NAVY NEWS, APRIL 2007 29
From paper charts
to non-existent buoys
THE NAVIGATING and Lt Cdr Aylott said the Service
Officer checks the screen
is at the cutting edge.
and is satisfied – the frigate
Once a trained navigator has
completed the MWS five-day
is just where it should
course, and the command team
be, following a pathway of his or her ship has satisfied the
of navigation buoys to
Flag Officer Sea Training team
the narrow mouth of an
that they are ready, the ship can
be navigated digitally.
unfamiliar harbour.
“That means they can dispense
Glancing out of the window,
with the greater part of their paper
there are no buoys to be seen chart folios, and will probably
by the officer. only need about five per cent of
But there they are, clearly the charts they held previously,”
marked on the electronic chart, said Lt Cdr Aylott.
guiding the warship safely in. “They keep enough charts to
Today’s officers in the Royal get a ship back to harbour safely,
Navy are used to training in a
her something like a quarter of
and that changes according to the
virtual world, and the next step
a ton of paper charts to see her
deployment.”
may not be too far away – virtual
through. HMS Westminster’s visit
navigation marks (or e-buoys)
Now the only paper charts to the Far East last year was
make good sense in terms of
required by a fully-equipped accomplished without recourse
keeping down maintenance costs
warship are for emergency to paper, and sister frigate HMS
and ease of upgrading.
purposes. Monmouth, currently on a global
This is the fast-evolving world
The rest is done on screen deployment, would expect to do
● A navigator takes a bearing from the bridge wing of HMS Lancaster – but one day there may be no
of maritime navigation, where the – though the art of traditional the same.
buoys in the water to steer by, only virtual navigation marks on an electronic chart
days of poring over paper charts navigation is not being “We still train to use paper as
information and details – and can
“Although it is more of a Automatic Identification System.
are long gone – well, almost. abandoned. well as electronic charts,” said Lt
be updated regularly.
mudflat than a rock…” This will be a bespoke military
And the pace of implementation “I think the figure for ships Cdr Aylott.
Skilled navigators take to the version of the system which
of WECDIS (Warship Electronic which use WECDIS is now up to “Electronic chart coverage of
That is an important feature as
electronic version fairly easily, already exists, where a ship picks
Chart Display and Information 22,” said Lt Cdr Aylott. the world is only about 40 to 50
more and more areas of sea bed
although it is not a doddle. up VHF signals from every other
System) is increasing, according “That includes ships such as per cent at the moment so in
are surveyed – Lt Cdr Aylott can
“It is not quite as simple as a vessel in the vicinity over 300
to Lt Cdr Peter Aylott, Officer in Illustrious and Ocean all the some parts of the world we have
vouch for that personally.
TomTom,” said Lt Cdr Aylott. tons which give details of the
Charge of the Maritime Warfare way down to Quorn, which has to revert to paper anyway.”
“There is an Aylott Rock in
“If your satnav system directs target’s identity, real-time course
School Navigation Training Unit just been fitted, and there is an There are two types of
East Falkland which was not on
you around a hill you just use and speed, destination and bill of
at HMS Collingwood. intention to fit submarines in due electronic chart available; one is
the chart before I saw it,” he said.
more fuel. lading – what cargo it is supposed
A capital ship such as HMS course.” a simple facsimile of a paper one,
“I woke up one morning and
“If your electronic chart tells to be carrying.
Ark Royal, departing on a lengthy The RN has more ships the other a fully interactive version saw it, and thought ‘that wasn’t
you to go a certain way you might Which will make it that much
deployment to the Far East in accredited for electronic navigation on which navigation features can on the chart’, so it is named after
run aground.” easier to spot the renegades who
the past, would have taken with than any British merchant line, be ‘interrogated’ to reveal more me.
On a road map you are only are off course or not behaving the
following a line, but at sea you way they would be expected to.
