Navigational Instruments

01. Write 15nos. of Bridge equipment? State the uses and functions of
each equipment?

Equipment of bridge, with uses and functions are,

1. Gyro Compass for course and direction indication.

2. Magnetic Compass for course and direction indication.
3. Auto pilot for automatic steering.
4. Echo Sounder to measure the depth of water, under the keel.
5. Radar/ARPA to detect the distance, bearing and movement of other
objects.
6. GPS to indicate ship’s position (Latitude, Longitude), GMT time etc.
7. Telegraph to indicate required speed of ship from Bridge to Engine room.
8. Facsimile recorder for weather information.
9. VHF set for internal and external communication.
10. Fire detector to detect fire.
11. GMDSS, for sending massages (including distress massages).
12. SART used to send distressed ship’s position via the Radar of the rescue
team.

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13. EPIRB. used to send distressed ship’s position to the rescue team directly
or via coast station or satellite.
14. Electronic chart for doing chart-work with the help of computer.
15. Sextant used to measure the angular distances.

02. Define – Compass bearing, Relative bearing?

Compass bearing: - It is an angle, at observer, measured clockwise from

compass north to the object/target.

Relative bearing: - It is an angle at observer, measured clockwise, from

ship’s head to the object/target.

03. How to take compass bearing?

 Place bearing circle on compass.

 Look through the bearing circle’s hole to object.
 Take reading from compass rose.
 Report the reading as compass bearing.

04. How to take relative bearing?

 Place bearing circle on compass.

 Look through the bearing circle’s holes to object.
 Take reading from compass rose.
 Calculate the clockwise difference from ship’s heading to taken reading.
 Report the difference as compass bearing.

05. How to report compass and relative bearing?

Report the entire digit separately, than tell compass or relative, as

required.

I.E.- For 124 compass bearing, have to report as one, two, four, degree,
compass –
Not one twenty-four degree compass.
Or
For 035 relative bearing, have to report as zero, three, five, and
degree, relative –
Not thirty-four degree relative.

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 06. Describe how to change over from automatic plot to hand
steering?

 Switch on second steering motor (if not switched on), if required.

 Wait (if possible); helm indicator to come to mid-ship.
 Turn Auto to hand.
 Do hand steering.

07. Describe – How to change over from hand string to autopilot?

 Set weather control,

 Set off-course alarm,
 Set rudder limit,
 Bring ship to required course,
 Set pointer to required course,
 Helm mid ship,
 Turn switch from hand to auto,
 Observe carefully to check autopilot is working properly, until full
satisfaction.

08. What will you do, after hearing helm order of “Heard a port” at the
time of Hand steering?

a. Report back/feedback the order.

b. Turn the hand steering wheel, until helm indictor comes to about
035 of portside.
c. Report- “wheel heard a port, sir.”
d. If required, every after 5/10, report ship’s heading.

09. What will you do, after hearing helm order of “Starboard ten” at the
time of Hand steering?

1. Report back/feedback the order.

2. Turn the hand steering wheel, until helm indictor comes to 10 of starboard
side.
3. Report- “wheel on starboard ten, sir”
4. If required, every after 5/10, report ship’s heading.

10. What will you do, after hearing helm order of “Mid-ship” at the time
of Hand steering?

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1. Report back/feedback the order.
2. Turn the hand steering wheel, until helm indictor comes to mid-ship
position.
3. Report- “wheel on mid ship, sir”
4. If required, every after 5/10, report ship’s heading.

11. What will you do, after hearing helm order of “Ease to ten” at the
time of Hand steering?

1. Report back/feedback the order.

2. Turn the hand steering wheel, until helm indictor comes to 10 of same side.
3. Report- “wheel on ease to ten, sir.”
4. If required, every after 5/10, report ship’s heading.

12. What will you do, after hearing helm order of “Check her” at the time
of Hand steering?

1. Report back/feedback the order.

2. Turn the hand steering wheel, until helm indictor comes to opposite side,
so that ship’s turning is ceased.
3. Report- “checked her, sir”
4. If required, report ship’s heading.

13. What is the maximum time to turn the steering from Hard stbd to
Hard port/vice -versa?

28 sec.

