This page contains answers to Seagull CES CBT test about Operation of Steering Gear, and serve as a database of questions and answers, using which seafarer can prepare to exams for getting certificate of competence, or just to challenge yourself with knowledge in this theme.
Test about Operation of Steering Gear
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According to SOLAS, what special steering gear requirement must passenger ships meet, that not all other ships require?
Each power unit, on its own, must be able to move the rudder from 35° on either side to 30° on the other side in not more, than 28 seconds.
They must have a main and auxiliary steering gear.
There must be oil leakage detection, and for a single failure, steering capability must be regained within 45 seconds.
All of the above.
According to SOLAS, what special steering gear requirement must tankers above 10 000 tonnes meet, that other ships do not require?
There must be oil leak detection, and steering capability must be regained within 45 seconds following the loss of one power actuating system.
There must be two or more identical power units.
Steering capability must be regained within 60 seconds, following an oil leak.
There must always be full duplication of components, up to the rudder stock.
According to SOLAS rules, the rudder should move from 35° one side to 30° on the other side in a maximum of 28 seconds for which one of the following:
Only cargo ships above 10 000 tonnes or passenger ships carrying more than 50 passengers.
The main steering gear of all ships, other than those with special requirements, such as those with non-conventional steering arrangements.
The main and auxiliary steering gear of all ships, other than those with special requirements, such as those with non-conventional steering arrangements.
Only oil and chemical tankers and gas carriers.
According to the SOLAS rules, the steering gear should be capable of being recharged with hydraulic oil from a fixed storage tank. What is the main reason for this?
To cut down the fire risk and reduce the risk of spillages.
To ensure, that the steering gear can be rapidly recharged with clean hydraulic oil in the event of a leak from the system.
Because a steady leakage of oil is to be expected from some steering gears, and having a fixed storage tank reduces the time taken for topping up.
To ensure, that the correct grade of oil is always used.
According to the SOLAS rules, the rudder angle from mid-ships to Port and Starboard should be at least:
65°.
35°.
60°.
35°, or only 25°, if a special high efficiency rudder is installed.
According to the SOLAS rules, when must ships fitted with more, than one steering gear power unit have at least two of these units running?
In all cases, in areas, where navigation demands special caution.
In areas, where navigation demands special caution, unless each individual power unit can perform as a main steering gear.
In areas, where navigation demands special caution. unless the system is arranged to change over automatically within 45 seconds of a failure to either power unit.
When entering or leaving port, or at the discretion of the Master.
For an electro-hydraulic steering gear, if the standby pump fails to start, following a failure of the running pump, which one of the following best describes the likely cause?
The pump has not been set to standby or its power supply has been switched off.
There has been a significant loss of hydraulic fluid.
There is a valve shut somewhere in the system.
The starting current has caused overload.
For an electro-hydraulic steering gear, if there is a lot of movement of the wheel in hand steering mode before the steering gear responds, which one of the following best describes the likely causes?
Air in the hydraulic control system.
Excessive wear in the hydraulic pumps.
Loss of one phase of the electrical supply to the pump motor.
Overheating of the hydraulic fluid.
If the rudder will not hold a helm angle in manual or non-follow up mode, which one of the following statements gives the most likely causes?
A hydraulic fluid leak in the hydraulic control or power systems.
Too high a setting on the safety valve.
Air in either the hydraulic control or power systems.
Blockage of a directional valve.
If the ship suddenly doesn’t steer in the direction intended, but no steering gear alarms activate, what is the most likely cause?
Mechanical failure of a steering gear pump.
Air in the control or actuating hydraulic system.
An electrical power failure in either the control or actuating system.
A failure in the remote rudder angle indication system.
If there are no alarms, but the ship stops responding correctly to helm orders, which one of the following best describes the likely causes?
An electrical power failure in the power actuating system.
A leaking safety valve.
An electrical power failure in the control system.
A failure in the remote rudder angle indication system.
In accordance with SOLAS, when must both steering gear power units be in use?
All the time.
When the ship is less than 4 nautical miles from shore.
Never, it’s for stand-by use only.
In areas, where navigation demands special caution.
In the event of an oil leak on a steering gear fitted with an automatic change-over system, at what point should the system be automatically split into two?
When a main low level alarm operates on either hydraulic oil tank.
At the same time as one of the pumps is automatically stopped.
When the final low level alarm on either hydraulic oil tank operates.
The system will be split into two in the event of any alarm sounding.
Requirements for steering gears are given in which one of the following publications?
SOLAS.
MARPOL.
COLREG.
ISM Code.
Steering gear alarms can only be acknowledged from which one of the following?
The steering gear compartment.
The engine control room.
The wheel house.
The duty engineer’s call alarm.
The force generated by a steering gear hydraulic system depends on:
The type of incompressible fluid used.
The hydraulic pressure only.
The hydraulic pressure and the area it acts on.
The size of the tiller.
The main purpose of emergency steering drills is to:
Comply with SOLAS.
