What equipment is on the bridge? / What navigation equipment do you know?

With modern day facilities and automation, a ship today has several advanced navigation equipment systems which give accurate data for the voyage. Nowadays both old and new of them are present on all merchant vessels.

Gyro Compass: It is used for finding the right direction, to find correct North Position, which is also the earth’s rotational axis. Its repeater system must be present in the steering platform for emergency steering.

Magnetic Compass: The magnetic compass works in conjunction with the magnetic field of the earth. It is used to get planned direction for the voyage.

Radar: It is used to determine the distance of the ship from land, other ships, or any floating object out at sea. The ship radar has a screen that displays all the objects that are present in the immediate range of the radar.

ARPA: Automatic Radar Plotting Aid displays the position of a ship and other vessels nearby. The radar displays the position of the ships in the vicinity and selects the course for the vessel by avoiding any kind of collision.

GPS Receiver: A Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver is a display system used to show the ship’s location with the help of Global positioning satellite in the Earth’s orbit.

A GMDSS ( Global Maritime Distress and Safety System ) installation is legally required, by the SOLAS 74 Amend­ment in which the distress and safety radio traffic is regulated. All passen­ger liners and ships larger than 300 GT are obliged to have GMDSS. GMDSS ensures that, irrespective of the ship's location, reliable shore to ship and ship to shore communica­tion is possible in an emergency using radio and/or satellites. All information regarding transmitting and receiv­ing, and the frequencies used, can be found in the "Admiralty List of Radio Signals", Volume 5. Weather forecasts and warnings as well as distress messages, and watertight (GMDSS) walkie-talkies for commu­nication in case of distress.

Echo Sounder: This instrument is used to measure the depth of the water below the ship’s bottom using sound waves.

ECDIS (Electronic Chart Display Information System) is used for passage planning instead of paper charts.

AIS (Automatic Identification System) is a system which helps to pinpoint the location and other navigational statistics of ships. AIS uses VHF radio channels as transmitters and receivers to send and receive messages between ships which endeavor to fulfill a lot of responsibilities. AIS behaves as a radar and enables ships to correspond with other ships, to transmit alternative routes in case there are chances of any on-course collision between two ships, to send distress signals so that rescue operations can be carried out for the affected ship.

VHF Marine VHF radio is a means by which vessels can communicate with radio stations ashore and on other vessels.

SART or Search and Rescue Transponder, is extremely vital equipment on the ship as it performs the job of a signal-man. It is a vital machine during distress for it helps in locating the position of the vessel in case it goes off-track. SARTs are made of water proof components which protect it against damage by water and designed to remain afloat on water for a long time in case the vessel finds itself submerged in water. SARTs are used on ships, lifeboats and life rafts.

NAVTEX RECEIVER is an international, automated system for instantly distributing MSI (maritime safety information), navigational warnings, weather forecasts and metrological warnings, search and rescue notices and similar information to ships.

The EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon)is of use in case the ship is sinking so fast that the crew does not have the time to warn the world of the disaster. As in the case of the life raft, the water pressure will activate a hydrostatic release and the EPIRB will rise to the surface. As soon as the EPIRB is activated it will start to transmit the MMSI-number (Maritime Mobile Ship’s Identification) of the ship to a satellite which, in turn, will warn a ground station. The ground station then warns the nearest coast guard station. The coast guard will direct ships and aircraft as soon as the approximate position of the ship in distress is determined. When the EPIRB starts transmitting, a bearing can be taken and the position can be determined.

Auto Pilot: It is a combination of hydraulic, mechanical, and electrical system and is used to control the ship’s steering system from a remote location.