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HELM ORDER THE TITANIC'S BY MICHAEL PIGNÉGUY M y father, who went to sea in 1927, was an apprentice y father, who went to sea in 1927, was an apprentice deck officer on an old steam tramp ship that was jobs were becoming harder to get. jobs were becoming harder to get. As a result, some employers were not overly generous in how they treated their staff, as there were plenty more lining up on the wharf for jobs. Men with certificates were taking jobs as ordinary seamen, just to have a bed and food. So times were tough. Many shipowners paid scant attention to a hard job keeping the cockroaches out of it! If he wanted fresh water he had to ask the captain for the key the upkeep of their ships and crews. My father had to provide his the upkeep of their ships and crews. My father had to provide his own eating utensils and crockery, and the food was miserable, with mostly on a run between England and South America. The Depression years were fast approaching and As a result, some employers deck officer on an old steam tramp ship that was mostly on a run between England and South America. The Depression years were fast approaching and were not overly generous in how they treated their staff, as there were plenty more lining up on the wharf for jobs. Men with Mastert Mas er's certificates were taking jobs as ordinary seamen, just to have a bed and food. So times were tough. Many shipowners paid scant attention to own eating utensils and crockery, and the food was miserable, with one small can of condensed milk having to last three weeks. It was one small can of condensed milk having to last three weeks. It was a hard job keeping the cockroaches out of it! If he wanted fresh water he had to ask the captain for the key to the water pump, and he would watch while my father pumped to the water pump, and he would watch while my father pumped water into his container. He had to wash his cutlery and dishes in was being used for soaking utensils. Watches were four hours on and four off, and sleeping, eating and extra duties had to be performed in his oft f-watch.t There wasn't atches were four hours on and four off, and sleeping, eating and ex ra duties had to be performed in his off-wa ch. There wasn' much teaching or studying done as there just wasn't time. If my water into his container. He had to wash his cutlery and dishes in a bucket, and this worked fairly well until some "helpful" person a bucket, and this worked fairly well until some "helpful" person emptied the bucket of dirty water over the side, without realising it much teaching or studying done as there just wasn't time. If my Dad wasn't chipping away at rust, his on-watch duties mainly Dad wasn't chipping away at rust, his on-watch duties mainly consisted of steering the ship, and he was the preferred mud pilot consisted of steering the ship, and he was the preferred mud pilot for taking her up long rivers like the River Plate. This was in the was steering with a tiller, even though a wheel was being used. If the pilot wanted the ship to turn to port he would give the order: "Starboard your helm!" and the helmsman would then turn for taking her up long rivers like the River Plate. This was in the days when helm orders were still given as though the helmsman order: "Starboard your helm!" and the helmsman would then turn the wheel to starboard. Helm orders like this were given on British the wheel to starboard. Helm orders like this were given on British ships until 1934. ships until 1934. Steering ships by means of a wheel was introduced around 1703, and as steering by tiller was continued, it was thought prudent, so o avoid confusion, the wheel mechanism be made to simulate the movement of the tillert Helm orders for both steering arrangements remained the same until well after the Firstt un il well after the First Wor d o starboard to make the bow turn to port! Steering ships by means of a wheel was introduced around 1703, and as steering by tiller was continued, it was thought prudent, so t to avoid confusion, the wheel mechanism be made to simulate the movemen of the tiller. Helm orders for both steering arrangements remained the same orldl War, bu confusion started to creep but confusion started to creept i in. For instance, when a pilot gave the order "Starboard" to the he wheel to port, or just to starboard his helm and turn the wheel If the helmsman was navigating in heavy traf tIf he helmsman was navigating in heavy traff c or a narrow river,fic or a narrow riveri In the 1920s, a number of maritime nations began having their n. For instance, when a pilot gave the order "Starboard" to the helmsman, did he mean make the ship turn to starboard by turningl he msman, did he mean make the ship turn to starboard by turning t the wheel to port, or just to starboard his helm and turn the wheel tto starboard to make the bow turn to port! taking the order the wrong way could be quite character taking the order the wrong way could be quite character-forming.