Nautical Term: FIXING
Definition of FIXING
Fixing a Position at Sea
This term refers to the process by which a mariner determines the exact position of a vessel at sea. This is typically accomplished by using a combination of navigational tools, such as a GPS receiver, compass, chart, and sextant.
For example, consider a sailor aboard a cargo ship who needs to fix the vessel’s position while crossing the Atlantic Ocean. To do this, the sailor uses the ship’s GPS receiver to obtain the vessel’s current latitude and longitude coordinates. Next, the sailor uses the ship’s compass to check the vessel’s heading, or direction of travel. Then, the sailor uses the ship’s chart to determine the vessel’s position relative to nearby landmarks and navigational aids. Finally, the sailor uses the ship’s sextant to measure the angle between the vessel’s position and the position of the sun or a known star. By combining all of this information, the sailor is able to fix the vessel’s position at sea with a high degree of accuracy.
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