Gyro Compass on Ships: Construction, Working, and Usage

A Gyro compass is a form of gyroscope, used widely on ships. It employs an electrically powered, fast-spinning gyroscope wheel and frictional forces, among other factors, to find the true north, utilising the basic physical laws, influences of gravity, and the Earth’s rotation.

Construction of Gyro Compass

The Gyro compass has become an indispensable instrument in almost all merchant ships or naval vessels for its ability to detect the direction of the true north and not the magnetic north. It is comprised of the following units:

• Master Compass: Discovers and maintains the true north reading with the help of a gyroscope.

• Repeater Compasses: Receive and indicate the true direction transmitted electrically from the Master Compass.

• Course Recorder: Makes a continuous record of the manoeuvring on a moving strip of paper.

• Control Panel: Governs the electrical operation of the system and ascertains the running condition by means of a suitable meter.

• Voltage Regulator: Maintains constant supply of the ship to the motor-generator.

• Alarm Unit: Indicates failure of the ship’s supply.

• Amplifier Panel: Controls the follow-up system.
• Motor Generator: Converts the ship’s DC