Module 1 Steering Controls and Marine Equipment

Introduction to the Module

A ship's wheel or boat's wheel is a device used
aboard a water vessel to steer that vessel and
control its course. Together with the rest of
the steering mechanism, it forms part of
the helm. It is connected to a mechanical,
electric servo, or hydraulic system which
alters the vertical angle of the
vessel's rudder relative to its hull. In some
modern ships the wheel is replaced with a
simple toggle that remotely controls an
electro-mechanical or electro-hydraulic drive
Fig. 1 steering gear of an 18th to 19th
for the rudder, with a rudder position
century sailing ship – Photos from wikipedia
indicator presenting feedback to
the helmsman.
Prior to the invention of the ship's wheel, the helmsman relied on a tiller, a horizontal bar
fitted directly to the top of the rudder post or a whipstaff a vertical stick acting on the arm of
the ship's tiller. Near the start of the 18th century, a large number of vessels appeared using
the ship's wheel design, but historians are unclear when the approach was first used. [1] Some
modern ships have replaced the wheel with a simple toggle that remotely controls an
electromechanical or electro hydraulic drive for the rudder, with a rudder position indicator
presenting feedback to the helmsman.
A typical ship's wheel is composed of eight cylindrical wooden spokes (though sometimes as
few as six or as many as ten) shaped like balusters and all joined at a central
wooden hub or nave (sometimes covered with a brass name plate) which housed the axle. The
square hole at the centre of the hub through which the axle ran is called the drive square and
was often lined with a brass plate (and therefore called a brass boss, though this term was
used more often to refer to a brass hub and nave plate) which was frequently etched with the
name of the wheel's manufacturer. The outer rim is composed of sections each made up of
stacks of three felloes, the facing felloe, the middle felloe, and the after felloe. Because each
group of three felloes at one time made up a quarter of the distance around the rim, the entire
outer wooden wheel was sometimes called the quadrant. Each spoke ran through the middle
felloe creating a series of handles beyond the wheel's rim. One of these handles/ spokes was
frequently provided with extra grooves at its tip which could be felt by a helmsman steering
in the dark and used by him to determine the exact position of the rudder—this was the king
spoke and when it pointed straight upward the rudder was believed to be dead straight to the
hull. The completed ship's wheel and associated axle and pedestal(s) might even be taller than
the person using it. The wood used in construction of this type of wheel was most often
either teak or mahogany, both of which are very durable tropical hardwoods capable of
surviving the effects of salt water spray and regular use without significant decomposition.

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 Modern design particularly on smaller vessels
can deviate from the template. A typical ship's
wheel is composed of eight cylindrical
wooden spokes (though sometimes as few as
six or as many as ten) shaped like balusters and
all joined at a central
wooden hub or nave (sometimes covered with
a brass nave plate) which housed the axle. The
square hole at the centre of the hub through
which the axle ran is called the drive
square and was often lined with a brass plate
Fig. 2 Modern Day steering gear –Photos
(and therefore called a brass boss, though this from wikipedia
term was used more often to refer to a brass
hub and nave plate) which was frequently etched with the name of the wheel's manufacturer.
The outer rim is composed of sections each made up of stacks of three felloes, the facing felloe,
the middle felloe, and the after felloe. Because each group of three felloes at one time made
up a quarter of the distance around the rim, the entire outer wooden wheel was sometimes
called the quadrant. Each spoke ran through the middle felloe creating a series of handles
beyond the wheel's rim. One of these handles/ spokes was frequently provided with extra
grooves at its tip which could be felt by a helmsman steering in the dark and used by him to
determine the exact position of the rudder this was the king spoke and when it pointed straight
upward the rudder was believed to be dead straight to the hull. The completed ship's wheel
and associated axle and pedestal(s) might even be taller than the person using it. The wood
used in construction of this type of wheel was most often either teak or mahogany, both of
which are very durable tropical hardwoods capable of surviving the effects of salt water spray
and regular use without significant decomposition. Modern design particularly on smaller
vessels can deviate from the template.

Topic 1 Steering Control System

Time Frame Week 1 - 3 | 6 hours

Learning Outcome | At the end of this topic, you should be able to:
1. Illustrate the steering control system and its parts.
2. Demonstrate change-over of steering from manual to automatic control and vice versa.
3. Demonstrate the proper steering of the ship and comply with helm orders.

Materials
Pen and paper

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 Lesson 1 Steering Control System and Its Parts

Pre-Test
Instructions: Read the question carefully and write your answers on the ANSWER SHEET
provided.

1. Explain in your own words what you understand about steering?

2. As a future deck officer, do you think it is important to know the steering control
system especially prior to arrival?
3. Is it important to know the functions of all the buttons on your steering gear? Why?
Why not?
4. Explain the usage of the telemotor of the steering gear system?
5. What are the connections between the steering wheel and the rudder?

Vocabulary List
1. Steering Gear. The equipment provided on ships to turn the ship to left (Port side) or
to right (Starboard side) while in motion during sailing.
2. Rudder. A flat piece hinged vertically near the stern of a boat or ship for steering.
3. Emergency Steering Gear. A ship consists of electromechanical steering gear unit
which steers the vessel from one port to other. Control the steering of the ship at
such emergency situation with manual measure from within the steering gear room,
an emergency steering system is used.

Acronyms
No acronyms cited in this lesson.

