RNLI Atlantic 85, Manual

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Activity 7 - Navigation
B Class Atlantic 85 Manual – First Issue, June 2017
Activity 7 - Navigation
Navigation package
The on-board navigation package for the Atlantic 85
comprises of:
• radar
• an electronic chart system
• an automatic identification system (AIS) system with
associated aerials
• direction finder (DF)
• depth sounder.
The above are operated through the RNLI Systems and
Information Management System (SIMS) and are available
on either of the screens at crew seats 2 and 3, or linked to
the repeaters on the helm seat. In addition to SIMS, there
are paper charts, tide tables and standard chart tools.
NOTE
The primary method of navigation on the Atlantic
85, as with all vessels, is with paper charts. With the
possibility of electrical failure, electronic navigation
systems should not be heavily relied upon.
Start up of RNLI SIMS
RNLI SIMS has 3 toggle switches: Nav 1, Nav 2 and Radar.
These three switches should be turned on to power up
the system.
SIMS functions
Either screen can be used to control any of the RNLI
SIMS functions, however only one screen at any one
time can be the ‘master’ which has full functionality.
The other screen will become the slave and have limited
functionality. The system is able to give the navigator
a huge amount of information including position,
bearing to waypoint/boat heading/depth, distance,
time, ETA, COG and SOG. The Chart Plotter, being an
RNLI designed and built system, also allows the user to
input a parallel track or creeping line ahead search as
per the tasking form on the SAR check cards. The depth
sounder indicates the depth of water under the lowest
point of the boat, in the Atlantic 85’s case, the outboard
engine leg.
Various electronic navigation alarms may be displayed
including XTE, waypoint proximity and man overbaord
(MOB). The MOB is activated by the MOB cord on the
4th seat and by using the red MOB button on the console
between crew seats 2 and 3. Once activated, the MOB
position is displayed on the chart along with the range and
bearing back to that position, and the time that the MOB
alarm was activated.
RNLI SIMS handheld controller
The RNLI SIMS handheld controller operates
similar to a standard computer mouse and has the
following functions:
1 – similar to a mouse right
hand button, it has the
following uses:
• right click on an orange
hot key, as the first step
to taking control of a
particular function
• certain specific functions in
the chart package and
radar package.
2 – similar to a mouse centre
button, it is used toggle
between sims functions of
radar, chart, alarms, df and
the RNLI SIMS hot keys.
3 – similar to a mouse left hand
button, which controls most
actions, it is used specifically
for the following:
• to select an item
on screen
• to operate a function
on screen.
4 – Roller ball – used to
move the cursor around
the screen.
1
2
3
4
NOTE
Turning on the radar switch will not cause a hazard.
Radiation will only occur if the radar is set to
transmit. With the switch on, it is in standby
mode and not pulsing.
By default, the port SIMS screen will show the chart
plotter and the starboard SIMS screen will show
the radar.