Free maritime lessons: navigation, stability, weather, safety and law
Plain-English lessons written for skipper candidates and STCW seafarers. Each lesson explains the idea, gives the numbers and formulas you need, shows the common mistakes and ends with a practice question. Open any lesson in the Academy to work through every check question and track your progress.
145 lessons
COLREG: rules of the road
Rules 1–37, vessel lights and shapes, sound and distress signals, with 3D views; the annexes at officer level.
IALA buoyage
Lateral, cardinal, isolated danger, safe water, special and emergency wreck marks in Regions A and B.
Navigation
Charts and chartwork, compass, tides and tidal streams, pilotage, electronic navigation and radar, passage planning, the sailings and ECDIS.
More fixes: running fix, doubling the angle and dipping lights4 parts · Level R4
Reading a nautical chart: latitude, longitude, symbols and depths5 parts · Level R2
Chartwork: plotting courses, distances and bearings5 parts · Level R3
Steering a compass course and taking a bearing4 parts · Level R2
Dead reckoning and estimated position5 parts · Level R3
ECDIS basics: ENCs (S-57 and the new S-101), safety settings and alarms6 parts · Level P3
Electronic navigation: GPS errors, AIS and a paper backup5 parts · Level R3
GPS and chart plotter basics: position, waypoints and limits5 parts · Level R2
Great-circle sailing: distance, initial course and vertex5 parts · Level R5
Gyro compass, repeaters and compass error checks5 parts · Level P3
Near-coastal passages and the navigational watch on ships under 500 GT5 parts · Level P2
Ocean passage planning: routeing charts and seasons5 parts · Level R5
Offshore passages: night sailing, watches and landfall5 parts · Level R4
Passage planning: appraise, plan, execute and monitor5 parts · Level R3
Pilotage: transits, clearing bearings and harbour entry4 parts · Level R3
Compass error by the Pole Star, and time: UT, zone time and legal time4 parts · Level R4
Position fixing: cross bearings, transits and bearing with distance5 parts · Level R3
Nautical publications and chart corrections: almanacs, pilot books, lists of lights and Notices to Mariners5 parts · Level R4
Radar on a small vessel: range, bearing, clutter and echoes6 parts · Level R4
Rhumb-line sailing by calculation5 parts · Level R4
Tidal stream and leeway: set, drift and course to steer4 parts · Level R3
Tidal streams: atlases, tidal diamonds and timing a passage4 parts · Level R3
Tides in depth: secondary ports, tidal curves and clearances4 parts · Level R4
Voyage planning at management level: ECDIS, routeing, ice and restricted waters6 parts · Level P4
Ship stability and stowage
GM, the GZ curve, trim, loading and ballast, from the stowage and stability studio.
Cargo planning, hull stresses and stability management5 parts · Level P4
Cargo securing and dangerous goods basics (CSS and IMDG Codes)5 parts · Level P3
Centre of gravity and metacentric height (GM)5 parts · Level P3
The GZ curve and the stability criteria (2008 IS Code)5 parts · Level P3
Displacement, draught and hydrostatics5 parts · Level P3
Load lines, freeboard and draught marks (Load Line Convention)5 parts · Level P3
Loading, ballast and the stowage plan5 parts · Level P3
Working stability on small ships: loading, free surface and trim5 parts · Level P2
Why a boat stays upright: weight, buoyancy and righting lever5 parts · Level R2
Damage stability calculations, longitudinal strength and the draught survey5 parts · Level P4
Stress tables, loading instruments and partial loss of intact buoyancy5 parts · Level P3
Trim, list and free surface5 parts · Level P3
Yacht stability: metacentre, types of equilibrium, shifting weights, the GZ curve and AVS6 parts · Level R4
Meteorology
From the forecast and the Beaufort scale to fronts, synoptic charts, GRIB models, tropical storms and ocean weather.
