Steering: what SIRE 2.0 inspectors ask and find
Steering gear tests, timings and emergency steering drills are checked against the records, and crew may be asked to show the changeover.
Do this before the inspector arrives: Have steering gear timing records and the emergency steering drill ready.
What the inspector wants to see
- Steering gear test records and timings
- Emergency steering drill records
Questions inspectors ask about Steering
What is rudder creeping?
The rudder drifting off midships when one steering motor is running and the rudder was set midships.
What do you do if the steering gear hydraulic lock alarm activates?
Switch to the standby steering system and have engineers find the root cause.
What do you need to know about the steering gear reserve tank?
Its required capacity and how its oil level is monitored.
Why is rudder time measured 35-0-30 deg and not 35-0-35 deg?
The 28 s limit is from 35 deg one side to 30 deg the other; near hard over the swash plate reduces oil flow, so time increases.
Steering fails from the bridge, or the telegraph stops working. What then?
Inspectors ask for the actions; know the relevant contingency plans.
There are 7 Steering questions in NilObs, with spaced repetition so the ones you miss come back. Practise them free.
Real Steering observations, and how to avoid them
Checklists showed remote steering controls tested from each position before arrival and departure, but they were not; the officer did not know the bridge wing NFU controls existed.
Avoid it: Test steering from every control position, including bridge wing NFU, before arrival and departure.
The PMS required six-monthly steering gear hydraulic oil analysis, but the latest report on board was about a year old.
Avoid it: Track oil sampling dates in the PMS and land samples on time.
Who answers for Steering
Second Officer, Chief Engineer, Second Engineer, Technical Superintendent. NilObs picks the questions and the daily drill for your role.
Rehearse Steering before your next inspection.
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