"Right rudder," which is an order for the wheel to be turned to the right, so that the rudder and the head of the vessel go to the right.
"Left rudder," which is an order for the wheel to be turned to the left, so that the rudder and the head of the vessel go to the left.
Rudder indicators must be consistent with orders.
It must be remembered that captains and pilots are individuals and no two will express their commands in the same manner, there being no standard steering orders for the merchant service. Most of them will use short, terms such as: half right; left a bit; easy; ease her, etc. In any case they will all have their very meaning, and if not understood by the helmsman he must ask to have them repeated.
These are just standard steering orders.
The first part of the command used in giving orders to a steersman designates the direction of movement, right or left. This enables the man at the wheel to start putting on rudder before the second part of the command, stating the amount to be used, is given.
Commands:
Right (left) full rudder.
Right (left) standard rudder - Right (left) standard half rudder.
Full rudder commonly is 30-degree rudder, the full 35 degree rudder usually being used only in emergencies. When the rudder is thrown full or hard be careful not to jam it against the stops. Standard rudder and standard half rudder vary on different ships.
Right (left), 3, 5, 10, etc. degrees of rudder. This indicates the angle in degrees which the rudder is to be offset.
Right (left), handsomely"Handsomely" is defined as "carefully." It is used in orders to the steersman when only a very slight change of course is desired.
Give her more rudder - Increase the rudder angle already on.
This order is sometimes given when it is desired to turn the ship more rapidly, in the direction she is already turning.
Ease the rudder - Decrease the rudder angle which is on. This order may be given, Ease to 15, 10, 5, etc.
Rudder amidships - Place the rudder on the center line.
Meet her - Check but do not stop the swing, this is done by putting the rudder in the opposite direction. This order is usually used when it is desired to keep the ship from swinging past her new course.
Steady, Steady so, Steady as you go - Steer the course you are on, if the ship is swinging, the course should be noted at the time the order is given and the ship steadied on that course.
Shift the rudder - Change from right to left rudder. This order is usually given when a ship loses her headway and commences to gather sternway, if it is desired to keep her turning in the same direction.
Mind your rudder - Steer more carefully or stand by for an order to the wheel.
Mind your right (left) rudder - Use more right (left) rudder -from time to time. This order is used when the ship shows a marked tendency to get off her course more to one side than to the other.
Nothing to the right (left) - Do not steer anything to the right (left) of the ordered course. This is given when the course to be made good is a shade to one side of that set.
Keep her so - Steer the course which you have just reported; given, following a request for the course.
Very well - The situation is understood; used in reply to a report made by the steersman.
In order that the watch officer may know that his orders have been correctly received, steersmen must always repeat, word for word, any command received. In addition, as soon as the command has been executed, he reports the fact to the conn, as Rudder is right full, Steady on course 234 etc.
