BRIDGE EQUIPMENTANDWATCH KEEPING

UNIT 3- MAGNETIC COMPASS

FOR
BSC NS SEM III
LIKELY QUESTIONS
 Fitted on the upper bridge (also
called the monkey island)
exactly on the centre line of
the ship
MAGNETIC
COMPASS
Referred as Standard compass
since considered primary
means of Direction indication
despite fitting Gyro onboard
 Two basic types : Dry card and Wet card

Dry card too sensitive. Obsolete

MAGNETIC
COMPASS Nowadays wet card compass is used for
Navigation. Fitted on upper bridge

For steering, an optical projector system is used

which enables the helmsman in the wheel house
to use the compass on the bridge for steering
 THE WET CARD COMPASS
The Card
nickel silver float
chamber that has a sapphire cap
an iridium tipped pivot

the buoyancy of the float

chamber suitably reduces the load on the
pivot
frictionless
 THE WET CARD COMPASS
The Directive Element

• In older types of two

cylindrical bar magnets

• In modern wet card compasses

ring magnet

• The ring magnet offers less resistance to

movement and causes less turbulence

The Wet Compass bowl

 THE WET CARD COMPASS
Most efficient
The ring magnet wet card compass is the most efficient
type of marine magnetic compass

The liquid
• The bowl is filled with a mixture of distilled water and
pure ethyl alcohol so that the mixture has the
following properties
• Low freezing point – about - 30ᵒ C
• Small coefficient of expansion
• Does not discolour the card
• Low relative density – about 0.93
• By immersing the card in a liquid, oscillations caused
by vibration, rolling and pitching are damped, without
loss of accuracy
• The card therefore has a ‘dead beat’ movement which
is convenient

The Wet Compass bowl

 THE WET CARD COMPASS
The bowl
• Though the wet card is only about 15
cm in diameter, the diameter of the
bowl is about 23 cm in order to reduce
disturbances caused by turbulence in
the liquid during rotation of the card
• The top of the bowl is of transparent
glass
• The bottom is of frosted glass to
diffuse the light coming from the bulb
below

The Wet Compass bowl

 THE WET CARD COMPASS
The lubber line
• On the forward, inside part of the bowl, there
is a small projection with a line marked on it
• This line is called the ‘lubber line’and it
represents the direction of the ship’s head
• The compass is fixed on the centre line of the
ship with the lubber line aligned towards
forward
• The reading of the compass card, which
coincides with the lubber line, is the
compass course of the ship at that time
• In some compasses, there are three more
lubber lines indicating starboard beam, port
beam and right astern

The Wet Compass bowl

 THE WET CARD COMPASS
Allowance for expansion

• One method is to have a small accordion – like expansion

chamber attached to the bowl , similar to that of an aneroid
barometer
• The chamber increases or decreases in volume, as necessary ,
as the liquid in the bowl expands or contracts due to changes
in atmospheric temperature
THE WET CARD COMPASS

Suspension of bowl
• On the outside of the compass bowl, there
are two athwart ship projections, called
gimbals at the same level as compass card
• The gimbals are triangular in cross- section,
apex downwards
• These gimbals rest on ‘V’ shaped depressions
in a horizontal ring called the ‘ gimbal ring’
which encircles the compass bowl
 THE WET CARD COMPASS
Suspension of bowl (Contd….)
• The gimbal ring itself is pivoted at its forward
and after sides
• If the ship rolls or pitches, the bowl should
remain horizontal because its centre of
gravity is well below the gimbals
• A ballast weight consisting of a ring of lead,
enclosed in brass, is attached along the
circumference of the underside of the bowl
to bring its centre of gravity below the
gimbals
CONSTRUCTION OF
MAGNETIC COMPASS
 CONSTRUCTION OF MAGNETIC
COMPASS AND BINNACLE

Binnacle and the arrangement of

correcting devices provided
• The binnacle is a cylindrical container
made of non ferrous metal or
teakwood
• No magnetic material is used in the
construction
• The compass bowl is slung inside the
top portion of the binnacle
 CONSTRUCTION OF MAGNETIC
COMPASS AND BINNACLE
Binnacle and the arrangement of correcting
devices provided (Contd…)
• The middle portion is accessible by a door and
contains corrector magnets in the centre and
the compass projector at the forward part

• Corrector magnets - In the centre of the

lower half of the binnacle, there are a number
of horizontal holes , both fore and aft and
athwartships for ‘hard iron’ or ‘permanent ‘
corrector magnets which are meant to offset
undesirable, disturbing, magnetic effects
caused by the ship’s steel hull
 CONSTRUCTION OF MAGNETIC
COMPASS AND BINNACLE
Binnacle and the arrangement of
correcting devices provided
(Contd…)

• The number of corrector magnets,

and their distances from the
compass card are decided by a
qualified ‘Compass adjuster,
during the ‘compass adjustment
of the ship’
 CONSTRUCTION OF MAGNETIC COMPASS AND BINNACLE
Corrector magnets (Contd…..)

