 A compass is an instrument containing a freely

suspended magnetic element which displays the direction

of the horizontal component of the Earth’s magnetic field
at the point of observation.
 Magnetic Compass

Float
Pivot
Assembly

Magnetic compass is the most important of all instruments aboard even

the
most modern vessel and it is probably the most reliable. It’s origins go back
as
long ago as 2300 BC, but the Chinese development of the compass card
dates
to the 14th century and the sophisticated instrument we know today
became
stabilized with the advent of steel ships in the 19 th century.

Magnetic compass is a primary means of navigation as a direction

indicating
device, of a ship.

It is the ships standard compass.

It is fitted above the bridge on the monkey Island at the centre line of
the
ship.
When reading output is needed to other bridge equipments, then a
pointer to “Magnetic North”, the local magnetic meridian, because the
magnetized needle at its heart aligns itself with the horizontal component
of
the Earth’s magnetic field. The magnetic field exerts a torque on the
needle,
pulling one end or pole of the needle approximately toward the Earth’s
North
magnetic pole, and pulling the other toward the South Magnetic pole. The
needle is mounted on a low-friction pivot point, in better compasses a
jewel
bearing, so it can turn easily. When the compass is held level, the needle
turns
until, after a few seconds to allow oscillations to die out, it settles into its
equilibrium orientation.

The Principles of the compass

A Magnetic compass is a critical piece of marine navigational equipment.
Simply put, a magnetised needle, suspended freely, points North because
of
the forces caused by the Earth’s magnetic field. Once North is known, the
other directions are easily found.

Magnetic Compass Working Principle

ship.

Note :
The true meridian is the longitude and always points True
North
The Magnetic Meridian is at an angle to the True Meridian. Since the
Magnetic North and South poles of the Earth are not the same. It can
be
imagined as ‘magnetic longitude’.

How does a magnetic compass work?

A magnetic compass works because the Earth is like a giant magnet,
surrounded by a huge magnetic field. The Earth has two magnetic poles
which
lie near the North and South poles. The magnetic field of the Earth causes
a
magnetized ‘needle’ of iron or steel to swing into a north-south position if
it is
hung from a thread, or if it is stuck through a straw or piece of wood
floating
in a bowl of water.
A compass works by utilizing the Earth’s magnetism in order to find
directions.
Its invention enabled people to perform navigation over long distances,
opening up the sea for exploration
A compass points north because all magnets have two poles , a north pole
and
a south pole, and the north pole of one magnet is attracted to the south
pole
of another magnet.

The Earth is a magnet that can interact with other magnets in this way, so
the
north end of a compass magnet is drawn to align with the Earth’s magnetic
field. Because the Earth’s magnetic North Pole attracts the “north” ends of
other magnets, it is technically the “South Pole” of our planet’s magnetic
field.

How accurate is the magnetic compass?

As long ago as the 15th century, mariners noticed that the needle of a
magnetic compass does not point accurately to Earth’s true north.
Columbus,
for instance was aware of this on his voyages across the Atlantic in the
1490s.
Instead, the needle makes an angle with true north, and that angle varies
from
place to place on the Earth’s surface. This means that there is a different
magnetic variation for different places on Earth. These variations were
investigated on a famous 17th century voyage by the great scientist and
astronomer Edmond Halley. It was thought at this time that the longitude
of a
ship could be found by the compass variation, but this proved to be untrue.

Types of Magnetic compass

Dry card compass:

In olden days there used to be a dry

card compass on the upper bridge
for
use in navigation. It is now part of
history.

Made by rice paper.

Diameter 254mm (10
inches)
Cover aluminum ring.
Silk thread used to be attached.
The weight of the card is usually
around is grams.

Wet card compass:

Made of mica
Diameter 15cm
Bowl diameter
23cm

The ring magnet wet card compass is the most efficient type of marine
magnetic compass.

The bowl is filled with a

mixture
of distilled water and pure
ethyl
alcohol so that the mixture has
the following properties.

1. Low freezing point about -

4. Low relative density about
0.93

By immersing the card in a liquid, oscillations caused by vibration, rolling

&
pitching are damped, without loss of accuracy. The card therefore has a
dead
beat movement which is convenient.

Errors of magnetic compass:-

1. VARIATION

The true North Pole and the magnetic north pole are not located at the
same
spot. This variation causes a magnetic compass needle to point more or
less
away from true north. The amount the needle is offset is called variation
because the amount varies at different points on Earth’s surface. Even in
the
same locality variation usually does not remain constant, but increases or
decreases at a certain known rate annually.

Magnetic T rue North TrueNorch True North

Magnetic:
The variation for any given locality, together with the amount of annual
Ma,gneuc
increase or decrease, is shown on the compass rose of the chart for that
particular locality.

