Plotting Instruments - Navigation and Communication
Marine plotting instruments are manual bridge tools used with paper nautical charts for course laying, distance measurement, position plotting and bearing transfer. Typical items include dividers, parallel rulers, protractors, triangles and nautical pencils.
ProShipWorks provides end-to-end support to source and supply Plotting Instruments for marine vessels, ship operators, industrial facilities, maintenance teams and procurement departments.
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Product Information
| Product Name | Plotting Instruments |
|---|---|
| Product Category | Navigation and Communication |
| Product Reference | 183 |
| Brands / Manufacturers | Weems & Plath, C.Plath, Freiberger Präzisionsmechanik |
| Unit of Measure | Piece or Set |
Key Features
| Key Feature |
|---|
| 1. Used for manual chartwork and voyage planning |
| 2. Dividers measure chart distance using latitude scales |
| 3. Parallel rulers transfer courses and bearings |
| 4. Protractors measure and plot directions |
| 5. Available individually or in navigation tool sets |
Applications of Plotting Instruments
| Application |
|---|
| 1. Paper nautical chart plotting |
| 2. Course, bearing and distance measurement |
| 3. Backup navigation during electronic system failure |
Technical Specifications
| Model | Specification | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marine chart dividers | Typical material | Stainless steel or corrosion-resistant brass | — |
| Parallel rulers | Typical construction | Marine-grade plastic, aluminum, or wood | — |
| Nautical protractors | Graduation | Degree scale, commonly 0–360 | degree |
| Navigation plotting set | Typical contents | Dividers, parallel ruler, protractor and pencil | set |
Standards, Certifications & Class Approval
Review the available standards and approval information relevant to the product. Actual certification, material traceability, inspection and classification requirements depend on the product type, intended application and purchasing specification.
| Applicable Standards & Certification | No universal ISO or class certification is normally required for manual plotting instruments. Their use supports SOLAS-compliant carriage of suitable nautical charts and publications and bridge navigational practices under IMO requirements. |
|---|---|
| Class Approval | Individual manual plotting instruments are generally not subject to separate type approval by DNV, ABS, Lloyd's Register, BV or ClassNK. Vessel navigation equipment approval requirements may apply to electronic navigation systems used alongside them. |
Installation, Maintenance & Safety Information
| Installation Notes | No permanent installation is normally required. Keep instruments in a dry, accessible chart table drawer or navigation-tool case. Verify graduations and smooth operation before use. |
|---|---|
| Maintenance Tips | Wipe salt, moisture and graphite residue after use. Keep metal instruments lightly protected against corrosion, avoid excessive hinge force, and replace damaged or inaccurate tools. |
| Safety Notes | Use only for navigation support by trained personnel and verify plotted information against approved charts and electronic navigation systems. Do not rely on damaged, unreadable or corroded instruments. |
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