What is Controls Testing ?
Before a ship arrives or departs from a Port, all the controls which affect the manoeuverability of the ship, its associated machinery and communications must be tested to ensure safe Berthing
When To do Controls Testing?
- Just before Pilot Comes on board - during arrival port
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During One Hour notice for preparing engines - before departure from a port.
What are to be tested during controls testing ?
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Telegraph Tests
- Steering Gear Tests
- Communication Tests
- Main Engine Try out
- Clocks Synchronization
Telegraph testing
When Main Engines are operated from Bridge - it is essential to ensure that the engine responds to every movement from bridge correctly.
If bridge control fails, the telegraph in ECR must convey orders from Bridge and this command must be implemented from the ECR to operate the engine.
Steering Gear Testing
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Rudder angle indicator - Check S/G room, ECR, and Bridge
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Grease and Oil Levels/Leaks - Check
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Rudder Movement - Check
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No volt - Loss of Auto-pilot Alarm - Check
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Gyro Reading - Check
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Over all Visual Inspection of S/G and Rudder stock - Tiller - Cross Head Mechanism - Check
Communication Tests/Checks
1. From S/G to ECR - Two Independent Means
2. From S/G to Bridge - Two Independent Means
3. From ECR to Bridge - Two Independent Means
4. Radio Communication (If available)
Main Engine Try Out
1. Blow thro' (after getting Propeller Clearance)
2. From ECR - Ahead and Astern
3. From Bridge - Ahead and Astern
Then Stand-By Main Engines.
CLOCKS SYNCHRONIZATION
If Automatic Movement Printer on bridge is not available, then every movement has to be Logged in the Engine Movement Book (Bell Book) and the same on Bridge.
The movements are noted down with their respective time.
Thus in order to have same time reflected on the Movement Book, the clocks on Bridge and ECR has to be synchronized.
After controls testing
All these things have to be logged onto checklist
Pilot On-board
Stand By Engines.
Movement and
RFA....!! 
Presented By
Sriram Balasubramanian,
