Radio aids to marine navigation: the seaman´s requirements

This paper deals with the requirements of the mariner in connection with radio aids to navigation. It opens with the description of the various circumstances in which other aids may fail and an impression of the positional accuracy suited to those circumstances. This is followed by a statement of the theoretical accuracy of the various radio aids which are available and of the areas in which coverage is provided at the present time; an examination is made of one or two areas in which such aids may be used consecutively in an approach to the destination, and this is followed by an impression of the extent to which these aids are employed by British ships. This leads to a brief study of the factors which govern the appeal that the various aids have to those responsible for providing equipment in ships. This opens the way to a more detailed study, from the mariner´s point of view, of the shortcomings of the various aids and the directions in which development might be undertaken towards greater reliability, better performance, extension of cover, and wider application.