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Application of Error to a Compass

Application of Error to a Compass

( Material courtesy of A.N.T.A. publications, edited html extracts Ranger Hope 2008,)

The courses and bearings laid on a chart are true, but we steer courses and take bearings using a compass. The compass used in small vessels is more commonly a magnetic compass, although some may be fitted with a gyro compass. It is suggested that this section be read in conjunction with Learning Outcome 7 on magnetic compass and azimuth circle. Firstly, we will deal with the magnetic compass and the errors involved. The difference between direction as measured by the compass and the true direction as measured on the chart is termed compass error, stated differently: - It is the angular difference between true north and compass north. It is named east or west to indicate the side of true north on which the compass north lies.

Figure 2.14: Direction of Compass Error

The Compass Error is a combination of two separate and distinct components, namely variation and deviation.

Variation
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When influenced only by the earths magnetic field, a compass needle will point towards the earths north magnetic pole. This pole is located somewhere to the north of Canada and is slowly moving. Examination of a globe will show that from a position on the East Coast of Australia the compass will point in a direction to the east of true north. This is magnetic north, and the angle between it and true north is called variation. In our case variation is east. To find the value of variation for any position simply consult the nearest compass rose on a marine chart. The variation will be given for a specified year, together with the rate of change, allowing calculation of variation for any subsequent year. See appendix for variation chart of the world. Example Chart Aus 823 gives the following information on the compass rose to the south of St Bees Island: Mag Var 8 40E (1979) Increasing about 2 annually. In 1997 the variation will have increased by 2 each year for 18 years, a total of 36. Adding this to 8 40 we find that the variation for 1997 is 9 16E. Now we will consider Deviation.

Deviation
In the unlikely event that a vessel is constructed entirely from non magnetic materials and has no electronics close to the compass, variation is the only error which will need to be accounted for. In all other cases the vessel and/or its equipment will create magnetic fields of their own. Some of these will be built into the vessel on the slip, others will change as the vessel moves around within the influence of the earths magnetic field. The compass adjuster is usually able to reduce the effect of the vessels magnetic fields, but the causes are so complex that it is inevitable that some effects remain. For the ships compass to work at all the effect of the ships magnetism must be less that the force of the earths magnetic field. To illustrate the effect of the vessels own magnetic field, imagine a vessel on which the compass needle is attracted towards the stern. When that vessel is heading towards magnetic north the effect of the pull towards the stern is to reduce the directive force at the compass but not to deflect it from magnetic north. As the vessel turns onto easterly headings the compass needle is deflected towards the stern i.e. towards west. When the vessel heads west the compass needle is deflected to the east. There will be no deflection when the vessel heads south, but an increase in directive force. This deflection of the compass away from magnetic north is called deviation. As with variation it is named East or West and the value will change according to the ships heading. A deviation card
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is produced by the compass adjuster when the vessel is first commissioned and at intervals throughout its life. It is displayed close to the compass position. An example of a deviation card can be found on Page 78. The relationship between compass, magnetic and true courses and bearings is shown in the following diagram.

Figure 2.15: Relationship between Compass, magnetic and truc courses and bearings.

Rules for applying Variation and Deviation.

To avoid drawing diagrams every time variation and deviation are applied, a number of memory aids have been developed to clarify the rules of application: Television Makes Dull Company (T V M D C) reminds us that to true we must apply the variation to find magnetic, and to this we apply deviation to arrive at compass (course or bearing). If we start with a compass bearing and wish to convert it to true so that it can be used on the chart the order of operation is reversed (C D M V T). Having decided the correct order in which to apply variation and deviation, we need to know whether the correction should be added or subtracted. This may be decided using the word: CADET This simply indicates that to get from compass to true (the end points) we Add East.
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Given that we add east (deviation or variation) it follows that we must subtract west (deviation or variation). It also follows that if we add east to get from compass to true, we should add west when going from true to compass. A simple layout for applying these rules is shown on the next page.

Compass Error
If we expect to take several bearings whilst steering the one steady course it makes good sense to arrive at a single correction to apply to all those bearings. Remembering that the variation remains effectively the same whilst operating in one area, and that deviation only changes when we change course, we can find the compass error for the course being steered and apply that to all bearings taken whilst on that course. Example: We are steering 076 (C). The deviation from the deviation card for 076 is 3 W and the variation from the chart is 11 E. The compass error (combined variation and deviation) is therefore 8 E. Since we are converting compass bearings to true we add East (CADET). Therefore whilst steering 076 (C) add 8 to any compass bearing to convert it to true. Simple layout for applying variation and deviation. (Deviation is taken from the deviation table at the end of this section.)

1.

