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Seamanship is the art of operating a ship or boat.
It involves a knowledge of a variety of topics and development of specialised skills including:
- Navigation and international maritime law;
- Weather, meteorology and forecasting;
- Watchstanding;
- ship-handling and Small boat handling;
- operation of deck equipment, anchors and cables;
- Ropework and line handling;
- Communications;
- Sailing;
- Engines;
- execution of evolutions such as towing;
- Cargo handling equipment, dangerous cargoes and cargo storage;
- Dealing with emergencies; and
- Survival at sea and Search and Rescue.
The degree of knowledge needed within these areas is dependent upon the nature of the work and the type of vessel employed by a mariner. However, the practice of good seamanship should be the goal of all.
Navigation
More than just finding a vessel's present location, safe navigation includes predicting future location, route planning and collision avoidance.
Ship-handling
A fundamental skill of professional seamanship is being able to manoeuvre a vessel with accuracy and precision. Unlike vehicles on land, a ship afloat is subject to the movements of the air around it and the water in which it sits. Often another complicating factor is the mass of a ship that has to be accounted for when stopping and starting.
Ship-handling is about arriving and departing a berth or buoy, manoeuvring in confined channels and harbours and in proximity to other ships, whilst at all times navigating safely. A key ability for a ship-handler is an innate understanding of how the wind, tide and swell, as well as the shape of the seabed, will affect a vessel's movement, which, together with an understanding of a specific vessels performance, should allow that vessel a safe passage.
Fundamental to low speed maneuvring is an understanding of the configuration and handedness of the propeller(s). An effect known as propeller walk will kick the stern of the vessel to port or starboard depending on the configuration and the type of propeller when large variations on propeller rotation speed or changes of propeller rotation direction take place.
Progression in Seamanship
In the days before mechanical propulsion, a sailor was expected to be able to "hand, and reef, and steer." Training is more formal in modern merchant marines and navies, but still covers the basics.
The crew of a large ship will typically be organized into "divisions" or "departments", each with its own specialty. For example, the deck division would be responsible for boat handling and general maintenance, while the engineering division would be responsible for propulsion and other mechanical systems. Crew start on the most basic duties and as they gain experience and expertise advance within their area. Crew who have gained proficiency become "petty officers", "rated", or "mates" depending on the organization they belong to.
On smaller commercial craft, there is little or no specialization. Deck crew perform all boat handling functions. The officers of the ship are responsible for navigation, communication, and watch supervision.
Captains must pass formal examinations to demonstrate their knowledge. These examinations have a progression based on the size and complexity of the craft. In the U.S., the progression begins with what is known as "the six pack", a license that allows fishing guides to operate with up to six passengers.
Sources
- Admiralty Manual of Seamanship ISBN 0117726966
- Seamanship: A Guide for Divers, BSAC, ISBN 0953891976
See also
"Seamanship"