Steering gear: testing and drills
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- Within 12 hours before departure, the ship’s steering gear shall be checked and tested by the ship’s crew.
- All ships’ officers concerned with the operation and/or maintenance of steering gear shall be familiar with the operation of the steering systems fitted on the ship and with the procedures for changing from one system to another.
- In addition to the routine checks and tests prescribed, emergency steering drills shall take place at least once every three months in order to practise emergency steering procedures. These drills shall include direct control within the steering gear compartment, the communications procedure with the navigation bridge and, where applicable, the operation of alternative power supplies.
- In addition to the routine checks and tests prescribed in paragraphs, emergency steering drills shall take place at least once every three months in order to practise emergency steering procedures. These drills shall include direct control within the steering gear compartment, the communications procedure with the navigation bridge and, where applicable, the operation of alternative power supplies
The Administration may waive the requirements to carry out the checks and tests prescribed, for ships that regularly engage on voyages of short duration. Such ships shall carry out these checks and tests at least once every week.
