A Helmsman, sometimes called Wheelman or Steersman, must be able to execute and understand the steering orders given by the Conning Officer. A Conning officer can be the Master of the ship; the Officer on Duty; or the Pilot who gives the order to helmsman and control the ship’s navigation. In this sense, the helmsman must be able to understand and execute steering orders; take the manual steering immediately in high traffic density areas and in other circumstances needed; report to the officer any malfunctions on the steering system and be familiar with the steering system used which includes proper procedures in changing over from manual steering to autopilot to the non follow-up mode and vice versa; the ship’s rudder, steering and maneuvering characteristics of the vessel, etc. In my experience as a deck officer, I used to trick my helmsman by giving them sometimes a wheel command that is apparently endangers the vessel and I will see on how the he respond to it. But sad to say that 90% of them will just obey and execute the command without questioning the conning officer. A helmsman must question the order given by a conning officer if he thinks the command is not safe. Like for instance, the conning officer on a heavily loaded ship wishes to alter course hard to starboard. This will lead to a heavy list to starboard and the worst is it could capsize. A helmsman as well must report to the conning officer that the command has been understood before executing it and after it was executed. This will allow the officer to know if the order has been received correctly and executed properly. One of the key to a Safe Navigation is a great teamwork between the conning officer and the helmsman along with the look-out and other members of the bridge team. To know more of Watchkeeping and download the PPT and PDF on Deck watchkeeping, proceed to the Deckwatch Section. You may also like to read the Duties and Responsibility of a Rating forming part of a Navigational Watch >>
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Navigation or Marine Navigation is an art and science of navigating or conducting a ship from one place to another in a shortest and safest distance. It is an Art because it depends on the skill and knowledge of the Navigator that performs such ability. Navigation is also a Science in a sense that it refers to a wide body of systematic knowledge and practices. Marine Navigation covers Terrestrial navigation wherein the navigator conducts a vessel by aids to navigation such as observing lighthouses, buoys, beacons, landmarks and determined soundings and depths of water. This also includes Dead Reckoning, a technique of determining an estimation of ship’s position taking into account factors like distance and direction traveled. Electronic Navigation is also one of the branches in Marine navigation wherein the navigator conducts a vessel by electronic aids such as radar, echo sounder, Global Positioning System or GPS, and Electronic Chart Display and Information System or ECDIS. Marine Navigation covers as well the Celestial Navigation wherein the navigator conducts a vessel with the aid of a sextant used on determining position by observing celestial bodies such as the moon, stars, planets, and the sun. However in navigating a ship safely, a thorough knowledge and skill, and competence of the navigator are a necessity on, but not limited to: marine meteorology and oceanography, collision regulations at sea, GMDSS, SOLAS, and all other fields which is of vital importance to the marine profession. |
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