Heading Control System

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Overview

Heading Control System (HCS) is the ship's auto-pilot. It is designed to keep a ship in line with a pre-determined course which is manually entered in the equipment. The actual ship’s course is derived either from a magnetic compass or from a gyrocompass and continually transmitted to the heading control system which is programmed to correct the actual course to the predetermined course

System components

• Display unit
• Computers
• Steering control unit
• Network units (interface, gateway)
• Sensors
  • Course detector
  • Gyro compass interface
  • Rudder feedback unit

Interfacing

Inputs

• Gyro compass / GNSS compass
• Magnetic compass / Fluxgate
• Speed log
• EPFS

Outputs

• Steering gear
• Status/alarm outputs

Carriage requirement

(SOLAS Chpt V Reg 19) All ships of 10,000 gross tonnage and upwards shall have a heading or track control system, or other means, to automatically control and keep to a heading and/or straight track.