94014 Equipment Failure Gyro

 Compass Work
- North Africa. Visibility 4 miles.
- Report No. 94014.

We were using the magnetic compass during the approach to the pilot station as the gyro was out of order, suddenly the helmsman reported that he could not see the compass heading. Immediately the 3rd Officer investigated and found the light in the standard compass on the monkey island had gone off. The bulb was changed but without success and after several bulbs were plugged in with the same result it was found that the electric circuit was broken and could not be repaired immediately.

The only other option was to use the spare magnetic compass. The spare compass was placed in front of the helmsman and its heading noted when the course being steered was relayed through the voice pipe from the monkey island. The spare compass was reading 25 degrees lower than the standard compass on the monkey island.

We arrived at the fairway buoy without any further problems and by this time the entrance to the port was visible and the vessel was steered in relation to the shore towards the pilot vessel. During the time while trying to get the light on, the Master was using the radar for guidance and the course made good was displayed on the GPS screen. The end of sea passage was already passed and the engines were on standby. This incident was also taken as a teaching exercise for officers and crew to show that there is a spare compass on board which can easily be used.