Marine Order 21, issue 8
28Steering gear — testing and drills
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28 Steering gear — testing and drills
[SOLAS V/26]
28.1 The master of a ship must ensure that, within 12 hours before a ship’s departure from a port, the ship’s steering gear is checked and tested by the ship’s crew in accordance with paragraphs 1 and 2 of Regulation 26 of Chapter V of SOLAS.
28.2 The Manager, Ship Inspection and Registration may exempt a ship or class of ships that regularly travels on voyages of short duration from compliance with subsection 28.1.
Note For an application for an exemption — see subsection 10.1.
28.3 The master of a ship that is given an exemption under subsection 28.2 must ensure that the checks and tests mentioned in subsection 28.1 are carried out at least once every week.
28.4 The owner of a ship must ensure that simple operating instructions are permanently displayed on the navigation bridge and on the steering compartment, including a block diagram showing the change-over procedures:
(a) for a ship with remote steering gear control systems — for the remote steering gear control systems; or
(b) for a ship with steering gear power units — for the steering gear power units.
28.5 The master of a ship must ensure that all officers operating or maintaining steering gear on a ship are familiar with the operation of the steering systems on the ship and the procedures for changing between systems.
28.6 The master of a ship must ensure that, at least once every 3 months, emergency steering drills take place to test the emergency steering procedures on the ship, including:
(a) direct control from within the steering gear compartment; and
(b) the communications procedure with the navigating bridge; and
(c) the operation of any alternative power supplies.
28.7 The master of a ship must ensure that the following information is recorded in the official log-book:
(a) the date the checks and tests mentioned in subsection 28.1 are carried out;
(b) the date and details of emergency steering drills mentioned in subsection 28.6 are carried out.