Clouds, humidity and dew point3 parts · Level R3
Fog and visibility at sea4 parts · Level R3
Getting a marine forecast: sources, terms and timing4 parts · Level R1
GRIB files and weather models: use and limits5 parts · Level R4
Local winds: sea breezes, katabatic winds, gusts and named winds5 parts · Level R3
Weather observations and reports from ships6 parts · Level P3
Global winds, ocean weather and sea ice6 parts · Level R5
Forecasting on board: barometer, sky and sea5 parts · Level R4
Pressure, air masses, depressions and fronts5 parts · Level R3
Squalls, thunderstorms and waterspouts6 parts · Level R4
Reading a synoptic chart: isobars, wind and the coming weather4 parts · Level R3
Tropical revolving storms: seasons, signs and avoidance6 parts · Level R5
Weather routeing and heavy-weather voyage planning5 parts · Level P4
Seamanship basics: ropes, knots and the boat
16 knots in 3D, mooring, anchoring and seamanship basics.
Deck work safely: snap-back zones, working aloft and over the side, enclosed spaces and permits to work (ratings)5 parts · Level P1
Mooring lines and fenders: bow, stern and spring lines3 parts · Level R2
Rope handling: coiling, cleating, winches and throwing a line4 parts · Level R1
Rope materials, strength and care; basic splices5 parts · Level R3
Ship mooring and anchoring stations: mooring and tug lines, safe working loads, the windlass and buoy mooring (STCW A-II/5)5 parts · Level P1
Emergencies at sea
Fire, flooding, man overboard, abandoning ship and search and rescue, as step-by-step drills.
Abandoning ship: liferaft, grab bag and survival5 parts · Level R3
Advanced fire fighting: control, organisation and investigation (STCW A-VI/3)5 parts · Level P3
Search and rescue near the coast: IAMSAR for small ships5 parts · Level P2
Drills: emergencies step by step5 parts · Level R3
Emergency organisation on board and responding to distress (IAMSAR)5 parts · Level P3
Leading the emergency response and coordinating search and rescue6 parts · Level P4
Fast rescue boats: launching, handling and recovery (STCW A-VI/2-2)5 parts · Level P3
Fire on board: prevention and fighting5 parts · Level R1
Fire on ships: fire chemistry, ignition sources, detection and fixed systems (STCW A-VI/1-2)6 parts · Level P1
Fighting fire: extinguishers, hoses, breathing apparatus and the fire party6 parts · Level P1
Collision, grounding, flooding and damage control5 parts · Level R3
Life-saving appliances: lifejackets, immersion suits, lifeboats and liferafts6 parts · Level P1
Emergency types, alarm signals and muster lists (STCW A-VI/1-1)5 parts · Level P1
Safety equipment and the crew safety briefing5 parts · Level R1
Search and rescue: who to call and how help comes4 parts · Level R3
Launching and handling survival craft and rescue boats (STCW A-VI/2-1)6 parts · Level P3
Personal survival: abandoning, in the water and in survival craft6 parts · Level P1
Medical care on board
First aid, wounds and burns, hypothermia, the medicine chest and radio medical advice. A training aid, not medical advice.
Body structure, shock, electric shock and moving a casualty (STCW A-VI/1-3)6 parts · Level P1
Hypothermia, cold-water immersion, drowning and heat illness6 parts · Level R3
First aid and resuscitation5 parts · Level R3
Wounds, burns and fractures6 parts · Level R3
Medical care on board: treatment, nursing and death at sea (STCW A-VI/4-2)6 parts · Level P4
Medical first aid (STCW A-VI/4-1): examining a casualty, toxic hazards (MFAG) and the ship's medical guide6 parts · Level P3
The medicine chest and seasickness5 parts · Level R3
Radio medical advice and evacuation5 parts · Level R4
Manoeuvring and ship handling
Propeller walk, wind and current, berthing, anchoring and turning, with a docking simulator.
Astronomy and celestial navigation
The sky at sea, the sextant, the noon sight and sight reduction, with a 3D night sky.
Compass error by azimuth and amplitude4 parts · Level R5
The noon sight: latitude by the Sun5 parts · Level R5
The sextant and its corrections5 parts · Level R5
Sight reduction and the position line5 parts · Level R5
The celestial sphere, stars and planets5 parts · Level R5
Star, planet and Moon sights; latitude by Polaris5 parts · Level R5
Time, the almanac and the Sun's position4 parts · Level R5
The ship: hull, engines and systems
Parts of the ship, ship types, the marine diesel engine, electrics, steering and fuel.
