Magnetic compass is one of the major maritime navigational equipment and its usage is critical. Simply put, a magnetised needle, suspended freely, points North because of the forces caused by the Earth's magnetic field. Once North is known, the other directions are easily found.
Brass Compass Shiny Wooden Base for ship useVessel owners and masters each have responsibilities for ensuring that magnetic compasses are maintained in good working order, adjusted and a table or curve of residual deviations is available.The performance of the compass should be monitored and, for a vessel more than 100GT, deviations recorded in a compass deviation book at regular intervals, ideally at least once every watch and also shortly after a large alteration of course.
