NAVIGATIONAL AIDS

The equipment provided on a vessel which helps the ship’s navigators to navigate safely are called the Navigational Aids.
Most of them are electrical or electronic equipment but still there are some equipment which do not require electrical
power for operation. Many of the early age navigation aids have become obsolete and ceased to be used but some are
regarded as essential items and are still used on ships.

CHRONOMETER

The first clock was invented in the Europe in 14th century. Before that time was kept in various parts of the world with
Sundial, Hour glass, Candle clocks and many similar things. All these instruments were primitive in nature and could not
provide accurate time. The early mechanical clocks had metallic parts and springs which were affected by temperature
and humidity and could not provide time accurately.

In the mid-1770s, the British clockmaker John Harrison invented the Chronometer, which could keep time
accurately regardless of changes in humidity or temperature. The marine chronometer allowed sailors to
calculate their longitude so accurately that Captain James Cook was able to use it to circumnavigate the globe in
1779. Cook’s detailed charts significantly advanced marine navigation around the world.

Before the invention of the chronometer, sailors could only determine their latitude but not their longitude.
Longitude was extremely difficult to calculate because it was based on the time difference between a ship’s
current location and the location where the voyage began. Because clocks were not reliable enough to keep time
accurately, longitude could only be estimated.
SEXTANT:

It is an instrument for determining the angle between the horizon and a celestial body such as the Sun, Moon or a star
used in celestial navigation to determine latitude and longitude. The device consists of an arc of a circle, marked off in
degrees, and a movable radial arm pivoted at the center of the circle. A telescope, mounted rigidly to the framework, is
lined up with the horizon. The radial arm, on which a mirror is mounted, is moved until the star is reflected into a half-
silvered mirror in line with the telescope and appears, through the telescope, to coincide with the horizon. The angular
distance of the star above the horizon is then read from the graduated arc of the sextant. From this angle and the exact
time of day as registered by a chronometer, the latitude can be determined by means of almanac.
The Magnetic Compass :

The compass was one of the earliest navigational tools and continues to play a crucial role in marine navigation.
Although it is not known when the compass was first invented, there are stories of Chinese armies using
magnetized iron to direct their troops as early as 20 BC. In the West, the first mention of a compass used for
navigation at sea was in the 12th century by the Englishman Alexander Neckham.

Although early navigators relied heavily on celestial navigation, compasses made it possible for sailors to
navigate on overcast days when they could not see the sun or stars. Early mariners compasses were made by
placing a magnetized needle attached to a piece of wood into a bowl of water. Later the needle was attached to a
card marked with the wind rose that is still familiar on compasses today.

Magnetic Variation Magnetic Deviation

Gyroscope:

Gyroscope: A gyroscope is an instrument which can be used to measure the angular velocity.

Properties of Gyroscope:

• Gyroscopic Inertia: when turning at high speed the axis of the gyroscope will point at a fixed point in the space.
This is also known as the Rigidity in Space.

• Gyroscopic Precession: Precession is the tendency of a rotating body. When a force ( or torque ) is applied on
the rotating axis at a direction perpendicular to the plane of rotation in the horizontal axis the rotating axis will
move in the vertical axis, ( and vice versa ).

Gimbal
Marine Gyrocompass:

• The Marine Gyrocompass is an electrical device with a very high speed Gyroscope spinning inside the compass ,
the spinning rpm of the Gyroscope is somewhere in between 25,000 to 30,000 rpm.

• The Gyroscopic inertia (or rigidity in space) will always enable the axis to point at a fixed point in space. When
the gyrocompass is started it will start to move at maximum rpm and will point to some point in the space.

• The marine Gyrocompass must point towards the north.

• Weights of mercury in tubes are fixed with the Gyroscope in such a way that these mercury tubes will create a
torque on the horizontal plane until the axis is in line with earth’s meridian. Once the axis points the weights of
the mercury will be balanced and no torque will be generated.
Making the Gyrocompass North seeking

When the axis of the Gyro Rotor is aligned with the Meridians (picture 1), the gyrocompass will point towards the North
and it will work perfectly. When the rotor is not in line with meridians it will not point towards the North. Mercury is
kept with capillary tubes alongside the gyro rotor. When the gyro rotor is tilted, the mercury will not be equally
distributed and it will cause a force in the vertical direction. This vertical force will be transformed into horizontal force
due to gyroscopic precession and the axis of the rotor will move in a horizontal direction.
RADAR : Radio Aid for Detection And Ranging

How a Marine RADAR works :