VARIATION

North Norch
Nonh
No
vanao.on
How to calculate variation from compass rose.
To find the amount of variation in this locality in1995, count the number
of
years since 1990 (in this case 5); Multiply that by the amount of annual
increase;(which here gives you 5 X 1′, or 5); add that to the variation in
1990
and you have a 1995 variation of14°50′ W
Variation remains the same for any heading of the ship at a given locality. No
matter which way the ship is heading, the magnetic compass, if affected
only by variation, points steadily in the general direction of the magnetic
north pole.

2. DEVIATION

The amount a magnetic compass needle is deflected by magnetic material

in
the ship is called deviation.Although deviation remains a constant for
any
given compass heading, it is not the same on all headings. Deviation
gradually increases, decreases, increases, and decreases again as the ship
goes through an entire 360° of swing.

DEVIATIO
N

Tht engine on this boa1 .1.tuacts 1he compass nHdlf.away from

tnignetlc ~. Thi$ erro, is <.alltd De\Muon aindwrits
with
boot\hffding
abbreviations PSC (per standard compass), PSTGC (per steering
compass),
and PGC (per gyrocompass). The standard compass provides a means for
checking the steering compass and the gyrocompass.

3. Turning Error

A turn from the north lags or indicates a turn in the opposite direction. So
to
roll out on the correct heading one must roll out of the turn, past the
correct
heading.A turn from the south leads. So to roll out on the correct heading
one
must roll out of the turn, before reaching the correct heading.

r:
Turning Error

Turn From North Turn From South

boldmethod >

REMEMBER: THE SOUTH LEADS AND THE NORTH LAGS and THERE IS NO
4. Acceleration and Deceleration Error

When on an east or west heading, any increase in airspeed (Acceleration)

will
cause the magnetic compass to indicate a false turn toward the north, and
any
decrease in airspeed (deceleration) will cause the magnetic compass to
indicate a false turn toward the south.

REMEMBER: ACCELERATE NORTH & DECELERATE SOUTH and THERE IS NO

TURNING ERROR ON A EAST OR WEST HEADING.

5. Oscillation Error

This error is caused by turbulence or rough control movements and results

in
erratic movement of the compass card.
Oscillation is a combination of all of the other errors, and it results in
the
compass card swinging back and forth around the heading being flown.
When
setting the gyroscopic heading indicator to agree with the magnetic
compass,
use the average indication between the swings.

6. Magnetic dip Error

Magnetic dip is the tendency of the compass needles to point down as well
as
to the magnetic pole. Dip is greatest near the poles and least near the
Magnetic Equator. The compass card is designed to operate in the
horizontal,
Earth’s magnetic field causes the north-seeking ends of the compass to dip
to
the low side of the turn. When making a turn from a northerly heading,
the
compass briefly gives an indication of a turn in the opposite direction.
When
making a turn from the south, it gives an indication of a turn in the
correct
direction but at a faster rate.

Magnetic Geographic North Pole

North Pole

Acceleration error is also due to the dip of the Earth’s magnetic field.
Because
of the way the compass card is mounted, the aft end of the compass card
is
tilted upward when accelerating, and downward when decelerating during
airspeed changes. This error is most pronounced on an east / west
heading.
 Care and maintenance of magnetic compass:-
1. The doors giving access to the corrector magnets should always be
kept
locked and the keys kept is safe custody.
2. It the binnacle is of wood, it should be varnished not painted, as paint
may
cause the door to jam.
3. The soft iron spheres (quadrant correctors) and their brackets should
be
painted. This prevents rust.
4. The brass parts of the binnacle should be polished regularly.
5. All magnetic materials such as aerials stays, electrical machinery,
electrical wires etc should be kept well away from the compass.
6. The helmet of the binnacle should be in position always except during
the
short periods when bearing are actually being taken.
7. The binnacle light should be switched off at daytime.
8. The wet compass card, if found defective owing to stickiness of
movement
has to be renewed by the manufacturer or his authorized agent. Here no
spare wet card is carried. Instead an entire bowl is carried as a spare.
9. In pare cases a bubble may develop in the wet compass bowl. This has
to
be removed at the earliest opportunity.

How to Remove bubbles from magnetic compass :

A bubble may form in the bowl owing to the fact that some of the liquid
has
somehow escaped from the bowl. This is a bare occurrence and must be
remedied by following the manufacturer’s instructions. In most compasses:

1. Tilt the bowl until the “filter hole” comes upper most. This hole is
 In some modern compasses, small bubbles may be removed as follows;

Invert the bowl gently. This would cause the bubble to enter a bubble
trap
provided for this purposes.
Gently return the bowl to upright.

The bubble should have disappeared. If the bubble is large. It would

have
to be removed as described in (1) to (5) above.

