263Communications Both flags or arms raised Spreading outwards, both flags or arms at shoulder level DOT DASH Flags or arms brought together in front of operators chest Flags or arms maintained at 45° downward and away from the body Separation of letters groups or words Separation of dots and dashes Circular motion of flags or arms over the head means erase when made by the transmitting station, and request for repetition when made by the receiving station. Figure 9.4 Morse signalling by hand flags or arms. A Receiving Station – In Answer On receiving the call-up signal the receiver should answer the call by the answer signal – TTTTT. Should a receiving station be unable to communicate by this method, the signal YS1 should be displayed by any available means, meaning ‘I am unable to communicate by morse signalling by hand-flags or arms’. Completing the Signal All signals are completed by the transmission of the ending signal – AR. This method of signalling can be carried out by flags or just by the operator’s arms, and if the operator has only one arm available, the system is still feasible. But it is tiring and time-consuming, and unpopular with mariners. APPENDIX SEAMAN’S SELF-EXAMINER The headings indicate the examinations to which the following questions and answers are directed. EFFICIENT DECK HAND 1. Qu. What are the natural fibre ropes called? Ans. Manilla, hemp, sisal, coir and cotton. 2. Qu. What is the construction of log line? Ans. Sennet laid hemp. 3. Qu. Describe hawser layed rope? Ans. Three-stranded rope laid up left- or right-handed. 4. Qu. How would you commence a back splice in a natural fibre rope before starting the normal tucks? Ans. By use of a crown knot. 5. Qu. What are the main differences between the construction of a flexible steel wire rope and a non-flexible steel wire rope? Ans. A flexible wire will have more wires per strand and a fibre heart running through the centre. Non-flexible wires do not possess the fibre heart and have less wires per strand. 6. Qu. What is the difference between a ‘hard eye’ and a ‘soft eye’, when splicing? Ans. A hard eye will have a thimble spliced into the rope or wire, and a soft eye will just be the rope or wire spliced to itself. 7. Qu. What would you expect to find stamped on the binding of a metal block? Ans. The safe working load of the block and the block’s certificate number. 8. Qu. What would you use to mouse a shackle? Ans. Seizing wire. 9. Qu. How would you make a ‘temporary eye’ in the end of a rope? Ans. By means of a bowline. 265Seaman’s Self-Examiner 10. Qu. What is the length of a ‘shackle of cable’? Ans. 15 fathoms or 90 ft. 11. Qu. Where would you expect to find a ‘monkey’s fist’? Ans. In the end of a heaving line to weight the end when throwing. 12. Qu. How would you secure a bosun’s chair to a gantline, prior to working aloft? Ans. By use of a double sheetbend. 13. Qu. With what tool would you open up the lay of a rope when splicing? Explain why a marline spike would not be used. Ans. A wood ‘fid’ is used for splicing ropes. If a marline spike was employed, the fibres of the rope would be cut against the metal tip of the spike, which would considerably weaken the finished splice. 14. Qu. When coming to a single anchor with your vessel what would you consider to be good holding ground for the anchor? Ans. Mud, clay or hard sand are all considered to be good holding grounds. 15. Qu. When worming, parcelling and serving, why would you not use marline for the operation of ‘worming’? Ans. Marline will not compress under the parcelling and an uneven finish would result. 16. Qu. How would you join two wire hawsers together for the purpose of ‘towing’, without eye splicing one to another? Ans. Secure both hawsers by means of a ‘carrick bend’. When towing, the hawsers could be expected to take a considerable amount of weight. Allow the weight to be taken up first, before seizing the tails down to the standing parts, or the seizings may be pulled adrift. 17. Qu. What are the main functions and purpose of locking bars when battening down conventional hatches? Ans. The locking bars prevent the tarpaulins from blowing off in the wind. They also act to retain the hatch boards (wood) from floating off should the hatch become full of water. Locking bars may also be considered an anti-theft device. 18. Qu. What is the safe working angle between the two cargo runners considered to be, when working union purchase? Ans. The safe working angle between the runners is 90°. The rig can also work up to 120° without incurring excessive stress for the occasional lift. 19. Qu. Where would you expect to find the ‘bitter end’ aboard a vessel? Ans. In the chain cable locker. The ‘bitter end’ is the very end of the cable secured in or just outside the chain locker. 