14. What are the Meteorological Instruments used onboard?

1. Air thermometer.
2. Sea thermometer.
3. Mercury barometer.
4. Aneroid barometer.
5. Barograph.
6. Hygrometer.
7. Whirling psychrometer.
8. Facsimile recorder.

15. Why mercury is used in barometer?

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 1. Mercury has higher relative density, so it requires fewer amounts with
respect to other liquid, which makes the instrument smaller.
2. Mercury does not wet the glass surface.
3. Mercury is easily visible.
4. Mercury has uniform coefficient of expansion.
5. Mercury has low freezing point. (About –39 degree)
6. Mercury has high boiling point. (About 350 degree)
7. Mercury does not escape through leather washer.

16. What is the basic principle difference of Mercury barometer and

Aneroid barometer?

In Mercury barometer, liquid (mercury) is used.

In Aneroid barometer, a vacuum chamber is used but no liquid is used.

17. What are the main errors of Marine Sextant?

Three main errors,

1. Error of Perpendicularity.
2. Side Error.
3. Index Error.

A fourth error can also be available on older Sextant,

That is “Collimation Error”.

18. What is the cause of Error of Perpendicularity?

It is caused, if the index-mirror not being perpendicular to the plane of

Instrument.

19. What is the cause of Side Error?

It is caused, if the horizon-mirror not being perpendicular to the plane of

Instrument.

20. What is the cause of Index-Error?

It is caused, if the index-mirror and the horizon-mirror not being parallel to

each other, when the Index-arm is set to Zero.

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21. What is the cause of Collimation Error?

It is caused, if the axis of telescope and the plan of instrument not being
parallel to each other.

22. What is the Pulse length (PL) for a Radar Instrument?

It is the time required for a particular Pulse to leave its scanner,

I.e. it is the time taken by a pulse to be reached and passed-out at a fixed
point.
It is usually expressed in microsecond and sometimes also in meter, if
required.

23. What is the Pulse repetition frequency (PRF) for a Radar

Instrument?

The Pulse repetition frequency (PRF) for a Radar Instrument is the numbers
of pulses sent out through the Radar Scanner in one second.

24. As per Radar, what is the Shadow area?

The Shadow area is the area, where the targets are laying behind the
large targets, so that Radar cannot detect those targets.

25. As per Radar, what is the Shadow sector?

Sometimes Radar beams are obstructed by ship’s structures (such as mast,

Samson post, derrick, crane etc). For this reason, the targets directly behind
these obstructions do appear on the PPI, but with less than normal
detection ranges. This area of those targets is called Shadow sectors.

26. As per Radar, what is the Blind sector?

Sometimes Radar beams are obstructed completely by ship’s structures

(mainly ship’s funnel). For this reason, no echoes are received from any
targets directly behind these obstructions and not detected on PPI at all.
The area of those targets is called Blind sectors of the scanner.

27. How many types of display of Radar?

Mainly two,
1. Relative motion display.
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Head up display.
North up displays.
Course up display.
2. True motion displays.
a. Sea Stabilization.
b. Ground Stabilization.

28. What is Ramark, as per Radar?

It comes from the words “ Radar marker”.

It is a Radar beacon, which is always transmitting the signals in all

directions, covering the entire Marine Radar bands (9300 to 9500 MHz for X
band Ramark and 2900 to 3199 MHz for S band Ramark). So, when any
ship’s Radar scanner points to the Ramark beacon, than the signals from
the beacon is received and painted on the PPI, as a series of dots from PPI
center to edge.

It gives only bearing of Ramark, not distance. Normally it is fitted with

buoys, lighthouse, light vessel etc.

29. What is Racon, as per Radar?

It comes from the words “ Radar beacon”.

It is Radar responder beacon. When any ship’s Radar scanner points to

a Racon and pulses from the scanner arrives at the racon, than the racon
amplifies and returns those pulses to the scanner as a fairly strong signal of
same frequency. This creates a short bright line on the PPI. Due to a slight
pre-set time delay, the reacon signal arrives after the normal echo of the
beacon structure. So a dot, which represents the beacon structure on the
PPI, is the position, which to be used for range and bearing of the Racon. If
dot does not paint on PPI due to long distance, than the closer edge of the
short bright line to be taken as dot, for distance measurement.

