14.

1 : Explained that the ship’s correct

heading and bearings at all times.
The heading of a ship is the direction in which the ship actually points or heads at any
particular moment. It is the angle in which the ship’s keel makes with the meridian.
Heading is not to be confused with course.

Heading is constantly changing value as a vessel oscillates or yaws back and forth
across the course or as the direction of motion ia temporarily changed, as in avoiding an
obstacle. Course is a predetermined value and usually remains constant for a
considerable time.

 Bearing is an imaginary line drawn, pointed or taken from one object to another.

True Bearing- is the angle from the direction of the true north to the direction of the
terrestrial or celestial object measured clockwise from 0° to 360°.

 Relative bearing- A bearing stated as a direction relative to the line of the ship’s keel
and expressed in points or degrees from the ship’s head. It is the angle from the fore
and aft centerline of the ship and the bearing of the of the object , measured from 0° at
the ship’s head through 360°

14.2 Described the parts of the magnetic

compass
1. Magnet- Which provides the directive force of the compass. There are two or
more magnets symmetrically placed.
2. Compass Bowl- Indicates the bowl which provides the pivot mounting of the
magnetic element; hold the fluid, and provides a marked called the Lubber’s
Line indicates the direction of the ship’s head.
3. Gimbals- Double ring hinged on both fore and aft and athwartship axis. Gimbals
permit the compass bowl to remain horizontal regardless of the ship’s rolling and
pitching.
4. Compass Card- The annular aluminum ring attached to the magnets graduated
from 000° to north clockwise through 360°.
5. Fluid- Reduces the weight of the compass card hence the friction on the pivot
bearing reduces the oscillations. The compass bowl is filled with clear fluid which
is not subject to freezing at normal temperatures.
6. Float- The card has float or air chamber designed so that it will support all but a
minute percentage of the weight of the card with the attached magnets.
7.  Expansion bellows- Permit the compass bowl to remain completely filled as the
fluid expands and contrast with temperature changes.
 8. Binnacles- Are stands that support the compass. They are made usually of wood
or some non-magnetic metal usually brass, and are rigidly secured to the deck in
such position that the lubber’s line of the compass to give a true indication of the
direction of the ship’s head.

Transmitting Magnetic Compass
MAGNETIC TO DIGITAL – OVERVIEW

Increasingly, Maritime Authorities are accepting the use of Transmitting Heading Device
(THD) Systems on board vessels. MARINE DATA offers two types of THD system:

1. A system which senses the angular position of a ship’s magnetic compass card; this
is known as

a Transmitting Magnetic Compass System (TMC). This type of system provides a digital

heading from an existing host magnetic compass installation in its binnacle; it detects
the position of the moving compass card.

2.   A system which directly senses the Earth’s magnetic field; this is known as
an Electro-Magnetic Compass System (EMC). This type of system provides a digital
heading directly from the Earth’s magnetic field; it does not require a host magnetic
compass; it has no moving parts.

Transmitting Magnetic Compass System
Instead of using inflexible and bulky optical apparatus (reflectors, periscopes etc.) to
view the magnetic compass, electronic remote displays may be used in the form of a
Compass Repeater. The MARINE DATA MD71TMC is a Transmitting Magnetic
Compass (TMC) System which detects and transmits the ship’s Compass Heading over
a NMEA 0183 digital connection to one or more Heading Repeaters (Compass
Repeaters) at any convenient location on a vessel.

The MARINE DATA™ MD71TMC is a Transmitting Magnetic Compass (TMC) System

which uses the latest technology to accurately process and convert the ship’s magnetic
compass heading to NMEA 0183 heading data with unparalleled accuracy. TMC
systems from MARINE DATA are simple and intuitive to use with quick and easy
installation and on-board calibration.

Transmitting Heading Device Systems from MARINE DATA: Flexible in application,

easy to install and simple to maintain.
https://marine-data.co.uk/product/transmitting-magnetic-compass-system/

14.4 Outlined the performance standards

for magnetic compass
 After the vessel has carried a cargo with magnetic properties.
 If any electromagnetic lifting appliances have been used to load or to discharge
the vessel.
  If the ship has been involved in a collision or incident, which may cause
structural damage.
 f the vessel has been laid up for a period of time.

Operational checks:

 Check the gimbal is moving freely.

 Check the compass card is clear and sharp. Card should float freely and rotate
without friction.
 Check the liquid is free of bubbles and clear. No liquid leaks around seals and
filler glass.

Monitoring performance:

  Record compass deviations in the ‘Compass Deviation Book’.

 Take a compass error after every large alteration of Course.
 Record a compass error at least once a watch.
 The purpose of taking a compass error is to identify any excessive deviations,
which may indicate the need for repair.
 Source: Seamanship Notes by Angus Ferguson www. seamanship.com