Really need your help on this one.
- I am an ex-Naval Officer (many years ago…) and have been sailing as an AB Unlimited on deep drafts for the past 3 years. Just starting my OICNW classes.
- I want to take the Terrestial Nav class (even though it is no longer required) because I prefer to re-learn (it all looks very familar but I definetly need to start from scratch)this stuff all at once in a classroom and then practice/refine it while on the bridge.
- Also want the class to help me pass the test. Not concerned with the assesements as I can easily get those on the bridge.
- PMI offers a very comprehensive class but it is 15 days and costs close to $3,000 while Houston Marine breaks there class into two, Coastal Plotting & Nav and Terrestial. I was thinkin bout just takin the Terrestial course which only would be $945. Also the class is offered much more frequently at Houston Marine.
My question is, will the Houston class accomplish what I’m after, a thourough refresher on Terrestial Nav, and go over all that can be expected to be on the exam? What will I not be taught at Houston that I would be taught at PMI?
Thanks for helpin me decide.
From their web sites. Contact each company for particulars or other questions.
PMI
Course Description
This course is required for all Able Seamen upgrading to 3rd Mate/2nd Mate. Attendees to this 15-day course will learn aspects of traditional navigation. Through this course, trainees will become proficient in Terrestrial and Coastal Navigation as well as the use and correction of magnetic and gyro compasses. This course is a pre-requisite to basic watchkeeping and also acts a a great refresher for anyone interested in tuning their coastal navigation skills.
This course satisfies the following STCW95 and CFR requirements:
STCW 95 Code:OICNW-1-2D
STCW 95 Code:OICNW-1-2E
STCW 95 Code:OICNW-1-3A
STCW 95 Code:OICNW-1-3B
STCW 95 Code:OICNW-1-5A
STCW 95 Code:OICNW-1-5B
STCW 95 Code:OICNW-1-5C
STCW 95 Code:OICNW-1-5E
STCW 95 Code:OICNW-2-3A
What You Will Learn
Terrestrial Coordinates
Nautical Charts
Nautical Publications
Aids to Navigation
Using Compasses
Electronic Navigation
Courses and Bearings
Speed-Time-Distance Calculations
Plotting Techniques
Fixing Position
Dead Reckoning
Running Fixes
Effects of Current
Leeway
What You Should Bring
Dividers
Triangles
All practical Navigation Equipment
Calculator (Sharp EL 531-W)
Students who successfully completed the 105-hour “Terrestrial Navigation and Compasses” course offered by the Maritime Advancement, Training, Education and Safety Program through the Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies. This course satisfies the Terrestrial Navigation and Coastal Navigation training and Magnetic and Gyro Compasses training requirements for certification as Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch on vessels of 500 or more gross tonnage (ITC), pursuant to NMC Policy Letter 01-02. The practical assessments conducted in this course are accepted as the equivalent of the following assessments from the National Assessment Guidelines for Table A-II/1 of the STCW Code: OICNW-1-2D, OICNW-1-2E; OICNW-1-3A; OICNW-1-3B; OICNW-1-3C; OICNW-1-5A; OICNW-1-5B; OICNW-1-5C; OICNW-1-5D; OICNW-1-5E; and OICNW-2-3A. The holder of this certificate need not present completed “Control Sheets” for these assessments in application for STCW Certification.
Houston Marine
Terrestrial Navigation
This 6-day course will prepare students for the exam module in terrestrial navigation administered to applicants for Mate/Master - OSV, Mate/Master 500/1600 GRT, and Third Mate. Subjects covered include:
Azimuth
Amplitude
Compass Error/Leeway
Speed by RPM
Course in current
Compass deviation table construction
Electronic navigation
Terrestrial observations
Tide problems
Current problems
Course by terrestrial observation
Fuel consumption
Zone time calculation
In combination with the Houston Marine course in Coastal Navigation it also satisfies the training requirements for terrestrial and coastal navigation as specified Table A-II/1 of the STCW Code for Officer in Charge of a Navigation Watch on vessels of 500 GT or more.
Call 800.947.7737 and speak to one of our License Consultants to discuss requirements, class availability and pricing for this class or e-mail us at train@houstonmarine.com
See if you can go to Fletcher and get in Capt. Bruces class. Cost $1000 and you get access to everything else you need not just Terrestrial. Also his class you move at your own pace and when you need help it’s one on one.
Thanks for the info, I checked their web-site and terrestial isn’t on there current schedule so I emailed them and asked when they’ll be offering it again.
Contact George Trowbridge at QMT (Quality maritime Training) in St Petersburg, FL. I completed the required OICNW courses and this school is by far the best if you actually take your training seriously.
