326 NICHOLLS'S SEAMANSHIP AND NAUTICAL KNOWLEDGE
13. You are coming up a narrow river on the flood tide. How would
you turn her round?
Stop the engines in good time and sheer her gently m towards
the bank on my starboard side. When far enough ahead come full
astern on the engines and drop the starboard anchor under foot. Her
stern will swing round up river with the tide. Lift the anchor, rudder
to starboard, go ahead on the engines. Straighten her up.
14. Suppose you were in the North Sea and your rudder got disabled.
What would you do?
Come to an anchor. Use my best resources to repair the damage.
If impossible to get the rudder working properly I should try to steer her
by towing something astern and running the towrope across from
quarter to quarter. This could be done by means of a gin running along
a wire stretched round the stern for that purpose. This might enable
me to reach port. Should send a wireless message in code to my
owners, explaining the circumstances fully and giving the position of
the ship. Assistance could then be sent if required.
If my ship had twin screws I could run one at a regular speed (not
full speed) and steer the ship by increasing or decreasing the revolutions
on the other.
15. Your rudder plate is damaged. You are in dry dock. How would
you unship the rudder for repairs?
I should unship only the lower part. It would not be necessary to
disturb the quadrant or rudder head.
Rig two good three-fold purchases over the counter, one on each
side. These can be suspended from the after bitts.
Put the helm hard over, it does not matter which way.
Secure the lower purchase blocks to the upper part of the rudder
plate by means of shackles, or lash them with a good chain lashing
round the rudder spindle underneath the flanges of the coupling.
Take a strain on both purchases and make them fast.
Disconnect the rudder coupling by taking the bolts out of the
flanges. Then put the helm hard over the other way so that the two
flanges become clear of each other, and the lower part of the rudder
can be lifted up.
Disconnect the locking pintle.
Have a screw or hydraulic jack in the dry dock underneath the
bottom of the rudder. Raise the rudder with jack, heaving away on