The Concern TSNII (CSRI) Elektropribor has started mass-producing the first all-latitude ship compass for the Arctic regions. Clients will receive the first batch of compasses towards the end of this year.

According to the corporate press service, the Azimut-KM05D compass was designed under a state program to manufacture ships and technology for developing continental shelf deposits in 2013-2030. In the first quarter of 2020, the new compass received a standard certificate of approval from the Russian Register of Maritime Shipping, and a certificate from the Russian Register of River Shipping is currently being compiled.

Under the new requirements of the 1974 International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), all ships without exception must be equipped with central magnetic compasses, regardless of their class and routes. At the same time, standard magnetic compasses are not designed to operate in high latitudes.

"Their magnetic systems are not sensitive enough for creating a spinning moment on the compass card (Editor's Note: The compass card is a moving non-magnetic disc or ring inside a magnetic compass). This can be explained by the low horizontal component of the terrestrial magnetic field. Moreover, considering Russia's additional geopolitical interests in the Arctic and ever increasing shipping in the Arctic zone, local traffic continues to go up each year. All this made it necessary to develop a Russian magnetic compass that would operate in high latitudes above the 70th Parallel," a corporate spokesperson noted.

Standard and specialized Azimut-KM05D versions will be manufactured. The latter that includes an automatic correction system is intended for Arctic ships and those with ice-resistant hulls. The Azimut-KM05D is the only all-latitude magnetic compass using Russian-made microcircuits alone.