Government of Canada navigation bar

Symbol of the Government of Canada

Primary site navigation bar

Chapter 49 - Compass Adjuster

Previous Page | Table of Contents | Next Page

General

49.1 General requirements

The general requirements for a certificate as Compass Adjuster, are listed in section 174 of the Marine Personnel Regulations.

49.2 Validity of certificates

This certificate allows the holder to adjust vessels magnetic compasses and provide compass deviation certificates.

Syllabuses of Examinations

49.3 Magnetic Compass Adjustment (Examination Code: CD-W)

  1. The examination consists of a written test comprising descriptive questions
  2. The examination is of a three hours duration.
  3. The examination is based upon:
Subject Knowledge required
Competence: Magnetic Compass Adjustment
Magnetism Knowledge of magnetic properties of materials, including induction, susceptibility and permeability; Terrestrial magnetism, dip, total force, horizontal force, vertical force, and the effect on the deviation of the compass accompanying any change in the values of these elements; Causes and effects of variation; Ship's magnetism, including the characteristics of hard and soft iron and permanent, sub-permanent and induced magnetism; components P, Q and R, and the rods a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h and k; approximate coefficients A, B, C, D, E and J, and the causes of sextantal, octonal, decantal and dodecantal deviations; constants lambda and mu and the relationship between them; general principles of compass correction and methods of finding, compensating a compass for the various components that might cause deviation, including the effects of heel and trim; compensation by use of the kelvin deflector, the principle of the deflector method and the information that can be deduced from the deflector readings; setting and lining up of compasses with due regard for the proximity of magnetic material, electrical devices and other disturbing influences; Theory of degaussing in ships fitted with M coils and compass compensation by means of B and heeling error coils; procedure when swinging ship and construction of deviation tables from bearings of a distant object, reciprocal bearings or azimuths of a heavenly body; practical analysis of a deviation table and practical compass correction.
Competence: Magnetic Compass Adjustment
Electricity Knowledge of: electrical currents and their production; simple cells of primary and secondary types, including the effects of polarization; electromotive force, resistance and current; Ohm's law and Kirchoff's laws; magnetic fields and lines of force, induced magnetism, fields of conductors carrying currents; Solenoids and electromagnets; Effect of magnetic fields of all types on the compass needle; Elementary principles of dynamos and motors; electrical lighting.

49.4 Magnetic Compass Adjustment – practical (Examination Code: CD–P)

  1. The examination is of an unlimited duration.
  2. The examination is based upon:
Subject Knowledge required
Competence: Magnetic Compass Adjustment
Magnetic compass Practical compass adjustment using Beall’s compass deviascope or instructional binnacle; Practical Aspects of the syllabus in the written examination.

Previous Page | Table of Contents | Next Page

Date modified:
2010-01-18