• In the two –thirds of the binnacle there is a vertical

brass tube, at the centre, in which slides a ‘bucket’
• This bucket has ‘heeling error correctors’ which are
permanent magnets
• The bucket is held in position by a brass chain
• The number and location of each magnet in this
bucket, and the distance of the bucket from the
compass card , must not be altered except during
compass adjustment by a qualified compass adjuster
• The door giving access to the corrector magnets should
always remain locked and opened only during compass
adjustment
 CONSTRUCTION OF MAGNETIC COMPASS AND BINNACLE

Quadrantal Correctors
• Two soft iron spheres which
are fitted in brackets, one on
either side of the binnacle
• The brackets are slotted so
that the distance between the
spheres can be altered as
desired during compass
adjustment
 CONSTRUCTION OF MAGNETIC
COMPASS AND BINNACLE
Flinders bar
• This is a soft iron corrector (diameter about
7.5 to 10 cm) inserted in a 60 cm long brass
case, fitted vertically on the forward or the
after part of the binnacle
• If the ship has more superstructure abaft the
compass, the Flinders bar is fitted on the
forward part of the binnacle and vice versa
• The length of the Flinders bar may be
adjusted during compass adjustment
• Since the upper ends of the Flinders bar must
be in line with the compass card, cylindrical
wooden blocks are inserted, as necessary at
the bottom of the brass case
 CONSTRUCTION OF MAGNETIC
COMPASS AND BINNACLE

The Helmet
• The top of the binnacle is provided with
large non ferrous metal helmet
• This protects the compass from direct
sunlight, rain, spray, dew, frost etc during
non - use
 CONSTRUCTION OF MAGNETIC COMPASS AND BINNACLE
Care and maintenance
• The doors giving access to the corrector magnets should always be kept
locked and the keys kept in safe custody
• If the binnacle is of wood, it should be varnished and not painted, as paint
may cause doors to jam
• The soft iron spheres (Quadrantal correctors) and their brackets should be
painted. This prevents rust
• The brass parts of the binnacle should be polished regularly
• All magnetic materials such as aerials, stays, electrical machinery, electrical
wires, etc, should be kept well away from the compass
 CONSTRUCTION OF MAGNETIC COMPASS AND BINNACLE
Care and maintenance (Contd…..)
• The helmet of the binnacle should be in position always except during the
short periods when bearings are actually being taken
• The wet compass card, if found defective owing to stickiness of movement,
has to be renewed by the manufacturer or his authorized agent
• Hence no spare wet card is carried. Instead, an entire bowl is carried as a
spare
• In rare cases, a bubble may develop in the wet compass bowl. This has to
be removed at the earliest opportunity
 Removing Air Bubbles

CONSTRUCTION • A bubble may form in the bowl

OF MAGNETIC owing to the fact that some of
COMPASS AND the liquid has somehow
BINNACLE escaped from the bowl. This is
a rare occurrence and must be
remedied by following
manufacturers instructions
 CONSTRUCTION OF MAGNETIC COMPASS AND BINNACLE

Removing Air Bubbles

• Tilt the bowl until the ‘filler hole’ comes the upper most. This hole is provided on the side
of the bowl
• Unscrew the stud/screw provided
• Top up with ethyl alcohol. If this is not available, distilled water would do
• Screw the stud/ screw back into place
• Gently let the bowl return to upright

In some modern compasses, small bubbles may be removed as follows

• Invert the bowl gently. This would cause the bubble to enter the ‘bubble trap’ provided
for this purpose
• Gently return the bowl to upright. The bubble should have disappeared. If the bubble is
large it would have to be removed as described above
CONSTRUCTION OF MAGNETIC
COMPASS AND BINNACLE
Compass projector
• Allows the relevant part of
the standard compass
card and the lubber line on
the flying bridge to be
seen by the helmsman in
the wheel house, one deck
below, clear enough to
steer the ship
 CONSTRUCTION OF MAGNETIC COMPASS AND BINNACLE

Checking that the card is turning freely on its pivot

• The compass card may be tested for pivot friction by deflecting

the compass cards a few degrees

• If the pivot is in good condition the card should return to and

settle in its original position with no sign of sticking or jerkiness.
 CONSTRUCTION OF MAGNETIC COMPASS AND BINNACLE
Marking of the lubber line and its purpose

• LUBBER’S ( LUBBER (clumsy fellow) LINE:

The mark on the binnacle, which is brought
to meet the desired point on the compass
card.

