PNTC COLLEGES

Zone III, Lt. Cantimbuhan St. Poblacion, Dasmariñas City

COLLEGE OF MARITIME EDUCATION

ONLINE DISTANCE LEARNING MODULE

COURSE CODE SEA 305B PRE-REQUISITE WKD 202

COURSE TITLE Ship Handling and Maneuvering SEMESTER 1st
UNITS 5 YEAR LEVEL 3rd
COURSE DESCRIPTION This course covers the requirements in Chapter II of the 1978 STCW Convention, as
amended, in Table A-II/1. This course provides the background knowledge to support the
following main topics arranged by chapters: Precautions for protection and safety of
passengers, Initial action following collision or grounding, rescuing persons from the sea,
assisting a ship in distress and port emergencies, and Ship maneuvering and handling

MODULE 11 (WEEK 11)

Effects of wind and current on ship handling

TOPIC LEARNING OUTCOMES

The students shall be able to:

• state that the effect of wind on a given ship depends upon:

- the wind strength

- the relative direction of the wind

- the above-water area and profile

- the draught and trim

- the ship’s fore-and aft movement

• describe the behavior of a ship moving ahead with a wind from various directions

 state that, as a ship is slowed, a speed is reached at which the wind prevents maintaining course

ENGAGE

Can I move a ship in any direction while keeping the same heading? If I can, what else do I need to know about ship
handling?

EXPLORE

Watch the video presentation uploaded in Edmodo and identify the effect of wind and current in ship handling.

Form No. BPM2-CME 20 F-009 SEA 305B (Module 11)

Rev.03 Page 1 of 4
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 PNTC COLLEGES
Zone III, Lt. Cantimbuhan St. Poblacion, Dasmariñas City

EXPLAIN AND ELABORATE

4.1 Effects of wind and current on ship handling

A navigational or deck officer has to be extremely careful while steering a vessel from its course no matter where
the ship is – at mid sea, crossing channel, or entering/ leaving a port.

The team at the bridge should be efficient enough to sail the ship in all kinds of waters and weather.

One of the natural factors about which every navigator should be very careful while steering a ship is – the wind.

Vessels such as Container and Ro-Ro ships have large freeboard and are thus more affected by winds. This
exposed area of the ship is also known as windage area as the effect of wind is more prominent over it.

The wind effect on the same ship will be different at different places, depending upon the draught condition of
the ship.

A wind with force of 3-4 on the Beaufort scale will have similar effect in light condition as with wind force of 7-8
when the ship is down to her marks.

It is very important for the ship’s navigator to steer the ship considering the wind effects so that ship can be
steered efficiently without any difficulty. Following are the techniques a navigator must master related to wind
effects.

Ship underway with wind from right astern

When the wind is blowing from the right astern, steering the ship becomes easy; however, in the case of head
wind, the stern part of the ship has the tendency to pay off on either side. This is a difficult situation to tackle and
getting the ship back on course is no piece of cake.

Such effect is more often seen on ships where the accommodation area is at the aft region. Moreover, the wind in
such case has no braking effect.

Note: Given a choice between head wind & wind from right astern, the head wind is preferred for berthing.

Ship underway with wind from abeam

When the ship is underway with the wind flowing from abeam, the steering of the ship is not affected. However,
depending on the strength of the wind, the ship drifts sideways due to leeway and this has to be accounted for
while handling the ship.

Ship underway with wind on the bow

Here again in lighter conditions, the effect on the ship’s stem is larger and this tends the ship’s head to swing away
from the wind (leeward). This requires the weather helm (helm on the side of the wind) to be steered
continuously.

Form No. BPM2-CME 20 F-009 SEA 305B (Module 11)

Rev.03 Page 2 of 4
COMPANY CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
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When printed, this document is uncontrolled unless properly identified as controlled
 PNTC COLLEGES
Zone III, Lt. Cantimbuhan St. Poblacion, Dasmariñas City

Ship underway with wind on quarter

When the wind is pushing the ship’s stern away to leeward, the stern tends to swing towards the leeward. The
ship is therefore steered towards the wind and the ship is required to be given a lee helm.