 The Magnetron produces high frequency radio waves

 The antenna/scanner acts as transmitter and transmits these radio waves
 When the radio waves hits a target, is reflected back and received by the antenna/scanner
 The antenna/scanner receives the signals also
 The receiver unit processes the data and calculates the bearing and distance of the object
 The receiver unit displays the targets on monitor.
 The RADAR display monitor

The RADAR Scanner

THE RADAR MONITOR

RADAR PLOTTING

RADAR PLOTTING: RADAR plotting was done for determining if there is any risk of collision. Also it was possible to
determine the course, speed, closest point of approach and time to closest point of approach of a target with manual
calculations.
ARPA

Automatic RADAR Plotting Aid : most of the modern RADARs are also provided with ARPA facilities. These RADARs
have built in computers within the instrument and ARPA can give data of target vessels.

GPS
AIS

Automatic Identification System (AIS) is an automated tracking system that displays information of other vessels in the
vicinity. It is a broadcast transponder system which operates in the VHF mobile maritime band. While own ship also
shows on the screens of other vessels in the vicinity, provided own vessel is fitted with AIS. If AIS is not fitted or not
switched on, there is no exchange of information on ships via AIS. The AIS onboard must be switched on at all times
unless the Master deems that it must be turned off for security reasons or anything else. The working mode of AIS is
continuous and autonomous.

Data Exchanged by AIS system

 IMO number
 Name and Call Sign
 Length and Beam
 Type of ship
 Ship’s position
 Present time
 Course Over Ground (COG)
 Ship’s draught
 Type of cargo
 Destination and Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA)
 The AIS Receiver

In many ports the Navigational Buoys (AToN) are also fixed with AIS system to assist vessels in safe navigation.
SVDR ( Simplified Voyage Data Recorder )
Simplified voyage data recorder is a data recording system designed for all vessels required to comply with the
IMO's International Convention SOLAS requirements in order to collect data from various sensors on board the
vessel. It then digitizes, compresses and stores this information in an externally mounted protective storage unit.
The protective storage unit is a tamper-proof unit designed to withstand the extreme shock, impact, pressure and
heat, which could be associated with a marine incident (fire, explosion, collision, sinking, etc.)

VDR or voyage data recorder is an instrument safely installed on a ship to continuously record vital information
related to the operation of a vessel. It contains a voice recording system for a period of at least last 48 hours.
There are a number of voice recorders provided inside of the wheel house and data from all other sources are
connected with SVDR and all are recorded.

There is a recorder panel inside the wheel house which records all the required information. The protective
storage unit is located outside of the wheel house. All the data are copied and stored in the Protective Storage
Unit outside of the wheel house. The protective unit may have a float free arrangement. That means the
protective unit will be detached from ship and float on water surface , if the ship sinks.

The VDR at least must record the following:

 Date and time (SVDR)

 Ship’s position (SVDR)
 Speed and heading (SVDR)
 Bridge audio (SVDR)
 Communication audio (radio) (SVDR)
 Radar data (SVDR)
 ECDIS data (SVDR)
 Echo sounder
 Main alarms
 Rudder order and response
 Wind speed and direction

SVDR
ECHO SOUNDER

ECHO SOUNDER DISPLAY

Long Range Tracking and Identification (LRIT) System

LRIT is an international tracking and identification system incorporated by the IMO under its SOLAS
convention to ensure a thorough tracking system for ships of 300 gross tons and above which are on
international voyages across the world. The main purpose of the LRIT ship position reports is to enable a
Contracting Government to obtain ship identity and location information in sufficient time to evaluate the
security risk posed by a ship off its coast and to respond, if necessary, to reduce any risks.

How it works

A ship in transit sends a position report via its ship borne equipment. The message includes the ship borne
equipment identifier, positional data latitude and longitude, and the date and time of the transmission. The
message is transmitted to the Flag State through a telecommunications satellite.
ECDIS

The Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) is a development in the navigational chart system used in
naval vessels and ships. With the use of the electronic chart system, it has become easier for a ship’s navigating crew to
pinpoint locations and attain directions. An Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) is a computer-based
navigation system that complies with IMO regulations and can be used as an alternative to paper navigation charts.
From 1st July 2018 the ECDIS has become mandatory for all vessels.

The ECDIS utilizes the feature of the Global Positioning System (GPS) to successfully pinpoint the navigational points. It
also has to be noted that the ECDIS adheres to the stipulations set by the International Maritime Organization, and
thus it adds to the trustworthiness of the electronic chart system. ECDIS is basically a navigational information system,
interfaced with other navigational equipment such as the GPS, Gyro, RADAR, ARPA, Echo Sounder etc.

ECDID DISPLAY
PAPER CHARTS