Changing from compass to true. 215 (C) 6 W 209 (M) 11 E 220 (T)

Compass Course Deviation Magnetic Course Variation True course

(in this case between 210 and 220) (add E so subtract W) (from chart) (add E)

2.

Changing from true to compass 220 (T) - 11 E (from chart) 209 (M) (from T to C subtract E)
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True Course Variation Magnetic Course

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Deviation Compass course

+ 5 W (from table for 210) 214.5 (C) (add W)

For most practical purposes this compass course is sufficiently accurate, but to be strictly correct we should re-enter the deviation table with a Compass Course of 214 , rather than the magnetic course of 209 . In this case deviation would be 6 W and the total working as follows:True Course Variation Magnetic Course Deviation Compass Course 220 11 209 5.5 215 (T) E (M) W ( Deviation (2) (C) 214.5 (C)

6 W) Compass Course

The difference is rarely likely to be great, but beware a deviation card which indicates rapid changes in deviation. When working with bearings the same lay-out is followed but remember that the deviation table is entered with Ships Head, Not Bearing.

The Gyro Compass

Although it is popularly believed that the gyro compass indicates true North, this is not necessarily the case. The gyro is subject to course, speed and latitude errors. These are kept to the minimum by input corrections. The gyro error is rarely more than one or two degrees for a correctly maintained gyro. To avoid confusion with magnetic errors, gyro error is named high (H) or low (L). Gyro error is named high when the gyro course or bearing is higher than the true course or bearing. Therefore high error must be subtracted from the gyro reading to obtain the true reading. The opposite applies to low error. Example Gyro error is known to be 2 high. The true course to be steered is 076 . What is the gyro course? True Course Gyro error 076 2 H
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Gyro Course

078

A bearing taken with the same gyro gives 246 (G). What is the true bearing? Gyro bearing Gyro error True bearing 246 2 H 244

Relative Bearings
When bearings are taken using a pelorus, or by radar with an unstabilised display (ships head up), the bearing taken will be measured relative to the ships head, rather than north. Such a relative bearing must be applied to the true ships head to arrive at a true bearing for plotting on the chart. This will entail changing the compass course to true and then adding the relative bearing (if in 360 notation). Using 360 notation is now normal practice, but if the relative bearing is a given number of degrees Green (starboard) then it is also added. If the relative bearing is a given number of degrees Red (port), then it is subtracted. In the example below the relative bearing would have been Red 86 . To subtract this from the true course it would have been necessary to first add 360 . The answer is again 352 (T).

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Figure 2.16: Relationship between True and Relative Bearings

Example for Relative Bearing Working A vessel is steering 073 (C) Deviation is 4 W Variation 9 E The relative bearing of Edward Island Light is What is the true bearing of Edward Island Light? Rel. Brng. True Brng. Compass Magnetic True 073 (C) 069 (M) 078 (T) 274 (Rel) 274 (R) 352 (T)

We now have to consider the checking of a Deviation Card, and keeping a record book.
To find the Compass Error by Observation If there is some doubt as to the accuracy of the deviation card, or in any case as a periodical check, the deviation can be determined by one of two simple methods :
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By Transit Bearings
When two well charted objects are in transit a compass bearing is taken. The true bearing is taken from the chart using parallel rulers. Comparison of the compass bearing and the true bearing gives the compass error. A transit bearing when two or more objects lie on the same line, as in Figure 2.17. If the deviation is required it is calculated by applying the charted variation to the compass error.

Try checking the compass error using an azimuth circle on your compass and a Transit Bearing. A more difficult one is using a pelorus for a Relative Bearing, then converting this to a Compass Bearing. Ask the Master to show you. Then practice. Example: In this case a bearing has been taken of Leading Lts 045 True Bearing Compass Bearing Compass Error Variation therefore Deviation 045 048 3 W 11 E 8 E

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Figure 2.17: Compass Error by Transit using a Azimuth Circle. (Drawing by courtesy of Small Ships Manual)

In the second method you require to know your exact position, this can be obtained by :A. B. C. Corrected G.P.S. Ranges from radar Ranges from Vertical Sextant Angles

The object should be on the chart and well distanced from the vessel.

By Bearing from a Known Position

When the vessels position is accurately fixed, a compass bearing may be taken of a well charted and distant object, say a tower (as in Figure 2.18). The true bearing can again be taken from the chart using parallel rulers. Calculation made as above. Any small change in the vessels position whilst swinging will have a negligible effect on the true bearing if the chosen object is sufficiently distant.

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Figure 2.18: Compass Error from a known position

Example: True bearing Compass bearing Compass error Variation Deviation 050 033 17 E 11 E 6 E

A record of Compass Errors and Deviation should be kept in a Compass Record Book (see U.S.L. Requirements).

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