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All wheel orders given should be repeated by the helmsman and the officer of the watch should ensure that they are carried out correctly and immediately. All wheel orders should be held until countermanded. The helmsman should report immediately if the vessel does not answer the wheel*.

* When there is concern that the helmsman is inattentive he should be questioned and he should respond in accordance with the terminology in Part III, sub-paragraphs 5.1 and 5.2 of the Standard Marine Navigational Vocabulary: This is a reminder to the helmsman to mind his helm.

1.19 Steady as she goes 

Steer a ready course on the compass  heading indicated at the time of the order. The helmsman is to repeat the order and call out the compass heading on receiving the order. When the ship is steady on that heading, the helmsman is to call out: "Steady on . . . .

1.20 Keep the buoy/mark/beacon on port/starboard side.

1.21 Report if she does not answer the wheel.

1.22 Finished with the wheel.

When the officer of the watch requires a course to be steered by compass, the direction in which he wants the wheel turned should be stated followed by each numeral being said separately, including zero, for example:

"Port, steer one eight two" 182°

"Starboard, steer zero eight two" 082°

"Port, steer three zero five" 305°

On receipt of an order to steer, for example, 182° the helmsman should repeat it and bring the ship round steadily to the course ordered. When the ship is steady on the course ordered, the helmsman is to call out:

"Steady on one eight two".

The person giving the order should acknowledge the helmsman’s call out.

If it is desired to steer on a selected mark the helmsman should be ordered to:

"Steer on . . . buoy . . . (mark) . . . (beacon)".

The helmsman should repeat the order and when steady on the mark call out:

"Steady on . . . buoy . . . (mark) . . . (beacon)".

The person giving the order should acknowledge the helmsman’s call out.

Any engine order given should be repeated by the person operating the bridge telegraph(s) and the officer of the watch should ensure the order is carried out correctly and immediately.

In ships fitted with twin propellers, the word "both" should be added to all orders affecting both shafts, e.g. "Full ahead both", and "Slow astern both", except that the words "Stop all engines" should be used, when appropriate. When required to manoeuvre twin propellers independently, this should be indicated, i.e. "Full ahead starboard", "Half astern port", etc.

Where bow thrusters are used, the following orders are used:

Note: For vessels with variable pitch propellers, the meaning of the order would include the combination of pitch and revolutions as indicated in ship’s orders.

