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Running Fixes

Content
Section Introduction 95

1. Transferring Position Lines 96

2. Caution 98

Section Summary 98

Progress Check 99

Exercise 99

Section Introduction
At times you may be faced with a situation where you have limited charted features and
cannot even obtain two position lines simultaneously to get a fix. If you can determine the
course and speed made good with reasonable accuracy, this can be used with available
position lines to obtain a fix. Let us see how this is done.

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1. Transferring position lines
Suppose you only had one charted object (eg. Beacon) to take compass bearings off, then you
only have one position line at any one time. A series of position lines from the same beacon
over some time may give you an idea of your general location. Because they are not obtained
simultaneously, you cannot plot a fix from them.
However, if you run up the position lines for the distance the vessel has travelled during the
time interval between each position line is obtained, you can obtain a fix. A fix derived from
transferring or running up position lines is called a Running Fix.
Example:

Refer to Figure 5.1. A vessel is sailing at 9 knots, steering 060T and the current is setting
123T at 1.8 knots. The Course Made Good is 070T and Speed Made Good is 10 knots.

Set 123T
Rate 1.8 kt
Course Steered 060T
Speed 9 kt
1000
CMG 070T
SMG 10 kt
0900

Figure 5.1 Course and Speed Made Good

At 0900 hrs the lighthouse is observed bearing 033T. Refer to Figure 5.2. The vessels
position is somewhere along the line of bearing 033T towards the lighthouse.

Set 123T
Rate 1.8 kt
Course Steered 060T
033T Speed 9 kt

CMG 070T
SMG 10 kt

0900

Figure 5.2 Obtaining the First Position Line, a Line of Bearing

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The Course Made Good 070T and Speed Made Good 10 knots is known. Thus, at 1000 hrs,
the vessel has to be along a 033T line drawn 10 nm away in a direction of 070T. Refer to
Figure 5.3.

Set 123T
Rate 1.8 kt
Course Steered 060T
Speed 9 kt

CMG 070T 033T

SMG 10 kt

033T
1000

Position line is transferred in

direction 070T 10 nm
0900 (Run up to 1000hrs)

Still referring to Figure 5.3, we can select any point on the 033T bearing line to plot the CMG 070T
and distance 10 nm travelled in the time interval, and redraw it.

It is best to plot directly on the lighthouse since that keeps the CMG and SMG lines away
from the position lines. This reduces the possibility of getting your lines mixed up. Think of
it as moving the lighthouse 070T 10 nm. A Transferred Position Line is drawn with two
arrowheads.

At 1000 hrs the same lighthouse is observed bearing 281T. Refer to Figure 5.4. This line of
bearing indicates that the vessel is somewhere along the 281T line leading towards the
lighthouse but it does not give the position of the vessel.

Set 123T
281T Rate 1.8 kt
Course Steered 060T
Speed 9 kt
1000
CMG 070T 0
SMG 10 kt

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Refer to Figure 5.5. Where the present position line (281T at 1000 hrs) and the Transferred
Position Line (033T from 0900 hrs) meet, is the Running Fix for 1000 hrs.

Set 123T
Rate 1.8 kt
Course Steered 060T
Speed 9 kt

CMG 070T
SMG 10 kt 033T
281T

033T
1000

Figure 5.5 : Running Fix by Transferred Line of Bearing

2. Caution
A Running Fix is another means of position determination. It employs the use of the
vessels course and speed to form a theoretical position line. The overall accuracy of a
Running Fix is very dependent on the accuracy of :
the position lines obtained
determining CMG and SMG of the vessel

It is often difficult to determine the effects of the wind and current very accurately without
first obtaining good position fixes.

Thus, errors are possible and Running Fixes should be used as a last resort and only in
relatively open water, free of navigational hazards.

Section Summary
In this section, we have covered the use of Transferred Position Lines to obtain Running
Fixes as a means of position determination where there are limited charted features.
Remember this is only appropriate only for relatively open water.

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Progress Check (Use variation from chart)

1. What affects the overall accuracy of a Running Fix? Briefly describe your considerations
in the safe use of Running Fixes as a means of position determination.

EXERCISE NO: 5/1: CHART NO: AUS 252 - DEVIATION CARD NO: 1
1. At 1030 hours a vessel steering 130(C) at 7.0 knots, observed the N.W. tips of Blacksmith I. and
Anchorsmith I. in transit on the port side. At 1100 hours Ingot It. (51) bore 078(C). What is the
vessel's position at 1100 hours?

