A vane-type steering gear uses a rotor and stator mechanism where the vanes create hydraulic chambers to control the movement of the rudder.

• The rotor is fitted to the tapered rudder stock. The rudder stock carries the weight of the rudder, supported by a rudder carrier bearing.
• The stator is fixed to the ship’s structure, forming a rigid support.
• The fixed vanes are evenly spaced inside the stator bore, while the rotating vanes are equally spaced on the rotor.
• These vanes form two sets of pressure chambers in the annular space between the rotor and stator. Hydraulic fluid is supplied at pressure to one set of chambers, causing the rotor and rudder to rotate in the required direction based on the steering order from the wheelhouse.
• The weight of the rudder and rudder stock is carried by the rudder carrier bearing, which is mounted on steel chocks supported by thicker deck plating to ensure stability and handle the load.
• There is a vertical clearance between the stator flange and the anchor bracket to allow for rudder "jump" (vertical movement).
• Another clearance exists between the top of the anchor bracket and the stator flange to accommodate for rudder wear down or rudder drop over time. The total clearance provided is around 38 mm, allowing the system to absorb wear and vertical movement without affecting performance.