Ship construction: structure, watertight integrity and dry-docking6 parts · Level P3
Deck equipment and machinery: winches, cranes, hatches, watertight doors, pilot ladders and gangways6 parts · Level P1
The marine diesel engine5 parts · Level R3
Batteries, charging and electrics5 parts · Level R3
Engine checks before you go, and outboard care4 parts · Level R1
Gas and petrol safety aboard: LPG, fuel vapour and ventilation5 parts · Level R3
Propulsion basics: how a boat is pushed4 parts · Level R2
Remote control of the propulsion plant and engineering systems (STCW A-II/2)5 parts · Level P4
Types of propulsion, one by one11 parts · Level R3
Steering gear and autopilot: change-over, tests and drills (SOLAS V/26)4 parts · Level P1
Cargo and stores (IMDG labels), painting, lubrication and routine maintenance5 parts · Level P1
Surveys, certificates, maintenance and dry-docking6 parts · Level P4
Steering, fuel, water and bilge systems5 parts · Level R3
Engine trouble at sea: fuel, cooling and air5 parts · Level R4
Maritime English and signals
Standard Marine Communication Phrases, VHF etiquette, signal flags, Morse and light signals.
Sailing and sail trim
How a sail works, points of sail, trim, reefing and rigging, with a wind and sail lab.
Maritime law, rules and watchkeeping
SOLAS, MARPOL, MLC and the law of the sea, safe watchkeeping, bridge teamwork and fatigue.
SOLAS, MARPOL, STCW and the IMO conventions6 parts · Level P3
Designated security duties: access control, searches and security equipment (STCW A-VI/6-2)5 parts · Level P1
Flags, papers and cruising in foreign waters4 parts · Level R3
Leadership, teamwork, fatigue and seafarers' rights (MLC)6 parts · Level P3
The law of the sea, flag states and port state control5 parts · Level P3- Leadership, crew management and training on board4 parts · Level P4
Personal safety, social responsibilities and preventing violence and harassment (STCW A-VI/1-4)6 parts · Level P1
Boating rules: licences, documents, required equipment and zones4 parts · Level R2
Brazil: NORMAM-211 rules for recreational craft4 parts · Level R2
Germany: the inland rules (BinSchStrO) where they differ from CEVNI4 parts · Level R2
Germany: the seaways rules (SeeSchStrO): fairways, signals and right of way4 parts · Level R2
Spain: navigation zones, required equipment and documents4 parts · Level R2
France: safety equipment by distance from shelter (Division 240) and documents4 parts · Level R2
Greece: speedboat rules, coastal limits and documents4 parts · Level R2
Croatia: navigation areas, safety equipment and documents4 parts · Level R2
India: the Merchant Shipping Act and DG Shipping requirements for deck officers4 parts · Level P3
Italy: navigation limits, safety equipment and documents4 parts · Level R2
The Netherlands: the inland rules (BPR), right of way and waterway signs4 parts · Level R2
The Philippines: maritime law and MARINA requirements for deck officers4 parts · Level P3
Portugal: navigation areas, safety equipment and documents4 parts · Level R2
United States: federal rules for small passenger and uninspected vessels (46 CFR, 33 CFR)4 parts · Level R4
Safety management on board: the ISM Code5 parts · Level P3
Security awareness: the ISPS Code and security levels (STCW A-VI/6-1)5 parts · Level P1
The master's business: certificates, port state control, ISM audits and the law5 parts · Level P4
Ship security officer: the security plan, risk assessment and inspections (STCW A-VI/5)5 parts · Level P3
Keeping a watch as a rating: helm orders in English and handovers (STCW A-II/4)5 parts · Level P1
Safe watchkeeping and the bridge team (STCW Code A-VIII/2)5 parts · Level P3
Ocean, tides and environment
Why tides happen, ocean currents and waves, pollution at sea, protected areas and marine life.
Ocean currents (the main Atlantic currents), waves and swell4 parts · Level R4
Protected areas and marine life4 parts · Level R2
Pollution at sea and MARPOL on board5 parts · Level R2
Pollution prevention on ships: oil record book, garbage plan, SOPEP, ballast water and emission control areas6 parts · Level P3