ABSTRACT
This chapter on environmental sensors deals with the basic working principle of the various environmental sensors used on board a DP-enabled vessel. It is important for every DP professional to understand that environmental forces, especially the wind, acts on the windage area and may in turn make the vessel move by reacting to the forces thus applied.
If such environmental force applied are not measured and compensated by an equal and opposite force (thrust force) the vessel may lose her heading or position, or both. The commonly used environmental sensors are explained in simple language. Along with the wind sensor, the other environmental sensors like gyro and motion reference sensors, are discussed.
