MT-4132
Advanced Seamanship
Course Description
Operating a vessel safely and efficiently under all weather conditions requires a skill set for operating and maintaining a vessel and a knowledge of a vessel’s fittings and equipment. Under the supervision of experienced master mariners, students in this program develop seamanship skills through hands-on experience and learn critical thinking and problem-solving skills through the use of case studies of marine casualty investigations. This capstone course provides the new deck officer with a strong foundation in the fundamentals of traditional seamanship and exposes the individual to best practices in the ever-evolving shipboard technologies and operations necessary to compete in the global marine industry. Topics include search and rescue, damage control, marine salvage, tug and towing fundamentals, ice navigation, anchoring/mooring, ship/helicopter operations, and advanced ship handling techniques. An intensive, hands-on seamanship lab program complements the classroom experience. [Lab time required]
This course consists of three 1-hour lectures and one 2-hour lab per week for a semester with a comprehensive final examination.
Learning Objectives
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the following STCW elements:
- OICNW-A5.2 Initial action to be taken following a collision or a grounding
- OICNW-A5.2 Initial damage assessment and control
- OICNW-A5.3 Appreciation of the procedures to be followed for rescuing persons from the sea
- OICNW-A6.1 Knowledge of the contents of the International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue (IAMSAR) Manual
- OICNW-A9.1 the effects of deadweight, draught, trim, speed and under-keel clearance on turning circles and stopping distances
- OICNW-A9.1 the effects of wind and current on ship handling
- OICNW-A9.1 manoeuvres and procedures for the rescue of person overboard
- OICNW-A9.1 squat, shallow-water and similar effects
- OICNW-A9.1 proper procedures for anchoring and mooring
- OICNW-A5.3 Appreciation of the procedures to be followed for assisting a ship in distress
Topics
Lecture
- Ground Tackle
- Anchor Design and Use S
- Anchor Kinematics
- Chain Design
- Anchor Machinery & Associated fittings
- Anchoring and Mooring
- Scope of Chain & Calculations
- Holding Power
- Anchoring Procedure and Safety Measures
- Riding to Single Anchor
- Radius of Swing
- Dredging of Anchor
- Mooring with Two Anchors
- Open Moor, Running Moor, Standing Moor, Mediterranean Moor
- Mooring to Buoy
- Single Offshore or Mooring Buoy, Two Buoy Mooring, Multiple Buoy Offshore Terminal
- Anchor Watch
- Ship Maneuvering, Controllable Effects
- Horsepower to Displacement Ratio
- Propellers: Number, Type
- Rudders: Forces and Resultant Forces on Rudder
- Speed by Revolution Calculations
- Maneuvering Devices: Thrusters and Auxiliary Propulsion Units
- Ship Maneuvering, Uncontrollable Effects
- Hydrodynamic Forces & Interaction
- Interaction Situations
- Passing Ship Effects
- Ship Squat & Calculations
- Bank Effects
- Current
- Aerodynamic Interactions (Wind)
- Hydrodynamic Forces & Interaction
- Ship Maneuvering
- Drift Angle
- Pivot Point
- Maneuvering Characteristics (speed, turning)
- Requirements for & Limitations of Displayed Maneuvering Information
- Man Overboard Techniques
- Deceleration & Stopping Maneuvers
- Instruments to Assist in Judging Motion
- Docking & Undocking Procedures
- Mooring Line Patterns
- Characteristics of Mooring Line Material, Construction, Size & Elasticity
- Attributes of Mooring Line
- Bights & 3 Part Leads
- Communications & Line Handling Commands
- Deck Winch Machinery
- Lead Angles
- Safety & Operations while Docking / Undocking
- Mooring Line Inspections
- Tugs & Towing
- Tug Function & Design
- Ship Assist Practice
- Towing ñ Sheltered & Open Ocean
- Emergency Towing
- Tow Packages
- Tug & Towing Safety Considerations
- Heavy Weather Maneuvering & Damage Control
- Waves & Swells
- Dangers of Heavy Seas & Swells
- Heading & Speed Changes
- Broaching & Speed Changes
- Synchronous Rolling
- Loss of Power
- Controlled Drifting
- Fractures, Cracks & Holes
- Stranding & Salvage Operations
- Actions Taken Immediately after Stranding
- Precautions Against Broaching, Pounding & Further Grounding
- Methods of Re-floating
- Stranding calculations
- Ice Seamanship
- Types of floating Ice
- Ice Identification
- Risk of Ice Passage
- Anchoring & Towing in Ice
- Mooring in Ice
- Ice Accretion & Vessel Stability
- Freeing a Vessel Beset while Operating Independently
- Freeing a Vessel Beset with Ice Breaker Escort
- Helicopter Operations
- Vessel Responsibilities & Preparations
- Personnel Safely & Dangers
- Personnel Approaching a Helicopter
- Helicopter Operating Conditions
- Maneuvering your Vessel
- Shipboard Hoisting & Landing
- Pilot use of Helicopters
- Search & Rescue Operations
- Source of SAR Information & AMVER
- SAR Planning
- On Scene Coordination
- Search Patterns
- Terminating the Search
Laboratory
- Motor Whale Boat Start-Up and Familiarization
- Monomoy Boat handling
- Marlinspike Seamanship 1
- Splicing 8-Strand Mooring Line
- Manned Models Operation at Herring Pond
- Open Water Survival
- Motor Whale Boat Dock/Undock Practice
- MOB Recovery Drills & Uncontrollable Forces
- Marlinspike Seamanship 2
- Motor Whale Boats
- Towing Alongside
Other objectives
The student will be able to:
- explain the function and limitations of each component of ground tackle.
- describe the different types of moorings and explain the correct application of each mooring technique.
- calculate optimal length of chain for the prevailing geographic and environmental conditions.
- compute the maximum radius of swing.
- explain the application of controllable forces in shiphandling including: propeller forces, rudder forces, thrusters, auxiliary propulsion units, lines, tugs and ground tackle.
- contrast the advantages and disadvantages of different types of marine propulsion systems.
- demonstrate fundamental shiphandling techniques through the operation of the academy’s small crafts and manned models.
- compute propeller slip and speed by revolution.
- discuss the effects of uncontrollable forces in shiphandling including: hydrodynamic interaction, current, and wind.
- describe the effects of speed, drift angle and pivot point on the maneuvering characteristics of a vessel in both deep and shallow water.
- calculate squat and the maximum transit speed to insure a minimum under keel clearance.
- describe the different attributes of mooring lines based on their respective material, construction, size and length.
- explain the application of different mooring patterns.
- calculate mooring line stress. Gaining hands on experience,
- demonstrate the safe methods of handling mooring lines under heavy loads.
- explain the advantages and disadvantages of different modes of towing. Through hands on operations,
- demonstrate the advantages and disadvantages of maneuvering a tow made up alongside and maneuvering a tow pushed ahead.
- list the actions to be taken immediately after grounding and explain the different methods to refloat a vessel.
- execute basic stranding calculations critical to the early stages of a successful salvage.
- explain the fundamentals of ice seamanship including: types of ice, risks of ice passage, and operating with and without icebreaker assistance.
- identify the hazards inherent in marine helicopter operations and list controls to reduce the risk to personnel.
- list the phases of a search and rescue operation from awareness to mission conclusion.
- discuss the roll of a merchant ship in a coordinated SAR mission.
- based on given parameters, identify the optimal type of search pattern to employ.