20. Qu. If a tackle was rove to advantage, would you be pulling on the downhaul from the standing or from the moving block? Ans. From the moving block. 266 Seamanship Techniques 21. Qu. When would you encounter a ‘union plate’, sometimes referred to as a monkey face plate? Ans. When handling derricks. The union plate connects the bull wire chain preventer and the single span topping lift at one point. 22. Qu. What is the function of tank top ceiling, and in what type of vessel would you expect to encounter it? Ans. The tank top ceiling is a wooden sheathing to protect the tank top of the double bottom. It is normally found in general cargo vessels situated in way of the hatchway, at the bottom of the hold. Not only will it afford protection from heavy loads, but, depending on its design, it may well assist in drainage and ventilation of cargoes. 23. Qu. How could a bottle screw (turnbuckle) be locked and secured? Ans. (a) By means of an adjustable locking bar. (b) By means of locking nuts on to the screw threads. (c) By means of seizing wire turned about through the centre and the end eyes. 24. Qu. Give an example of when a ‘solid thimble’ would be employed, and state why you would use it as opposed, say, to an open heart thimble? Ans. A solid thimble is used in ‘standing rigging’, e.g. stays, shrouds. The rigid securing when the solid thimble is employed resists any movement of the bolt of the securing shackle. 25. Qu. What prevents the lead pellet which retains in the spile pin of a ‘Kenter Lugless Joining Shackle’ from falling out? Ans. The lead pellet is inserted over the spile pin into a ‘dove tail recess’, which prevents the pellet from coming adrift accidentally. CERTIFICATE OF PROFICIENCY IN SURVIVAL CRAFT AND RESCUE BOATS 1. Qu. What types of wooden-built lifeboats do you know? Ans. Clinker, carvel and double diagonal. 2. Qu. How many boathooks are required in lifeboats? Ans. Two. 3. Qu. Where would you find the ‘garboard strake’? Ans. It is the first strake outward from the keel. 4. Qu. How long are the painters of a ship’s lifeboat? Ans. As long as necessary to allow the boat to be safely launched at lightest seagoing draught. 5. Qu. What pyrotechnics would you expect to find in the lifeboat? Ans. Six hand held flares, four rocket parachute flares and two orange smoke floats. 6. Qu. How would you recognise the ‘steering oar’ in a ship’s lifeboat? 267Seaman’s Self-Examiner Ans. The blade of the oar would be painted a distinctive colour. The blade should also be facing aft. The steering oar is also approximately 12 to 14 in. longer than other oars. 7. Qu. If you were the cox’n of the only motorised survival craft to be launched after a disaster, what would be your major function. Ans. Collect and assemble all other survival craft. This would enable a roll call to be made of known survivors. The action would also provide a larger target for rescue craft to see. One of the other craft may have an emergency radio and in any event life support systems can be jointly used for the survival of all. 8. Qu. How would you take a reef in lifeboat sails? Ans. Down helm, head the boat into the wind, and let fly the sheets. Stream the sea anchor to keep to boat’s head up wind. Lower the yard and lay it on to the side benches of the boat. Clear the foot of the sail. Secure the luff and leach earrings, respectively to the tack and clew cringles. Commence to secure the reef points about the bunched sail, starting to tie the reef knots from the forward end to aft. Secure the yard strop to the traveller and reset the sails. Trip the sea anchor and resume course. 9. Qu. How long is the tripping line of the sea anchor found in the ship’s lifeboats? Ans. About 2 fathoms longer than the sea anchor hawser. 10. Qu. Of what construction would you expect wire lifeboat falls to be. How often would you expect them to be renewed? Ans. Extra flexible steel wire rope (6 × 36 or 17 × 7) wps. To be renewed whenever required, and at no greater than at a five-yearly interval. 11. Qu. What is the purpose of the ‘tricing-in pennants’ on the davits of lifeboats? Ans. The tricing-in pennants are secured to bring the boat alongside the embarkation deck particularly when the mother vessel has an adverse list. 12. Qu. What types of life raft are popularly employed in the marine industry? Ans. The rigid raft, the inflatable raft, and the davit-launched raft. 13. Qu. What is the standard length of painter fitted to an inflatable life raft? Can this length ever differ? Ans. The standard length is 25 m (80 ft). This length can be increased by order to the manufacturer if so desired, e.g. for high freeboard vessels. 