• The lubber’s line marks the direction of the

fore and aft line of the ship

• So called because a ‘real’ seaman can do

without it
CONSTRUCTION OF MAGNETIC COMPASS AND BINNACLE
Care in the placing of portable items of magnetic material, including spare
corrector magnets, or electrical equipment in the vicinity of compasses

• Since the magnetic compass is affected by magnetic fields, all Ferro

magnetic material if brought close to a magnetic compass will slowly be
magnetised (over a period of time), this material may later exert a
magnetic field on the compass magnet

• Similarly any electrical wiring will produce a electrical field which will exert
its influence on the magnet of the compass. This is the reason all
electrical/electronic bridge equipment like Radar’s electrical/electronic
bridge equipment like Radar’s etc come with a ‘compass safe distance’
marked on them.
COMPASS CORRECTIONS
VARIATION
• A freely suspended magnetic needle tends to lie in a magnetic meridian.
• Magnetic meridian lies in a vertical plane containing
a line of total force caused due to Earth’s magnetic
poles.
• Earth’s magnetic poles do not lie along axis of rotation like geographic poles.
• Magnetic poles are neither in the position of true poles nor are they diametrically
opposite.

• The angle between true meridian and magnetic meridian at any place is the variation
of that place.
VARIATION (Contd…..)

The earth’s magnetic field is irregular & in most locations

the meridians passing through the True & magnetic Poles
do not coincide. Thus variation has different values for
different positions.
Variation changes with change in time. Daily fluctuations
are called diurnal changes. These increase with latitude.
Seasonal fluctuations also occur but these all are ignored.
Secular change : These are annual changes as the
magnetic poles move it results in a continuous alteration
in the value of variation known as secular change or
Annual change.
 VARIATION (contd.)
• If magnetic needle lies to the West (left) of true
north, Var. is West.
• If magnetic needle lies to the East (right) of true
north, Var. is East.
• Variation is different at different places
• Variation for any area may be found from:
Compass rose of the navigational chart of the
given area or
• Admiralty Variation Chart or Isogonic Chart
showing lines joining areas of equal magnetic
variation called Isogonals
• Isogonic lines are lines
on the Earth's surface
along which the variation
has the same constant
value, and lines along
which the variation is
zero are called agonic
lines.
‘Deviation’ and how it is named
• Deviation is defined as deflection of the compass needle right or left of
the magnetic meridian
• For a ship’s magnetic compass the compass magnet is affected by the
Earth’s magnetic field as well as by the magnetic field caused by the
magnetism of the ship’s hull. The ship’s hull becomes a huge magnet due
to the repeated high current used in fabricating the ship
• Thus the ship’s magnetic compass would show a different North than
either the True North or the Magnetic North – this is called compass
North.
• The difference between the Magnetic North and the Compass North is
known as ‘Deviation’.
• If the compass North is west of the Magnetic North then the deviation is
termed ‘West’ and if the compass north is to the East of the Magnetic
North then the deviation is termed as ‘East’. is termed as ‘East’.
 DEVIATION (contd.)
Comparing compass bearing with magnetic bearing:
• Dev. West – Compass Best (better than magnetic)
• Dev. East – Compass Least (less than magnetic)
Deviation varies in name and amount, as the ship’s
head turns in azimuth.
Deviation against Ship’s head by Compass is obtained
from the Deviation Card, normally displayed in the
Chart Room.
COMPASS ERROR
• The resultant of the variation and deviation is
called compass error. It is thus the angle between
the compass needle on board the ship and the true
meridian.
• It is computed by finding the algebraic sum of
variation and deviation.
• If both variation and deviation are of same name
then add the two and give the same name to the
compass error.
• If both Var. and Dev. are of different names
subtract the two and give the name of the higher
quantity.
 COMPASS ERROR

Need for regular checking of the compass error

Due to change in latitude, course and speed, the compass error
should be taken at regular intervals.

