Knowledge of celestial navigation is required for any license endorsed for with
oceans route; meaning more than 200 nautical miles from shore.

USCG approved courses for Celestial Navigation are designed to meet the exam
requirements and rarely contain any practical sextant use. These courses focus
on use of the Nautical Almanac, sight reduction tables and position fixing using
running fixes on universal plot sheets. For licenses over 200 tons the course
should include instruction in the sailings, time zones, route planning and star
identification.

The course length indicated is considered to me the minimum amount of time
required to complete the course. Few students are capable of completing a
celestial navigation course successfully in the minimum time frame unless they
have spent time preparing for the course. Successful students should have:

  1. Have good basic math skills.
  2. Have the ability to read and interpolate numbers from tables.
  3. Have good plotting skills and understand concepts for DR plotting and
    running fixes.
  4. Have the ability to keep information in a neat and orderly manner.
  5. Understand the basic concepts and terminology used in celestial
    navigation.

The best study material for any Celestial Navigation course is to get a copy of
PUB 9 - American Practical Navigator (BOWDITCH) and the version of the
Nautical Almanac used in the USCG exam questions. Both of these references
can be downloaded from the Internet for free.


    Nautical Almanac
    This link will take you to the USCG National Maritime Center website; Deck
    Exam Questions page. Select PUBLICATIONS from the menu and the
    "Nautical Almanac - For Deck Examination Purposes Only" can be
    downloaded for free.

Celestial Navigation Courses Available

    All Celestial Navigation courses taught at Columbia
    Pacific Maritime are self-paced; meaning the
    student completes workbook lessons at their own
    pace under the guidance of a qualified instructor.
    Two different courses are available depending on
    your license needs.

60-hour Celestial Navigation (200 TONS) Course

    Any applicant who has successfully completed your 60-hour Celestial
    Navigation (200 Tons) course and who presents your Certificate of
    Training at a Regional Exam Center WITHIN ONE YEAR of the
    completion of training, will satisfy the celestial navigation examination
    requirements of 46 CFR 10.215(c) and 10.401(d) for adding an “Upon
    Oceans” endorsement to any deck license up to Master Not More Than
    200 Gross Tons, or to a license as Master or Mate of Uninspected Fishing
    Industry Vessels.

80-hour Celestial Navigation Course

    Any applicant who has successfully completed your 80-hour Celestial
    Navigation course will either satisfy the celestial navigation problems
    examination requirements to increase the scope of a license as Mate
    500/1600 Gross Tons from Near Coastal to Oceans (exam module
    186XX); OR satisfy the Celestial Navigation problems examination
    requirements to increase the scope of a license as Master 500/1600
    Gross Tons from Near Coastal to Oceans (exam module 206XX). This
    course will not satisfy the Navigation General or Deck & Navigation
    General examination requirements to increase the scope of a license as
    Mate or Master 500/1600 Gross Tons from Near Coastal to Oceans (exam
    modules 187XX or 207XX).
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Celestial Navigation
Click here to view the Celestial Navigation Course Schedule
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