What does compensating for errors in navigation involve?

Compensating for errors in navigation primarily involves adjusting the course or speed of the vessel to effectively counter any navigational inaccuracies. This process is essential for maintaining a desired track and ensuring safe passage. For instance, if a navigator determines that the vessel has drifted off course due to currents, wind, or other factors, they would adjust the course or speed accordingly to return to the intended route. This proactive adjustment helps eliminate or mitigate the impact of errors, ensuring that the vessel remains on a safe and efficient path.

In contrast, adjusting the vessel’s position on a chart pertains to ensuring that the plotted position accurately represents the vessel's actual location but does not directly address dynamic navigational errors. Utilizing a different route may be a precautionary step when encountering known hazards, but it does not specifically entail compensating for established errors. Similarly, computing distances using nautical miles is a critical navigation skill but does not relate to adjusting for errors in navigation itself.