regulations, Advantages, and Disadvantages
- Electronic charts: types (raster and vector), standards (S-57, S-63) and updates
‘
Career opportunities
- Navigator on recreational and professional vessels: Responsible for safe navigation using nautical charts and GPS.
- Skipper: Route planning and navigation control on various types of vessels.
- Fishing vessel crew member: Use of GPS and charts for locating fishing grounds and safe navigation.
- Technician in nautical service companies: Installation, maintenance, and technical support of navigation equipment (GPS, plotters).
- Maritime safety inspector: Verification of compliance with navigation regulations and onboard equipment.
- Cartographer/Surveyor: Creation and updating of nautical charts and maps using GPS data.
- Nautical consultant: Planning advice of routes, equipment selection, and navigational safety.
- Navigation Instructor: Teaching navigation techniques using nautical charts and GPS in nautical schools.
“`
Admission requirements
Academic/professional profile:
Degree/Bachelor's degree in Nautical Science/Maritime Transport, Naval/Marine Engineering, or a related field; or proven professional experience in bridge/operations.
Language proficiency:
Recommended functional maritime English (SMCP) for simulations and technical materials.
5. Induction
Updated resume, copy of degree or seaman's book, ID card/passport, letter of motivation.
Technical requirements (for online):
Equipment with camera/microphone, stable connection, ≥ 24” monitor recommended for ECDIS/Radar-ARPA.
Admission process and dates
1. Online
application
(form + documents).
2. Academic review and interview
(profile/objectives/schedule compatibility).
3. Admission decision
(+ scholarship proposal if applicable).
4. Reservation of place
(deposit) and registration.
5. Induction
(access to campus, calendars, simulator guides).
Scholarships and grants
- Navigation Mastery: Learn to interpret and effectively use nautical charts for safe navigation.
- GPS Accuracy: Master using GPS for navigation, route planning, and precise location.
- Tool Integration: Combine traditional chart knowledge with GPS technology for reliable hybrid navigation.
- Maritime Safety: Improve your ability to make informed and safe decisions at sea, minimizing risks and optimizing routes.
- Practical Cases: Apply your acquired knowledge through practical exercises and real-world navigation simulations.
Testimonials
During the crossing from the Canary Islands to Cape Verde, my mastery of nautical charts, complemented by the precise use of GPS, allowed for safe and efficient navigation, correcting the course in real time according to the currents and variable winds, arriving at the destination with admirable precision and anticipating possible dangers well in advance.
I mastered coastal and instrumental navigation maneuvers, including the use of electronic nautical charts and global positioning systems, obtaining the highest grade in the simulation exercises and in the final course evaluation.
During the crossing from the Canary Islands to Cape Verde, my combined mastery of nautical charts and GPS allowed for precise and safe navigation, anticipating changes in wind and currents, resulting in an arrival two days ahead of schedule and with fuel consumption 15% lower than estimated.
During the training, I demonstrated a solid understanding of nautical charts, including the interpretation of symbols and markings, and the application of corrections. I also mastered the use of GPS for route planning, precise navigation, and obtaining crucial information such as position, speed, and heading, enabling me to navigate safely and efficiently in simulations and practical exercises.
Frequently asked questions
A nautical chart is a graphic representation of a maritime area, while a GPS is a system that provides location and other navigation data in real time.
Yes. The itinerary includes ECDIS/Radar-ARPA/BRM with harbor, ocean, fog, storm, and SAR scenarios.
Online with live sessions; hybrid option for simulator/practical placements through agreements.
The nautical chart.
Recommended functional SMCP. We offer support materials for standard phraseology.
Yes, with a relevant degree or experience in maritime/port operations. The admissions interview will confirm suitability.
Optional (3–6 months) through Companies & Collaborations and the Alumni Network.
Simulator practice (rubrics), defeat plans, SOPs, checklists, micro-tests and applied TFM.
A degree from Navalis Magna University + operational portfolio (tracks, SOPs, reports and KPIs) useful for audits and employment.
- Introduction to Nautical Cartography: History, Chart Types, and Projections
- Nautical Symbols: Interpretation of Symbols, Abbreviations, and Conventions
- Traditional Nautical Charts: Characteristics, Use, and Maintenance
- Chart Corrections: Notices to Mariners, Nautical Publications
- Geodetic Reference Systems: Datum, Ellipsoids, and UTM Projection
- Positioning: Traditional (Sextant) and Modern (GNSS) Methods
- Earth’s Magnetism: Declination, Variation, and Compass Correction
- Nautical Publications: Sailing Directions, Lighthouse Lists, Tide Tables
- ECDIS (Electronic Chart Display and Information System): Regulations, Advantages, and Disadvantages
- Electronic charts: types (raster and vector), standards (S-57, S-63) and updates
‘
Request information
- Complete the Application Form
- Attach your CV/Qualifications (if you have them to hand).
- Indicate your preferred cohort (January/May/September) and whether you want the hybrid option with simulator sessions.
Teachers
Eng. Tomás Riera
Full Professor
Eng. Tomás Riera
Full Professor
Naval engineer specializing in the selection, integration, and optimization of propulsion systems for yachts, high-speed craft, and service vessels.
Eng. Sofía Marquina
Full Professor
Eng. Sofía Marquina
Full Professor
Materials engineer specializing in marine composites and corrosion protection systems for ships, yachts, and port structures.
Eng. Javier Bañuls
Full Professor
Eng. Javier Bañuls
Full Professor
Naval electrical engineer with over fifteen years of experience in the design, integration, and operation of power and automation systems.
Dr. Nuria Llobregat
Full Professor
Dr. Nuria Llobregat
Full Professor
Specialist in meteorological and operational decision-making for coastal and offshore navigation, integrating wind, wave, and current models.
Dr. Pau Ferrer
Full Professor
Dr. Pau Ferrer
Full Professor
Naval engineer with a PhD in applied hydrodynamics and over a decade of experience designing high-performance hulls and marine structures.
Cap. Javier Abaroa (MCA)
Full Professor
Cap. Javier Abaroa (MCA)
Full Professor
MCA-certified captain with command of ocean-going vessels, specializing in advanced maneuvering, navigation management, and bridge safety.