Compass error should be checked after a major alteration of

course
After alteration of course the gyro as well as the magnetic
compass error should be taken. This since both are affected
differently, errors on different headings should be taken.
 COMPASS ERROR
Regular comparisons of standard compass, steering compass and gyrocompass
should be made
• Comparisons between magnetic compass and gyrocompass should be made once a
watch and after every alteration of course
• All the repeaters should be compared with the Master gyrocompass and the Magnetic
compass should be compared with the Master Gyrocompass so that while taking
bearings the error if any may be applied.
• Since the gyro is based on the electrical current fed to the gyroscope any erratic supply
would result in the gyro spinning less than at optimum speed and thus errors may creep
in.
• Also the synchro motors for the repeaters may sometimes slow down resulting in
errors of the repeaters.
• The sphere does not give any warning before it slows down.So it is always better to
compare before the watch and after every alteration to a new course
STANDARD COMPASS AND STEERING
COMPASS
standard compass steering compass
• According to the positions of compass in the ship – they are named
standard compass and steering compass

will be least affected by unfavorable magnetic influences.

fitted on the upper bridge (Monkey Island)
standard compass

steering compass
CONSTRUCTION OF MAGNETIC COMPASS AND BINNACLE

Gyro Compass may be used to approximate the error of the magnetic

compass
• Since the gyro compass basically works on the principle of the torque
required to tilt a spinning wheel from its position of rest and that the
earth’s tilt does not vary sufficiently in a short time period, the gyro
compass is more stable and is less affected by local magnetism as well
as the ship’s inherent magnetism.
• Whereas the magnetic compass is affected by the twin factors of
variation and deviation.
• Variation being sufficiently constant over a short time interval change in
distance the deviation is the major factor in causing error on various
headings.
• Thus a magnetic compass may be compared with a gyro compass to arrive
at an approximate value of the error
 It does not need any power nor satellites to work.

As long as earth’s magnetism exists, a properly

adjusted compass will show you correct directions.
IMPORTANCE
OF MAGNETIC It takes up a very small place onboard, normally in
Monkey Island (which has least real estate value).
COMPASS IN
MODERN ERA It works well in most of the navigable waters of the
world, except areas closer to magnetic poles.

Readings from compass can be easily corrected,

variation & deviation is readily available onboard at
all times.
 TERRESTRIAL MAGNETISM
• There are two kinds of magnetism – Permanent and Induced.
Permanent Magnet

They will retain its magnetism when it is removed from the

magnetizing field

Hard Iron
• A ferromagnetic material when placed close to a permanent magnet will
temporarily behave like a magnet as it gets induced by the magnetic lines of
forces

• Induced magnets are also known as Soft Iron

TERRESTRIAL MAGNETISM
 TERRESTRIAL MAGNETISM

induced magnetism
 TERRESTRIAL MAGNETISM

blue pole

red pole

• The strength of magnetism acquired

by the material depends upon
• The strength of the inducing
magnetic field and on
• The alignment of the material with
respect to the inducing field
TERRESTRIAL MAGNETISM
 Properties of a Magnet

• Like poles repel each other and unlike

poles attract each other

the field
strength in the end on position is
twice the field strength in the broad
side on position
The Earth’s Magnetism
 The Earth’s Magnetism

• A freely suspended magnetic needle

will lie
• vertically at the magnetic poles
• Horizontally at the magnetic equator
• At an angle to the horizontal at any
intermediate latitude
 Dip

✓At any place the Earth’s surface is considered horizontal

✓The angle at which the magnetic field of the Earth acts with
respect to the horizontal at any place, is the dip at that place

✓Dip is conventionally designated positive in the N.hemisphere

and negative in S.hemisphere
Magnetic Poles
➢The points on the Earth’s surface
where the magnetic field is
perpendicular to the surface are
known as the magnetic poles of the
Earth.
➢There are two such points – the N.
and S. magnetic poles
Magnetic Equator
➢It is an imaginary line on the Earth’s
surface, joining all places having zero
dip.
➢The Magnetic equator lies near the
Geographic equator
Variation
➢At any place the angle between
the true meridian and magnetic
meridian is the variation at that
place. In the fig at the point
where the two meridians
intersect, the variation is α°.
➢Variation is Easterly if the
magnetic north is to the east
of true north
➢It is westerly if the magnetic
north is to the west of true
north
 TERRESTRIAL MAGNETISM

Total force
➢The total force at any place is the
magnetic field strength of the Earth at
that place
➢ The total force is maximum at the
magnetic poles(about 48 A/m) and
reduces as the latitude reduces
➢It is minimum at the magnetic equator
(about 24 A/m)
 TERRESTRIAL MAGNETISM