Check the full function of the steering gear.
Make sure, that the engineers can perform emergency steering.
Make sure, that enough of the ship’s crew are trained to carry out emergency steering.
The ship is at sea and an order to switch over to local steering is given. What knowledge will you need in particular?
How to handle emergency situations in general.
Knowledge gained from steering the ship in follow up mode from the bridge, when entering port.
Detailed knowledge of steering gear construction.
What you have learnt during emergency steering drills, and the emergency operating procedures.
The steering mode in which the rudder angle is pre-set manually and kept in position automatically, is called:
Follow up mode.
Autopilot mode.
Non follow up mode.
Hand steering mode.
What is the main purpose of the safety valve on a hydraulic steering gear?
To protect against leakage between the pressure chambers.
To protect the operator.
To protect the actuator against too high an oil pressure.
To regulate the return flow of oil from the steering gear.
What is the most likely cause of the hydraulic lock alarm occurring on a steering gear system?
Failing to purge the system of air.
Having both hydraulic pumps running at the same time.
A failure in the control system, such as a directional valve sticking open.
A failure of one of the hydraulic pumps.
What is the purpose of the rapson slide on a ram type steering gear?
It converts the linear movement of the rams into rotation of the tiller.
It supports the weight of the rudder stock.
It limits the movement of the rudder.
It allows the rudder to move vertically.
What special requirement for steering gears is applied to any ship over 70 000 tonnes?
The main steering gear must have two or more identical power units.
There must be oil leakage detection.
There must be automatic change-over in the event of hydraulic leakage.
One of the steering gear motors must be supplied from the emergency switchboard.
What types of valves are actuated in order to move the rudder, when local steering is being carried out?
Directional valves.
Safety valves.
Local connecting valves.
One way valves.
When a heavy sea strikes the rudder, which one of these statements best describes what will happen?
If the force is large enough, the hydraulic pressure in the steering gear will be high enough to operate the safety valve, and the rudder will move.
The rudder is hydraulically locked in position and will not move.
The rudder is free to move, but the auto-pilot will bring the ship back on course.
The shape and lightweight design of the rudder means that wave forces have no effect.
When in emergency steering mode from the steering flat, how is movement of the steering gear usually created?
Start at least one power unit and activate the direction valve.
By starting the motors on both power units.
By activating the direction valve and the safety valve.
By moving the rudder.
Where a steering gear is fitted with oil leak detection, what would be the first alarm in the event of loss of oil?
Low level alarm in the hydraulic fluid tank.
Low level alarm in the hydraulic fluid tank together with stand by pump auto-start.
Hydraulic system power failure.
Hydraulic system separation.
Where is steering gear is fitted with oil leak detection, in the event of loss of oil, what would happen before a second pump automatically started?
The low level alarm would need to be acknowledge on the bridge.
The hydraulic system would need to be automatically split.
The first pump would be stopped automatically.
The part of the actuator with leakage, is shut-down.
Where a steering gear is fitted with oil leak detection, in the event of loss of oil, what would the first alarm be, and what would happen?
The part of the actuator, where the leakage is will be closed down.
The first low level alarm would be activated, but the pump or pumps, that had been running will continue to run.
The pumps would change-over.
The part of the actuator without leakage, is shut-down.
Where are remote rudder angle indicators usually fitted?
In the steering gear compartment only.
At the bridge steering console and on the bridge wings.
At the bridge steering console only.
In the cargo control room.
Where is the changeover to local steering carried out?
The steering compartment.
The bridge.
The steering compartment, but it must be acknowledged by the bridge before it can take effect.
The engine control room or the bridge.
Which is the only one of the following NOT known to have, caused moisture to have contaminated the hydraulic oil, used for the steering gear?
A leaking rudder stock gland.
Water collecting on top of hydraulic oil drums, stored on deck.
Oil for topping up, stored in open containers in the steering compartment.
Air in the hydraulic control system containing moisture.
Which is the only one of the following, that is NOT likely to cause overheating of a hydraulic steering gear?
Leakage of hydraulic fluid.
Air in the main hydraulic system.
Pumps running on no-load for long periods of time.
High ambient temperatures and blocked oil coolers.
Which of the following are disadvantages of using ram type steering gear, compared to rotary vane gear?
Higher pressures are needed for the ram type.
The ram type needs a separate rudder carrier bearing.
Because it uses a rapson slide, the available rudder angle is less with a ram type.
The ram type takes up less space, than the rotary vane type.
Which of the following statements best describes the importance of the purity of the hydraulic oil used in steering gear?
Even small solid particles will cause wear, whilst moisture will cause corrosion.
Provided the oil remains incompressible, the steering gear will continue to work correctly.
Steering gear power actuators are very robust, and therefore a degree of oil contamination can be tolerated.
Provided the oil viscosity remains within acceptable limits, the steering gear will continue to work correctly.
Which one of the following is NOT caused by air in a steering gear hydraulic system?
Rudder tends to return to mid-ships.
Overheating.
