For many candidates, the navigation task is the biggest hurdle of the SBF Coastal license. It’s what sets the SBF Coastal apart from the SBF Inland – and it requires a basic understanding of working with a nautical chart. In this article we explain the exact structure, the task types and give tips for preparation.

What is the navigation task?

The navigation task is a self-contained part of the SBF Coastal theory exam. In addition to the 30 multiple-choice questions (7 basic questions + 23 specific coastal questions), you work through one navigation task with 9 sub-questions. You have 60 minutes in total for the entire theory exam.

Passing threshold

Of the 9 navigation questions you have to answer at least 7 correctly. The navigation task is graded separately – even if you get all the other questions right, you fail if you solve fewer than 7 of the 9 navigation questions correctly.

The nautical chart D49

All navigation tasks are based on the training chart D49 – a chart excerpt of the mouths of the Jade, Weser and Elbe (also known as training chart 49 or INT 1463). In the exam you receive a to-scale excerpt of this chart on which you plot courses, determine positions and enter bearings.

The D49 isn’t a practice chart that’s only for studying – it’s the official basis for all 15 navigation tasks in the official question catalog.

The official question catalog: 15 navigation tasks

The question catalog from ELWIS (Electronic Waterways Information Service) contains exactly 15 navigation tasks, each with its own chart excerpt. In the exam you get one of these 15 tasks – you don’t know in advance which one.

From a pool of 15 possible sub-questions, 9 are selected for each task. This means: the question types repeat, but the specific values and positions change from task to task.

Which task types come up?

The 15 possible sub-questions cover these areas:

1. Calculate and plot a course

  • True course (rwK): The course relative to the geographic North Pole. You read it from the chart with the course plotter or plot it in.
  • Magnetic course (mwK): The true course corrected for variation – the difference between the geographic and magnetic North Pole. The variation is given on the chart (compass rose).
  • Compass course (MgK): The magnetic course corrected for deviation – the ship’s own magnetic disturbance. You take the deviation from a ship-specific table.

The conversion formula: rwK = MgK + deviation + variation (or the reverse, depending on the question).

2. Bearings

You’re given bearings to lighthouses or other prominent points and have to enter them on the chart. Conversely, the task may require you to read bearings off the chart. Bearings are the basis for position fixing at sea.

3. Determine and plot a position

  • Read off a geographic position: You determine the coordinates (latitude and longitude) of a point on the chart.
  • Plot a position: You’re given coordinates and have to mark the point on the chart.

4. Measure distances

You measure the distance between two points on the chart – in nautical miles (NM). For this you use the latitude scale on the side margin of the chart (1 arc minute of latitude = 1 nautical mile).

5. Dead reckoning

In dead reckoning you calculate your vessel’s expected position starting from a known starting point, the steered course and the distance covered. The result is the dead-reckoning position (Ok) – the calculated position without taking current and wind into account.

6. Set and drift (Besteckversetzung)

The set and drift (BV) is the vector from the dead-reckoning position to the actually observed position. It shows how strongly current, wind and other influences have pushed your vessel off the calculated course – given as direction and distance.

7. Time and speed calculations

  • Speed: distance divided by time (in knots – nautical miles per hour)
  • Time: distance divided by speed
  • Distance: speed times time

8. Describe a navigation mark

You’re given a symbol on the chart and have to describe the corresponding navigation mark: color, characteristic (flash rhythm), topmark, nominal range, light height and type of light.

9. Explain chart symbols

You see an entry on the chart and have to explain what it means – for example depth figures, buoys, wrecks or restricted areas.

Which tools do you need?

For the navigation task you need (and may bring):

  • Course plotter (navigation triangle): For plotting and reading off courses
  • Dividers: For measuring distances
  • Pencil and eraser: The chart gets written on and plotted
  • Calculator: For time/speed calculations (a simple calculator, not a smartphone)

Time management in the exam

The entire theory exam lasts 60 minutes for 30 questions plus 9 navigation questions. Experience shows that practiced candidates need 15 to 20 minutes for the navigation task. To be safe, plan for 25 to 30 minutes and tackle the navigation task first – it requires the most concentration.

Tips for preparation

Work through all 15 tasks

There are exactly 15 navigation tasks – no more. Anyone who has worked through all 15 cleanly at least once knows every task type and every difficulty that can come up in the exam. The tasks are available free of charge on the ELWIS website.

Know the conversions by heart

The formula rwK → mwK → MgK (and back) has to be solid. Practice the conversion until you can do it in your sleep. The most common mistakes happen with the signs – variation and deviation can be positive (East) or negative (West). You’ll find a step-by-step guide with worked examples in our article Course conversion for the SBF Coastal: rwK, mwK & MgK explained simply.

Practice with the real chart

Practice with a to-scale printout of the D49 – not just on screen. In the exam you work on paper, and handling the course plotter and dividers on a real chart feels different from practicing digitally.

Learn navigation marks systematically

The questions on navigation marks and chart entries are pure knowledge questions. Learn the most important symbols of Chart 1 / INT 1 (symbols and abbreviations used on charts) – lighthouses, buoys, depth contours, wrecks and restricted areas.

Conclusion

The navigation task in the SBF Coastal is demanding but manageable. There are exactly 15 tasks in the official question catalog, and the task types repeat. Anyone who works through all 15 tasks, masters the conversion formulas and practices with the real D49 chart is well prepared. In the Boatpass app you can train the navigation questions in a targeted way – separately from the rest of the question catalog.