INTRODUCTION TO SHIPHANDLING

I. Forces II. Terminology III. Standard Commands

FORCES
To understand shiphandling, we must first look at all the forces that affect a ship.
Controllable: Engines Rudder Lines Anchor Tugs Auxiliary Propulsion

Uncontrollable:
Wind Current

Shallow water effects

ENGINES
Power train: power source turns a shaft (through reduction gears), which turns a propeller Propellers may be fixed or controllable pitch:
Fixed: Ship speed is controlled by shaft rpm only CPP: Ship speed is controlled by both shaft rpm and propeller blade pitch

ENGINES
Almost all Navy ships have one of three propulsion plants:
Gas turbine (requires CPP): most surface combatants Diesel: Large auxiliaries, minesweepers Steam (Conventional or Nuclear): Older ships, aircraft carriers, submarines

SIDE FORCE
In addition to fore and aft thrust, propeller rotation also causes what is known as side force:
Side force is a lateral force caused by propeller rotation. The direction of the force is the direction in which the propeller would walk along the bottom due to its rotation.

SIDE FORCE

Standard propeller rotation for single and twin screw ships (ahead operation)

SIDE FORCE

AUXILIARY PROPULSION
Bow thruster
Hull-mounted, transverse propeller used to develop lateral thrust when pierside Normally found on larger ships

Auxiliary Propulsion Unit (APU)

Retractable, omni-directional propulsion unit Emergency propulsion for single-screw ships Can be used for pierside maneuvering

RUDDERS
Configuration: normally one rudder for each propeller, mounted directly astern of the propeller. Range of motion: 35 left or right of CL
Hard rudder: 35 Full rudder: 30 Standard rudder: 15

RUDDERS
Rudder effectiveness is dependent on flow velocity over the rudder surface.
Bare steerageway is the minimum speed at which a rudder is still effective. This is generally 2 to 3 knots for most ships.

Rudder angles must be reversed for astern operation

MOORING LINES
Lines are used next to a pier to control ship positioning. General terms:
Breast line: limits lateral motion Spring line: limits fore/aft motion

Each line has a specific name, indicating location, direction, and purpose Lines are numbered, fore to aft, based on location on the ship.

MOORING LINES
1 - Bow line
2 - After bow spring line 3 - Forward bow spring line (No number) - Breast line 4 - After quarter spring line

5 - Forward quarter spring line

6 - Stern line

TUGS
Used to assist ships in pierside maneuvers Three ship-to-tug tie-ups are used:
Single headline: Simple; effective for steady pushing/pulling in one direction Double headline:Allows tug to push the ship both ahead and astern Power: Best general purpose tie-up; allows tug to use engines and rudder in any direction without moving itself

Pictures are shown on the next slide.

TUGS

SHALLOW WATER EFFECTS

Increased resistance: In relatively shallow water at high speeds, pressure drag on the hull is significantly increased, resulting in actual speed less than ordered speed. Squatting: The ships bow wave is increased, resulting in a lifting of the bow and sinking of the stern.

SHIP TERMINOLOGY
Bow Stern Forecastle Hawsepipe Weather decks Draft Freeboard Superstructure Pilothouse Mast Yardarm Truck Stack Keel

Shaft
Propeller Rudder

Stern
Transom Waterline

SHIPHANDLING TERMS
Turning Circle - Path followed by the ships pivot point in a constant turn Pivot point - The point on the CL about which the ship pivots in a turn
Typically about 1/3 of length abaft the bow

Advance Transfer

SHIPHANDLING TERMS
Tactical Diameter - Perpendicular distance between the path of the ship on original course and final course after a 180 turn Standard Tactical Diameter - Tactical diameter prescribed by current tactical orders for formation maneuvers Reduced Tactical Diameter - Diameter obtained at full rudder using standard speed

SHIPHANDLING TERMS
Final Diameter - Diameter of the ships turning circle Kick - Momentary movement, at the start of a turn, of the ships stern toward the side opposite the direction of the turn Surge - Distance gained/lost during a speed increase or decrease

SHIPHANDLING CHARACTERISTICS

STANDARD COMMANDS
We have previously discussed the role and importance of the Conning Officer. To avoid any possible confusion between the Conning Officer and the Helm or Lee Helm, all steering and engine orders are given using standard phraseology and format.