3. Pilotage ^

3.1 Have heaving line ready at pilot ladder.

3.2 Put on lights at pilot ladder position.

3.3 Stand by the pilot ladder.

3.4 Lower/lift up the pilot ladder/hoist.

3.5 Make a lee on the port/starboard side.

3.6 Stop the engines until the pilot boat is clear.

3.7 Keep the pilot boat on the port/starboard side.

3.8 Rig pilot ladder on port/starboard side.

3.9 Pilot ladder is rigged on port/starboard side.

3.10 Rig gangway combined with pilot ladder on port/starboard side.

3.11 Gangway is rigged combined with pilot ladder on port/starboard side.

4.1 May I have your manoeuvring data?

4.2 What is the diameter of the turning circle?

4.3 What are the advance and transfer distance in a crash stop?

4.4 How long does it take from hard-a-port to hard-a-starboard?

4.5 Is the turning effect of the propeller very strong?

4.6 Where is the whistle control?

4.7 What notice is required to reduce from full sea speed to manoeuvring revolutions?

4.8 Is there an automatic pilot?

4.9 Is the automatic pilot reliable?

4.10 Is the helmsman experienced?

4.11 Does the helmsman understand English?

4.12 Give . . . short/long blast(s) on the whistle.

4.13 Put a man on lookout.

4.14 Keep a speed of . . . knots.

4.15 What is her (manoeuvring) speed at full/half/slow/dead slow ahead?

4.16 Her (manoeuvring) speed at full/half/slow/dead slow ahead is . . . knots.

4.17 Fairway speed is . . . knots.

4.18 What is full sea speed?

4.19 Full sea speed is . . . knots.

5.1 Is the engine a diesel/turbine?

5.2 Is the engine-room manned or is the engine on bridge control?

5.3 How long does it take to change the engine from ahead to astern?

5.4 How long does it take to start the engine from stopped?

5.5 Is there extra power available in emergency while manoeuvring?

5.6 Do you have a controllable pitch propeller?

5.7 Do you have a right or left hand propeller?

5.8 Does she have a single screw/twin screws?

5.9 Are there bow/stern thrusters?

5.10 What is her maximum manoeuvring power ahead/astern?

5.11 What are her maximum revolutions ahead/astern?

5.12 What is the maximum power ahead/astern in an emergency?

5.13 Do the (twin) propellers turn inboard/outboard when going ahead?

6.1 Is/are the anchor(s) ready for dropping?

6.2 Anchor(s) is/are ready for dropping?

6.3 Walk out the anchor(s).

6.4 We are going to an anchorage.

6.5 Have the starboard/port/both anchor(s) ready.

6.6 We will use/drop the port/starboard/both anchor(s).

6.7 Put one/two/three . . . shackles in the water/in the pipe/on deck.

6.8 Walk back the port/starboard/both anchor(s) one/one and a half shackle(s).

6.9 We will let go the port/starboard/both anchor(s) . . . shackle(s) and dredge it.

6.10 Drop port/starboard/both anchor(s).

6.11 Pay out the cable(s).

6.12 Check the cable(s).

6.13 Hold on the port/starboard/both cable(s).

6.14 Where is the cable leading?

6.15 Is the anchor/are the anchors holding?

6.16 Has she been brought up?

6.17 She has been brought up in position. . . . . .

6.18 Switch on the anchor lights.

6.19 Hoist/lower the anchor ball.

6.20 Check the anchor position by bearings.

6.21 How much cable is out?

6.22 Stand by to heave up.

6.23 Put the windlass in gear.

6.24 Where is the cable leading?

6.25 The cable(s) is/are leading ahead/astern/to port/to starboard/round the bow/up and down.

6.26 Heave in the port/starboard/both cable(s).

6.27 Is there much weight on the cable?

6.28 There is a lot of weight/too much weight/no weight on the cable.

6.29 Stop heaving.

6.30 How many shackles are left (to come in)?

6.31 There is a turn/there are turns in the cable(s).

6.32 The anchor is/cables are clear.

6.33 Anchor(s) is/are - clear of the water

- home

- foul

6.34 Anchor(s) has/have been secured.

7.1 Is the propeller clear?

7.2 Keep the propeller clear.

7.3 The propeller is/is not clear.

7.4 Stop the (controllable pitch) propeller.

7.5 Have fenders ready forward/aft.

7.6 There are fenders on the berth.

7.7 We will be berthing port/starboard side.

7.8 We will be mooring to a buoy/buoys ahead and astern.

7.9 We will be mooring alongside/to dolphins.

7.10 Put out . . head/stern/breast lines.

7.11 Put out . . . spring(s) fore/aft.

7.12 We will use . . . shore head/stern/breast lines/wires.

7.13 Do you have tension winches forward/aft on all/some lines?

7.14 Have heaving lines ready forward and aft.

7.15 Send a heaving line/the head line/the stern line/the breast line ashore to the boatmen/linesmen.

7.16 The boatmen/linesmen will use shackles/lashings to secure the mooring.

7.17 Give the boatmen/linesmen some shackles/lashings for the lines.

7.18 Have a messenger line ready.

7.19 Use the centre/panama lead forward/aft.

7.20 Use the bow/port/starboard quarter lead.

7.21 Heave on the . . . line(s)/spring.

7.22 Pick up the slack on the . . . line(s)/spring.

7.23 Heave away.

7.24 Stop heaving.

7.25 Slack away the . . . line(s)/spring.

7.26 Stop slacking the . . . line(s)/spring.

7.27 Hold on the . . . line(s)/spring.

7.28 Heave in easy/heave alongside.

7.29 Keep the lines tight.

7.30 Do not break the lines.

7.31 Report the forward/stern distance to . . .

7.32 We have to move . . . metres ahead/astern.

7.33 We are in position.

7.34 Make fast forward and aft.

7.35 Are the engines ready?

7.36 How long does it take to have the engines ready?

7.37 We are/we are not ready to get underway.

7.38 Prepare to let go.

7.39 Single up to . . . line(s) and . . . spring(s) forward and aft.

7.40 Slack away the head line/stern line/breast line.

7.41 Hold on the head line/stern line/breast line.

7.42 Slack away the forward/after spring.

7.43 Hold on to the forward/after spring.

7.44 Heave on the head line/stern line/forward/after spring.

7.45 Heave in the head line/stern line/forward/after spring.

7.46 Let go everything forward/aft.

7.47 Keep someone forward to stand by the anchor.

7.48 Let go head line/stern line/towing line/spring.

8.1 Is your radar working?

8.2 I do not have radar.

8.3 Does your radar have any blind sectors?

8.4 My radar has blind sectors from . . . to . . . degrees and from . . . to . . . degrees.

8.5 Switch the radar to . . . mile range.

8.6 Switch your radar to:

- relative head up

- relative north up

- relative course up

- true north up

- true course up

9.1 We will use . . . tug(s).

9.2 Stand by to make fast tug(s).

9.3 Make . . . tug(s) fast forward/on the port/starboard bow.

9.4 Make . . . tug(s) fast aft/on the port/starboard quarter.

9.5 The forward tug will make fast alongside on the port/starboard side.

9.6 The after tug(s) will make fast alongside on the port/starboard side.

9.7 Make . . . tug(s) fast on each bow/quarter.

9.8 The tugs will pull/push.

9.9 Use the ship’s lines.

9.10 Use the tug’s lines.

9.11 Use the centre/panama lead.

9.12 Use the fairlead/panama lead on the:

- port side/starboard side/amidships

- port bow/starboard bow

- port quarter/starboard quarter

9.13 Send two lines to the tug.

9.14 Send a heaving line to the tug.

9.15 Lower the towing line to the tug/water.

9.16 Slack away the towing line.

9.17 Make fast the towing line.

9.18 Put/do not put the eye of the towing line on the bitts.

9.19 Stand well clear of the towing line.

9.20 Stand by to let go the tug(s).

9.21 Let go the tug(s).

9.22 The towing line has parted.

10. Draught and air draught ^

10.1 Is she trimmed by the head/stern?

10.2 Is she on even keel?

10.3 What is her maximum draught now?

10.4 What is her draught forward/aft?

10.5 What is her air draught?

Note 1: When necessary it must be specified whether salt or fresh water draught is given.

Note 2: "Air draught" is the height of the highest point of the vessel above the waterline (see sketch 2).

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