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Navigation & Communication
Navigation Equipment
Navigation equipment tells the bridge, the dynamic positioning (DP) system and the helideck where the unit is, which way it points, how it moves and what the weather is doing. The Category covers GNSS receivers, radars, gyrocompasses, echo sounders, weather and helideck monitoring systems and motion reference units for drilling units and offshore vessels, whether used, unused surplus or OEM-refurbished.
Six sensor families and what each feeds
| Sub-Category | Measures | Main consumers |
|---|---|---|
| GPS and GNSS receivers | Position, speed, time | ECDIS, radar, AIS, GMDSS radios, DP |
| Radar systems | Target range and bearing | Collision avoidance, approach watch |
| Gyrocompasses | True heading, rate of turn | Radar, DP, autopilot, VSAT antennas |
| Echo sounders | Depth under the transducer | ECDIS, voyage data recorder |
| Weather monitoring systems | Wind, pressure, cloud, visibility | Helideck, DP wind feed-forward |
| Motion reference units (MRU) | Roll, pitch, heave | DP, heave compensation, helideck |
Several of these sensors serve more than one system at once. A single gyrocompass can feed the radar, the DP system and the satellite antenna controller. Find out every consumer on the source unit before you assume a sensor will drop into the same role on yours.
The role decides the rules
Equipment fitted to meet SOLAS chapter V regulation 19 must be type approved against its IMO performance standard. Equipment fitted as a DP sensor answers to the class society's DP rules and to the unit's failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA). Helideck sensors answer to CAP 437 in the UK sector, or to the national helideck standard elsewhere.
Regulation 19 phases in the bridge fit by gross tonnage (GT).
| Equipment | Carried from | Note |
|---|---|---|
| GNSS receiver or other position fixing | All ships | Must work in the trading area |
| 9 GHz (X-band) radar | 300 GT | Also all passenger ships |
| Echo sounder | 300 GT | Also all passenger ships |
| Gyrocompass or other non-magnetic heading means | 500 GT | Plus heading and bearing repeaters |
| Second radar, 3 GHz (S-band) | 3,000 GT | Flag may accept a second X-band |
Mobile offshore drilling units add a layer. Chapter 11 of the 2009 MODU Code covers navigation equipment and radiocommunication, and IMO resolution MSC.506(105) rewrote it from 1 January 2024. A non-self-propelled unit can carry a lighter navigation fit than a ship of the same tonnage, so the flag state's certificate of the source unit tells you which role an item was approved for.
Standards that apply across the group
- IEC 60945 sets the environmental, EMC and safety tests for all bridge electronics. Each unit is tested as "protected" (indoor) or "exposed" (weather deck), and the label states a compass safe distance.
- IEC 61162 defines the data interfaces. Part 1 is NMEA 0183 serial data at 4,800 baud, part 2 the 38,400 baud version, and part 450 the Ethernet version.
- Each family also has its own test standard. GNSS uses IEC 61108, radar IEC 62388, heading devices ISO 8728 and ISO 22090, and echo sounders ISO 9875.
- On EU-flagged units the Marine Equipment Directive (2014/90/EU) requires the wheel mark. Other flags accept class or flag type approval. The certificate names the model and often the software version, so a used unit with a newer or older software load may sit outside it.
Interfaces that cut across the group
Most sensors talk IEC 61162 sentences, but the receiving system still has to accept the specific talker and sentence types, update rate and baud rate. Older vessels still run synchro or step-by-step heading to repeaters. Newer equipment raises alerts under the IMO bridge alert management standard, MSC.302(87), which an older central alarm panel may not understand. Check power supply too. Many units run on 24 V DC from the navigation distribution board, with others on 115 or 230 V AC.
What decides a used purchase
Marine electronics fail commercially before they fail physically. A radar or gyrocompass can work perfectly while the OEM no longer sells boards, gyrospheres or software for it. Settle these points before anything else:
- Model, hardware revision and software version, read from the label and the service menu, compared with the type-approval certificate.
- OEM support status, including spares, exchange programmes and firmware.
- Whether the unit matches the generation already installed, so cabling, brackets and configuration carry over.
- Calibration dates for MRUs and weather sensors, which drift.
- Licence keys and subscriptions, which often stay with the previous owner.
Unused surplus from a newbuild that changed spec gives current hardware with no running hours. A used unit suits a like-for-like replacement or a fleet spare. OEM-refurbished units with a fresh service report suit the safety-critical sensors, gyrocompasses and MRUs above all. Naventr can ask the Seller for the certificate, software version and service records before you commit, and arrange an inspection on request.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is used navigation equipment still type approved?
A used unit keeps its type approval if it is the same model, hardware and software version named on the certificate. Read the version from the service menu, compare it with the certificate, and confirm with your flag state or class society that they accept that approval for your unit and its role.
Which navigation sensors does a DP class 2 or 3 unit need?
A DP class 2 or 3 unit needs redundant position references, heading, motion and wind sensors so that no single failure causes loss of position. In practice that means three gyrocompasses, three MRUs, two or more wind sensors and at least three position reference systems. Your class rules and the unit's FMEA set the exact fit.
Can I mix navigation sensor brands on one bridge or DP system?
Yes, as long as the receiving system accepts the sensor's IEC 61162 sentences, update rate and baud rate. Check the DP or integrated bridge system's interface list, and confirm that any change to a DP sensor is reflected in the FMEA and proven at the next DP trials.
What does SOLAS chapter V require on a drilling unit?
SOLAS chapter V regulation 19 applies by gross tonnage to self-propelled units, from GNSS on all ships to a second radar at 3,000 GT. Non-self-propelled units take their navigation fit from chapter 11 of the 2009 MODU Code and their flag state, which can be lighter. Check the unit's safety certificate and equipment record.
Why does the software version matter on used bridge electronics?
The software version matters because type-approval certificates and integrated bridge interfaces are tied to it. A different version can fall outside the certificate, change the sentences the unit sends, or need an OEM licence to update. Ask for the version shown in the service menu, not the one in the original manual.
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