Steering Duties Overview
- The helmsman is the person responsible for steering the ship and taking helm orders from the OOW
- As a helmsman, you should be familiar with the ship’s wheel and throttle controls, the gyro compass, the magnetic compass, current sea and wind conditions affecting steering, and current visibility
- Navigating the ship will be typically done by the OOW and helm orders will be relayed to the helmsman, frequently making reference to the ship’s heading according to the gyro compass
- Note that while navigation is typically presumed to be the responsibility of the OOW, lapses in vigilance will can occur and being able to communicate concerns in regards to ship safety will always be important
- While not necessarily the helmsman’s responsibility, it can be valuable to be aware of depth sounder information should it accurately indicate an unexpected lack of water beneath the ship (see: Additional: Depth Sounder)
- Being familiar with the rudder angle indicator may prove useful, especially when trying to bring larger vessels about to a particular heading (see: Additional: Rudder Angle Indicator)
- Becoming familiar with windshield wiper controls, defrost controls, dimmer controls, and night lights may also be useful
- Use of bow lights may be used, often at the OOW’s discretion