Seamanship Flashcards
What are the Standard Line Components?
Tattle-tales indicate the safe working load of a line. The only line on board with a tattle tale is the 100 fathom Towing Hawser.
Messenger- A 12 to 14 foot smaller line attached to a larger line for ease of handling purposes.
What are Inherently Buoyant Heaving Lines?
Used to send lines from the ship to the pier. Notice the heaving line is attached to the eye of the mooring line or messenger if applicable. The eye is lead through the chock.
What is the purpose of the Capstan/Gypsy head?
Used when taking lines to power. There are no capstans on board MCMs. Only Gypsy heads which are on the Minesweep winch and the Anchor Windlass.
What is the purpose of Chafing Gear?
Used on lines to prevent degradation.
What’s the function of Sound Powered Phones?
Communications between stations.
What is the function of a Fairlead?
Used for changing the direction of a line, via a smooth surface. Roller fairleads are designed to assist in taking a line to power.
What is the Bow Line?
Line one, forward most line on the ship. Keeps the bow of the ship in close to the pier.
What is the Forward Spring Line?
Line Two, positioned to prevent the ship from moving forward.
What is the Aft Spring Line?
Line Three, positioned to prevent the ship from moving aft.
What is the Stern Line?
Line Four, aft most line on the ship. Keeps the stern of the ship in close to the pier.
What 2 lines are Breast Lines and help keep the ship abreast of the pier?
Lines 1 and 4 (Bow Line and Stern Line)
What 2 lines are Spring Lines and help keep the ship from moving fore and aft in its berth?
Line 2 and 3 (Forward Spring Line and Aft Spring Line)
The Line Handling Commands
STAND BY YOUR LINES – Man the lines and stand by to handle them.
TAKE STRAIN ON LINE – Put indicated line under tension.
Slack – Take all tension off of line and let it hang slack but not in the water.
EASE – Let line out until it is under less tension but not slacked.
TAKE LINE TO POWER – Lead the end of indicated line to the Gypsy Head, around fairlead if required; take the slack out of the line but take no strain.
HEAVE AROUND – Apply tension to line by hauling in, either by hand or with Gypsy Head.
AVAST HEAVING – Stop heaving on indicated line.
HOLD – Do not allow any more line to go out on indicated line, even though the risk of parting the line may exist.
CHECK – Hold indicated line, but allow line to slip around deck fitting to prevent breaking.
SURGE – Hold moderate tension on indicated line but allow it to slip enough to permit movement of the ship (used when moving along the pier to adjust position).
MARRY – Ensure both lines have equal strain when the line is doubled up by easing out the line with the most tension to match the doubled-up line which has slightly less tension.
FAKE OUT – Laying a line on deck, forming bights, back and forth, making the line free to run without tangling.
What does it mean to Single Up?
When pulling into port, after the ship is settled in its berth, this command tells the handlers to put round turns and figure eights on the bitts.
When getting underway from port, this command tells the line handlers to remove the round turns and figure eights and bring the line back on board the ship.
What does it mean to Double Up?
Command is given when pulling into port. It tells the line handlers to pass the second eye of the mooring line to the pier, marry the lines together then place round turns and figure eights on the bitts to secure the line. The remainder of the line is bird nested around the bitts.
