Nautical Compass — Global Technical Support 2026
REMOTE
COMPASS
ADJUSTMENT
Assisted Navigation In a Digital Way
In the shipping industry 2026, technology has turned some of the process that before required days and days of waiting for the next port to have a solution.THE ASSISTED NAVIGATION IN A DIGITAL WAY has been consolidated as a vital tool for any owner’s fleet.
Sometimes, the ships need to adjust their magnetic compasses without delay, either because the captain or any of the officers have found high deviation or the adjustment certificate already expired and the vessel is far from the next port of call, or even the vessel is going to call a conflictive port where the PSC is very tough. This sistem may resolve this type of problems.
‘’TECHNICAL EFICIENCY and legal security do not know geographical borders at sea.’’
REMOTE ADVANTAGES OF COMPASS ADJUSTMENT: TIME, COST AND LOCATION
With this procedure we add clear advantages which impact in a direct way to the owner’s economy.
MAIN ADVANTAGES OF THE REMOTE COMPASS ADJUSTMENT
- 1/ To perform the adjustment any time, anywhere.
- 2/ To save time, bunker and money, and to avoid the physsical assistance on board the vessel. The logistic area is simplified to a maximum level, eliminating travels,hotels and the boat service for the adjuster.
REAL-TIME REMOTE SUPPORT
On the other hand, there is formative element which is essential in this support, since the crew members (officers and captain) are involved in the process and they can adjust by themselves if any problem arises regarding the compass, like a strong storm with the vessel pitching and rolling in a violent way, has caused the falling of some magnets and consecuently the deviations will appear for sure. Then the magnetic compass adjustment knowledge would be needed. This transference of knowledge from the adjuster helps the officers to understand what it’s going on, giving them bigger autonomy and capacity before any technical faults.
450 €
THE TARIFF IS FOR ANY GT, NO MATTER IF THE ADJUSTMENT TAKES ONE DAY OR ONE MONTH. Sometimes due, for instance, to the bad wheater or other circumstances, the crew are not able to start the procedure to adjust the compass in a quickly way or in some days.
MAGNETIC COMPASS ADJUSTMENT STEP BY STEP: COMMUNICATION AND PERFORMANCE
The viability of this system lies in the global conectivy that we have these days. Nowadays with all the tools we have in this digital world, we are able to communicate with the vessel by phon, WhatsApp, Face Time, ZOOM, etc… Normally the vessels use STARLINK MARITIME, which is very simple. This fluid connection allows the adjuster to work with the eyes of the captain, analyzing details in real time during the swinging of the ship.
Anyway, before we could commence any technical action, the rigor is not negotiable. We need to know, with the documents, we should have received from the captain, the feaseability of the adjustment, Once we have checked the scenario, there are two possibilities: 1/ The magnetic compass does not show any significant deviation (less than 4º), we issue a new certificate after having checked the deviatios which appear in the COMPASS RECORD BOOK and with the agreement of the captain.
We need following information in order to carry out the Magnetic Compass Adjustment:
1. Check list duly filled (Attached)
2. Last magnetic compass certificate with the position of the correctors (if not are in the certificate), Sometimes the adjuster omits this important information for the next adjuster.
3. Compass record book (last 2 months).
4. Copy of the last compass adjuster certificate (official).
5. Sometimes the captain and the crew perform a deviation table by their own and this is most valuable tool for the adjuster, if there is one, send it.
With this information we will evaluate the situation and take a decision regarding the best way to proceed, either at open sea or wait till the call of the vessel in the next port if possible.
Official Verification Protocol
TECHNICAL DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED HIGH DEVIATIONS ENCOUNTERED. HOW TO PROCEED.
On the contrary, if we face more complex scenarios, the interaction must be deeper.
2/ If high deviations encountered, it is necessary to adjust the compass with a suitable connection between the adjuster and the vessel. If we succeed, a new certificate is issued and it is send to the vessel. On the contrary, either the compass is damaged, the is no spare one on board, or for any other reason, it will be compulsory to adjust in a phisical way in the next port of call with the proper tools, maybe to bring a new compass. This practice guarantee that only we issue a new certificate when we are absolutely sure the adjustment has been done in a proper way, so the security is guaranteed.
TOTAL COMMITMENT
In this sense, our commitment the result is total. If we do not suceed to adjust the compass, we do not invoice anything (no cure-no pay).
