Ship Handling

MCA Orals Preparation

 Part 4

Practical Manoeuvring
 Approach Speed fast
Example only: 60,000 dwt Loaded

Vsl stopped

Full Astern

Half Astern
5 cables
Slow Astern
ri od
g pe
l on
er y
Speed over 3 knots a v
Stop Engine t for
1 mile from berth l los
r o
Speed over 3 knots. o nt
C

Dead Slow Ahead

10 cables 4 Knots

Slow Ahead
6 Knots
 Approach Speed slow
Example only: 60,000 dwt Loaded Speed under 0.3
knots.
Vsl stopped

Astern as
reqd
Kick Ahead
5 cables
Slow Astern very
a
st for
o
t rol l riod
n e
Kick Ahead Co ort p
sh
1 mile from berth
Speed under 3 knots. Stop Engine

10 cables
Short Kicks Ahead

Stop Engine
 Turning Short Round

1. Start on port side of channel

2. Rudder hard a stbd. Full ahead.
Stop engine.
3
3. Midships. Full astern
4. Stop Engine
5. Stbd wheel. Engine ahead
Berthing Port Side To – Calm conditions
Stage 3
•Stop engines to arrest swing in sufficient time
•Send forward spring to allow engine to be worked for final positioning.

Stage 2
• Stop engines
• Take into account the headway, move engines astern
• Transverse thrust will cant the stern to port.

Stage 1
• Approach the berth at an angle of about 30⁰
• Minimum steerageway
 Berthing Port Side To – Offshore Wind
Stage 3
• Astern on engines transverse thrust cants bow to stbd
•Pivot point moves aft behind W creating bow turning lever to stbd
•Send forward spring to allow engine to be worked for final positioning.

Stage 2
• Maintain headway until bow is close to the berth
• Lead a stern line forward for early deployment to allow stern
to be checked.

Wind

Stage 1
• Approach berth at a steep angle to reduce windage and turning lever of W.
•Bow aiming for approx position of where the stern will be when alongside.
• Positive headway to prevent loss of steerage
 Port Side To – Onshore Wind
Stage 3
• Use ahead engine and port helm to control the stern
• When just of the berth hold on to the anchor. Pivot point is right ahead
and stern will set in towards the quay.
• Slack on anchor cable to bring bow alongside aided by the wind

Stage 2
• Stop engine when one ships length from berth
• Let go the stbd anchor.

Wind

Stage 1
• Approach berth at a steep angle with bow
aimed to port of centre of the berth
• Pivot point will tend to swing bow into wind
 Stbd Side To – Calm Conditions
Stage 3
• Stop engines when swing has been stopped
• Send forward spring to allow engine to be worked for final
positioning.

Stage 2
• Port helm and kick ahead to commence swing stern towards berth
• Engines astern to stop the ship and use transverse thrust to arrest
swing
• Prepare stern line forward and send as soon as practicable

Stage 1
• Approach the berth at a shallow angle of about 15⁰
• Minimum steerageway
 Stbd Side To – Offshore Wind
Stage 3
• Stop engines when swing has been stopped
• Send forward spring to allow engine to be worked for final
positioning.

Stage 2
• Port helm to swing stern towards berth
• Engines astern to stop the ship. Effect of transverse thrust may be
reduced due to turning moment induced when P moves aft of W
• Send stern line as soon as practicable, request mooring boat if
available. Wind

Stage 1
• Approach the berth at a steeper angle to reduce
windage
• Minimum steerageway
 Stbd Side To – Onshore Wind
Stage 3
•Engines astern to stop the ship. Effect of transverse thrust may be
more noticeable due to turning moment induced when P moves aft
of W.
•Veer port anchor, allow vessel to drift on to berth
•Send forward spring to allow engine to be worked for final
positioning.

