Mgmt2-Charlie (MT33-B1) MGMT 2 332

Magnetic
Compass
What is a magnetic compass?
• In navigation or surveying, a magnetic compass is an
instrument for determining direction on the Earth's surface
using a magnetic pointer that aligns with the Earth's
magnetic field.
• The magnetic compass is the most common and oldest type
of compass, and it is used in various forms in aircraft,
ships, and land vehicles, as well as by surveyors.
Function
• A compass can be used to calculate heading, latitude, and
longitude when combined with a sextant and a marine
chronometer.
• Thus, it provides significantly improved navigational
functionality that has only lately been surpassed by
electronic technology such as the Global Positioning
System (GPS)
Function
• The compass significantly increased the safety and
efficiency of travel, particularly ocean travel.
• Compasses are frequently built as a stand-alone sealed
instrument with a magnetized bar or needle turning freely
on a pivot or moving in a fluid, allowing it to point north
and south.
Magnetic Compass Composition
Shade Glass
Prism
Lubber's Line
Azimuth Circle Relative Bearing Ring
Inner Gimbal Pivot
Compass Card
Gimbal Ring
Compass Bowl Outer Gimbal Pivot
Card Synchronizing Gear Support Bracket
Using the compass
• A magnetic compass points to magnetic north pole, which
is approximately 1,000 miles from the true geographic
North Pole.
• A magnetic compass's user can determine true North by
finding the magnetic north and then correcting for variation
and deviation.
Using the compass
• Variation is defined as the angle between the direction of
true (geographic) north and the direction of the meridian
between the magnetic poles.
• Deviation refers to the response of the compass to local
magnetic fields caused by the presence of iron and electric
currents; one can partly compensate for these by careful
location of the compass and the placement of compensating
magnets under the compass itself.
COMPOSITION OF MAGNETIC
COMPASS
Modern compasses usually use a magnetized needle or dial inside a capsule completely filled
with a liquid (lamp oil, mineral oil, white spirits, purified kerosene, or ethyl alcohol are
common). While older designs commonly incorporated a flexible rubber diaphragm or
airspace inside the capsule to allow for volume changes caused by temperature or altitude,
some modern liquid compasses utilize smaller housings and/or flexible capsule materials to
accomplish the same result. The liquid inside the capsule serves to damp the movement of
the needle, reducing oscillation time and increasing stability. Key points on the compass,
including the north end of the needle are often marked with phosphorescent,
photoluminescent, or self-luminous materials to enable the compass to be read at night or in
poor light.
COMPOSITION OF MAGNETIC
COMPASS
As the compass fill liquid is noncompressible under pressure, many ordinary liquid-filled
compasses will operate accurately underwater to considerable depths. Many modern
compasses incorporate a baseplate and protractor tool, and are referred to variously as
"orienteering", "baseplate", "map compass" or "protractor" designs. This type of compass
uses a separate magnetized needle inside a rotating capsule, an orienting "box" or gate for
aligning the needle with magnetic north, a transparent base containing map orienting lines,
and a bezel (outer dial) marked in degrees or other units of angular measurement. The
capsule is mounted in a transparent baseplate containing a direction-of-travel (DOT)
indicator for use in taking bearings directly from a map.
Maintenance of magnetic compass based on
SOLAS requirement
The magnetic Compass is required by SOLAS 74 as amended, Chapter V Regulation 19 and by HSC Code 1994 and
2000 Chapter 13 paragraph 13.2
• It is the responsibility of the Owner/Company and the Master to ensure that magnetic
compasses on their ships are maintained in good working order.
• The vessel should be provided with a deviation table and this document should
include at least: the name of the vessel, IMO Number, Call Sign, Flag, place where
the adjustment is carried out, name of the Master or certified adjuster / stamp / sign;
maker of the compass, sea and weather conditions, method used, numerical and
graphical results of deviation. This deviation table is valid two years.
SOLAS requirement
Adjustment of Magnetic Compasses is necessary:
• During installation or replacement
• When they become unreliable,
• When the ship undergoes structural repairs or alterations that could affect its
permanent and induced magnetism,
• Electrical magnetic equipment close to the compasses is added, removed or altered,
• Deviation exceeds five (5) degrees taking into account the variation of the place and
the method used.
Maintenance and Adjustment of Magnetic
Compasses.
 The magnetic compasses are a very important tool for the safety of navigation.
Vessel owners and masters must ensure that magnetic compasses are maintained
in good working order, adjusted and a table or curve of residual deviation is
available.
 The Australian Maritime Safety Authority has issued Marine Notice No.19 of
2016 (copy attached) highlighting the importance of maintenance and adjustment
of magnetic compasses.
Maintenance and Adjustment of Magnetic
Compasses.
 The performance of the magnetic compass should be monitored and deviations to
be recorded in a compass deviation book at regular intervals (Ref: IMO
Resolution A.382(X)), ideally at least once every watch and also shortly after a
large alteration of course.
 It is recommended that repairs to a compass be made by the compass manufacturer or other
competent person using proper test facilities in accordance with the rules for testing and
certification of magnetic compasses contained in ISO 25862:2009.
SOLAS requirement
3. Each magnetic compass is properly compensated
4. Frequent observation should be made to determine compass error.
5. Adjustment should be made by a duly authorized compass adjuster.
6. The compass adjustment should not be carried out by the same person who
surveyed the vessel.
7. The date of any adjustment and other details should be noted in the compass
deviation book.
8. Repairs to Magnetic Compass should only be made by a compass manufacturer
or other competent and authorized company using proper test facilities.

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