Steering control of the ship will comprise manual steering, probably supplemented by an automatic pilot (autopilot) or other track control system.
In areas of high traffic density, in conditions of restricted visibility and in all other potentially hazardous situations a helmsman should be available on the bridge, ready at all times to take over steering control immediately.
When steering the ship under autopilot, it is highly dangerous to allow a situation to develop to a point where the OOW is without assistance and has to break the continuity of the look-out in order to take emergency action and engage manual steering.
Changing between automatic and manual steering should always be made in good time under the supervision of the OOw. Manual steering should be tested after prolonged use of the autopilot (see annex A7).
Use of override controls
Manual steering override controls can be used on those occasions when the autopilot is engaged and the OOW needs to take immediate and direct control of the steering.
Override controls typically have a non follow-up type of operation and are likely to differ from the main steering control position where follow-up control is usual.
The OOW needs to be familiar with the operation of the steering control systems on the bridge, as well as the method of control at the emergency steering position.