2. At 1130 hours Hammer I. (131) bore 359(C) and Ingot It. (51) bore 101(C). The vessel was
heading 339(C) at 6.5 knots. At 1315 hours Platypus Rk. (2) buoy bore 073C and Seaforth I.
(47) bore 026(C). Fix the vessel's positions at 1130 hours and 1315 hours, and determine the set,
drift and rate of current experienced.

ANSWERS

1. 20 42.4S - 149 03.1E

2. 1130 hours 20 40.8S - 149 03.3E

1315 hours 2031.8 S; 14859'.5 E; set 191 (T); drift 2.1 miles; rate 1.2 knots (to be
verified.)

EXERCISE NO: 5/2

CHART NO: AUS 802: DEVIATION CARD NO: 2

1. A vessel steering 315(T) at 6.0 knots, observed Seal I. (50) bearing 244(T) at 1600 hours. At
1630 hours it bore 185(T). Find the vessel's position at 1630 hours.

2. A vessel steering 241(C) at 16.0 knots, observed White Rk. (8) bearing 161(C). Fifteen
minutes later it bore 081(C). Find the final position and the approximate sounding at that time.

3. While steering 112(C), a vessel observed C. Liptrap Lt. bearing 025(C). After sailing for 3.5
miles it bore 308(C). Fix the vessel's position at the time of the second bearing.

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4. A vessel cruising near the Kent Group of islands and steering a course of 309(C) at a speed of
6.0 knots, made the following observations:

1100 hours North Rk. (5) bearing 238(C)

1145 hours Erith 1. (148) bearing 160(C)

Fix the vessel's position at 1145 hours.

5. A vessel steering a course of 146(C) at 5.0 knots, observed Hogan 1. (130) bearing 300(C) at
1330 hours. At 1430 hours it bore 319(C). Fix the position at the time of the second bearing.

ANSWERS

1. 38 52.4S; 146 39.6E

2. 38 53.0S; 146 33.9E / 10m Line

3. 3856.1S; 14559.4E

4 3921.9S; 14718.7E

5 3917.6S; 14705.7E

EXERCISE NO: 5/3

CHART NO: AUS 252 Deviation Card 3

Use a Variation of 9E

1. At 0930 hours Sth Repulse Is (60) was bearing 000 (T). The vessel then steered a course of
060 (T) at 7.0 knots. At 1030 hours Sth Repulse Is (60) had a bearing of 310 (T).
Determine the vessel's position at 1030.

2. At 1600 hours whilst on a course 124 (C) at a speed of 6.0 knots, Pinnacle Pt Lt bore 238 (C).
The vessel maintained her course steered and the speed through water. At 1700 Deloraine Island
(Sthn tip) was bearing 201 (C). Determine the vessel's 1700 position.

3. At 1200 whilst on a course 198 (C) at a speed of 6.6 knots, Dolphin Point was bearing 072
(C). The vessel maintained its course and speed but was making an estimated 6 of leeway from
a SSE wind. At 1300 Double Cone Island (Eastern tip) was bearing 342 (C).
Determine the vessel's 1300 position.

4. At 0200 whilst on a course 090 (C) Pioneer Rks Lt was bearing 105 (C). The vessel then
altered its course to 039 (C) at 6.0 knots. A tidal stream was known to be setting 170 (T) at a
rate of 1.5 knots for at least the next hour and a half. At 0330 hours, Bird Is Lt was bearing 039
(C). Determine the vessel's 0330 position.

5. At 1400 whilst on a course 220 (C) Gould Island was bearing 154 (C). The vessel then altered
its course to 080(C) at 8.0 knots. A consistent current was known to be setting 140 (T) at a

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rate of 1.2 knots and the vessel was making an estimated 8 of leeway from a NE'ly wind. At
1600 Pincer Island was bearing 073 (C). Determine the vessel's 1600 position.

6. At 1800 whilst on a course 000 (C) the Eastern edge of Cape Conway was bearing 227 (C).
The vessel maintained its course for the next 6 miles. It then altered its course to 063 (C),
which it held until 1930, covering a distance of 3 miles after alteration. A consistent current was
known to be setting 030 (T) at a rate of 0.5 knots during the 1 hour period. At 1930 (whilst
still heading 063(C)), Surprise Rock Light was bearing 339 (C). Determine the vessel's 1930
position.

ANSWERS

1. 20 42.0'S 14858.9'E

2. 20 06.7'S 149 06.7'E (to be verified.)

3. 20 07.1'S 148 43.5'E

4. 20 08.1'S 148 49.7'E

5. 2041.3'S 14903.6'E

6. 20 21.9'S 149 01.9'E

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