Vessel under sternway

When the ship is going astern, it rarely goes at a great speed. When going astern most ships also tend to swing to
the starboard. The effect of the wind is therefore a little more complex.

In ballast condition where the wind catches the bow, which it often does, the stern is pulled into the wind. This
effect is quite definite & rapid.

Note – This effect must be remembered while maneuvering for anchoring, berthing etc.

All ships turn around a pivoting point. This point is an imaginary reference and is fixed from observations of the
ship turning around. It is known that when going astern the pivoting point moves aft.

Trim and Headway

So far, we have only considered a ship on even keel. A large trim by the stern may change the ship’s wind handling
characteristics quite substantially. The increase of freeboard forward has moved the geometrical center point of
wind force (W) forward and very close to pivot point. With the turning lever thus reduced, the ship is not so
inclined to run up into the wind with headway. Preferring instead to fall off, or lay across the wind. Because the
ship is difficult to keep head to wind. Some pilotage districts will not accept a ship that has an excessive trim by
the stern, particularly with regards to SBM operations.

Trim and Sternway

The performance when backing is also seriously altered. With the wind on the beam and W well forward, the
turning lever WP is consequently increased. Once the ship is stopped particularly when backing, the bow will
immediately want to fall off the wind, open with great rapidity, while the stern quickly seeks the wind.

When berthing with strong cross wind, or attempting to stop and hold in a narrow channel, it is best to plan ahead
as such a ship can prove very difficult to hold in position. However, as long as we have some prior knowledge as to
how the ship will react, under the influence of the wind. It can be turned it can be turned to advantage and readily
employed to aid rather than hinder ship handling. Not for nothing it is often referred to as a “poor man’s tug”

Conclusion

Navigators can use the wind:

1. As a good brake
2. As a device for making a tight turn.
3. To maneuver comparatively easily as long as the wind remains about two to three points on the bow

Form No. BPM2-CME 20 F-009 SEA 305B (Module 11)

Rev.03 Page 3 of 4
COMPANY CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
Copyright © 2021 PNTC Colleges, All rights reserved.
When printed, this document is uncontrolled unless properly identified as controlled
 PNTC COLLEGES
Zone III, Lt. Cantimbuhan St. Poblacion, Dasmariñas City

EVALUATE

1. Practical assessment activity if allowed and practicable; -

1) Navigate and maneuver a ship in narrow channel” and;
a) demonstrate how to keep the course with wind almost equal to the ship’s speed.
b) Demonstrate the wind effect with large trim by the stern.
2. Essay test objective:
1) What is the effect of wind in general?
2) Why does a vessel is difficult to handle when the trim by stern is large?
3) What is the turning lever in relation to wind effect?
4) In a narrow channel, what is the effect of large trim by the stern in ship handling with wind abeam?
5) What is the effect to ship handling if the speed of headwind reaches equivalent to ship’s speed?

EXTEND

Ship handling cannot be learned in few days or few months. Apart from learning the theory of Ship handling, what
do you think you need to do to be a master of it?

Upload your answer in Edmodo within the specified date and time for submission.

Answer shall not be less than 100 words.

References:

A. https://www.witpress.com/Secure/elibrary/papers/MT03/MT03020FU.pdf
B. https://www.marineinsight.com/marine-navigation/mastering-ships-navigation-part-2/

Revision Status:

MOD SEA 305B(11)

Rev.: 01
Issue Date:
Sept. 8, 2021

Form No. BPM2-CME 20 F-009 SEA 305B (Module 11)

Rev.03 Page 4 of 4
COMPANY CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
Copyright © 2021 PNTC Colleges, All rights reserved.
When printed, this document is uncontrolled unless properly identified as controlled