Magnetic Elements
➢To fully define magnetic field at any
location the following elements are
required
➢The total force at that location
➢The variation
➢The Dip
 TERRESTRIAL MAGNETISM
Magnetic Elements
➢The magnetic elements differ from
place to place
➢At any one place they are not constant
➢They change mainly because the
magnetic poles of the Earth are slowly
shifting around the geographic poles
➢The slow change taking place in the
magnetic elements, in the same
direction over hundreds of years is
termed the secular change in the
magnetic elements
 COMPASS ROSE

SECULAR CHANGE
The annual secular
change in the
variation is shown on
the compass roses on
navigation charts.
This change must be
allowed for when
determining the
variation at that
place in any
particular year
Transient Changes
In addition to the secular change, small fluctuations occur in the magnetic
elements of the Earth. These include
➢A twice daily change due to the Moon
➢A daily change caused by the Sun
➢A 27 day cycle of change due to the Sun’s 27 day cycle of rotation
➢An yearly change due to the Earth, orbiting the Sun
➢A 11 year cycle of change due to the 11 year cycle sun spot activity
➢Irregular changes caused due to electrical disturbances in the Earth and its
atmosphere
These transient changes are very small and their effects on the magnetic
compass may be disregarded except in very high latitudes
 BOXING OF COMPASS
Maritime practice of naming the 32
points of the compass

• 32 DIVISION
• EACH DIVISION – ONE POINT=11.25 DEGREE
• 32 X 11.25 DEGREE = 360 DEGREES
INTERCARDINAL POINTS – NE, SE,
SW, NW
 BOXING OF COMPASS

• 32 DIVISION
• EACH
DIVISION –
ONE
POINT=11.25
DEGREE
• 32 X 11.25
DEGREE =
360 DEGREES
 PRECAUTIONS TO BE OBSERVED
WHEN TAKING COMPASS BEARING
Azimuth circle
• An azimuth circle is an instrument
for determining both bearings of
terrestrial objects and azimuths of
celestial body.
• This is a nonmagnetic metal ring.
• It is an auxiliary instrument of
the compass
• It consists of a prism mounted on a
horizontal axis above and inclined
to in which there is a magnifying
lens.
• Shades are provided to enable
bearing of bright objects being
taken.
• It is mounted on a compass and is
capable of being rotated over it.
 PRECAUTIONS TO BE OBSERVED
WHEN TAKING COMPASS BEARING
• This arrangements permits bearings of
celestial and terrestrial objects being
taken.
• It is sized to fit a 7 1/2-inch compass bowl
or a gyro repeater.
• The inner lip is marked in degrees from 0°
to 360°counterclockwise for measuring
relative bearings.
• The azimuth circle is fitted with two
sighting vanes.
• The forward or far vane has a vertical wire
and the after or near vane has a peep
sight.
 PRECAUTIONS TO BE OBSERVED
WHEN TAKING COMPASS BEARING
• Two finger lugs are used to position the
instrument while aligning the vanes.
• A hinged reflector vane mounted at the
base and beyond the forward vane is
used for reflecting stars and planets when
observing azimuths.
• Beneath the forward vane are mounted a
reflecting mirror and the extended vertical
wire.
• This lets the mate read the bearing or
azimuth from the reflected portion of
the compass card.
 PRECAUTIONS TO BE OBSERVED
WHEN TAKING COMPASS BEARING
• For taking azimuths of the sun,an additional reflecting mirror
and housing are mounted on the ring, each midway between
the forward and after vanes.
• The sun’s rays are reflected by the mirror to the housing,
where a vertical slit admits a line of light. This admitted light
passes through a 45o reflecting prism and is projected on
the compass card from which the azimuth is directly read.
• In observing both bearings and azimuths, two attached spirit
levels are used to level the instrument. An azimuth circle
without the housing and spare mirror is called a bearing
circle
Telescopic Alidade
PRECAUTIONS TO BE OBSERVED
WHEN TAKING COMPASS BEARING
 LIMITATIONS OF THE MAGNETIC COMPASS

The following characteristics of the magnetic compass limit its

direction-finding ability:
a) Sensitive to any magnetic disturbance.
b) Useless at the magnetic poles and is sluggish and unreliable in
areas near the poles.
c) Deviation changes as a ship’s magnetic properties change. The
magnetic properties also change with changes in the ship’s structure
or magnetic cargo.
d) Deviation changes with heading. The ship as well as the earth
may be considered as a magnet. The effect of the ship’s magnetism
upon the compass changes with the heading.
e) Does not point to true north.