SABOT

Standardized Auxiliary Boat Operations Training

Ninth District – Eastern Region

COMO. Lew Wargo, Sr.DSO-OP/CQEC12 April 2014STANDARD COMMANDS

SABOT

Standard Commands

LINE COMMANDS

• “Put Line _____ Over”; Pass the line indicated to the pier.

• “Hold Line _____”; Do not allow any more line to go. Line-handlers who feel a line may part should get away from it, but never check or ease a line on their own initiative.

• “Check Line _____”; Hold heavy tension on the line, but provide the minimum slack necessary to prevent parting.

LINE COMMANDS

“Slack Line _____ “; Let the line hang loose with a catenary.

“Take The Slack Out of Line _____ “; Remove all catenary from a line.

“Take In Line _____ “; Line-handlers onboard should provide enough slack for the line to be removed from fittings on the pier and take in the line quickly once it is removed from the pier.

“Ease Line _____ “; Reduce tension, but not to the point of slacking the line.

LINE COMMANDS

• “Single Up Line _____ “; Take in all but one of the mooring lines from the indicated deck fitting.

• “Double Up Line _____ “; Pass an additional line so that there are two pieces of mooring line running to the pier.

• Cast Off Line _____ “; Line-handlers will take lines off the fitting. Lines are left at the pier.

(Different from “Take In” whereas the lines are brought onboard the boat.

BASIC COMMANDS

– “Aye, Aye”; I understand and will comply.

– “Affirmative”; That is correct, yes.

– “Negative”; Permission not granted, no.

– “Say Again”; Repeat your last.

– “Command” Repeat your command. Command not understood, repeat.

ANCHORING COMMANDS

• “Make The Anchor Ready For Letting Go”, Command from coxswain to prepare to drop the anchor.

• “Anchor is Ready For Letting Go” or “Anchor is Rigged and Ready”; Notification from crew that anchor is ready for letting go.

• “Standby the Anchor”; Command from coxswain to crew at the ready position for letting go the anchor.

• “Stream the Anchor Buoy”; Command from the coxswain to deploy anchor buoy and coiled line before anchor is deployed in order to avoid fouling or damaging the buoy.

ANCHORING COMMANDS

• “Let Go the Anchor”; Command to crew to drop the anchor.

• “Make Ready to Heave the Anchor”; Command to the crew to make preparations to take in the anchor.

• “Heave Around on the Anchor”; Command to the crew to commence taking in the anchor.

• “Avast Heaving on the Anchor”; Command to the crew to stop taking in the anchor.

• “Bring the Anchor to a Short Stay”; Command to heave around the anchor and bring to a short stay (Line is vertical).

ANCHORING COMMANDS

• “Anchor Line is Tending at ___ O’clock Under (Light, Moderate or Heavy Strain)”; Reference point passed from crew to coxswain as to what direction the anchor line tends including degree of strain.

• “Anchor is at Short Stay”; Information from crew that the anchor has rotated to near vertical position and is commencing to dig itself out.

“Break Free the Anchor”; Command to the crew to heave around on the anchor once it is at short stay.

• “Line is Up and Down”; Anchor line is vertical.

ANCHORING COMMANDS

“Anchor’s Away”; Information from crew that the anchor is free of the bottom.

“Anchor is in Sight”: Information from the crew that the anchor can be seen.

“Anchor is at Water’s Edge”; Information from the crew that the anchor is no longer in the water.

“Anchor is (Clear, Fouled, Shod)”; Information that the anchor is (CLEAR) has no foreign object entangled, (FOUL-some object such as a cable, line, or other object is attached that will prevent the anchor from being placed on-board), or (SHOD-anchor has mud, etc. in/on it but is not foul).

ANCHORING COMMANDS

• “ANCHOR IS HAWSED”; Information from the crew that the anchor is positioned in its pocket.

• “Make the Anchor Ready for Sea”; Command to the crew to secure the anchor for sea.

• “Anchor is Secured for Sea”; Information from the crew that the anchor is ready for sea.

HELM COMMANDS

Command: “Come Right/Left to _____”:

Response: “Come Right/Left to ____, Aye, Aye”:

Execution: Put over rudder (left or right) and steady on the specified course. You must use

the compass to complete this command.

Response: “Steady on Course __ “

Response: “Aye, Aye”

HELM COMMANDS

Command: “Right/Left _____ Degrees Rudder”:

Execution: Turn the wheel until rudder is placed at the number of degrees ordered.

Command: “Right/Left Standard Rudder”:

Execution: Put the rudder over right or left for the vessel to make a standard diameter turn(usually 15 or 20 degrees).

HELM COMMANDS

Command: “Right/Left Full Rudder”Execution: Put the rudder over for the vessel to make a

reduced diameter turn (usually 30 degrees).

Command: “Hard Right/Left Rudder”:

Execution: Put the rudder over to the maximum allowed.

Command: “Right/Left Handsomely”:

Execution: Turn rudder a small amount for a very slight course change.

HELM COMMANDS

Command: “Increase Your Rudder to __Degrees”:

Execution: Increase your rudder to ___ degrees.

Command: “Ease Your Rudder to ___ Degrees”:

Execution: Decrease your rudder angle to the specified number of degrees.

Command: “Rudder Amidships”:

Execution: Put the rudder on the zero degrees mark on the rudder indicator.

HELM COMMANDS

Command: “Meet Her”:

Execution: Use enough opposite rudder angle to stop the swing of the vessel without steadying on a particular course.

Command: “Shift Your Rudder”:

Execution: Changing from right or left an equal amount. For example, if the rudder is 15 degrees left, then you shall shift to 15degrees right.

HELM COMMANDS

Command: “Steady” or “Steady as You Go”:

Execution: Steer the course on which the vessel is heading when the command is given.

Command: “Mark Your Head”:

Execution: Sound off the vessel’s heading at the time of command.

Command: “How is Your Rudder”:

Execution: This is a question requesting the rudder position.

HELM COMMANDS

Command: “Mind Your Helm”:Execution: A warning that the vessel is swinging off

course because of bad steering.Command: “Nothing to the (Right/Left) of”:Execution: Command used to advise the helmsman

not to steer to the (RIGHT/LEFT) of the course ordered. The command is given when there is a danger present on one

side of the vessel.Command: “Keep Her So”:Execution: Continue to steer the present course.

HELM COMMANDS

Command: “Aye, Aye”:

Execution: The order was understood, and you will complete the required action.

Command: “Command”:

Execution: Response when command is unclear or misunderstood.

Command: “Very Well”:

Execution: Given to the helmsman to inform him the report was understood.