It gives bearing and distance of Racon structure. Normally it is fitted with

buoys, lighthouse, light vessel etc.

30. What are the purpose and use of Telegraph & Telephone?

Morse codes at Telegraph and voice at Telephone are using for

communication purpose.

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 31. Write down the 12nos. of shipboard Communication equipment?

(I) V.H.F (vii) Talk back system

(ii) Walky talky (viii) Signal Flags
(iii) Radio telegraph (ix) Flashing lights
(iv) Radio telephone (x) Voice pipe.
(v) Telephone (xi) Loudhailer
(vi) Telegraph (xii) GMDSS.

32. Write 10 nos. of shipboard alarms?

(i) Fire alarms (vi) Temperature Alarms

(ii) Emergency alarms (vii) Pressure alarms
(iii) Bilge alarms (viii) Over load alarms
(iv) Auto pilot failure alarms (ix) Two tone alarms
(v) Engineer’s alarms (x) Off-course alarms.

33. What is Electronic Chart Display and Information System

(ECDIS)?

It is a computer-based navigation information system, which comply the

regulations made by International Maritime Organization (IMO) and can be used
as an alternative to paper navigation charts.
It shows the information from electronic navigational charts and Global
Positioning System (GPS) and also from other navigational aids, such as radar,
fathometer and automatic identification systems (AIS). It may also display
additional navigation-related information, such as Sailing Directions.

34. What is the GMDSS?

The Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) is an international

system, which ensures that search and rescue authorities ashore, as well as
shipping in the immediate vicinity of the ship in distress, will be rapidly alerted
through satellite and terrestrial communication techniques, so that they can
assist in a coordinated search and rescue operation with the minimum of delay.
Under the GMDSS, all cargo ships of 300 gross registered tones and upwards
and all passenger ships engaged on international voyages must be equipped
with GMDSS equipment.

35. Do all ships have to have satellite communications?

No. If ships are traveling only in coastal areas served by VHF coast stations with
continuous digital selective calling (DSC) available, they need to carry VHF
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equipment. But they may use satellite communication in addition to or instead of
terrestrial radio links.

36. As per GMDSS, what is Area A 1?

It is an area, within the radiotelephone coverage of at least one VHF coast

station, in which continuous digital selective calling (ch70) alerting and
radiotelephony services are available, as defined by the International Maritime
Organization.
Its radius is about 20-30 miles from that coast station.

37. As per GMDSS, what is Area A 2?

It is an area, excluding Sea Area Al, within the radiotelephone coverage of at

least one MF coast station in which continuous DSC (2187.5 kHz) alerting and
radiotelephony services are available, as defined by the International Maritime
Organization.
Its radius is about l50 miles from that coast station, but excluding Sea Area Al.

38. As per GMDSS, what is Area A3?

It is an area, beyond the Areas A1 & A2, but within coverage of geostationary
maritime communication satellites (in practice this means Inmarsat), in which
continuous alerting is available.

39. As per GMDSS, what is Area A4?

It is an area, beyond the Areas A1, A2 & A3. It mainly covers the sea around
North Pole (the area around the South Pole is mostly land).

40. What are the Minimum requirements for GMDSS instruments?

A VHF radio installation capable of transmitting DSC on channel 70 and

radiotelephony on channels 16, 13 and 6.

One SART if under 500 GRT, 2 SARTs if over 500 GRT.

Two portable VHF transceivers for use in survival craft if under 500 GRT, three if
over 500 GRT.

A NAVTEX receiver, if the ship is engaged on voyages in any area, where a

NAVTEX service is provided.

An Inmarsat EGC receiver, if the ship is engaged on voyages in any area of

Inmarsat coverage, where MSI services are not provided by NAVTEX or HF
NBDP.
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A 406 MHz or 1.6 GHz EPIRB

41. What are the Minimum requirements for GMDSS instruments at

Sea area Al?

VHF DSC on Channel 70

VHF radiotelephony on Channel 16
MF DSC on 2187.5KHz
Inmarsat
EPIRB

42. What are the Minimum requirements for GMDSS instruments at

Sea area A2?

