Lesson 2. On the Bridge

ON THE BRIDGE

If the ship is at sea sailors keeps watch on the navigating bridge. Usually there is the following navigational equipment on the bridge: a radar, a GPS receiver, a VHF, gyro and magnetic compasses, a course recorder, an echo sounder, a log. Also one can find many binoculars and a sextant on the bridge. There is a satellite station on the bridge too. 

During the watch a seaman stands at the helm. If necessary he turns the helm to port or to starboard. He steers a steady course. He executes the wheel orders of the Master or the officer of the watch. If necessary a seaman takes bearings of landmarks. He also hoists flags or shapes in the day time and switches on the lights at night. A seama must also look out for dangers.

The ship is under way. A seaman is on the bridge. He is keeping watch. I is standing at the helm. I is steering the ship. The ship is steady on course 230 degrees. He is keeping the course. The Master is standing near him. The officer of the watch is standing at the radar. The seaman is looking ahead. There is an on-coming vessel on my starboard. The Master is looking at her through the binoculars.

I. Read the text. Speak about the navigational equipment of your ship and one of your navigational watches using the information from the text.

II. Learn the dialogues by heart.

DIALOGUE A 

Watchman:	186  on the gyrocompass, 188 on the magnetic compass. The auto-pilot is working.
Officer of the watch:	Fine. Take bearing of the ship on the starboard.
Watchman:	The bearing is 250 degrees. It is increasing slowly.
Officer of the watch:	O.K. Watch it closely.

DIALOGUE B

The officer of the watch:	Port, steer one nine two.
Watchman:	Port steer one nine two...
(later)	Steady on one nine two.
The officer of the watch:	O. K. Steady so!
(later)	Steer on buoy № 1.
Watchman:	Steer on buoy № 1.
(later)	Steady on buoy № 1.
The officer of the watch:	Change over from manual to automatic control.
Watchman:	The auto-pilot is keeping, the course well.
The officer of the watch:	Finished with the wheel. Keep looking ahead.
Watchman:	Clear water ahead.
The officer of the watch:	O. K.