Station-keeping in a nautical situation is when a vessel is to:
* maintain a position in relation to another moving vessel or vessels, such as when
** conducting
underway replenishment
Replenishment at sea (RAS) (North Atlantic Treaty Organization/Commonwealth of Nations) or underway replenishment (UNREP) (U.S. Navy) is a method of transferring fuel, munitions, and stores from one ship to another while under way. First develope ...
or
** part of a
task force or
convoy
A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support and can help maintain cohesion within a unit. It may also be used ...
* maintaining a fixed position in relation to a fixed object or
* patrolling a defined sector in relation to a fixed object.
See also
*
Dynamic positioning
Dynamic positioning (DP) is a computer-controlled system to automatically maintain a vessel's position and heading by using its own propellers and thrusters. Position reference sensors, combined with wind sensors, motion sensors and gyrocompass ...
Navigation
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