Seamanship

There are a number of effects to be considered when handling a ship at

sea or in narrow waters. These include the axial thrust and the transverse
thrust of the propeller, the effect of the rudder on the water and the effects of
the wind and tide.
The effects of the propeller and rudder can be controlled. The effects of
the wind and tide cannot, but their forces can be used.
The axial thrust of the propeller is the force working in a fore and aft
direction. This force causes the ship to move ahead through the water or to
go astern. Because of her shape, a ship will move ahead through the water
more easily than going astern.
The transverse thrust is the sideways force of the propeller as it
rotates. The transverse effect of the propeller blades at the top near the
surface of the water is not strong enough to counteract the opposite effect of
the lower blades.
Lower blades exert more sideways thrust than upper blades. For righthanded propellers this cants the ship's stern to starboard and her bow to
port, when the ship is going ahead.
The effect is small and can be corrected by the rudder. When the
engines are put astern, the effect is the opposite and the stern cants to port.
This effect is stronger and cannot easily be corrected. Vessels with lefthanded propellers behave in the opposite way.
The rudder depends for its effect on the deflection of a stream of
water. The stream is produced by the ship's movement through the water and
by the axial flow of water from he propeller. When the rudder is put to
starboard, the stream of water is deflected to starboard. This cants the stern
to port and the ship's head turns to starboard.
When the rudder is put to port the effect is the opposite. When the
engine is put astern the effect of the rudder is unpredictable.
The effect of the wind hitting a ship sideways on depends on the area
presented to the wind before or aft of her pivoting point. Ships with their
main superstructure amidships will turn away from the wind. Ships with the
main superstructure aft, such as tankers, will turn towards the wind.
A beam wind will also cause a ship to make leeway. That is, she will be
blown sideways off her course away from the wind as she moves forward
through the water.
Current and tide also affect a ship. The current will carry the ship with
it, or slow it down when the ship is traveling against the current. The tide will
lift the ship and lower it. It will also carry it in its direction and cause the ship
to turn when anchored or moored.
GRAMMAR Articles

The, zero article with geographical names

Study the lists below of when and when not to use the definite article (the)
with geographical names and terms:
Generally the is not used with names of

Continents: Asia, Europe, South America (except: The Arctic, The Antarctic)
Countries:
Greece, Kuwait (exceptions include: The Netherlands, The
Lebanon)
Islands : When thought of as one island: Japan, Cuba, Hawaii
Cities: Alexandria, Ankara, New York, London

Towns : Dover, Brighton, Calais (except: The Hague)

Mountains: Mount Everest, Mont Blanc, Ben Nevis (exceptions include: The
Jungfrau, The Tiger)

Lakes: Lake Michigan, Lake Como, Loch Ness

Bays: Raleigh Bay, Galway Bay (except when: The Bay of...)
Generally the is used with the names of

Countries when abbreviated: the USA, the USSR, the UAE, the UK

Areas of countries: the North East; of cities: the West End

Deserts when large: the Sahara, the Kalahari

Groups of islands: The Philippines, The Canaries

Ranges of mountains: The Alps, the Himalayas, the Rockies

Oceans/seas: The Pacific, the Atlantic, the Mediterranean Sea

Channels/straits: The English Channel, the Straits of Gibraltar

Gulfs: The Persian Gulf/the Arabian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman

Estuaries: The Amazon Estuary, the Nile Delta

Currents: The Agulhas Current, the North Atlantic Drift

Rivers/canals: The Nile, the Euphrates, the Suez Canal

Write a short description of your own country

Time relaters

After, when, while, on, during, until

Here are some more ways of introducing time clauses.

1. When one event immediately follows another when can be used instead of
after e.g. After a ship arrives in port, port officials go aboard. When a ship
arrives in port, port officials go aboard.

2. When the subject is the same in both clauses when can often be rewritten
with
on + noun/-ing

e.g. When the customs men arrive on board, they go to the Captain's cabin.
=> On arriving on board, the customs men go to the Captain's cabin.

e.g. When the cargo was unloaded, it was put into the warehouse. On being
unloaded, the cargo was put into the warehouse.

3. When one event happens at the same time as another, when/while can
sometimes
be replaced by du ring + noun

e.g. While a ship is being launched, tugs stand by ready to help. During the
launching of a ship, tugs stand by ready to help.

4. When we want to show the limit of an action, we use until

e.g. The Chief Officer stayed on watch until 0800. If we are referring to the
time the action began, we must put the verb in the main clause in the
negative.

e.g. The Chief Officer did not go on watch until 0400.

Exercise
1.
Rewrite the following sentences using the words in brackets.

After a ship is completed, she undergoes speed trials. (When)

While a ship is being constructed, she is continually being examined. (During)

He went to sea when he was eighteen years old. (Until)

After the passengers arrive on board, they are shown to their cabins. (On)

While a cadet is being trained, he is paid by his company. (During)

The passengers went below when the sun went in. (Until)

When the hull was inspected, it was found to be damaged. (On)

When a vessel undergoes speed trials, her maximum speed is measured.

(During)

The pilot disembarked when the ship was clear of the harbour. (Until)