HELP NEEDED FOR MSc RESEARCH

edit)

Let me
introduce myself and my reasons for joining the forum.  I work for the RNLI and am undertaking
a MSc in Maritime studies at Portsmouth University. The aim of the research is
to determine if leisure craft users and professional mariners are being best
served by the navigation equipment in use by them at sea.  Is the equipment displaying information
and hazards sufficiently and correctly to allow a skilled or semi-skilled
navigator to navigate safely and determine if he is in danger or at risk.  How does the user interact with the
navigation display? Is the menu system intuitive and does the display provide
enough resolution for users to easily determine dangers to navigation? Does the
system allow for other sensors to add to the display such as Automatic
Identification System(AIS), echo sounder, radar. Also are the various technical
standards compatible across different navigations systems?  If so does this information provide
additional information or does it run the risk of overwhelming the individual.  Is the over-reliance on these
navigational aids, the total acceptance that what they display is correct
actually making it more unsafe for users 
who could then become the casualty in SAR?

            My
reasons for joining are to canvas other forum users for any personal
experiences they have had where their electronic navigation equipment has
failed.  Failed in the sense of not
working in total or not working correctly and so leaving them in danger of
grounding.  Has the chart updates
been late in coming or non existent. 
If upon buying new equipment or using equipment that they are not
familiar with they have been overwhelmed with the information supplied to
them.  Do many users have
AIS/Radar/echo sounder feeds into their navigation system display.  Would anyone like to relate a story
where they have found themselves at risk due to navigating using only
electronic navigation aids? I can assure anonymity.
(edit)	If you have any good experiences of utilising the cutting edge technology to assist in your navigation they would also be greatly appreciated.  Be it a faster appreciation of the surrounding area using an electronic display or it's ease of operation in wet environments compared to paper charts all would be appreciated.

            I
have been granted access to all the RNLI records for my research but only to
gather statistics.  Which is why I
have to reach out to others for specific examples and others thoughts.  My aim is to be able to provide the
RNLI with recommendations for the future provision of training and sea safety
advice.  I can be contacted via
this website or at mscmaritimestudies@hotmail.com

Edited by MSc - 13 Jan 13 at 8:14pm

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MSc Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 13 Jan 13 Online Status: Offline Posts: 4	Post Options Post Reply Quote MSc Report Post Quote Reply Topic: HELP NEEDED FOR MSc RESEARCH Posted: 13 Jan 13 at 7:21pm
	Let me introduce myself and my reasons for joining the forum. I work for the RNLI and am undertaking a MSc in Maritime studies at Portsmouth University. The aim of the research is to determine if leisure craft users and professional mariners are being best served by the navigation equipment in use by them at sea. Is the equipment displaying information and hazards sufficiently and correctly to allow a skilled or semi-skilled navigator to navigate safely and determine if he is in danger or at risk. How does the user interact with the navigation display? Is the menu system intuitive and does the display provide enough resolution for users to easily determine dangers to navigation? Does the system allow for other sensors to add to the display such as Automatic Identification System(AIS), echo sounder, radar. Also are the various technical standards compatible across different navigations systems? If so does this information provide additional information or does it run the risk of overwhelming the individual. Is the over-reliance on these navigational aids, the total acceptance that what they display is correct actually making it more unsafe for users who could then become the casualty in SAR? My reasons for joining are to canvas other forum users for any personal experiences they have had where their electronic navigation equipment has failed. Failed in the sense of not working in total or not working correctly and so leaving them in danger of grounding. Has the chart updates been late in coming or non existent. If upon buying new equipment or using equipment that they are not familiar with they have been overwhelmed with the information supplied to them. Do many users have AIS/Radar/echo sounder feeds into their navigation system display. Would anyone like to relate a story where they have found themselves at risk due to navigating using only electronic navigation aids? I can assure anonymity. (edit) If you have any good experiences of utilising the cutting edge technology to assist in your navigation they would also be greatly appreciated. Be it a faster appreciation of the surrounding area using an electronic display or it's ease of operation in wet environments compared to paper charts all would be appreciated. I have been granted access to all the RNLI records for my research but only to gather statistics. Which is why I have to reach out to others for specific examples and others thoughts. My aim is to be able to provide the RNLI with recommendations for the future provision of training and sea safety advice. I can be contacted via this website or at mscmaritimestudies@hotmail.com Edited by MSc - 13 Jan 13 at 8:14pm

