Machine translation from English source
Steering - inspection, testing and practice
To avoid failure of the steering mechanism and resulting damage, the Master and Chief Engineer are responsible for the control devices.
daily effective check of the steering mechanism
Daily checks should be carried out by the deck officer and the mechanic engineer. A record of each inspection, including who performed it, is made in the vessel's logbook and engine logbook.
The operating instructions for the steering gear must be carefully studied by all deck and engine officers so that they are familiar with the operation and maintenance of the installation and the transition from one system to another.
The Owner requires the Master and Chief Engineer to provide (from bulk carrier to tanker):
* That the steering gear be thoroughly checked from the bridge immediately before departure from the shipyard, port or anchorage.
• That the steering gear is checked frequently during watches and that any faults that occur are corrected immediately.
• That, in accordance with paragraphs 19-1 and 19-2 of Chapter V of SOLAS, mandatory tests and practice are carried out within 12 hours before the departure of the ship. The tests carried out must be recorded in the deck logbook.
N.B: It is recommended that SOLAS emergency steering techniques and drills be carried out while the ship is stationary, for example while in port. This test is required once every three months and is recorded in a log.
Autopilot (from bulk carrier to tanker)
Merchant Shipping Notice M. 1040 provides guidance on "use of autopilot" and procedures for converting to manual steering. United Kingdom Statutory Instrument S.I. 1981 NO. 571, to which IMO regulation numbers have been added, is reproduced below.
"Using the autopilot (position 19-1)"
* The Master must ensure that the autopilot, if fitted, is not used in high traffic areas, low visibility conditions or any other hazardous navigational situation unless manual control of the vessel's steering is provided within 30 seconds.
Before entering any high traffic density areas and whenever visibility is poor
If this is likely to result in restrictions or any dangerous navigational situation, the master should arrange, where practicable, for the officer of the watch to have at his disposal without delay the services of a qualified helmsman, who should be ready at all times to take manual control.
Switching (from bulk carrier to tanker)
from autopilot to manual control and vice versa will be carried out by the watch officer or under his supervision, and if there is no such officer, then by the captain.
The technician must ensure that the manual steering mechanism is checked
after continuous use of the autopilot for 24 hours; And
• before entering any areas where navigation requires extreme caution.
