Assignment: Marine Operations

(1) Properties of a gyroscope for use as a compass.

Gyroscopic Inertia

The inertia of any body is its property due to its motion, following
are factors that affect the inertia

 The Rotor’s Mass

 The distribution of mass
 Rotational speed of the rotor

Precession: it is the opposing force that is caused by the combination of

the spin motion of the rotor with that of the external applied Force.

(2) Three Degrees of Freedom.

The degree of freedom is defined as the extent to which the gyro compass
can freely rotate around its axis or planes

Free rotation about the axle

Free tilt about the horizontal in a vertical plane
Free drift about the vertical in a horizontal plane

(3) Movement of the North End of a Controlled and Damped

Gyroscope.

The spin axis of a freely suspended gyro traces out a circular path as it
remains pointing in a fixed direction in space, i.e. the apparent movement
due to the earth’s rotation. The requirements of a gyro compass are that
the spin axis should point in a fixed direction, True North, 000°T

North Seeking
Gravity is used to apply a force to make the free gyroscope North
seeking.

This method of making the gyroscope North seeking is termed ‘Gravity

Control’.

The principle may be shown by suspending a weight on the spin axis.

 HR0H 35 Management of Bridge Operations
LO3 – Tutor Marked Assignment (TMA)

The result is that the spin axis oscillates backwards and forwards across the
meridian but does not settle and point in a fixed direction.

The Damped Gyroscope

• When the north end tips up, mercury will flow under gravity from the
North pot to the south pot, hence causing control precession.

• The connection point of the yolk is no longer under the rotor and now sits
under the N end and to the east of the centre of gravity of the rotor.

• This gives rise to a force at the North trying to force it to the west and to
tilt down. The downwards force will be overcome by the transfer of
mercury, however the westwards force on the N end will remain.

Page 1 of 9
Version: 1 November 2020 Created by: AA
Reviewed by:RS
 HR0H 35 Management of Bridge Operations
LO3 – Tutor Marked Assignment (TMA)

(4) With reference to a gyro compass spin axis, explain

a) Damping:
The method of making the gyroscope North settling is termed
‘Damping’.
Two methods to obtain Damping
Damping in Azimuth and Damping in Tilt
b) Damping in Azimuth/Drift

When the spin axis moves out of the meridian the damping precession
opposes this movement, bringing the spin axis back to the meridian.

c) Damping in Tilt: when the spin axis moves out of the horizontal the
damping precession opposes this movement, bringing the spin axis back
to the horizontal

(5) Purpose AND Operation of a gyro compass follow up system.

Page 2 of 9
Version: 1 November 2020 Created by: AA
Reviewed by:RS
 HR0H 35 Management of Bridge Operations
LO3 – Tutor Marked Assignment (TMA)

An electrical follow-up for remote control systems

wherein the position of a control element or sending
instrument, such as the sensitive element of a gyroscopic compass,
controls the position of a follow-up element or other receiving device.
The vertical ring must follow the rotor as the spin axis seeks and settles in
the meridian and must remained aligned with the rotor when the ship
alters course in order that the wire suspension does not twist and
apply a torque to the rotor.

(6) Interface of the ship’s gyrocompass with other navigational

equipment

Operational Checks of Gyro

Prior to sailing check alignment of all interfaced equipment and allow at

least one hour for gyro to settle.

Should the Gyro compass fail or wander

 Call the Master

 Change over to Back –up (TMC) and/ or Engage hand Steering
 Inform Engine room
 Check power supply for interruption and/or variation in power
input.
 Check Speed & Latitude input.

Page 3 of 9
Version: 1 November 2020 Created by: AA
Reviewed by:RS
 HR0H 35 Management of Bridge Operations
LO3 – Tutor Marked Assignment (TMA)

 Check GPS & Bridge Management system input (i.e

speed & latitude).
 Check connection between Master gyro and repeaters.
 Check all interfaced equipment.

(7) Explain why it is necessary to consider the Latitude, Course and Speed of
a ship when determining the direction of True North?
The rotation of the earth imposes an apparent force on the free gyroscope.
The effect of this force is dependent on the speed of the earth’s rotation.
The speed of the earth’s rotation varies with latitude (900’ x cosine
latitude).
These forces are dependent on the course and speed of the ship.
To calculate the errors, formulae are given.

When calculating the error incurred by Latitude, course and speed the
following formula is used:

vcos∅
tanθ=
900 cos ( Latitude )+ V sin ∅

Compared to earth’s speed 900, (V sin Co) is negligible.

vcos ∅
tanθ=
900 cos ( Latitude )

(8) Calculate the Latitude, Course and Speed Error for following ships

a) ship steering 230°T at 22.0 knots in Latitude 41° 24’S.

The formula used here is

vcos∅
tanθ=
900 cos ( Latitude )+ V sin ∅

Page 4 of 9
Version: 1 November 2020 Created by: AA
Reviewed by:RS
 HR0H 35 Management of Bridge Operations
LO3 – Tutor Marked Assignment (TMA)

For most cases V sin ∅ = 0

So the Latitude error=
Compass C Deviation
220 2
230 3.2
10 1.2
03 X
So the difference of deviation = 3 x 1.2/(10) =0.36 degrees
Deviation of course 217 = 3.2 – 0.36 = 2.84degrees W

b) ship steering 140°T at 15.0 knots in Latitude 56° 00’N.

vcos∅
tanθ=
900 cos ( Latitude )+ V sin ∅

For most cases V sin ∅ = 0

So the Latitude error=
Compass C Deviation
130 1
140 2
10 1.2
03 X
So the difference of deviation = 3 x 1/ (10) =0.3 degrees
Deviation of course 140 = 1 – 0.3 = 0.7 degrees W

(9) Explain two methods that are utilised to counter the effects of the ship’s
latitude, course and speed in a modern gyro compass.

Method of Damping (Sperry Gyroscope)

The Pots are held in a yolk which connects the North and South pots on
each end of the axis. The yolk also runs below the Rotor casing and is
connected to the casing below the rotor.

Page 5 of 9
Version: 1 November 2020 Created by: AA
Reviewed by:RS
 HR0H 35 Management of Bridge Operations
LO3 – Tutor Marked Assignment (TMA)

The connection of the yolk to the casing is not situated

directly below the centre of gravity of the rotor, but is
offset slightly to the east of bottom dead centre.

Brown Gyro

• The Brown gyro uses a slightly different method of obtaining damping. In

this case a second set of oil bottles are used which are smaller than the
working bottles. (66% of working bottles). The working bottles are on the
eastern side of the gyro and the damping bottles are on the west side of
the gyro.

• The damping bottles are connected to the air valve on the brown gyro but
are connected in the opposite way from the working bottles.

Page 6 of 9
Version: 1 November 2020 Created by: AA
Reviewed by:RS
 HR0H 35 Management of Bridge Operations
LO3 – Tutor Marked Assignment (TMA)

Page 7 of 9
Version: 1 November 2020 Created by: AA
Reviewed by:RS