🔍 Key Concepts

• Difference between electro-hydraulic steering gear and purely mechanical steering • What happens to hydraulic pressure and ram movement if the electric motor driving the pump fails • Role of non‑return valves / bypass valves in holding or releasing rudder position

💭 Think About

• If the electric motor fails, what happens to the hydraulic pump and the flow of oil to the steering rams? • Without fresh pressure being pumped, will the rudder be forced to center, free to drift, or held where it is? • Think about how the system is designed to prevent sudden, dangerous changes in rudder angle when power is lost.

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify what the hydraulic pump is doing in normal operation versus during a power failure • Consider whether a sudden automatic movement to midships would be safe or unsafe in heavy traffic or close‑quarters • Recall from steering gear design: is there a feature that locks the ram position when pressure/flow stops, or one that forces it to move?