Question

The steering gear operation of a vessel that recently experienced a heavy storm is found to be abnormally sluggish.

(a) State the reasons for possible malfunction of the gear.

(b) State the corrective actions that may be carried out at sea, that will allow the vessel to continue to the nearest port.

Answer 1

Part (a)

Part (b)

Reseat the shock valve.
Check for twisted stock by checking the midship position of the rudder and the indication of the rudder stock. Adjust the feedback system to give the rudder a midship, even though make on rudder stock does not indicate amidships.
All the linkages, fittings, foundation bolts, and Ram-seal bolts are to be tightened.
Examine the carrier bearing, check chocks and jumping stops, and pump extra grease in the rudder carrier bearing.
Check the pump coupling to ensure the non-reversing gear is operational.
Change to two-ram operation, isolating leaking rams until repairs can be carried out.

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