Corrosion.
Erratic movement of the rudder.
Which one of the following statements about steering gear is NOT correct?
A main steering gear must be able to move the rudder from 30° on either side to 30° on the other side in less than 28 seconds.
A main steering gear must be able to move the rudder from 35° on either side to 35° on the other side.
An auxiliary steering gear must be able to move the rudder from 15° on either side to 15° on the other side.
Ships with more, than one rudder do not need an auxiliary steering gear, if they are navigable with one rudder.
Which one of the following statements best describes the actions, would you take if there is a leak of hydraulic fluid from a steering gear, which does not have an automatic change-over system?
Isolate the leaking part of the steering gear by following the procedures on the emergency steering instructions.
Immediately switch over to another power unit.
Immediately switch off all power units.
Top up the system oil, until repairs can be made.
Which one of the following statements best describes the arrangement of steering gear alarms?
Steering gear alarms can only be acknowledged on the bridge, but are indicated elsewhere.
Steering gear alarms can be acknowledged on the bridge, or elsewhere.
Steering gear alarms are only indicated and acknowledged in the bridge.
Steering gear alarms are only indicated and acknowledged in the steering compartment.
Which one of the following statements best describes the check, carried out during emergency steering drills?
All emergency arrangements must be tested including operation from the steering compartment and communication with the bridge.
The checks carried out are the same as those required prior to leaving port, but are more realistic, because the ship is moving through the water.
Check previously carried out prior to leaving port do not need to be repeated, but hand steering from the bridge must be carried out.
In addition to the checks carried out prior to leaving port, hand steering from the bridge must be tested.
Which one of the following statements gives one of the steering gear requirements for passenger ships?
Each power unit must be capable of moving the rudder from 35° on either side to 30° on the other side in not more, than 28 seconds.
There must be two identical power units, which together can move the rudder from 35° on either side to 30° on the other side in not more, than 28 seconds.
There must be oil leakage detection fitted.
The requirements for each steering gear remains the same, even if there is more, than one rudder.
Which one of the following would NOT cause slow rudder movement?
Air in the hydraulic control system.
A leaking safety valve.
Partial blocking of a directional valve.
Damage to, or partial seizure of, the rudder post or carrier bearing.
Which one of the phrases given in the options most accurately completes the following statement? A leaking safety valve on a hydraulic steering system is most likely to cause, which one of the following:
Slow rudder movement.
Leakage of oil into drip trays in the steering flat.
Excessive hydraulic oil consumption.
A time delay before the rudder first starts to move.
Which one of the phrases given in the options most accurately completes the following statement? According to the SOLAS rules, if a ship has more, than one rudder and can be maneuvred with only one rudder, then:
Only one main steering gear needs to be fitted to each rudder.
Each rudder must be fitted with a main and auxiliary steering gear.
An additional main or auxiliary steering gear is only required on each rudder for tankers, chemical tankers and gas carriers above 10 000 tones.
An additional main or auxiliary steering gear is only required on each rudder for passenger ships of over 70 000 tones.
Which one of the phrases given in the options most accurately completes the following statement? The safety valve on a steering gear hydraulic system is most likely to operate because:
A heavy sea has hit the rudder.
The output pressure from the hydraulic pumps is too high.
It has been opened as part of the normal operation of the steering gear.
An attempt has been made to put too much helm on, too quickly.
Which one of the phrases given in the options most accurately completes the following statement? The ships steering gear must normally be checked and tested by the ship’s crew:
Within 12 hours before departure.
Within 48 hours before departure.
Within 24 hours before departure.
Within 72 hours before departure.
Which one of the situations described below may cause the need for local steering?
Failure on the autopilot.
Failure on one hydraulic pump.
Failure on the follow up system.
If the bridge is put out of action.
Which one of these statements about rudder carrier bearings is true?
A rudder carrier bearing is not required on rotary vane type steering gears.
A rudder carrier bearing is only required on rotary vane type steering gears.
A rudder carrier bearing is only required on ram type steering gears.
A separate rudder carrier bearing is only required on ram type steering gears.
Which one of these statements about the force, developed by a hydraulic system is true?
Pressure equals force times area.
Force equals pressure plus area.
Force equals pressure divided by area.
Force equals pressure times area.
Which one of these statements about types of steering gear is true?
The ram type takes up less space, than the rotary vane type.
A greater angle of possible rudder movement is available with ram type steering gears.
Higher pressures are needed for the rotary vane type.
Higher pressures are needed for the ram type.
Which one of these statements best describes the effect of using two steering gear hydraulic pumps instead of one?
There is little effect on the speed of movement, or the force on the rudder, but reliability is increased.
The speed of rudder movement and the force on the rudder are greatly increased.
The force on the rudder is greatly increased.
The speed of rudder movement is greatly increased.
Which part of the hydraulic circuit controls the movement of the rudder from port to starboard?
The counterbalance valve.
The hydraulic pump.
The safety valve.
The directional valve.
Test about Operation of Steering Gear
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