STEERING
Duties of the Helmsman
Steer vessel when in manual steering operation
Report for duty early i.e. punctual
At changeover, the course being steered
should always be repeated out loud
Outgoing helmsman should report course to
OOW who in turn repeats in acknowledgement
Must advise reliever the amount of helm the
vessel is carrying in order to keep her steady
Steering system
Gyro or automatic steering
Hand or manual steering
Lever steering, having separate circuits and
used in case of breakdown of normal steering
methods
Emergency steering gear
(Changeover of steering system is under
supervision or by order of duty officer)
Helm order
Effects turning of vessel
In ahead motion, the stem turns to the side to
which the helm is put
In astern motion, the stern goes to the reverse
side of the helm
Rudder angle
The angle between the center line of the vessel
and rudder
Shown on the helm indicator in front of the
steering wheel
Major steering orders
Midship - rudder to be held in the fore and aft position
Port/stbd five – 5 degrees of port/stbd rudder to be held
Port/stbd ten – 10 degrees of port/stbd rudder to be held
Port/stbd fifteen – 15 degrees “ “ “
“
Port/stbd twenty – 20 degrees “ “ “
“
Port/stbd twenty five – 25 “ “ “ “
“
cont…
Hard port/stbd – rudder to be held fully over
port/stbd
Ease to five – reduce the amount of rudder to 5
degrees and hold
Ease to ten “ “ “ “ “
Ease to fifteen “ “ “ “ “
Ease to twenty “ “ “ “ “
Steady – reduce swing as rapidly as possible
cont…
Steady-as-she-goes – steer a steady course on the
compass heading indicated at the time of order. The
helmsman is to repeat the order and call out the
compass heading on receiving the order. When the
ship is steady on that heading, the helmsman is to
call-out “steady on _ _ _”
Keep buoy/mark/beacon on/…port/stbd side
Report if she does not answer wheel (wheel is not
steering)
Finished with wheel
Compass steering procedure
When course to be steered is by compass, the
direction of turn is stated followed by each
numeral being said separately
E.g. Port, steer one-eight-two = course 182 degrees
Helmsman repeats order, brings vessel round
steadily to course ordered, then calls out
“steady on one-eight-two”
Person who gave order should acknowledge
Helm steering procedure
When helm order is given, helmsman repeats
order immediately and commences steering.
On compliance of order, reports such
compliance
Officer - orders hard starboard!
Helmsman – hard starboard! Then executes order
Helmsman – hard starboard now sir!
Officer – acknowledges
Keeping a good helm duty
Should frequently compare gyrocompass heading to
magnetic compass heading
May help serve as lookout if no separate lookout is
detailed or the situation is safe enough to allow it
Should report unusual behavior of the steering wheel
immediately
Should answer back steering orders immediately and
call back for confirmation
Should clarify if the steering order is not clearly
understood
Should not handover the steering wheel when vessel
is altering course
Steering gear tests
No boats or obstructions near the rudder
Test before sailing conducted for;
Automatic steering
Manual steering
Lever/non-follow-up steering
Guidelines when on “automatic
steering”
Master and OOW must be fully conversant with
steering changeover procedures
Once a watch, automatic steering should be changed
over to manual steering to check operational readiness
On prolonged automatic mode, at least daily test
should be carried-out for manual steering mode
When entering congested waters, poor visibility,
and/or other dangers, manual steering and helmsman
should be engaged immediately
Master and OOW should supervise changeover of
steering from automatic to manual or vice versa
RUDDER INDICATOR
PORT STARBOARD
35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
CONFIRMATION
HARD STARBOARD RUDDER NOW SIR
HARD HARD
STARBOAR STARBOAR
D D
PILOT ORDER HELMSMAN REPLY
RUDDER INDICATOR
PORT STARBOARD
35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
CONFIRMATION
MIDSHIP RUDDER NOW SIR
MIDSHIP MIDSHIP
PILOT ORDER HELMSMAN REPLY
RUDDER INDICATOR
PORT STARBOARD
35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
CONFIRMATION
HARD PORT RUDDER NOW SIR
HARD PORT HARD PORT
PILOT ORDER HELMSMAN REPLY
RUDDER INDICATOR
PORT STARBOARD
35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
CONFIRMATION
MIDSHIP RUDDER NOW SIR
MIDSHIP MIDSHIP
PILOT ORDER HELMSMAN REPLY
RUDDER INDICATOR
PORT STARBOARD
35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
CONFIRMATION
PORT 25 RUDDER NOW SIR
PORT 25 PORT 25
PILOT ORDER HELMSMAN REPLY
RUDDER INDICATOR
PORT STARBOARD
35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
CONFIRMATION
PORT 10 RUDDER NOW SIR
EASE TO 10 EASE TO 10
PILOT ORDER HELMSMAN REPLY
RUDDER INDICATOR
PORT STARBOARD
35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
CONFIRMATION
MIDSHIP RUDDER NOW SIR
MIDSHIP MIDSHIP
PILOT ORDER HELMSMAN REPLY
RUDDER INDICATOR
PORT STARBOARD
35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
CONFIRMATION
HARD STARBOARD RUDDER NOW SIR
HARD STARBOARD HARD STARBOARD
PILOT ORDER HELMSMAN REPLY
RUDDER INDICATOR
PORT STARBOARD
35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
CONFIRMATION
EASE BY 10 RUDDER NOW SIR OR
STARBOARD 25 RUDDER NOW SIR
EASE BY 10 EASE BY 10
PILOT ORDER HELMSMAN REPLY
RUDDER INDICATOR
PORT STARBOARD
35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
CONFIRMATION
STARBOARD 5 RUDDER NOW SIR
EASE TO 5 EASE TO 5
PILOT ORDER HELMSMAN REPLY
RUDDER INDICATOR
PORT STARBOARD
35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
CONFIRMATION
MIDSHIP RUDDER NOW SIR
MIDSHIP MIDSHIP
PILOT ORDER HELMSMAN REPLY
0
090
RUDDER INDICATOR
STARBOARD
PORT
35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
CONFIRMATION
RUDDER STARBOARD 20 NOW SIR
STEADY ON COURSE 090°
COURSE 090° NOW SIR
STARBOARD 20 STARBOARD 20
STEADY ON COURSE 090° STEADY ON COURSE 090°
PILOT ORDER HELMSMAN REPLY
RUDDER INDICATOR
PORT STARBOARD
35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
CONFIRMATION
STEER 090°
HEADING 090° NOW SIR
0
STEER 090° STEER 090°
090
PILOT ORDER HELMSMAN REPLY
KEEP BUOY ON PORT SIDE KEEP BUOY ON PORT SIDE
PILOT ORDER HELMSMAN REPLY