MF DSC 0n 2187.5KHz
Inmarsat
VHF DSC on Channel 70
VHF radiotelephony on Channel 16
EPIRB

43. What are the Minimum requirements for GMDSS instruments at

Sea area A3?

Inmarsat
HF DSC on 8414.5KHz and all other HF DSC frequencies
MF DSC on 2185.7KHz
EPIRB

44. What are the Minimum requirements for GMDSS instruments at

Sea area A4?

HF DSC on 8414.5 KHz and all other HF DSC frequencies

HF DSC on other frequencies to alert coast stations
MF DSC on 2187.5 KHz
EPIRB

45. What is Automatic Identification System (AIS)?

The Automatic Identification System (AIS) is a system used by ships and Vessel
Traffic Services (VTS). Its purposes are to identification and locating vessels. It
provides a means for ships, to electronically exchange ship data including:
identification, position, course, and speed, with other nearby ships and VTS
stations. AIS is intended to assist the vessel's watch keeping officers and allow
maritime authorities to track and monitor vessel movements.
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 46. What are the SOLAS requirements for SSAS Systems?

Provide a minimum of two alert activation points, one of which must be on the
bridge.
Allow covert activation, which transmits an alert signal from ship to shore,
indicating to a competent authority that the security of the ship is under threat or
has been compromised.
Not raise the alert on board ship, nor alert any other ships.

47. What is Flinders bar?

A Flinders bar is a vertical soft iron bar, placed in a tube on the foreword
side of a compass binnacle. It is used to counteract the vertical magnetism
created within a ship. It is calibrated by swinging the compass, along with
ship.

48. What is Pelorus?

In appearance and use, a pelorus looks like a compass or compass

repeater, with a sighting telescope attached, but it has no magnetism
properties. It remains at any relative direction, to which it is set. It is
generally used by setting 000°, at the lubber's line of compass. Relative
bearings are then observed. They can be converted to true or magnetic
bearings, by adding the appropriate heading.

49. What is Anemometer?

It is used for measuring wind speed and direction. This term is derived
from the Greek word “anemos”, means “wind”. Some Anemometers can
also measure the wind's pressure; as there is a close connection between
the pressure and the velocity.

Onboard ship, sometimes Anemometer’s readings can be incorrect, due to

obstructions (by derrick, mast, antenna etc) on wind passage to this
instrument. For that reason, it should be placed, as high as possible to
keep it outside of any obstructions.

50. What is astrolabe?

It is a historical astronomical instrument, was used by old days

astronomers, navigators and astrologers. It was used to locate and
predict the positions of the sun, moon, planets, and stars etc. In the
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 medieval Islamic world, it was also used for astronomical studies ,
surveying, timekeeping, Salah prayers etc.

51. What is Ecotracer?

Ecotracer is an acoustic locator, which was used to determine the

presence and position of ships in fog. Some instruments could detect
targets at distances up to 12 kilometers at sea.

52. What is Backstaff?

Backstaff is the name given to any instrument, which measures the altitude of the
sun by the projection of a shadow. When observing the sun, users keep the sun
to their back and observe the shadow cast by the upper vane on a horizon vane.

53. What is RINEX?

Receiver Independent Exchange Format (RINEX) is data interchange format for

raw satellite navigation system data. This allows the user to post-process the
received data (usually with other data unknown to the original receiver) to
produce a more accurate solution.

54. What is Fluxgate compass?

It is a simple electromagnetic device, which employs two or more small coils of

wire, around a core of highly permeable magnetic material. It reacts with the
direction of the horizontal component of the earth's magnetic field. The
advantages of it are that the reading is in electronic form and can be digitized.
Reading can also be transmitted easily and displayed remotely.

55. What is mariner's astrolabe (sea astrolabe)?

It is an instrument used to measure vertical angles. In the sixteenth century, this

instrument was also called a ring.

56. What is torquetum or turquet?

It is a medieval astronomical instrument, designed to take and convert

measurements made in three sets of coordinates: Horizon, equatorial, and
ecliptic. In a sense, it is an analog computer.

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