Engagement Activity
Instructions: On the ANSWER SHEET provided, write your name as well as the date of
taking this activity. And provide answers or follow instructions as per below:

1. On your OTG Drive watch the video Steering Gear Parts.mp4

2. Take note of the parts being stated.
3. Write/share your thoughts about the video on virtual class discussion

A Steering Gear is the equipment provided on ships to turn the ship to left (Port side) or to right
(Starboard side) while in motion during sailing. The Steering Gear works only when the ship is in motion
and does not work when the ship is stationary. All the ships are to be provided with an efficient main
steering gear, an auxiliary steering gear and, except for very small ships, the main steering gear should
be power operated.

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 Manually operated, mechanical Steering Gears were in use during sailing ship days. Sailors
with strong bodies were required to operate the Steering Gears. Later on, after the onset of
steam engines, mechanized gears were used. Modern ships use all very sophisticated Steering
Gear systems which could fall in either of the categories

▪ Fully hydraulic type

▪ Electro-hydraulic type
▪ Fully electric type
More about their constructional details and components. Before studying further, just take a
close look at the sketch of the Steering Gear arrangement which shows the various parts and
components of a dual type system i.e. electro-hydraulic type gear arrangement.

Fig. 3 Steering Gear Arrangement – photos by marineinfo

Steering Gear Arrangement

Working of the Steering Gear

When the ship is required to be turned on receiving an order (say by 10° to port) from the
Master or the Duty Officer, the helmsman turns the steering wheel towards the port until the
rudder has reached 10° to port as read on the rudder indicator. The mechanism of the
Steering Gear works as under;
Main Parts of the Steering Gear System

1. Telemotor
2. Control Unit
3. Power Unit.

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 A brief description about the construction and working of these components is as follows
Telemotor unit comprises two parts namely, Transmitter and Receiver. The Transmitter is
located on the navigation bridge in the form of a wheel, which transmits the given order to
the Receiver located in the steering gear compartment, by turning the steering wheel. The
Receiver conveys this order to the Control Unit, also located in the steering gear
compartment, via linear motion.
Telemotor is generally hydraulic type, electric type or, as is the case with modern steering
systems, it could be electro-hydraulic type. In olden days, Telemotors were purely
mechanical types consisting of linkages and chains with sprockets. As they were operated
manually, they required very healthy sailors to operate them.
Control Unit is the link between the Telemotor and the Power Unit. I receive a signal from
the Telemotor and operate the Power Unit until it receives another signal, this time from
the Rudder through the Hunting Gear, to stop the operation of the Power Unit.
Power Unit can be any prime mover like a steam engine, diesel engine or, an electric motor,
directly coupled to the Rudder; it can be an electro-hydraulic unit or, an all- electric unit
complete with the Telemotor.

Steering Gear Requirements for Various Ship Types

Every ocean going cargo ship needs to be provided with a main steering gear and an
auxiliary steering gear unless the main steering gear comprises two or more identical power
units. The main steering gear is to be capable of putting the rudder over from 35° on one
side to 35° on the other side with the ship at its deepest draft and running ahead at
maximum service speed, and under the same conditions from 35° on either side to 30° on
the other side in not more than 28 seconds. It is to be power operated where necessary to
meet the above conditions and where the stock diameter exceeds 120mm.
The auxiliary steering gear is to be capable of putting the rudder over 15° on one side to 15°
on the other side in not more than 60 seconds with the ship at its deepest draft and running
ahead at half the maximum service speed or 7 knots whichever is greater. Power operated
auxiliary steering gear is required if necessary to meet the forgoing requirement or where
the rudder stock diameter exceeds 230 mm.

The main steering gear for oil tankers, chemical tankers or gas carriers of 10 000 gross
tonnage or more and every other ship of 70 000 gross tonnage or more is to consist of two
or more identical power units which are capable of operating the rudder as indicated for the
main steering gear above and whilst operating with all power units. If a passenger ship, this
requirement is to be met when any one of the power units is inoperable.
Steering gear control for power operated main and auxiliary steering gears is from the
bridge and steering gear compartment, the auxiliary steering gear control being
independent of the main steering gear control (but not duplication of the wheel or steering
lever).

Steering gear on ocean-going ships is generally of the electro-hydraulic type.

Where the rudder stock is greater than 230 mm an alternative power supply is to be
provided automatically from the ship’s emergency power supply or from an independent
source of power located in the steering gear compartment.

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The steering gear provides a movement of the rudder in response to a signal from the
bridge. The total system may be considered made up of three parts, control equipment, a
power unit and a transmission to the rudder stock. The control equipment conveys a signal
of desired rudder angle from the bridge and activates the power unit and transmission
system until the desired angle is reached. The power unit provides the force, when required
and with immediate effect, to move the rudder to the desired angle. The transmission
system, the steering gear, is the means by which the movement of the rudder is
accomplished.
A better illustration for the exact work sequence of in a simple rudder system and its parts is
given in the following figure. Check your OTG drive for GIF animation of this photo.

Fig. 4 Steering Gear Arrangement and Parts – photos by Marine Insight

Source
1. Wikipedia. Ship’s Wheel. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship%27s_wheel
2. Bright Hub Engineering. Marine Steering Gear Systems – Construction and Working. October 2
2009. https://www.brighthubengineering.com/marine-engines-machinery/53000-how-steerin
gears-work-on-ships/
Further Reading
Anish. Marine Insight. Procedure for Starting Emergency Steering System. June 26, 2020.
https://www.marineinsight.com/tech/generator/procedure-for-starting-emergency-
steering-
system/#:~:text=An%20emergency%20steering%20drill%20should,as%20soon%20as%20p
ossible%2C%20avoiding

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