Therefore, in the aviation and nautical worlds, knots are oftentimes used in place of MPH and KPH since they are easier to navigate with. Unlike statute – or land based – miles, nautical miles are based directly on the Earth's degree of latitudes. One nautical mile equates exactly to one minute of latitude.

Ships use knots (nautical miles per hour) because they are based on the latitude and longitude coordinates used for global navigation. One nautical mile is equal to exactly one minute of latitude on the Earth's surface. This makes it a high-value tool for navigators because they can easily calculate distance on a chart without needing complex conversions to "statute" miles. Historically, the term "knot" comes from sailors dropping a "chip log" into the water and counting how many knots in the rope were pulled out over a set time. In 2026, while GPS handles the math, the "knot" remains the universal maritime standard. One knot is approximately 1.15 mph, so a ship traveling at 20 knots is actually moving at a high-value speed of about 23 mph—a small but critical distinction for maritime safety and fuel efficiency calculations.