What does the "dead reckoning" method in navigation involve?

The "dead reckoning" method in navigation involves estimating the current position of a vessel based on its previously determined position, course, speed, and the elapsed time since the last position fix. This technique relies on calculations that take into account the direction the vessel is moving and how fast it is traveling. As time progresses, navigators update the vessel's position accordingly, which is crucial for maintaining an accurate course, especially when other methods of positioning (like GPS) are unavailable or unreliable.

While other navigation methods, such as celestial navigation or visual navigation using landmarks, play critical roles in maritime navigation, they do not involve the continuous estimation of position based on speed and direction, which is the essence of dead reckoning. Determining fuel needs is related to planning the voyage but does not factor into the navigational method itself. Therefore, the focus on course and speed over time makes this method vital for situational awareness at sea.