Page 116 - Electronic Navigation Cyber Book

3. Off Course Alarm
An off-course alarm serves for the purpose of notifying the operator if
there is any difference in the set course and the actual heading of the
vessel. The user can manually set the required amount of degrees,
after which an alarm will sound to notify the user that the set degree
of difference has exceeded.

However, the user has to keep a check on the course changes as in
some cases when the gyro compass wanders its course, the auto-pilot
will follow the wandering compass and fail to sound the alarm.

4. Manual Mode

The steering controls of the system can be categorized as Automatic
and Manual mode. It allows the ship to be navigated either in Manual
mode or Automatic mode by switching the controls.

In Manual Mode, the vessel can be hand steered by using the Follow-
Up Helm or a Non-Follow up emergency tiller.
Hand steering is used when the ship is maneuvering, and navigating
in restricted waters, channels and areas with traffic density traffic
density.
NFU tiller when used will move the rudder in a desired direction but
not to a specific angle. This is used in case of emergencies.

The user must be familiar with the procedure of inter-switching from
Auto and Manual modes.

5. Traffic Density

The use of Auto-Pilot is not recommended when navigating in areas
with high traffic density, narrow channels and traffic separation
schemes and other restricted waters. The auto pilot may not be
efficient enough to turn the vessel spontaneously while navigating in
such areas demanding swift alterations and maneuvers to avoid a
collision or close quarter situation. If the auto-pilot is used in such
cases, all the steering gear pumps shall be switched on for better
rudder response.

6. Speed
The system works inefficiently on reduced speeds. The use of the
auto-pilot is not recommended when the ship is maneuvering or
steaming in very less speed.
The system allows the users to synchronize with the Speed Log to
receive feeds on the ship’s speed. The users should keep a check on
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