Candidate’s Name: National ID:

Ports and Maritime Organization

Seafarers' Affairs Directorate
Exam Code: SMNV-994
Subject: Electronic Navigational Aids Date: 13/11/1399
Rank: Second Officer (GT≥500) Time Allowed: 2.5 Hours
(Pass mark: 55)

Q1 With the aid of simple sketch/s describe the principles of the global positioning system
(GPS)?
From the point of view of surveying or navigation, the GPS system may be viewed simply
as a continuous series of radio signals broadcast from orbiting satellites to a radio receiver
on the surface of
the earth. These signals contain information on the position of the satellites, measurement
data indicating the distance (range) to each satellite, and information describing the
relative velocity of the satellites with respect to the receiver. GPS position solution can be
reduced to a familiar problem in trigonometry, known as a distance intersection. If we can
measures the distance of three known points from an unknown point, the x, y, and z
coordinates of the unknown point can be computed.
In order to understand how the GPS satellite system works, it is very helpful to understand
the concept
of trilateration.
Trilateration is a basic geometric principle that allows
you to find one location if you know its distance from
other, already known locations. The geometry behind
this is very easy to understand in two dimensional space. 20 marks
This same concept works in three dimensional space as
well, but you're dealing with spheres instead of circles.
You also need four spheres instead of three circles to
find your exact location. The heart of a GPS receiver is
the ability to find the receiver's distance from four (or
more) GPS satellites. Once it determines its distance
from the four satellites, the receiver can calculate its exact location and altitude on Earth! If
the receiver can only find three satellites, then it can use an imaginary sphere to represent
the Earth and can give you location information but no altitude information.
For a GPS receiver to find your location, it has to determine two things:
- The location of at least three satellites above you
- The distance between you and each of those satellites.

Ref: Electronic Navigation Systems, Laurie Tetley, page.154, 162.

Q2 With the aid of a neat sketch, describe Electrostrictive transducer used in echo
sounder? 20 marks
 ELECTROSTRICTIVE TRANSDUCER: some materials (Rochelle salt and quartz
crystals) possess the property that, when a mechanical stress is applied to the two opposite
faces, electric charges will change, the positive face becomes negative and negative face
become positive depend upon compress-ional or tensional side. When the crystals are set
vibrating mechanically, an alternating voltage is generated between the two faces. This
property is reciprocal, when a voltage is applied between the two faces, the crystal contract
or expands a little, according to which face is positive and negative. if an alternative
voltage applies to both side the crystal start vibration and make sound waves.
The crystal is sandwiched between two steel plates. When an alternating voltage is applied
between the steel plate of the transducer, the crystal and plates vibrate together. These
vibrations are enhanced by resonance. The lower of the two steel plates is in contact with
the water and so produces the vibration in the water. Often only one electrostrictive
transducer, which serves as transmitter as well as receiver, is installed on board sandwich
of two stainless steel cylinders . The whole unit is pre-stressed by inserting a stainless steel
bolt through the center of the active unit as shown in figure 2.6.
The Electrostrictive
transducer is only fitted on
large merchant vessels when
the power transmitted is low
and the frequency is high,
such a transducer is
manufactured by mounting
two crystal slices in a
sandwich of two stainless
steel cylinders . The whole
unit is pre-stressed by
inserting a stainless steel bolt
through the center of the active unit as shown in figure 2.6 .

Ref: Electronic Navigation Systems, Laurie Tetley, page.28, 29 Radar and electronic
navigation by Sonnenberg page.53

Q3 With respect to gyro compass explain the following errors:

a) Latitude, course and speed error

b) Damping error
c) Transmission error
d) Manoeuvring (ballistic) error:

a) Latitude, course and speed error:

The gyro compass installed in a ship senses an apparent motion that is Each 5
compounded of the earth’s movement and the speed of movement of the ship over Marks
the earth. If the ship’s course has a northerly component, then the apparent motion
of the gyro causes a westerly settling error; if the ship’s course has a southerly
component, the settling error is to the east. This error is called speed error or
latitude/course/speed error.
b) Damping error:
Gyro damped in tilt do not settle quite in the meridian, except in equator. In north latitude
the north end of gyro axle will settle tilted slightly upwards and to the east of the meridian.
The small amount, the axle settles out of the meridian is known as damping. Manufacturers
 usually arrange their compasses so that damping error can be eliminated. In early
compasses, this was achieved by a mechanical device which moved the lubber line.
Modern designs incorporate the use of torque motor which incorporate a precession to the
gyro axle to allow it to settle in the meridian.
c) Transmission error:
An error existing between the indicated heading on the master compass and the heading
produced by any remote repeater is a transmission error. Transmission errors are kept to a
minimum by the use of multispeed pulse transmission.

Manoeuvring (ballistic) error:

This error occurs whenever the ship is subject to rapid changes of speed or heading.
Because of its pendulous nature, the compass gravity control moves away from the centre
of gravity whenever the vessel changes speed or alters course. Torque’s produced about the
horizontal and vertical axis by manoeuvring cause the gyro mechanism to precess in both
azimuth and tilt. If the ship is steaming due north and rapidly reducing speed, mercury will
continue to flow into the north pot, or the gravity pendulum continues to swing, making the
gyro spin axis north heavy and thus causing a precession in azimuth.

Ref: Electronic Navigation Systems, 3rd edition, chapter.8 page- 281

Q4 State carriage requirements of Automatic Identification System (AIS) as per SOLAS?

SOLAS V, Safety of Navigation

Regulation 19,
1. All ships of 300 GT and upwards engaged on international voyages
2. Cargo ships of 500 GT and upwards not engaged on international voyages
3. Passenger ships irrespective of size
•In the case of tankers, not later than the first safety equipment survey after July 1, 2003.
•In the case of ships other than passenger ships and tankers of 50,000 gross tonnage and
upwards, not later than July 1, 2004.
•In the case of ships other than passenger ships and tankers of 10,000 to 50,000 gross tonnage,
not later than July 1, 2005.
•In the case of ships other than passenger ships and tankers of 3,000 to 10,000 gross tonnage, not
later than July 1, 2006.
•In the case of ships other than passenger ships and tankers of 300 to 3,000 gross tonnage, not 20 marks
later than July 1, 2007.
Existing ships not engaged on international voyages constructed before July 1, 2002, must be
fitted not later than July 1, 2008.
New Buildings:
Ships constructed on or after (keel laid) 1 July 2002

Retrofits:
In the case of passenger ships, not later than 1 July 2003
In the case of tankers, not later than 1st survey for safety equipment on or after 1 July 2003
In the case of ships, of 50.000 GT and upwards 1 July 2004
All other vessels covered by SOLAS 31 December 2004

Ref: SOLAS Convention

Q5 Define the following terms:

a) Permanent magnetism
b) Residual magnetism
c) Intensity of magnetization
d) Susceptibility
e) Induced magnetism

Permanent magnetism: Magnetism which remains for long period without any appreciable
reduction, unless the substances is subjected to a demagnetizing force , is called permanent
magnetism .
Residual magnetism: That part which remains after magnetizing is removed.
Intensity of magnetization: The strength of magnetization that is much greater in a bar than Each 4
in the surrounding. Marks
Susceptibility: Is a ratio between the intensity of the magnet station and the intensity of
magnetizing force causing magnetization.

Induced magnetism: Magnetism which is present only when the material is under the
influence of an external field.

Ref: The American practical of navigator chapter.6- NICHOLLS'S CONCISE GUIDE,

Volume 1, page 208

Good Luck