🔍 Key Concepts

• 46 CFR requirements for steering gear overcurrent protection on vessels with AC motors • Difference between protection for steering gear motors and ordinary propulsion/auxiliary motors • Why steering gear must keep running even under heavy rudder loads without tripping off too soon

💭 Think About

• Is steering gear considered a vital system that must remain in operation even under very high load, or can it be allowed to trip off easily? • If a rudder is hard over in heavy seas, would the motor current be closer to its normal rating or significantly above it, and how would that affect the trip setting? • Compare the ranges in each choice: which range allows temporary high current without tripping, but still provides some short-circuit protection?

✅ Before You Answer

• Look up the exact wording in 46 CFR, specifically the section on "steering gear—overcurrent protection" for AC motors • Check that the range is based on the rated full-load current of ONE steering-gear motor, not the combined load of two motors • Confirm that the lower limit is well above 100% of full-load current to prevent nuisance tripping during heavy maneuvering