The effects of HVDC submarine cables on shipping with magnetic autopilots

Additional sources of magnetic field will combine with the Earth's field and locally deflect a magnetic compass from the true magnetic, or compass, north. As a result, ships using automatic pilots based on the magnetic compass, may be deflected from their planned route. This paper considers monopolar HVDC submarine power cables as sources of magnetic field, and the effects they may have on ships' compasses, in particular, on the paths of ships near the cable which are navigating by autopilot using the magnetic compass for its reference.