Steering Gear and Automatic Pilot Steering Procedures

Officers should ensure that the test and checks of the steering gear should include :

The full rudder movement.

a visual inspection of the steering gear and its connecting linkage.

The communication between the navigating bridge and the steering gear compartment.

Simple operating instructions, which include a block diagram showing the changeover procedures, for the steering gear control systems and power units must be permanently displayed on the navigating bridge and in the steering gear compartment.

The details of routine check and emergency steering gear drills must be recorded in the official log book.