🔍 Key Concepts

• Electro-hydraulic steering gear basics – how the electric and hydraulic parts work together • What happens to hydraulic pressure and control valves if electric power is lost • SOLAS/USCG requirements that steering must be fail-safe, not create a new danger when power fails

💭 Think About

• Think about what normally moves the rudder: is it moved by electric motors directly, or by hydraulic pressure controlled by electric components? • If the electric power suddenly fails while the ship is turning, what arrangement would be safest for the ship and crew? A sudden hard-over rudder, a forced midship, or holding what you already have? • Which option would avoid creating an immediate, uncontrollable change in the ship’s heading when power is lost?

✅ Before You Answer

• Identify which options describe an active movement of the rudder after the failure versus a passive condition (no new force applied). • Consider what happens to hydraulic control valves on power loss: do they move to a neutral/locked condition or drive the ram somewhere? • Ask: Which choice best matches a fail-safe, stable condition that steering gear designers aim for during total electric power failure?