Crawford Nautical School, Seattle WA.
Thanks for the info, I checked their web-site and terrestial isn’t on there current schedule so I emailed them and asked when they’ll be offering it again.
While they are certified to teach that class they never do.
What I was talking about was the 500/1600/3rd mate prep class. It runs all the time and you go when you can.
+1 for Quality Maritime. George is by far the best instructor I’ve ever had. I have said it on here plenty of times, and I’ll say it again. He is the only reason I learned the material to help me upgrade to a 500 Oceans.
I would take a license prep class like at Fletcher or QMT or Houston Exam Prep, they will teach you for a whole year and give you all the information and help you need for a whole year, Basically walk, you through the whole process, even help with the application… and make sure you ask the school if they do terrestrial with a calculator or with sight reduction tables… I went to Houston exam prep in Houston, Texas… all calculator… no tables. If you originally learned from tables, I suggest you take a class that uses calculator.
Has anyone else noticed that these schools still claim these classes are required?
[QUOTE=JW-Oceans;76768]I would take a license prep class like at Fletcher or QMT or Houston Exam Prep, they will teach you for a whole year and give you all the information and help you need for a whole year, Basically walk, you through the whole process, even help with the application… and make sure you ask the school if they do terrestrial with a calculator or with sight reduction tables… I went to Houston exam prep in Houston, Texas… all calculator… no tables. If you originally learned from tables, I suggest you take a class that uses calculator.[/QUOTE]
REPLY Do QMT and Houston also allow mariners to take as many classes as they want on their time off for a whole year for a flat fee?
QMT has schedules for all their classes, including the start of the exam prep. No flat fees. Pick and choose, pay accordingly. For exam prep, you can come and go as you need, for I believe up to 6 weeks instruction to be completed in around 4-6mos. of time, I think. I went straight through, so can’t remember the exact allotment of time.
[QUOTE=Jemplayer;76706]See if you can go to Fletcher and get in Capt. Bruces class. Cost $1000 and you get access to everything else you need not just Terrestrial. Also his class you move at your own pace and when you need help it’s one on one.[/QUOTE]
Jemplayer, thank you sooo much for your awesome recomendation about Fletcher & Captain Bruce. That’s where I’ll be going. I was about to commit to Houston Marine when I gave Capt. Bruce a call yesterday. After he described how he runs his course it certainly sounded un-conventional but it sounded really good (and $800 less expensive). Problem was he couldn’t take me until October and I have to go back to work. Anyways, I called him again and asked him again if I could come down in mid-August, actually I semi begged and he said yes, he’d accept me as a student. So I’m going to fly down and take a Radar Observer and then take his license prep course. Once again gCaptain serves me as an awesome resource. I always tell everyone about the site and will continue to do so. 
Glad he could take you. The good thing is that you have access to him and the class for a year so the next time your off go down and work on your plotting, have him help you learn how to navigate the CFR’s, just about anything you need to know for the test he can teach you. What he didn’t teach me I easily found in Bowditch.
There is a good reason so many of us sing his praises. He keeps saying he is going to retire if and when that happens we will have lost a great resource.
Also if you don’t have a place to stay I recommend the Baymont Hotel. If you can book 7 days in advance they knock a 15% off if you prepay, but they don’t offer refunds if you plans change and you can’t make it. They do have a pretty decent breakfast and the rooms are nice and it’s quite. I can’t say the same for the Day’s Inn. I got sick the 3 times I ate the breakfast and you can hear everything going on in other rooms around you and the doors slamming for the stairwells.
Hey Navy SWO, do you sail out of Caly or is that where you live?
Do you already have the assessments done? Because those ARE still required, even though the class isn’t. If you don’t have, or can’t get the assessments done, you should go somewhere that includes those assessments in the course. Otherwise, go wherever you feel the most comfortable.
[QUOTE=Capt. Fran;78357]Do you already have the assessments done? Because those ARE still required, even though the class isn’t. If you don’t have, or can’t get the assessments done, you should go somewhere that includes those assessments in the course. Otherwise, go wherever you feel the most comfortable.[/QUOTE]
I’ll get the assesements on the ship and in the one day simulator class at PMI. Would have prefered to do it all at PMI but the Navigation (non Celestial) don’t seem like they’ll be hard to get on the bridge and I’m savin a ton of money. Thanx for the input.
[QUOTE=Rocket187um;76743]Crawford Nautical School, Seattle WA.[/QUOTE]
I agree. Crawford Nautical is great! they can tailor courses to your needs. PMI is great too, but is more of a regimented program.