Emergency Response Plan

1. Emergency

Steering Gear Failure

 at sea

2. Application

 Shorebased Organisation
 All ships

prepared: approved: released: Revision 0

HLS Management 2006-11-27 Emergency Response
ERP-11
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 Steering Gear Failure

3. Situations and Action on Board

3.1 On the Bridge

Situation Responsibility Action Comments

Changing over of Officer of the Changes over to other rudder pump

Rudder Pumps Watch set; observes functioning of rudder;
changing over to hand rudder
Traffic Officer of the lf in danger of colliding with another
Watch ship: Stop engine!
Audi signal: Attention ________
Day: two black balls
Night: two red round-about lights
Fog:  
When obstructed, SECURITE
message via VHF Channel 16
Emergency Rudder Navigation lf rudder cannot be operated via Walkie-
Operation Officer rudder pumps, send two men to Talkie
steering gear room, have
emergency rudder operation
prepared.
Establish and maintain permanent
intercommunication with Bridge
Position Officer of the Establishes and records position and Scrap Log
Watch time
Informing Officer of the Under all circumstances discusses Telephone
Engine Room Watch situation with Engineer of the
Watch
Informing Master Officer of the Reports situation to Master Telephone
Watch
Informing Master Discusses situation and agrees Telephone
Chief Engineer action with Chief Engineer, supplies Walkie-
Chief Engineer with Walkie-Talkie. Talkie
(In case steering orders
communicated via Walkie-Talkie,
use alternative channel for other
communication)

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 Steering Gear Failure

Situation Responsibility Action Comments

Anchoring Officer of the Given sufficient depth of water: Anchor

Watch, Prepare to drop anchor.
Master Master in charge of anchoring
manoeuvre
Rudder Blade Master lf rudder blade lost or blocked at 0 Bow
inoperative angle: Thruster,
on open sea and without major Mooring
traffic: Lines
 proceeds at slow speed ahead,
tries to steer with bow thruster.
 ship without bow thruster: pro-
ceeds at half speed, pays out
mooring lines through hawser
ports at stern, using winches,
tries to steer by changing length
of lines.
Winchman acts as helmsman
(ensure communication with
Bridge).
Dangerously Master lf unable to throw anchor, requests VHF, SW
Inshore tug assistance immediately, in case
of need sends distress signal.
Announcement Master Makes announcement via Intercom. Intercom
Weather Report Navigation Obtains weather report / forecast
Officer
Proceeding to Master lf unable safely to make port of
Port of Refuge des-
tination, endeavours to reach port
of
refuge.
lf considered advisable, accepts tug
assistance to make port.
Documentation Master Records incidence and writes Ship's Log,
report. Voyage
Report
Information of Master lf ship delayed, advises Head Office. Telephone
Head Office Requests assistance concerning Fax
despatch of spare parts and repair
service

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 Steering Gear Failure

3.2 Engine Room

Situation Responsibility Action Comments

Reporting to Bridge Chief Engineer Reports breakdown to bridge Telephone

immediately
Engine ready for Chief Engineer Puts engine at manoeuvring speed; Telephone
Manoeuvring reports to Bridge
Informing Chief Engineer Informs Chief Engineer about situation Telephone
Chief Engineer
Investigation of Chief Engineer  Investigate cause of steering gear Telephone
Cause breakdown
 Take immediate action to protect
situation
 Inform Bridge
Continuing Voyage Chief Engineer lf necessary spare parts not on
with Rudder and Master board:
inoperative endeavour emergency repairs and
investigate possibility to continue
voyage (case need, port of refuge).
Information of Master Appraise Head Office of situation and
Head Office Chief Engineer of prospects.
Spare parts Master Investigate chances to obtain spare
Chief Engineer parts from ashore
Repairs Engine Crew Carry out repairs
Documentation Chief Engineer Records incidence and writes report Engine Log
Engine
Report
At next Port Chief Engineer, Request P & l Survey.
Master Request confirmation of class.

4. Training on Board
 Daily rotation of steering gear pump sets
 Changing over to emergency rudder operation, practise steering with
emergency rudder operation, practise communication with bridge
 Keeping time from failure of rudder through preparation and actual operation of
emergency rudder. Compare with similar exercises. Every officer of the watch
should know these times.
 Practise steering with bow thruster (Master), e.g. whilst in estuary. Establish
maximum speed for safe steering with bow thruster.
 Practise steering with mooring lines (in open sea, without surrounding traffic!)

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 Steering Gear Failure

5. Situations and Action Ashore

Situation Responsibility Action Comments

Spare parts Superintendent Agrees with Chief Engineer on Steering

required on board board, details of spare parts Gear
urgently required Manual
Procuring spare Superintendent Commences purchasing routine.
Parts Places urgent order for delivery by
supplier close to scene
Information to Superintendent Instructs agent closest to the scene Fax
Agent to arrange urgent transfer of spares
to ship (by launch or helicopter)
Information of Superintendent Keeps Master/Chief Engineer Telephone
Ship continually advised of action Fax
planned / taken
Tug(s) Superintendent Contacts salvage tug owners and Telephone
investigates availability of tugs close Fax
to ship. Agrees outline contract as
precautionary measure.

6. Training Ashore

 Alerting Emergency Response Team and manning of Emergency Response

Centre
 Prepare and have ready all ship's plans and manufacturers' data on rudder and
steering gear
 Have instantly accessible, worldwide list of suppliers of sensitive spare parts
 Joint exercises with ship.

7. Reference Documents

 Emergency Manual
 Manufacturers' manuals on rudder plant and steering gear
 Ship's plans and drawings
 Lists of spare parts
 Lists of suppliers of spare parts and of service stations
 Training Manual

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