You are conducting an operational test of your main steering gear system. The main steering gear must be capable of moving the rudder from 35 degrees on either side to 35 degrees on the other with the vessel at its deepest load line draft and running at maximum ahead service speed, and from 35 degrees on either side to 30 degrees on the other in what minimum time frame?
• SOLAS steering gear requirements for main and auxiliary steering gear performance • Difference between moving the rudder 35° to 35° and 35° to 30° and why those numbers matter • How maximum ahead service speed and deepest load line draft affect steering gear performance
• Think about whether the required time is meant to be very quick for emergency maneuvering or relatively slow for routine adjustments. • Consider what would be a realistic time for a ship at full speed to swing the rudder almost hard-over to the other side without overstressing the steering system. • Ask yourself: would international safety rules allow a steering gear that takes as long as some of these options to respond when avoiding a collision?
• Verify the exact time requirement for main steering gear operation in SOLAS Chapter II-1 (Construction – Structure, subdivision and stability, machinery and electrical installations). • Check that the time requirement applies specifically to from 35° on one side to 30° on the other at maximum ahead service speed and deepest load draft. • Eliminate options that are clearly too long to be safe for collision avoidance, based on how fast a large vessel travels at service speed.
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