•Use engines astern to reduce swing of the stern towards the berth

Stage 2
• Let go port anchor when one ships length off berth.
•Send stern line ashore as soon as practicable

Stage 1
• Approach berth at a steep angle with bow aimed at
the centre of the berth Wind
• Pivot point will tend to swing bow into wind
 Unberthing Starboard Side To

Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3

• Single up to a forward • Hard Stbd rudder and • Come astern on the engine letting go the
spring then kick ahead on the spring as the weight comes off.
engine
•The spring must be tight •Transverse thrust will cant the bow back
before the engine is • Continue this until towards the berth
engaged. This can be stern has swung out
achieved by heaving up from the berth • Use Stbd rudder when sternway is achieved to
on a head line. counter transverse thrust.
•Rudder amidships
 Effect of Current
Cur
ren Stemming the current:
t

• Good control due to braking effect

• Tighter turning circle due to current pushing back on vessel.

Considerations :
• Account for downstream drift
• Consider water flow past rudder
• ALWAYS stem the current when berthing
Cur • Ships at anchor will tend lie to the current
ren
t

Current Astern:
• Less control as reduced flow of water past the rudder
• Larger turning circle due to current pushing down on vessel.
Berthing with current
Pojnts to consider :
• Current will act as a brake

•Direct vessel ahead of the berth

• Keep bow heading towards berth. This allows current to bodily move
Current hull down on the berth

• Rudder will still have flow over it when stopped

• Send headline and aft spring to hold vessel in position.

Berthing with current astern should not be

attempted. The vessel should be turned to stem the
current
• The current wedge will always be acting on the length of the
ships hull due to the approach angle
• The current may cancel out the flow of water over the rudder at
low speeds
• Engine would need to be used astern frequently to control
headway
 Unberthing with current from ahead
Current

Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3

• Single up to a headline • The current will now • Let go the spring as the weight comes off.
and aft spring move the stern away
from the berth • Stop engine until spring is clear.
•Slack the head line
allowing the current • Let go the head line • Move ahead and clear the berth
wedge to enter between
the bow and the dock. • Ahead on the engine
 Unberthing with current from astern

Current

Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3

• Single up to a stern line • The stern will move off • Let go the spring as the weight comes off.
and aft spring the berth as the current
comes contacts it • Engines ahead and rudder away from the
•Slack the stern line berth to counter any transverse thrust
allowing the current • Let go the stern line experienced when coming astern
wedge to enter between
the stern and the dock. • Astern on engine • Move ahead and clear the berth
Baltic Moor
Pojnts to consider :
•Stern wire “on the bight” passed forward and
Wind
secured by shackle on the short length of anchor
cable between the anchor crown ‘D’ shackle and the
first joining shackle of the cable (Ganger length)
• Approach berth with wind on the beam, parallel to
the quay and with anchor walked out

•When bow is in line with the middle of the berth let

go the offshore anchor and pay out stern line

• Vessel will be set down by wind. Use Engine to

adjust position as necessary

The aim is to berth the vessel just clear of the dock

Used in berths with a prevalent onshore wind
 Mediterranean Moor
Pojnts to consider :
•Approach parallel to the berth with the berth
on your port side
•Let go the offshore anchor whilst maintaining
headway. Continue paying out the anchor as
vessel moves ahead
•Hard over rudder away from the berth.
• Check offshore anchor to induce turning
lever and astern on the engine.
•Let go second anchor
•Pay out second anchor and heave on offshore
anchor as required.

The aim is to berth the vessel with

the stern to the dock with both
anchors deployed.
Mooring to buoys – No wind / tide
Points to consider :
• Approach buoy on the starboard bow
• Engines astern to stop vessel
• Transverse thrust keeps buoy on Stbd bow
• Once secure forward use engines / rudder to
work into position
• Secure stern lines
Mooring to buoys – Wind / current ahead
Points to consider :

Wind
• Stem the wind / tide (If from astern turn
vessel short round)
• Bring the port bow abeam of the buoy
• Adjust main engine to stop the vessel over
the ground. Transverse thrust will assist with
hold bow into current
• Once head line is secured stop engine and
allow vessel to drift back in a controlled
manner.
• Secure stern lines