FORMAT
CONNING OFFICER HELM/LEE HELM

Command Reply Report Acknowledgement

HELM CONSOLE

ENGINE ORDER TELEGRAPH

MODERN HELM CONSOLE

COMMANDS TO THE HELM

Format -Direction -Amount -Course
Example

"Right. . ." "Left. . ." ". . standard rudder. . ." ". . .ten degrees rudder. . ." ". . .steady course two zero zero." ". . .steady on course one one five."

COMMANDS TO THE HELM

Direction: Either left, right or Rudder amidships

Amount: Expressed as a number of degrees of rudder (10, 15, etc.), or one of the following: (nominal values given)
Standard: 15 Full: 30 Hard: 35(maximum rudder angle)

COMMANDS TO THE HELM

Direction and rudder angle together comprise the first portion of the command.
Right ten degrees rudder Left full rudder Two exceptions to the phraseology:
Rudder amidships Hard rudder: Hard right rudder instead of Right hard rudder

COMMANDS TO THE HELM

Course to steer: This portion of the command is not required. If not given, the Helm maintains the rudder at the ordered angle until another order is given.
Steady course ___ This order tells the Helm to adjust the rudder and steady on a final course.

COMMANDS TO THE HELM

Exception: Course changes of 10 or less:
For small course changes, a specific rudder angle is not given. This allows the Helm to use up to 10 of rudder to make the course change. The standard command is:
Direction: Come right/left Course to steer: Steer course ___

COMMANDS TO THE HELM

Examples:
Right standard rudder, steady course 260 Left 15 rudder Rudder amidships Come right, steer course 158 Hard left rudder

OTHER HELM COMMANDS

Desired action: Increase or decrease rudder angle from a previously ordered angle Command:
Increase your rudder to ________ Ease your rudder to _______

Note: Anytime a new rudder angle is ordered, a steering/steady course must be repeated if it is desired.

OTHER HELM COMMANDS

Desired action: Change rudder angle to an equal amount of rudder in the opposite direction Command: Shift your rudder Note: Again, if desired, course to steer must be repeated.

OTHER HELM COMMANDS

Desired action: Steady the ship on the current heading Command: Steady as she goes
When given, the Helm immediately determines ships head at the instant of the command, and steadies the ship on that course. This should normally be given only with the rudder at or near amidships.

OTHER HELM COMMANDS

Desired action: Determine current ships heading Command: Mark your head
When given, the Helm immediately determines ships head at the instant of the command,and reports it to the Conn.

Desired action: Warn the Helm to steer more exactly Command: Mind your helm

HELM REPLY
Whenever an order to the Helm is given, the Helm repeats the order back to the Conn verbatim. This assures the conning officer that the order was heard and understood correctly.

HELM REPLY
Examples:
The Conn orders: Right standard rudder, steady course 260. The Helm replies: Right standard rudder, steady course 260, aye.

HELM REPLY
Order: Mark your head Reply: Mark my head, aye. 283. Order: Mind your helm Reply: Mind my helm, aye.

HELM REPLY
If the helm does not understand an order from the Conn, the helm will reply:
Orders to the helm

The Conn should immediately check his/her order and restate it clearly to the Helm.

REPORT & ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Once a desired action is complete, the Helm reports it to the Conn. The Conn acknowledges all reports with Very well If the Conn does not acknowledge a report, the Helm should repeat the report until acknowledged.

EXAMPLES
Order: Right standard rudder, steady course 298. Reply: Right standard rudder, steady course 298, aye. Report: Sir, my rudder is right standard, coming to new course 298. Report: Sir, steady on course 298, checking 309.

EXAMPLES
Order: Come left, steer course 345. Reply: Come left, steer course 345, aye. Report: Sir, my rudder is left 5, coming to new course 345. Report: Sir, steady on course 345, checking 352.

EXAMPLES
Order: Right full rudder. Reply: Right full rudder, aye. Report: Sir, my rudder is right full, no new course given. Report: Passing 230 to the right. Order: Belay your passing heads. Reply: Belay my passing heads, aye.

