swinging ship

swinging ship

[′swiŋ·iŋ ′ship] (navigation) The process of determining the deviation of the ship's magnetic compass by placing a vessel or an aircraft on various headings and comparing magnetic compass readings with the corresponding but previously determined magnetic directions; this procedure usually follows compass adjustment or compass compensation, and is done to obtain information for making a deviation table; usually called swinging when referred to an aircraft compass. Also known as compass calibration.