Magnetic Compass Notes

Compiled By: Capt. Sunil Bhabha

The Earth’s Magnetism

The Magnetic Field of the Earth is identical to the field of a short
bar magnet. The imaginary short bar magnet has its BLUE pole
towards Geographic North & its RED pole towards Geographic
South. The directions in which the poles point are called
Magnetic North & Magnetic South. These are slightly away from
Geographic North & South poles & are also moving slowly.

Magnetic Poles
Are those points where the lines of force of Earth’s magnetic
field are vertical (perpendicular to the Earth surface).

Magnetic Equator
Is an imaginary line joining those points where the lines of force
of Earth’s magnetic field are horizontal (parallel to the Earth
surface).

Dip
The angle at which the Earth’s magnetic field acts w.r.t. horizontal at any place is the Dip at that place. The Earth’s
field has a Northward & Downwards component in the N hemisphere & In S Hemisphere it has a Northward &
Upward component. Conventionally Dip is designated positive in N hemisphere.

Variation
Magnetic variation is the angle between magnetic north and true north and is caused by the different locations of
the Geographic North Pole and the Magnetic North Pole.

Components of the Total Force

The total force of the Earth’s magnetic field can be resolved into two
components. It is the Horizontal force H which provides the Directive
property to the Magnetic Compass. H is maximum at the Equator &
reduces as the latitude increases till it becomes nil at the poles. The
directive property of a Magnetic compass is hence highest at the
equator & Nil at poles.

The vertical component is called Z. It acts downwards in N Hemisphere &

upwards in S Hemisphere. Z does not contribute to the directive
property but tends to dip the card. However, the card is so constructed
as to restrict dipping by keeping its COG low.

CAPT. SUNIL BHABHA 1

Ship’s Magnetism
On a wooden ship, magnetic compass would point towards Magnetic North. By applying Variation True Directions
can be obtained. However, present day ships are built of steel - a magnetic material, which also affects the Compass
(deviation). Ship’s magnetism is of two types.

Permanent Magnetism – In Hard Iron structures like Hull, Decks, Bulkheads & Tank tops.

Induced Magnetism – In Soft Iron structures like beams, Girders, Masts & Funnels.

Permanent Magnetism
Is acquired by the Hard Iron in the ship when it is built. Heading in a constant direction in the yard, continuous
Heating, Hammering, Bending & Welding causes the HI molecules to align themselves in the direction of earth’s
magnetic field at that location thus acquiring permanent magnetism.

Since this is permanent magnetism, the Poles generated are also permanent & do not shift. The vessel acquires
magnetism both in Horizontal & vertical planes. Blue Pole is acquired where the lines enter the material & Red pole
where they leave.

Permanent Magnetism (Horizontal) – Positioning of poles depend upon the Heading of the Vessel when built

Permanent Magnetism (Vertical) – Positioning of poles depend upon the Hemisphere, where Vessel is built

Depending on the heading & hemisphere the positioning of poles could result in any oblique direction (Three
dimensional). This permanent magnetism in any oblique directions is split into 3 mutually perpendicular directions
to understand & counteract it effectively.

Ship’s Induced Magnetism

Horizontal Soft Iron is induced by H component of the Total Force. The strength of Induced magnetism depends on
the heading of the Ship. Vertical Soft Iron is induced by Z Component of the Total force. Position of the poles will
depend upon the hemisphere the vessel is in presently.

Compass Work
Permanent magnetism & Induced magnetism both cause deviation of the magnetic compass. Permanent
magnetism is understood by considering its three components namely

✓ P – Fore & aft direction

✓ Q – Athwartship direction
✓ R – Vertical direction

Induced magnetism can also be generated in three directions namely

✓ Fore & Aft – In F & A horizontal soft iron.

✓ Athwartship – In Athwartship soft iron
✓ Vertical – In Vertical soft iron

Each of these components has to be treated separately as the deviations they produce varies with change in
Heading, Latitude & hemisphere. For treating these components, the deviation of the compass is divided into 5
coefficients. These Coefficients are named as A, B, C, D & E.

It must be clearly understood that these coefficients are the deviations generated & not the forces causing
deviations. If we know all the coefficients, total deviation can be calculated.

Deviation = A + B Sin co + C Cos co + D Sin 2 co + E Cos 2 co

CAPT. SUNIL BHABHA 2

Coefficient A
Coefficient A is a deviation which remains constant in name as well as magnitude on all the headings & can be
further divided into Real A & Apparent A

Real A – Constant deviation on all headings caused by induced magnetism in unsymmetrical pairs of Horizontal soft
Iron.

It is caused by induced magnetism in unsymmetrical pairs of Horizontal soft Iron.

Real A Deviations

Real A – Correction

Correction of Real A is generally not attempted. It is very rare that a coefficient A exists. Even when present it is
likely to be very small. Since the deviation is constant on all headings it can be applied as an Index Error.

Apparent A

Constant deviation on all headings caused by factors other than the magnetic field for example

✓ Magnetic needles not parallel to 0-̊ 180˚direction of the card.

✓ Lubber line not parallel to Ship’s Fore & Aft line.
✓ Constant error in observing bearings when the compass is initially adjusted (e.g. Index error in the Azimuth
Mirror)
✓ Error in computing the magnetic bearing when the compass was adjusted.
✓ Rapid swinging of vessel when observing bearing for compass adjustment.
✓ Hour angles worked out wrongly leading to error in the calculated bearing.

