SABOT

Standardized Auxiliary Boat

Operations Training
Ninth District Eastern Region

COMO. Lew Wargo, Sr.

DSO-OP/CQEC
12 April 2014
STANDARD COMMANDS

SABOT

Standard Commands

LINE COMMANDS
Put Line _____ Over; Pass the line
indicated to the pier.
Hold Line _____; Do not allow any
more line to go. Line-handlers who feel a
line may part should get away from it, but
never check or ease a line on their own
initiative.
Check Line _____; Hold heavy tension
on the line, but provide the minimum slack
necessary to prevent parting.

LINE COMMANDS
Slack Line _____ ; Let the line hang loose
with a catenary.

Take The Slack Out of Line _____ ;

Remove all catenary from a line.

Take In Line _____ ; Line-handlers onboard

should provide enough slack for the line to be
removed from fittings on the pier and take in
the line quickly once it is removed from the
pier.

Ease Line _____ ; Reduce tension, but not

to the point of slacking the line.

LINE COMMANDS
Single Up Line _____ ; Take in all but one
of the mooring lines from the indicated deck
fitting.
Double Up Line _____ ; Pass an additional
line so that there are two pieces of mooring
line running to the pier.
Cast Off Line _____ ; Line-handlers will take
lines off the fitting. Lines are left at the pier.

(Different from Take In whereas the lines

are brought onboard the boat.

BASIC
COMMANDS
Aye, Aye; I understand and will
comply.
Affirmative; That is correct, yes.
Negative; Permission not granted, no.
Say Again; Repeat your last.
Command Repeat your command.
Command not understood, repeat.

ANCHORING
COMMANDS
Make The Anchor Ready For Letting Go,
Command from coxswain to prepare to drop the
anchor.
Anchor is Ready For Letting Go or Anchor
is Rigged and Ready; Notification from crew
that anchor is ready for letting go.
Standby the Anchor; Command from
coxswain to crew at the ready position for letting
go the anchor.
Stream the Anchor Buoy; Command from
the coxswain to deploy anchor buoy and coiled
line before anchor is deployed in order to avoid
fouling or damaging the buoy.

ANCHORING
COMMANDS
Let Go the Anchor; Command to crew to
drop the anchor.
Make Ready to Heave the Anchor;
Command to the crew to make preparations to
take in the anchor.
Heave Around on the Anchor; Command to
the crew to commence taking in the anchor.
Avast Heaving on the Anchor; Command to
the crew to stop taking in the anchor.

Bring the Anchor to a Short Stay;

Command to heave around the anchor and
bring to a short stay (Line is vertical).

ANCHORING
COMMANDS
Anchor Line is Tending at ___ Oclock
Under (Light, Moderate or Heavy Strain);
Reference point passed from crew to coxswain
as to what direction the anchor line tends
including degree of strain.
Anchor is at Short Stay; Information from
crew that the anchor has rotated to near vertical
position and is commencing to dig itself out.
Break Free the Anchor; Command to the
crew to heave around on the anchor once it is at
short stay.
Line is Up and Down; Anchor line is vertical.

ANCHORING
COMMANDS
Anchors Away; Information from crew that
the anchor is free of the bottom.
Anchor is in Sight: Information from the crew
that the anchor can be seen.
Anchor is at Waters Edge; Information from
the crew that the anchor is no longer in the water.
Anchor is (Clear, Fouled, Shod); Information
that the anchor is (CLEAR) has no foreign object
entangled, (FOUL-some object such as a cable,
line, or other object is attached that will prevent
the anchor from being placed on-board), or (SHODanchor has mud, etc. in/on it but is not foul).

ANCHORING
COMMANDS
ANCHOR IS HAWSED; Information
from the crew that the anchor is
positioned in its pocket.
Make the Anchor Ready for Sea;
Command to the crew to secure the
anchor for sea.
Anchor is Secured for Sea;
Information from the crew that the anchor
is ready for sea.

HELM
COMMANDS
Command:

Come Right/Left to _____:

Response:
Aye, Aye:

Come Right/Left to ____,

Execution:
Put over rudder (left or right)
and steady on the specified course. You
must use the
compass to complete
this command.
Response:Steady on Course __
Response:

Aye, Aye

HELM
COMMANDS
Command:
Rudder:

Right/Left _____ Degrees

Execution:
placed at

Turn the wheel until rudder is

the number of degrees ordered.

Command:

Right/Left Standard Rudder:

Execution:
Put the rudder over right or left for
the
vessel to make a standard diameter
turn(usually 15 or 20 degrees).

HELM
COMMANDS
Command:
Right/Left Full Rudder
Execution:
Put the rudder over for the vessel to
make a
reduced diameter turn (usually 30 degrees).
Command:

Hard Right/Left Rudder:

Execution:
allowed.

Put the rudder over to the maximum

Command:

Right/Left Handsomely:

Execution:
Turn rudder a small amount for a very
slight course change.

HELM
COMMANDS
Command: Increase Your Rudder to
__Degrees:
Execution: Increase your rudder to ___ degrees.
Command:
Degrees:

Ease Your Rudder to ___

Execution:
Decrease your rudder angle to the
specified number of degrees.
Command:

Rudder Amidships:

Execution:
degrees

Put the rudder on the zero

mark on the rudder indicator.

HELM
COMMANDS
Command:

Meet Her:

Execution:
Use enough opposite rudder
angle to stop the swing of the vessel
without steadying on a particular course.
Command:

Shift Your Rudder:

Execution:
Changing from right or left an
equal
amount. For example, if the rudder
is 15
degrees left, then you shall shift to
15 degrees right.

HELM
COMMANDS
Command:
Go:

Steady or Steady as You

Execution:
Steer the course on which the
vessel is
heading when the command is given.
Command:

Mark Your Head:

Execution:
the time

Sound off the vessels heading at

of command.

Command:

How is Your Rudder:

Execution:
This is a question requesting the
rudder position.

HELM
COMMANDS
Command:

Mind Your Helm:

Execution:A warning that the vessel is swinging

off course because of bad steering.
Command:
Nothing to the (Right/Left)
of:
Execution:Command used to advise the
helmsman
not to steer to the (RIGHT/LEFT)
of the course ordered. The command is
given
when there is a danger present on
one side
of the
vessel.
Command:

Keep Her So:

Execution:Continue to steer the present course.

HELM
COMMANDS
Command:

Aye, Aye:

Execution:
The order was understood,
and you will
complete the required
action.
Command:

Command:

Execution:
unclear or

Response when command is

misunderstood.

Command:

Very Well:

Execution:
Given to the helmsman to
inform him the
report was understood.