14. Qu. Three life rafts are located together. Would you attempt to join up the rafts and if so at what distance would you connect them together? Ans. Yes, you would under normal circumstances join the rafts 268 Seamanship Techniques together. They should be secured as far apart as possible so as to avoid the painters snatching and parting when in any sea and/or swell. 15. Qu. What is the release gear for the davit-launched life raft called, i.e. the gear found at the end of the fall above the raft? Ans. Mills Atlas Release Gear. 16. Qu. At what angle of adverse list must a davit-launched raft be capable of being launched? Ans. 20° of adverse list. 17. Qu. How would you attempt to beach a life raft? Ans. As follows, during the hours of daylight and on a gently sloping beach, if circumstances permit: (a) Inflate the floor of the raft. (b) Stream both sea anchors (drogues). (c) Open up the entrances and man the paddles. (d) See that all personnel are wearing lifejackets. 18. Qu. When in a life raft, what would you use the two sponges for? Ans. One sponge should be used after the bailing to dry the inside floor area of the raft. The other sponge should be used to collect condensation from the inside canopy for drinking use. 19. Qu. What is the breaking strain of the weak link of the hydrostatic release system? Ans. 500 lb ± 100 lb or 227 kg ± 45 kg. 20. Qu. After a raft has been launched, how would you get it away from the ship’s side? Ans. Cut the painter, and use both paddles. If the raft is of a circular design, use of the paddles may prove difficult. In that case use them in conjunction with a heavy object placed in the sea anchor: throw the sea anchor at right- angles to the fore and aft line of the vessel, then pull the raft towards the sea anchor. 21. Qu. What markings would you expect to find on the outside canister of an inflatable life raft? Ans. The maker’s name, an indication as to the top of the canister, the capacity of the raft (number of persons to be carried), the length of painter, date of last service, date of next service, statement whether raft complies with SOLAS regulations, instructions for launching, do not roll symbol if fitted with aerial facility. 22. Qu. How often are life rafts and hydrostatic release units surveyed and by whom? Ans. Every twelve months by a Department of Trade approved agency. 23. Qu. What is the emergency boat muster signal? Ans. Seven or more short blasts on the ship’s bells and whistles, followed by a continuous long ringing/sounding of each. PART TWO SHIP HANDLING CONTENTS TO PART TWO Acknowledgments vii List of plates ix List of tables xi 1. WATCHKEEPING DUTIES Master’s responsibilities 1 Watchkeeping – general duties 3 Duties of the officer of the watch (OOW) 3 Duties of the lookout 5 Duties of the helmsman 6 Duties of the standby man 7 Official publications 9 Rigging pilot ladders 15 Mechanical pilot hoists 17 Ship to shore transit 20 2. SPEED AND DEPTH Patent rotator log 21 Impeller log 24 Hand lead 25 Echo-sounding 26 3. MARINE INSTRUMENTS Sextant 30 Marine chronometer 35 The gyro compass 36 Magnetic compass 41 Liquid magnetic compass 42 Dry card magnetic compass 48 Azimuth mirror 49 Pelorus 50 Hydrometer 52 Hygrometer 53 Precision aneroid barometer 53 4. METEOROLOGY Meteorological terms 57 Forecast areas 65 Weather scales 65 Construction and interpretation of synoptic chart 66 Contingency plans for heavy weather 69 Effects of heavy weather on vessel at sea 71 General behaviour of vessels in heavy weather 72 Tropical revolving storm 76 Ice terminology 78 Ice navigation 83 5. PREVENTING COLLISIONS AT SEA International regulations 86 Judging another vessel’s heading at night 124 Special cases to rule of the road 125 Rule of the road – questions and answers 129 IALA maritime buoyage systems ‘A’ and ‘B’ 132 6. EMERGENCIES Collision 137 Flooding 139 Abandonment from the vessel 141 Rescue and recovery of survivors 143 Stranding 145 Breaching procedure 145 Deck department checklist for watertight integrity of hull following grounding or beaching 147 Engine room department checklist for machinery spaces following grounding or beaching 147 Watertight doors 148 Drydock procedure 150 Man overboard 153 Helicopter procedure 156 Steering gear failure or loss of rudder 161 Subsunk, procedure 164 7. FIRE-FIGHTING Small fires 166 Accommodation fires at sea 168 Galley fires at sea 169 Machinery space fires at sea 171 Cargo space fires at sea and in port 174 Paint room fires 177 Fixed fire-fighting installations 178 iv Contents to Part Two [...]