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BML Revision: Ship Manoeuvring (Section 3)

🕑 5 min read words Revisionguides

Revision card 7 of 16 — Boatmaster's Licence, Tier 1 Level 2 Underpinning Knowledge, MSN 1853 Annex 10. Extended over Annex 9 in several places, most notably emergency steering change-over and tidal stream effects.

Steering Systems

Know the components of a steering system and their function, including how to find the right information in the instruction manual
Steering wheel/lever, helm indicators, steering motor, rudder, rudder indicators and rate of turn indicators — and how rudder and propeller work together
New for Level 2: emergency steering systems and the change-over procedure

Steering by Compass

Steering a vessel including helm orders and altering course by helm order
Course keeping, altering course by compass, and the procedure for making large alterations — maintaining course by shore marks and lead marks
Effect of weather, ship's speed and loading condition on steering

Ship Manoeuvring

Effects of deadweight, draught, trim, speed, rudder angle and propeller/transverse thrust on manoeuvring, turning circles and stopping distances
Effects of single, twin, controllable-pitch and fixed propellers
Effects of wind, current and tidal stream on manoeuvring — tidal stream is the addition over Level 1
Effects of underkeel clearance, squat and shallow water
Vessel-to-vessel and vessel-to-bank interaction

Locks, Docks & Bridges

Terminology and mechanical principles of locks
Entering/leaving a dock or lock in all stream conditions, and the rope techniques specific to lock/dock work
Passing under bridges and navigating close to other structures

Emergency Manoeuvres

Precautions after grounding or collision, and how to minimise damage
Turning short round, emergency stop, and man overboard manoeuvres

Quick Self-Check

What's added to your manoeuvring-effects list now you're working coastal waters, versus Level 1?
Talk through the change-over procedure to emergency steering.

Test yourself: Navigation Knowledge Checks.