Ambush’s galley is batter by far
have to take things like depth of That should be starting to
water into account. appear in RN ships by the end
There is also a need for vigilance of the year, although initially it
to ensure the command team is is limited to coastal waters and
not lulled into a false sense of harbour approaches, although
ON SHROVE Tuesday what of the boat’s interior are assembled
security; several years ago a liner it has been well tested in the
better way of testing the galley outside the hull.
using electronic navigation ran Malacca Straits and the Great
facilities for a new submarine than Once each module is complete
aground 20 miles or more off Lakes.
by getting a top chef to cook and tested it is slid into the
course because no one noticed But no matter how advanced
pancakes with a nautical twist? pressure hull and fixed into place.
that the navigation system had lost the electronic system becomes,
Celebrity chef James Martin The first of class, HMS Astute,
the satellite signal it relied on. scrutiny of the navigation process
did the honours in the galley of is due to be launched in Barrow
“Electronic charts are no more is no different to before.
HMS Ambush, cooking pancakes on June 8.
clever than paper charts. They So in a busy waterway like the
with a rum sauce. Facility manager Nigel Curry
have the same information, but Solent, constant checks and cross-
Submarine Service chefs are said: “We are delighted to be in
it is processed for you rather than references will be made every
renowned for the quality of food the position of testing the galley you having to do it yourself,” said
six minutes or so, and the radar
they serve up whilst on patrol. ahead of schedule – it wasn’t even Lt Cdr Aylott.
picture is overlaid to check the
The submarine can be away due to be completed until the end The next development is WAIS
detail – and there is still the good
for up to 90 days at a time, and of May.” – the warship version of the AIS or
old Mk 1 Eyeball as well.
as the fresh fruit, vegetables, and
dairy products don’t last, the chefs
on board have to be masters of
invention.
Royal Navy chef Andy Patton,
currently serving in HMS
Turbulent, assisted in the test by MALTA, MSIDA. Very central Guest
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The Westgate Hotel
HMS Ambush, currently being
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built at BAE Systems Submarine
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and welcoming family run B&B,
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● Celebrity chef James Martin tests the spacious galley built for
BAE Systems are using modular Quality Character Stone Homes on the
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build techniques, in which sections
beautiful island of Crete
internet access etc. Excellent food,
A hunger for competition
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service and hospitality. Off road
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Plymouth
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Chester Guest House
54 Stuart Road, Pennycomequick
BUDDING RN chefs have been cutting
cherrytree_poole@btinternet.com (0030) 6949 782706
01752 663706
their teeth at a series of regional
10-bedroom property short walk from
‘feeder’ competitions around UK
establishments.
SUPPORT YOUR CLUB
station/town centre. 5-minute drive from docks.
CTV. Tea/Coffee. Secure Parking. Garden.
Email: info@chesterplymouth.co.uk
Designed to give inexperienced
All booking requirements in writing only, enclosing £5 deposit on each ~ Families welcome ~
caterers and stewards a taste of formal WEB: www.chesterplymouth.co.uk
competition, the regional heats saw
Family Room. Enclose a S.A.E. for your receipt.
chefs cook meals against strict time ACCOMMODATION: For Service Personnel, their families and dependents St Margarets Lodge
limits and stewards create cocktails
plus ex. serving personnel and R.N.A. members who may be visiting the
and fold napkins.
Portsmouth
Fleet Catering Officer Rob Frost,
Plymouth area.
who organised the competition, said: FUNCTIONS: We cater for all types of functions at very competitive
AA ◆◆◆◆
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prices. Ships Functions, Mess Parties, Wedding Receptions, Reunions of
civilian and military members of the
Special Promotion
catering services specialisation to the
ships, past and present, we offer an ideal facility.
March-April 07
competition arena.
“We were also looking to identify
up-and-coming stars to take forward to
Royal Fleet Club
Two nights or more in a double
en-suite £45.00 pn includes
future Combined Services Challenges.”
Regional events, sponsored by major
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food industry players including Douwe
Telephone inquiries only Plymouth 01752 562723 Further information:
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WITHOUT DELAY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT www.stmargarets-southsea.co.uk
029_NN_apr.indd 1 21/3/07 11:33:40
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