Helm Commands
Helm orders or commands fall into two categories: rudder commands and heading commands. A rudder command dictates changing the angle of the rudder, which is a single-event action. Whereas steering a heading is a comparatively long event and will require ongoing or continuous rudder adjustments.
The following are helm orders used in the United States Navy and United States Coast Guard:
Rudder
- Midships (Bring rudder angle to 0 degrees)
- Check your swing (Counter steer to stop the movement or swing of the ship's bow)
- Hard rudder (Used infrequently, such as emergencies, when maximum rudder is required)
- Right or left standard rudder (~20 degrees. Varies per ship)
- Shift your rudder (Steer the same number of degrees but opposite rudder angle)
Heading
- Steady as she goes (Steer as needed to continue current heading)
- Steady on a course (Steer as needed to bring ship on desired course)
Read more about this topic: Helmsman
Famous quotes containing the word commands:
“They went to him and woke him up, shouting, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he woke up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves; they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, “Where is your faith?” They were afraid and amazed, and said to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him?””
—Bible: New Testament, Luke 8:24-25.