Quagers Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 24 Oct 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 279	Post Options Post Reply Quote Quagers Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 13 Jan 13 at 7:39pm
	Not the negative story your looking for but last summer I did a Dartmouth to Hamble delivery primarily navigating using the Navionics app and it worked great. Double handed delivery, plotter installed in bulkhead at front of cockpit so not visible from bunk/nav seat/ helm, race boat with no paper charts so it was just the easiest way to do it. What I have heard from others although never personally tested is that a lot of portable AIS MOB alarms aren't well integrated with chart plotters or on-board AIS systems. So when the alarm is activated it just shows up on the AIS screen as a normal contact and no audible alarm sounds. This is a fairly small forum with a large dinghy sailor audience, for the info you want you might do better on some more yachtie orientated forums YBW, cruisers forum, sailnet or even, god forbid, Sailing Anarchy. Edited by Quagers - 13 Jan 13 at 7:42pm

MSc Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 13 Jan 13 Online Status: Offline Posts: 4	Post Options Post Reply Quote MSc Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 13 Jan 13 at 8:09pm
	Thanks very much, I'm not necessarily after negative stories, I guess I need to reword my OP having just read it. Thanks for sharing and cheers for the other sites.

robin34024 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Posting king Joined: 03 Jan 12 Location: Lincoln Online Status: Offline Posts: 116	Post Options Post Reply Quote robin34024 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 20 Jan 13 at 11:31pm
	try posting this in the keelboats section: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_topics.asp?FID=9&title=keelboat-news-and-development almost all of them will have some kind of navigational equipment i suspect :D

Oatsandbeans Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 19 Sep 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 382	Post Options Post Reply Quote Oatsandbeans Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 21 Jan 13 at 7:21am
	I think that one of the best innovations in this area in the last 18 months is the ipad navigation app. This gives you regular chart updates so that you are always working with 100% up to date charts. On my boat I use chart plotters and have a stack of paper charts ( that rarely see the light of day), but I know that all the charts are not 100% reliable as they are up to 8 years old in some cases. The only issues with the ipad is that it is not integrated into the other boat systems and I would feel a bit vulnerable relying on it for all my electronic charting, but one thing I do know is that the charts are spot on!

MSc Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 13 Jan 13 Online Status: Offline Posts: 4	Post Options Post Reply Quote MSc Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 22 Jan 13 at 9:04pm
	Guys thank you for your input I do appreciate the interest sparked and discussion. Thonord I wasn't aware that Norway had introduced a licence system I'll have to research it. As recommended by others I'm writing a questionnaire on Survey Monkey that will allow me to crunch the data. Please keep the comments coming, any tales that I can reconcile with source evidence is very much appreciated. Equally any stories about how you navigate successfully using electronic navigation is welcome. I agree with oatsandbeans iPad navigation is good, I use the Navionics system but what power back up do you have(I have not used it on protracted sea passages).

Rockhopper Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 16 Nov 07 Location: Eastry Online Status: Offline Posts: 642	Post Options Post Reply Quote Rockhopper Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 23 Jan 13 at 6:57am
	Well i can help if needed i am one of the coxswains on the pilot boats that serve the thames and medway rivers hence everything we have on the pilot boat is the latest spec ie AIS interfaced into the radar display showing courses speed latest chartplotters radios etc, I also own a commercail fishing boat which i use in my days off from the above i again have most of the update stuff plus the MOb system which was part funded by the RNLI i have had all sorts of problems in the past of things going wrong when they should not ie enegines blowing up to radars going pop in dense fog all things which test your local knowledge of the area you work to the limit but remember you can always get home with a compass and a watch
	Retired now after 35 seasons in a row and time for a rest. 2004 national champ Laser5000 2007,2010,National Champ Rs Vareo

Oatsandbeans Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 19 Sep 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 382	Post Options Post Reply Quote Oatsandbeans Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 23 Jan 13 at 12:20pm
	Regarding using the ipad on the boat, I dont really use it, as the chart plotters and PC are all interfaced with the NMEA system. But if I was starting from scratch I might consider something based on the ipad. You can wirelessly stream the NMEA and AIS to the ipad easily enough but it cant do radar. The navigation software on the ipad also isnt that sophisticated ( it doesnt do tidal corrections and decent route planning), so for now its just a good back up if the boat system goes belly up we can still get back home using the ipad.

MSc Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 13 Jan 13 Online Status: Offline Posts: 4	Post Options Post Reply Quote MSc Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 03 Mar 13 at 3:32pm
	I'll be closing the survey on Wed so if you want to participate please do so before then. Thank you all for your participation and contributions. If I'm successful I'll post a link to the paper.