Seamanship

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Cadets learn to tie knots

Under seamanship means the skills that a sailor on the practical handling of a watercraft control needs. The demands on a seaman, and especially on the responsible skipper, are very diverse. They vary depending on the type of ship, the sailing area , the weather and sea ​​conditions , skills and number of crew and between commercial shipping and recreational shipping .

The tasks for the skipper of a recreational yacht are not necessarily easier than those of the captain of an ocean liner. The former has the much smaller ship, but often cannot count on a well-rehearsed and competent crew to help him with problems. The skipper must be able to cope with the demands physically and mentally, because he is responsible for the ship, crew and passengers.

In order to obtain a skipper's license, knowledge of various of the abilities listed here is required, depending on the area to be acquired (inland lakes, coastal waters, high seas).

The ship and its equipment

At the beginning of good seamanship there is knowledge of your own ship, the technical terms for its parts and for the equipment. The efficient operation of a ship requires that every member of the crew is familiar with these terms in order to be able to command the correct actions with concise instructions and to avoid misunderstandings. Knowledge of the components and the equipment is also important because a ship covers long distances alone and cannot be called for help without further assistance in the event of technical defects. Emergency repairs such as sealing a leak or repairing the machine must be able to be carried out by the crew.

The knowledge and skills in handling, handling and repair of ropes, mooring lines and other lines is based on the most important tool of Taklers " Marlinspike called -Seemannschaft".

Knowledge of the ship includes the properties of the hull . These are determined by its shape, its dimensions and its building materials. The properties that influence maneuverability are particularly important: the length and width of the ship determine the possible berths and its maximum speed; the draft is important for safe navigation near the coast. A sailing ship has a keel or a sword that influences course stability and also counteracts heeling .

The rudder system and the deck equipment as well as the rigging for sailing ships are important . On commercial ships there are installations with which the cargo to be transported can be taken on board, secured for the journey and then deleted . In the steering position - also called cockpit or cockpit on yachts - there is a wheel or tiller for steering the ship.

The state under whose flag a ship sails determines the safety equipment that a ship of a certain size must carry and keep ready for use. The skipper is responsible for ensuring that life rafts , life belts , signal rockets , fire extinguishers and the like are ready for use. According to the rules of good seamanship (see below), the skipper must insist that life jackets or life belts are also worn in certain weather conditions.

Maneuvering

Illustration of throwing the lines when mooring ( Seaman's Pocket-Book , 1943)
Emergency drill aboard the USS Blue Ridge

Good seamanship includes being able to maneuver the ship safely and precisely. The important maneuvers include casting off, mooring and anchoring. In sailing ships, these maneuvers must be able to be carried out safely under the engine and under sails, in addition to the various pure sailing maneuvers such as reefing , turning and jibing . Finally, maneuvering also includes distress maneuvers, including in particular the various man overboard maneuvers , which can also be divided into different categories, depending on the size of the ship, the current type of propulsion and course to the wind . Of course, the skipper must be familiar with the rules for preventing collisions . These are the central traffic rules at sea and contain, for example, the various distress signs that a damaged ship can give.

Nautical knowledge and skills

Navigation exercise on the simulator

The main task of the skipper is navigation , that is, guiding the ship safely to the desired destination. By satellite navigation and electronic charts, this task was indeed greatly simplified in recent years, may still need a skipper with the traditional paper card deal and be able to pre-position determination without electronic aids. To obtain permits for skippers , navigation with a paper map is an essential part of the training, especially for those permits that entitle them to travel at sea . The celestial navigation via sextant has become less important, but still partially tested. In addition to determining the position, planning the trip is also the task of the navigator so that shallows or other dangers are safely avoided.

Knowledge of a few knots is essential for the safe mooring of boats and, in the case of sailing ships, for operation . It can also be helpful to master the splicing of lines.

To operate a marine radio system (not mandatory on all ships) a corresponding radio operating certificate must be obtained.

medicine

A ship can be alone at sea for days or even weeks. In the event of an accident and someone injured or sick on board, it can take a long time before help arrives or a port can be called. It is therefore essential that someone on board is familiar with first aid and that suitable bandages and medication are on board.

Meteorology

The weather plays a crucial role in seafaring. Storms continue to pose a threat to crew and cargo that should not be underestimated, even for large ships. On the other hand, a trip with a sailing ship requires wind. It is therefore the responsibility of the ship's command to obtain permanent weather forecasts as well as to make their own weather observations and thus to assess the weather development. In this way, a danger can be prevented in good time, for example by calling at a port, looking for an alternative route or preparing the ship for severe weather (secure cargo particularly well, set smaller sails, etc.).

Nautical etiquette

The Finn marks the flag as Norwegian mail boat at the stern

At sea and in ports there are some rules of conduct that many water sports enthusiasts traditionally adhere to. One of these customs is to have the national flag of the boat / ship hoisted at the stern during the day and to show the flag of the host country, i.e. the country in which one is currently staying, under the starboard or on the superstructure of a motor ship (see flag management ). Having fenders hanging outboard while sailing is frowned upon, especially by many sailors.

further skills

In addition to the above-mentioned knowledge, there are a few more that are required on board a ship. The captain or skipper has to lead his team and know their strengths and weaknesses. His personality is decisive for the mood and the well-being of the crew on the ship. In commercial shipping, he is also responsible for compliance with labor law .

Proper and adequate nutrition also contributes to the well-being of the crew . The days of scurvy are over, but it is still not an easy task to load a yacht with provisions for a long sea voyage. Crossing the Atlantic in a sailing boat takes three to four weeks, on the Pacific the next shopping opportunity can be a hundred days away if you take your time in the South Sea dream area.

Professional seafarers are trained in cargo service, and navigators must also master the stability calculations for the various load and ballast states of the ship.

Rules of good seamanship

"Rules of good seamanship" is a legal term and is used in court proceedings to assess responsible behavior, taking into account common practice to avoid damage and dangers. It mostly refers to the collision avoidance rules . There is talk of "precautionary measures that require general nautical practice or special circumstances of the case." This refers to precautionary measures that go beyond the legally prescribed rules, such as wearing a life jacket and life belt in heavy seas or forward travel planning (in in recreational shipping, also called trip planning ), which also plans possible weather changes . Although these terms are only defined by case studies from practice, they almost have the character of a law when decisions are made by maritime offices . In addition to common sense, safety recommendations such as the brochure “Safety in the Sea and Coastal Areas” from the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (now replaced by the brochure “Safety on the Water - Important Rules ”) play a role in assessing “rules of good seamanship” and tips for water sports enthusiasts "published by the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure ). Classic codes of conduct in emergencies, such as “ Women and children first! "And" The captain is the last to disembark, "count towards this.

See also

Portal: Shipping  - Overview of Wikipedia content on the topic of shipping

literature

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