... twisting They must be so fixed that the lowest batten comes no lower than the fifth step from the bottom, and the interval between battens must not be more than nine steps Each batten must be made of ash, oak or similar material, free of knots  18 Seamanship Techniques Falls The two separate flexible steel wire rope falls should be resistant to corrosion in a salt-laden atmosphere They should be securely... record all oil movements aboard the vessel It is carried by tanker vessels and vessels other than tankers All entries should bear the signature of the Master of the vessel, together with those of officers concerned in the movement of oils or oily waste A copy of the entries made into the oil record book for a non-tanker type vessel is given in Table 1.3 International Code of Signals Published by Her... Operational Aspects Before use, the rigging of the hoist should be supervised by a responsible Watchkeeping Duties 19 4 Accommodation ladder, seen in the turned out position and slewed on to the quayside Bridle and yoke having been disconnected, the weight of the ladder is taken by the quay and the ‘Y’ bracket from the underside of the turntable, whence the upper platform leads into the ship’s side... Seamanship Techniques TABLE 1.1 Example of helm orders Order (by OOW , Pilot or Master) Helmsman’s reply Helmsman’s actions Helmsman’s final report Starboard twenty degrees Starboard twenty, sir Twenty degrees of starboard helm ‘on’, sir Midships Midships, sir Hard a-port Hard a-port, sir Ease the wheel to port ten degrees Ease the wheel to port ten degrees, sir Check her (should be understood to mean, check... ten degrees of port helm as shown by rudder indicator Turns the wheel against the swing of the vessel, up to approx ten degrees of opposing helm being applied to reduce the rate of swing Eases the wheel back to the midships position once the vessel stops swinging Observes compass heading, or land reference point, and steadies the ship’s head in/on that heading Applies helm as required in order to maintain... whatever is stated ‘State when the vessel stops steering’, or when vessel no longer responds to helm movement because she has reduced her way, i .e helm hard a-port and the vessel paying off to starboard ‘Finished with the wheel’, when the helmsman is no longer required The wheel is returned to midships and the helmsman can stand down 10 Seamanship Techniques A copy of Chart Abbreviations (No 5011), IAMSAR... type of gob rope Bow section showing Panama Lead 234 237 244 245 2 48 2 1 Seamanship Techniques Modern wide bridge design A Minerva fire-detection unit may be seen on the after bulkhead opposite the control console The Master should further be aware that the protection of the marine environment is a major consideration He should take all necessary precautions to ensure that no operational or accidental... distance recorder in a car, the rotation of the log line being geared down so that nautical miles are registered There are three dials on the face, one to record tenths of a mile, one to record miles, and one to record hundreds of miles The clock is usually made of brass or other non-rusting metal and is fitted with an eye for an Englefield clip to facilitate attachment of the governor (see Figure 2.3... Plate 6) 6 Walker’s Excelsior log clock Governor Englefield clip Plaited line (stray length) Figure 2.4 Governor Becket (log line attached here) Governor wheel The purpose of the governor-wheel (Figure 2.4) is to provide steadiness to the inner spindle of the log clock as it revolves due to the action of the rotator The governor-wheel is usually made of a non-rusting metal and has a short stray length... 5 Department of Trade gangway, rigged at rightangles to the fore and aft line, with gangway net rigged, lifebelt readily accessible, and bulwark gateway open 22 Seamanship Techniques 10 Governor attached here Shoe on taffrail Figure 2.3 11 Once the rotator is fully outstretched, spin the governor to set in motion Ensure dials are set to zero on the log clock Care should be taken throughout the operation . port helm Ease the wheel to Ease the wheel to Allows the wheel to Wheel eased to port ten degrees port ten degrees, return towards the port ten degrees, sir midships position, sir but retains ten degrees. you expect wire lifeboat falls to be. How often would you expect them to be renewed? Ans. Extra flexible steel wire rope (6 × 36 or 17 × 7) wps. To be renewed whenever required, and at no greater. apply helm to change the ship’s course to whatever is stated. ‘State when the vessel stops steering’, or when vessel no longer responds to helm movement because she has reduced her way, i .e. helm