How to Choose a Marine Display for Your Ship’s Navigation System

It suffices to say that modern day marine monitors are far more technologically advanced than their 19th-century ancestors. As times and marine-life necessities continue to evolve, so should the technological specifications and features of naval equipment. After all, ship navigation systems aren’t just responsible for preventing naval officers from getting lost at sea; they also serve the purpose of ensuring a safe and overall successful voyage from one nautical location to another. Various advanced electronic tools such as marine GPS systems, navigational light systems, and marine LCD monitors work in tandem to comprise an almost foolproof mechanism for proper marine radar and other essential safety features.

Necessary Functions of a High-End Marine Display

There are many different options to choose from when it comes to purchasing and installing a high-end marine display. The instruments you choose to use depend on the needs of your vessel, your crew members, and your specific mission. That said, you also have the option of purchasing standalone devices that feature the specific functions you’re looking for; or you can opt for multi-function devices that fulfill a variety of different needs. Below are some of the features that are worth considering when purchasing state-of-the-art navigation equipment for boats.

ARPA and Voyage Data Recorder

ARPA stands for Automatic Radar Plotting Aid. This is a very useful piece of equipment that displays the positions of other ships and potential obstacles within the vicinity of your ship. The goal of this application is to prevent probable collisions by alerting seafarers to objects that are in their direct line of travel. It works alongside a Voyage Data Recorder which is typically used to record everything that happens throughout the course of the mission. The main purpose of this is to provide firsthand detailed evidence in case an incident does take place and an investigation is required.

Gyro Compass

Unlike regular compasses which have major flaws and can be easily manipulated by magnetic forces to lead you in the wrong direction, Gyro compasses are mechanically manufactured to be more accurate and effective in helping you stay on course. Gyro compasses are designed to read and measure the earth’s rotational axis in order to find the true north direction and ensure that you and your voyagers safely reach your destination.

Marine GPS System for Accurate Navigation

Every marine vessel should be aptly equipped with the latest GPS devices and applications that can help them be easily located in times of trouble. Not only that, proper GPS systems can also work in combination with Gyro compasses to correct errors caused by the latter device. Unfortunately, Gyro compasses aren’t completely flawless and they are prone to misdirection in certain hemispheres. High-quality GPS applications can help prevent and correct these issues.

Wired vs. Wireless Connection

Like all other types of technology, wireless connections are the wave of the future in the marine industry. They completely eliminate the need to drill holes into the vessels and setup is quick and hassle-free. There’s no hardware installation required, which means you simply have to install the right software onto the devices and input the pertinent data for your vessel and mission. Wired connections, on the other hand, are the equivalent of still having a dial-up Internet connection when everyone else is on Wi-Fi.

Knotmeter and Depth Sounder

A knotmeter measures the speed of the boat and logs the distance the vessel has travelled at any given point throughout the journey. It’s an essential component of marine navigation equipment because it helps sailors, sea captains, and marine captains plot their courses and gauge a realistic estimated time of arrival based upon the speed at which they’re travelling and the distance between their current location and their destination.
The depth sounder is another useful ship navigation tool for experienced seafarers because it allows them to scope out the depth of the waters on which they’re travelling at any given point. This feature is especially useful in the fishing industry where fishermen are actively looking for certain schools of marine life at varying depths beneath the surface of the water. It’s also handy when it comes to finding a good location to anchor the ship.

Wind Instrument: Repeater

Wind instruments can serve multiple purposes. This particular device can have a 3 in 1 purpose that accurately measures wind resistance, includes a knotmeter, and it also includes a depth sounder. All of these devices come together to form one cohesive and manageable ship navigation system that is useful for both daytime and nighttime sailing. At night, sailing without proper equipment is tricky and dangerous because it’s nearly impossible to gauge water levels and depth with the naked eye. You need the right tools to do the job for you and ensure your own safety and the safety of your crew.

Navigational Lights System

Just like headlights on a car, all marine and commercial vessels are required by Maritime Law to be equipped with fully operational navigational light systems to aid in nighttime sailing. This serves the dual purpose of making it easier for the able seaman to be able to spot any unexpected obstacles and other vessels that are in direct line of the ship’s travel while also making it easier for other ships to see your ship. These lights are designed to prevent head-on collisions from taking place. During the day, they can also serve as daylight signaling lamps to alert nearby vessels if your ship is in distress.

Types of Marine Displays

There are two main types of marine displays that you can choose to install depending upon your budget and the requirements of your crew for any given mission: monochrome and colour displays. Monochrome displays are far less expensive and are very useful for making simple calculations since they only show the numbers needed. They usually display the speed at which the ship is travelling, the temperature of the waters, and other information that’s relevant to the voyage. Colour displays, on the other hand, are a little more costly, but they also make it easier for people with vision problems to make out different numerals and pieces of information on the screen. Colour displays are especially useful for nighttime voyages and are also ideal for stormy or foggy weather conditions.

Nauticomp Inc. is committed to designing and manufacturing only the highest quality marine displays, monitors, and ship navigation equipment possible. All of our designs are fully customizable to meet the needs of your crew and mission. We never compromise on substance for style and all of our models come in a variety of sizes and configurations to meet your needs, including sunlight readability, waterproof features, dim-to-red capabilities, and so much more. For more information on our products, please contact us.