Taking over and handing over the wheel
1The lesson in plain words
Before you take the wheel, know the course, the steering mode and the rudder she carries. Report the change so the OOW hears it.
Before you take over
Arrive early and fit; at night let your eyes adjust first. Look at the course to steer, the heading, the steering mode (hand or autopilot), the rudder angle indicator and the traffic. Ask the helmsperson how she has been steering: how much rudder she carries, meaning needs to hold the course, and whether she yaws, swinging either side of the course in the sea.
The handover words
The outgoing helmsperson gives you the course, helm carried and any special orders. Repeat them before taking the wheel. For example: ‘Course two three five, carrying five port; nothing to starboard.’ After taking the wheel, report to the OOW: ‘Relieved the wheel, course two three five, carrying five port.’ The outgoing helmsperson stays beside you until the OOW acknowledges, then leaves.
When not to hand over
Do not change helmsperson during a turn, a close-quarters situation or a manoeuvre the OOW is directing. Wait until the ship is steady and the OOW agrees.
End of the watch
At the end of your watch, also hand over anything the OOW asked you to watch for and any faults you noticed, such as a lamp out or a door left open. The lookout handover is covered in the COLREG lookout lesson. Never leave the wheel or the lookout empty: if your relief is late, stay and tell the OOW.
2Step by step
Taking over the wheel
- 1
Check the course, heading, steering mode and rudder angle indicator.
You see the real situation before you hear the summary.
- 2
Listen to the course, helm carried and any special orders; repeat them.
Repeating catches a misheard figure.
- 3
Take the wheel only when the ship is steady and the OOW agrees.
A change in the middle of a turn invites a wrong rudder movement.
- 4
Report the course and helm carried to the OOW.
The OOW confirms who is steering and to what.
- 5
The outgoing helmsperson leaves only after the acknowledgement.
The wheel is never without a confirmed helmsperson.
3Key points
- 1
Check course, heading, steering mode, rudder indicator and traffic before taking over.
- 2
Before taking the wheel, hear and repeat the course, helm carried and any special orders.
- 3
Report the change to the OOW and wait for the acknowledgement.
- 4
No handover during a turn or manoeuvre; wait until the ship is steady.
4Frequent mistakes
Wrong: I can take the wheel in the middle of a turn to save time.
Right: Wait until she is steady and the OOW agrees. Then take over.
Wrong: The OOW knows the course, so I need not report the change.
Right: Report the course and helm carried. The OOW must know who is steering and to what.
Wrong: ‘Carrying five port’ means the ship is turning to port.
Right: It means five degrees of port rudder are needed to hold the course, usually against wind or sea. The ship is not turning.
5Practice case & exam keys
You arrive to relieve the helmsperson. The ship is turning to port and the OOW is giving wheel orders to pass a fishing vessel. What do you do?
Show the answer
Wait beside the wheel and watch the heading and rudder indicator. Once the ship is steady and the OOW agrees, hear and repeat the course, helm carried and any special orders before taking the wheel. Then take control and report the change to the OOW. The outgoing helmsperson leaves only after the OOW acknowledges.
Exam keys
- Before taking the wheel: course, heading, steering mode, rudder indicator, traffic.
- Before transfer: hear and repeat course, helm carried and special orders; report taking over to the OOW.
- No handover during a turn or manoeuvre; never leave the wheel unattended.
Finish this unit
When you've read it, answer three questions. Get all three right to finish the unit; opening the page alone doesn't count.
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