Question 630Navigation General

The correct answer is B) decreases. As a ship proceeds towards the magnetic equator, the uncorrected deviation due to permanent magnetism decreases. This is because the horizontal component of the Earth's magnetic field decreases as the ship approaches the magnetic equator, where the Earth's magnetic field is predominantly vertical. The permanent magnetic fields of the ship's materials, which cause the deviation, become less effective in influencing the ship's compass as the horizontal component of the Earth's field diminishes. The other options are incorrect because: A) the deviation does not remain the same, as it decreases; C) the deviation is not unimportant or negligible, as it can still affect the compass; and D) the deviation does not increase, but rather decreases as the ship approaches the magnetic equator.