The influence of coordinates error of navigational marks on the accuracy of position in radar navigation

Terrestrial navigation is one of the method of parametric navigation, i.e. a method of fix determination. Recently the method has become quite common again thanks to automated measurements of navigational parameters (radar navigation, radio direction finders and others) and connection with the ECDIS. The accuracy of position coordinates determined by such method is affected by navigational measurement errors and the accuracy of navigational mark coordinates used for position determination. The coordinates values are obtained from nautical publications (including charted data) or from an electronic chart data base. This article presents an original method for an analysis of how the accuracy of navigational mark coordinates affects the accuracy of ship’s fix. Considerations are supplemented with an example of the most common terrestrial position determination in marine navigation.