Furthermore, we understand that every ship is a world and the magnetism could be very capricious, for this reason, we mentioned that en some vessel the adjustments were very complicated and lasted for more than a month, but the price was always the same (450 €)
LEGAL VALIDITY OF REMOTE COMPASS ADJUSTMENT
The validity of this service is not only technical but also legal under the the normatives ISO and SOLAS agreement. The accumulated experience is our best guarantee, since during the pandemia and later on, we have rendered services with success to more than 150 vessels. This track shows that the adjustment in remote is a good alternative acepted by the international authorities.
Then, in these times where the cybersecurity is a constant worry, a magnetic compass well-adjusted remotely becomes in the vital analogic firewall. If the sistems GPS or GNSS suffer interferences or spoofing, our shared knowledge between our compass adjuster and the crew will be the only tool which will guarantee a safe heading till next port.
DO YOU NEED AN INMEDIATE COMPASS ADJUSTMENT?
TO INITIATE A REMOTE ASISTENCE⚓ Frequently Asked Questions on Remote Compass Adjustment
1. IS VALID FROM A LEGAL POINT OF VIEW A CERTIFICATE IN REMOTE?
Absolutely. The validity of the certificate issued in a remote way lies in the compliance of the international stardards ISO and the SOLAS agreement. During the pandemia and later on, we have rendered service with success to more than 150 vessels, and these certificates have been accepted by the maritime authorities and Classification Societies all over the world. Therefore, if the procedure is supervised by a certified adjuster and the final deviations are under the normative range, your vessel will sail with full legal compliance.
2. WHAT HAPPENS IF THE ADJUSTMENT GETS COMPLICATED AND REQUIRE SOME DAYS?
One of the most owners’s worries is the unexpected cost due to the time spent during the service. However our transparency policy completely eleminates this risk. Worth mentioning that in some vessels the adjustments were very complicated and last for more than one month, but the price was the same 450 €, no matter if it lasted one day or one month. This fixed tariff guarantee that our goal be the technical precission and the safety, not the invoicing per hours, allowing the crew to work without the pressure of a chronometer.
3. WHAT TECHNOLOGICAL TOOLS MUST HAVE A VESSEL FOR THIS SERVICE?
The connectivity nowadays, is not a barrier at open sea With all the tools that we have in this digital world, we are able to communicate with the vessel by phone, WhatsApp, videoconference, Facetime, Zoom,etc. Thanks to this infrastructure the adjuster could guide the captain in real time, analizing the photos of the compass and the binnacle, where the magnets are inside, and details of the compass record book to assure that each movement of the magnets are the good one.
4. IN WHAT EMERGERCY SITUATIONS IS REMOTE SERVICE RECOMMENDED?
There are critical situations where to wait to phisical adjuster is not an valid option. Sometimes, the vessels need to adjust their compasses with urgency, either because high deviations detected, or the certificate is going to expire and the vessel is far away from the next port of callor, maybe, an inspection is foreseen in the next port. In these cases, remote assistence is an inmediate solution which will avoid problems in the next port of call.
5. WHAT HAPPENS IF FINALLY, WE ARE NOT ABLE TO PERFORM THE SERVICE?
Our profesional honestity is our service base. If during the service we realize that the compass is damage and there is not a spare oneor that the ship magnetism is too erratic for a telematic adjustmen, we will not invoice anythiny, no cure-no pay. With this scenario, we will inform the captain and owner that it will be necessary to adjust the compass in a phisical way in the next por of call, safety first.
6. HOW WE ISSUE THE NEW CERTIFICATE IF THERE IS NOT PHYSICAL PRESENCE?
The process depends on the initial condition of the compass and its binnacle. There are two possibilities: No high deviations, less than 4º, we issue a new one. On the contrary, if there are deviations of more than 4º, we undergo an adjustmen in remote. Once the adjustment is performed, we issue a new certificate and send it to the vessel.
7. Do the crew nautical members need a high advanced knowledge?
It is not necessary that the officers be great expertise in compass adjustment, normally they have received some teaching in their nautical school, but they do not have the expirience. The adjuster will guide them in the process without any problem. In the future they will be able to adjust the compass if any problem arises. This practical learning is invaluable since, for instance, allow them to reinstall a magnet which has fallen due to a storm and in this way they will feel more confident. The compass adjustment in remote, with all the tools we have nowadays, has been consolidated in 2026 as vital solution and legally valid under the normatives SOLAS and ISO, alowing the vessels to adjust their compasses from any location to solve any problem which could arise and even tough to issue a new certificate if it is expired. No need to a phisical assistance of an adjuster. This means a good saving in time and money, under a flat rate of 450 €.
SOME OF OUR CLIENTS
- MAERSK
- MSC
- CMA-CGM
- BALEARIA
- BOLUDA