Advantages of Magnetic compass:

1. No mechanical moving parts.
2. Does not require electrical power.

Requirements of Magnetic compass

1. At least 1 magnetic compass vessel GRT 150 or more must have 1
spare
magnetic compass.
2. If Satellite compass onboard require 1 magnetic compass.
3. If both magnetic compass burnt L/B compass may use.
4. Vessel 500 GRT or over must have gyro compass.
5. To use magnetic compass deviation card is required.

Limitation of magnetic compass

1. Magnetic compass will not show true north.
2. It will deflected by electric flow.
3. It will deflected by magnetic field.

Maintenance of magnetic compass

3. Keep it vibration less dry place.
4. Safe distance from electronic equipment.
5. Dimmer light to be checked.
6. Cleaning.

Positioning of the Standard Magnetic compass

The standard magnetic compass should, where practicable, be so
positioned to maximise its distance from the ship’s magnetic
material.
While this might be difficult to achieve in respect of the fore end of
the
bridge or compass deck, the maximum, reasonable, distance should
have
been achieved e.g. by raising the binnacle on a platform. Any
magnetic
material which is in the vicinity of the compass should preferably be
positioned symmetrically, relative to the compass.
In ships of unusual design or special purpose, and some small ships,
adequate separation of the magnetic compass from magnetic
material
may not be practicable. The plans submitted at the design stage
should
include any proposed arrangements, for example, the use of under
deck
binnacles, and/or the use of non-magnetic materials, intended to
minimise
the effect of the ship’s structure on magnetic compasses.
In cases in which the only positions available to site the standard
compass
are such that, after all reasonable steps have been taken to separate
the
magnetic compass from magnetic material, significant doubts exist as
to
 the compass.
3. A statement by the Master as to his opinion of the standard compass
performance over the six month period described in (b), with
comments
e.g. whether relevant correctors were adjusted for latitude, etc.

Operational checks of magnetic compass

The performance of all magnetic compasses, including spares should be
checked as follows:

1. Freedom of movement of the

gimbal.
2. Card floating freely and level, and rotating without any
friction.
3. Liquid free of bubbles and
clear.
4. Compass card clear and sharp (able to be read) with no distortion or
discoloration.
5. Optical system (if any) correctly adjusted and clean.
6. Azimuth reading devices and means of illumination in working
order.
7. No liquid leaks around seals or filler plugs.

The compass deviation records and the deviation card for each magnetic
compass installed on the ship should be checked.

What are Effects of Changes in Magnetism During the Life of a

Ship?
Because the magnetism of a new ship can be particularly unstable, the
performance of magnetic compasses should be monitored carefully during
the
early life of a ship, and adjustments made if necessary. Masters are
3. A casualty in which the ship has been subject to severe contact or
electrical charges; or,
4. The ship has been laid up or has been lying idle – even a short period of
idleness can lead to serious deviations, especially for small vessels.

Further to (b), the retentive magnetism can alter a ship’s magnetism,

making
compasses unreliable. However, a large amount of the magnetism induced
by
an electromagnet may subsequently decay so immediate readjustment is
not
advised. Every effort should be made to determine the compass deviation.

What are Adjustments and Repairs of Magnetic Compass/Who can make

adjustments in magnetic compass?
In the UK, all adjustments should be made by a compass adjuster who
holds
a Certificate of Competency as Compass Adjuster issued by the UK
Government.
If a qualified compass adjuster is unavailable and the Master considers it
necessary then adjustments may be made by a person holding a
Certificate of
Competency (Deck Officer), Class 1 (Master Mariner). The compass must
be re-
adjusted by a qualified compass adjuster at the next available
opportunity. The date of any adjustment and other details should be
noted in
the compass deviation book.
The position of correctors should be recorded in the compass book and on
deviation cards. Because the distances from the coefficients B and C
correctors
to the standard compass card and to the transmitting element are
different, a
with a certificate, specifying that the work has been carried out in
accordance
with the necessary requirements ISO for Class A Compass and ISO 10316
for
Class B Compass which are the International Standards for the Magnetic
Compass.

Monitoring Compass Performance

Compass performance should be monitored by frequently recording
deviations in the compass deviation book. Compass errors should be
determined after every large alteration of course, and at least once every
watch when there have been no major course alterations. Checking the
compass deviation regularly may show the need for repair, testing or
adjustment. In addition, compasses should be inspected occasionally by a
competent officer or compass adjuster.

Can we use magnetic compass at the pole?

No, we cannot use magnetic compass at pole because at the pole the
directive
force is Zero. At the equator the magnetic compass is more accurate.

How many type of liquid used/ added in magnetic compass?

Two types of liquid use in magnetic
compass:

1. Mixture of distilled water and ethyl alcohol , Two part of distilled water
and
one parts of ethyl alcohol providing a fluid with low viscosity and small
coefficient of expansion.
Distilled water will reduce evaporation in worm tropical climate.
Alcohol will reduce frizzing point of mixture in cold weather.