EXAMPLES
Order: Ease your rudder to right 15. Reply: Ease my rudder to right 15, aye. Report: Maam, my rudder is right 15, no new course given. Order: Steady course 143. Reply: Steady course 143, aye. Report: Maam, my rudder is right 15, coming to new course 143.

EXAMPLES
Order: Hard left rudder. Reply: Hard left rudder, aye. Report: Sir, my rudder is left 35, no new course given. Order: Shift your rudder. Reply: Shift my rudder, aye. Report: Sir, my rudder is right 35, no new course given.

EXAMPLES
Order: Right full rudder. Reply: Right full rudder, aye. Report: Sir, my rudder is right 30, no new course given. Order: Rudder amidships Reply: Rudder amidships, aye. Report: Sir, my rudder is amidships, no new course given. Order: Steady as you go. Reply: Steady as you go, aye. Course 098. Report: Steady on course 098, checking

ENGINE ORDERS
For fixed pitch propellers, ship speed is dependent on shaft rpm only. For controllable pitch propellers, ship speed is dependent on shaft rpm and, below about 12 knots, propeller blade pitch.
For gas turbines, the shaft is always spinning when the engine is on line. All engines stop is achieved by a blade pitch of 0.

ENGINE ORDERS
Prescribed standard speeds are predetermined ships speeds:
Standard speed - normally 15 knots 1/3 - one third of standard speed 2/3 - two thirds of standard speed Full - speed higher than standard speed Flank - maximum speed

ENGINE ORDERS
Typical Prescribed Standard Speeds
Ahead Bell Speed 1/3 5 2/3 10 Std 15 Full 20 Flank Max speed Astern Bell Speed 1/3 5 2/3 10 Full Max speed

ENGINE ORDERS
Format -Engines -Direction
-Speed Example

All engines. . ." ". . ahead full. . ." ". . .back 2/3. . ." ". . indicate 108 revolutions for 15 knots."
". . .indicate 072 revolutions and 20% pitch for 3 knots."

ENGINE ORDERS
Engines: Port, starboard, or all engines. Unnecessary for single screw ships. Direction: Ahead, back or stop, and nearest standard speed (except for stop)

ENGINE ORDERS
Speed:
..indicate ____ turns for __ knots., OR ..indicate turns for __ knots. For controllable pitch propellers below 12 knots:
..indicate ___ turns and __% pitch for __ knots. OR, ..indicate pitch and turns for __ knots.

MANEUVERING COMBINATIONS
In maneuvering situations, where frequent engine changes are expected, the Conning Officer may set maneuvering combinations. When set, the Lee Helm answers all bells at the prescribed standard speed increment. On ships with an EOT, this is indicated by an RPM setting of 999.

REPLIES AND REPORTS

Reply: Verbatim repeatback is required. Reports: Lee Helm reports when action is completed.
Note: Every report must include the complete status of all engines, even if only one was changed.

Acknowledgement: Conn will acknowledge all reports with Very well

EXAMPLES
Order: All engines ahead standard, indicate 115 revolutions for 16 knots. Reply: All engines ahead standard, indicate 115 revolutions for 16 knots, aye. Report: Maam, engine room answers all engines ahead standard, indicating 115 revolutions for 16 knots.

EXAMPLES
(Continued from previous slide) Order: Indicate 122 revolutions for 17 knots. Reply: Indicate 122 revolutions for 17 knots, aye. Report: Maam, engine room answers all engines ahead standard, indicating 122 revolutions for 17 knots.

EXAMPLES
Order: Port engine ahead 1/3, starboard engine back 2/3. Reply: Port engine ahead 1/3, starboard engine back 2/3, aye. Report: Maam, engine room answers port engine ahead 1/3, starboard engine back 2/3.

EXAMPLES
(Continued from previous slide) Order: Starboard engine stop. Reply: Starboard engine stop, aye. Report: Maam, engine room answers starboard engine stop, port engine ahead 1/3.

EXAMPLES
Order: All engines ahead 1/3, indicate pitch and turns for 5 knots. Reply: All engines ahead 1/3, indicate pitch and turns for 5 knots, aye. Report: Sir, engine room answers all engines ahead 1/3, indicating 075 turns and 34% pitch for 5 knots.