-forming. In the 1920s, a number of maritime nations began having their ships alter their steering mechanism so the direction of movement of the wheel coincided with that of the rudder, and the resulting movement of the bowt This meant that an ofi which the wheel should be turned, as he had done before, but now the bow would also turn in that direction. It' the bow would also turn in that direction. It's just as well they gots just as well they got that sorted out before the advent of autopilots! that sorted out before the advent of autopilots! In the 1997 film order and response. The mast lookouts saw ice and correctly reported it by ringing three strokes on the bell. This indicated ships alter their steering mechanism so the direction of movement of the wheel coincided with that of the rudder, and the resulting movemen of the bow. Th s meant that an off cer of the watch, or OOW, would now give a helm order indicating the direction in ficer of the watch, ori OOW, would now give a helm order indicating the direction in which the wheel should be turned, as he had done before, but now In the 1997 film Titanic there was a glaring mistake in the helmitanic there was a glaring mistake in the helm order and response. The mast lookouts saw ice and correctly reported it by ringing three strokes on the bell. This indicated Hichens, actually turned the wheel to port, and he also didn'i H chens, actually turned the wheel to port, and he also didn't repeat the OOW's order, something that was commonplace, if not repeat the OOW's order, something that was commonplace, if not mandatory, for all helmsmen. Interestingly, Hichens denied there was a command to turn to starboard when asked that question at the of the official inquiry.ficial inquiry The The Titanic responded to the wheel-to-port movement by theitanic responded to the wheel-to-port movement by the bow turning to port, something that did not start occurring on most steering mechanism was arranged, and thus how helm orders should have been given. orders should have been given. After reading some inquiry notes, I gained the impression that her steering gear system was set up to respond to orders given for On my fa her's 1927 sh p, directly in front of the helmsman, on bow turning to port, something that did not start occurring on most British ships until after 1933. There are conflicting views on how itanic's steering mechanism was arranged, and thus how helm British ships until after 1933. There are conflicting views on how the the Titanic After reading some inquiry notes, I gained the impression that her steering gear system was set up to respond to orders given for directions to be applied to a tilleri d rections to be applied to a tiller. On my fathert mandatory, for all helmsmen. Interestingly, Hichens denied there was a command to turn to starboard when asked that question at days when helm orders were still given as though the helmsman was steering with a tiller, even though a wheel was being used. If the pilot wanted the ship to turn to port he would give the emptied the bucket of dirty water over the side, without realising it was being used for soaking utensils. something was dead ahead. (One bell ring meant something seen After the Titanic OOW illiam Murdoch, saw the iceberg, itanic's OOW, William Murdoch, saw the iceberg, he rushed into the wheelhouse, ordered the helmsman, "Hard something was dead ahead. (One bell ring meant something seen to starboard and two bell rings something to port). to starboard and two bell rings something to port). After the he rushed into the wheelhouse, ordered the helmsman, "Hard a'starboard!" and rang the engineroom telegraph from full ahead a'starboard!" and rang the engineroom telegraph from full ahead to full astern. to full astern. It's highly unlikely the action in the engineroom happened as an option on the telegraph. Having the engines on standby ensured there was sufficient engineroom staff on duty to handle any emergency I digress. Murdoch's helm order was correct for the time. By giving the Murdoch's helm order was correct for the time. By giving the order "Hard a'starboard!" he wanted the ship to turn to port. It was was applied to turn the It's highly unlikely the action in the engineroom happened as quickly as depicted because the engineroom was not on standbyi qu ckly as depicted because the engineroom was not on standby, an option on the telegraph. Having the engines on standby ensured there was sufficient engineroom staff on duty to handle any emergency. Wiith the engines in full ahead mode there wouldth the engines in full ahead mode there would normally be only enough staff to maintain normal operations. But normally be only enough staff to maintain normal operations. But I digress. order "Hard a'starboard!" he wanted the ship to turn to port. It was 1912, and helm orders were still given to indicate which way the 1912, and helm orders were still given to indicate which way the tiller attached to the rudder was to be turned. tiller attached to the rudder was to be turned. He wanted the tiller turned to starboard so that port rudder itanic to port, thus making the iceberg to port, thus making the iceber He wanted the tiller turned to starboard so that port rudder was applied to turn the Titanic pass down the ship's starboard side. All this actually happened. The only problem was the helmsman, Quartermaster Robert pass down the ship's starboard side. All this actually happened. The only problem was the helmsman, Quartermaster Robert 1927 ship, directly in front of the helmsman, oni top of the steering column head, was a round brass plate marked top of the steering column head, was a round brass plate marked in degrees to indicate the angle of the rudder from the fore and aft in degrees to indicate the angle of the rudder from the fore and aft line. On its right-hand side was engraved the word "port" and on line. On its right-hand side was engraved the word "port" and on the left was "starboard". the left was "starboard". So when my father was told to, "Port your helm" he would turn So when my father was told to, "Port your helm" he would turn the wheel to his right (clockwise). the wheel to his right (clockwise). This would apply a port thrust This would apply a port thrust on the tiller, which would then put the rudder to starboard and make Thank goodness I didn't have to steer ships with that system! January/February 2012 Professional Skipper 61 on the tiller, which would then put the rudder to starboard and make the bow turn to starboard. the bow turn to starboard. Thank goodness I didn't have to steer ships with that system!