Two onboard, a Sperry Mark 37 gyro and a Sperry Mark 39 Mod 0 laser ring gyro. Under normal operating conditions both units are running with one unit on-line and the other in standby mode. Both gyros have a syncro to digital converter installed and the NEMA heading messages are available for scientific use. The Mark 37 gyro relies on manual latitude and speed corrections, the Mark 39 gyro relies on automatic speed log corrections. A GPS networked time code receiver is presently time synching the shipboard data acquisition system and the computer dynamic positioning system.
Software is available for time synching the networked PC-based scientific computers.
Traditional paper charts are used as well. Sperry Rascar Touch Screen navigational radars on the bridge. Both radars are used for collision avoidance and navigation. Manual Mode, the vessel is controlled using the Z-Drive hand controls. Autopilot Mode, system controls the vessel's heading while speed is controled through the hand controls.