The shipping industry has greatly evolved over the last decade. Automation and modern technology have been a main focus of this change. Most modern ships nowadays rely on advanced navigation equipment to sail across the sea. If you’re thinking about investing in cruise vessels for sale, it is good to know about the various navigation systems available in most ships today. This will help you to pick out the right vessel for your needs.
Below, we take a look at some common navigation equipment found in most ships today.
1. Gyro Compass
The gyro compass, as in the case of a magnetic compass, is not interfered by an external magnetic field. Thus, it gives better and more accurate directions. Ship navigators use it to find the right direction. The gyro compass helps find the north position, considered to be the earth’s axis of rotation that proves to be a stable source for the correct direction. The steering platform of a ship is installed with a repeater system of the compass for emergency steering.
2. Radar
Most modern seagoing vessels depend on X-band and S-band frequency radar system for navigation purpose. The radar is a rotating antenna that detects vital information surrounding the sip such as what is the ship’s distance from the ground, are there any floating objects ahead such as an island, iceberg, etc., any other obstacles or vessels on the path. They detect and display this information on a screen, which helps to avoid collision.
3. Magnetic Compass
The magnetic compass is the primary source for a direction indicator and is used to find the planned navigation route of a ship. The magnetic compass works with the magnetic field of the earth. The navigation equipment of a ship is typically installed on the centreline of the vessel. The magnetic compass is mounted in a way that the output signal is easily displayed on the bridge panel.
4. Auto Pilot
The bridge layout on a modern ship is full of various navigation equipment and tools. The auto pilot is one of the most effective equipment used in bridge navigation. It offers assistance to the human operator in controlling the marine vessel by ensuring the steering remains in auto pilot mode. This allows the operator to concentrate on other broad aspects of navigation. The equipment is a combination of mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic systems that aid in controlling the ship’s steering system.
5. ARPA
Automatic Radar Plotting Aid, known as ARPA, is a bridge navigation equipment that constantly monitors the position of the ship and its surrounding environment. It displays the location of the ship as well automatically detects any targets nearby such as other vessels like boats or ships, floating or stationary objects, etc. The ARPA displays these targets on the screen and plots a navigation course for the ship avoiding any collision. With every rotation of the antenna, the parameters are constantly updated and the course is planned accordingly. It also displays the estimated time of the journey.
6. Echo Sounder
The echo sounder is among the oldest navigation instruments used on a modern ship; it has been in use for about 100 years now. It is applied in measuring the depth of the water below the bottom of a vessel. It functions on the principle of sound waves transmission and an audio pulse that is bounced off a reflective layer, and returns to source as an echo.
Conclusion
The modern maritime industry relies heavily on advanced equipment for accurate navigation. While investing on cruise vessels for sale, look for a ship that comes with the latest navigation tools. Contact Norwegian Ship Sales for a consult.
