An Exploratory Study to Measure Sextant Technical Skills in an Increasingly Digitalized Marine Environment

ABSTRACT: The fourth industrial revolution has ushered in a transformative era for the maritime industry, marked by the increasing digitalization of vessels and the emergence of maritime autonomous surface ships (MASS). While these technological advancements provide numerous benefits, they also present associated challenges concerning the retention of conventional seafaring skills. Traditional tools such as the sextant—once a core component of celestial navigation—offer a potential countermeasure against rising cyber threats targeting satellite-based positioning systems. The current study explores the retention of sextant-related skills, focusing on both declarative and procedural knowledge. This aim was achieved by assessing skill and knowledge retention, and investigating the influence of specific variable (i.e., age, rank, years at sea, sextant use frequency) on skill retention. A total of 34 active seafarers participated in this study, with ranks ranging from cadet to captain. Participants were asked to complete two declarative tests (a written assessment of sextant components and common calibration errors) and one procedural test (manual calibration of the sextant). However, participants only completed the declarative tests, with none undertaking the procedural task. The analysis revealed no significant relationships between sextant knowledge retention and variables such as age, years at sea, rank, or frequency of sextant use. All tested correlations were weak and statistically non-significant. These findings are important as they challenge common assumptions about experience and practice directly correlating with skill retention. The results underscore the need for a reassessment of maritime training approaches to ensure the continued competence in traditional navigation methods. This is particularly relevant given the maritime sector’s increasing dependence on digital systems, highlighting the value of preserving manual navigation skills as a critical backup in the event of technological failure.

KEYWORDS: Safety of Navigation, Maritime Education and Training (MET), Aids to Navigation (AtoN), e-Navigation, Astronavigation, Cybersecurity, Human Factors and Crew Resource Management, STCW Implementation and Maritime Policy

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Citation note:

Leclerc Y., Obeng F.: An Exploratory Study to Measure Sextant Technical Skills in an Increasingly Digitalized Marine Environment. TransNav, the International Journal on Marine Navigation and Safety of Sea Transportation, Vol. 20, No. 2, doi:10.12716/1001.20.02.25, pp. 517-526, 2026

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