Why is accurate timekeeping significant in navigation?

Accurate timekeeping is crucial for determining a vessel's position because many navigational methods depend on precise time measurements. For instance, systems such as GPS require the exact time at which signals are transmitted from satellites to compute a location. The process involves triangulating the position based on the time delay of signals traveling from multiple satellites to the receiver.

In celestial navigation, knowing the exact time allows navigators to use astronomical observations effectively to calculate their latitude and longitude. Without accurate time, positioning calculations can be significantly off, leading to navigation errors that can jeopardize safety at sea. Thus, precise timekeeping is fundamental to accurate navigation, making it imperative for captains and navigators to maintain and check their ship's clocks regularly.