CAPT. SUNIL BHABHA 3

Calculating Coefficient, A

The value of coefficient A can be obtained as the mean of deviations on at least four equidistant headings. However
normally this is done using eight deviations on Cardinal & Intercardinal Headings.

Coefficient B
Coefficient B is the maximum value of the semicircular deviation which varies as the Sin of the Compass Course. It
is caused by Horizontal Fore & Aft component of the ship’s magnetic field.

Horizontal Fore & Aft component of the ship’s magnetic field is caused by Permanent Magnetism of the ship as well
as Induced magnetism.

Deviation caused by Permanent magnetism is called Permanent B or PB. Deviation caused by Induced magnetism is
called Induced B or IB.

Permanent B Cause

Permanent B Deviations

Permanent B Correction

Coefficients are always corrected on the heading on which they produce maximum deviations. For the coefficient to
cause maximum deviation, it should act perpendicular to the needle. Basic principle followed in correcting a
compass is to Cure Like with Like. That is permanent deviation is cured with permanent magnets & Induced
deviation with Induced magnetism.

CAPT. SUNIL BHABHA 4

Induced B

Induced B is caused by a horizontal fore and aft magnetic field at the compass due to the induced magnetism in the
vertical soft iron ford or aft of the compass. The compass is generally situated at level with the Top poles of the
masts & the funnel. The Top poles therefore affect the compass more as compared to the bottom poles of these VSI
structures. As the funnel is the largest VSI on board & is situated close abaft of the compass, it produces the most
predominant effect.

Correction of Induced B

Like for Like principle is applied.

V.S.I. is used for correction in the
form of Flinders Bar. The value
of Induced magnetism depends
upon the length of Soft Iron
hence the length of the Flinders
Bar is varied as per the
correction required.

CAPT. SUNIL BHABHA 5

Coefficient C
Coefficient C is the maximum value of the semicircular deviation which varies as the cosine of the compass course.
It is caused by the Horizontal athwartship component of the Ship’s magnetic field. Coefficient C comprises of
Permanent C & Induced C.

Permanent C Cause

Caused by Q component of Ship’s permanent magnetism. A ship built on E’ly heading will
acquire permanent red pole on Port side & permanent blue pole on Stbd. side. A ship built
on W’ly heading will have the poles in opposite directions.

Permanent C Deviations

Permanent C Correction

Cure Like with Like principle is used. PC which is caused by Ship’s Athwartship horizontal permanent magnetic field
is therefore corrected using Athwartship permanent magnets placed horizontally. They are so placed as to produce
a permanent magnetic field at the compass exactly equal & opposite to that of Ship.

Induced C

iC is caused by a horizontal Athwartship magnetic field due to the induced magnetism in the VSI to Port or
Starboard of the compass. Practically iC does not exist on a merchant vessel as the VSI to Port & Starboard of the
Ship’s centerline is symmetrically placed. It may exist if the compass is placed off the centerline (e.g., in Aircraft
carriers)

CAPT. SUNIL BHABHA 6

Induced C Correction

A normal Merchant vessel does not have iC & no correction is thus needed. However, if the compass is badly placed
iC will be present. This is corrected using the same principle as iB, thus a FB can be placed port or starboard of the
compass, opposite to the side on which Athwartship VSI is predominant.

Coefficient D
Coefficient D is the maximum value of quadrantal deviation which varies as Sin of Twice the Compass Course. It is
caused by Horizontal field due to induced Magnetism in HSI situated symmetrically about a Fore & Aft line through
the compass. Generally, HSI structure on merchant ships are Transverse beams & Fore & Aft Girders / Longitudinal.
Transverse beams are much more in number as compared to longitudinal & also their ends are closer to the
compass making their effect much more predominant.

CAPT. SUNIL BHABHA 7

Coefficient D Correction

Coefficients are always corrected on the heading on which they

produce maximum deviations. Basic principle followed in
correcting a compass is to Cure Like with Like. That is permanent
deviation is cured with permanent magnets & Induced deviation
with Induced magnetism.

Since there is predominance of athwartship beams & also their

ends closer to the compass, these have much more effect than F
& A longitudinal. This effect is corrected by providing two Soft
Iron Spheres placed one on either side of the compass in the
athwartship plane. The correction is done on any one of the
Intercardinal heading where the deviation due to D is maximum.

In the unlikely event of ship having more longitudinal the

spheres will be placed F & A of the compass.

Coefficient E
Coefficient E is the maximum value of the Quadrantal deviation which varies as the Cosine of twice the compass
course.

It is caused by a Horizontal field at the compass position due to induced magnetism in HSI situated symmetrically
about a 45-degree line through the compass position.

CAPT. SUNIL BHABHA 8

Coefficient E Correction

On a normal merchant vessel Coefficient E would be absent. However, if it is present, correction is done by S.I.
Spheres (as is done for Coeff D) but placed diagonally.

When both D & E are present, they are corrected by a single set of spheres slewed to some intermediate angle.

✓ Slew angle is calculated by formula:

✓ Tan (2 X “Angle of slew”) = E/D
✓ The spheres are initially placed to correct Coeff D. Which is corrected by placing spheres in athwartship
direction.
✓ After correcting D, the spheres are slewed. If D & E are of same sign the spheres are slewed clockwise & if
they are of opposite signs, anticlockwise.
✓ The maximum deviation due to D & E occurs when the spheres lie in the NE / SW or NW / SE direction.
✓ Reason being that any HSI will produce maximum deviation when they lie in the NE / SW or NW / SE
direction.

CAPT. SUNIL BHABHA 9

Summary

*********

CAPT. SUNIL BHABHA 10