Small Boat Seamanship

Learning Objectives

• Be familiar with the different types and purpose of standard boats

• List the members of the small boat crew and describe their primary duties/responsibilities

• Develop a basic understanding for proper small boat etiquette

Introduction- Boats are waterborne craft capable of limited independent operations.

- Sometimes designed to be hoisted onto ships.

- When assigned to ships, used for transporting supplies and people.

- At sea, serve as lifeboats. It is maintained in a ready condition at all times for rescue operations, training of the crew in MOB drills, liberty boats, and general boating training.

Introduction- Most standard boats are referred to by their length, type, and function

-Constructed of metal, plastic, wood and fiberglass

- In the past the motor whaleboat, motor launch, motorboat, and LCM-6 filled the requirements for the ship’s boat.

- Today, standard boats (utility boats, personnel boats and rigid hull inflatables) and combatant craft fill the requirements for ship’s boats

Types of BoatsMotor Whaleboat:

- Round-bottomed double-ended, 26 ft long

- Used as lifeboat, officers boat, shore party boat, or mail boat

- Personnel capacity is 20, including crew

- Hoisted by slings or davits into water - Maximum speed approx 8 knots

Types of BoatsPersonnel Boat:

- Designed specifically to transport officers, although the small types are sometimes used for shore party boats, lifeboats, or mail boats

1. Gig - Used by commanding officers and chiefs of staff not of flag rank, identified by a RED stripe by waterline.

2. Barge - Used by flag officers. Black hull, white canopy, and a GREEN bottom.

Types of BoatsPersonnel Boat:

- Lengths: 26 ft, 28 ft, 33 ft, 40 ft.

- Personnel capacity and max speed varies

- Hoisted by slings or davits

- Used extensively in amphibious exercises and operations as wave guides and safety boats

Types of BoatsUtility Boat:

- 40 feet in length

- Used to transport personnel or cargo - carry 75 personnel including boat crew

- Hoisted by slings or davits

- Max speed approx 11 knots

Types of BoatsPunts:

- Small, open square-ended boat with oars

- used for working along the waterline of the ship

Types of BoatsRigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB):

- Used for boarding and at-sea rescue operations.

- Approx. 24 ft long and propelled by a 6 cylinder turbo-charged diesel engine.

- Max speed approx. 30 knots

- Capable of carrying 18 passengers

- Slewing Arm Davit allows for launch and recovery at ship speed between 12-15 knots

Boat Crew• Responsible for small boat seamanship, upkeep of

craft, and proper training of crew– knowledge of rules of road and buoy systems

– small boat engine

– hoisting/lowing of small boat

– small boat etiquette

• Boat Crew consists of the following: Boat Officer (if necessary), Coxswain, Engineer, Bowhook, Sternhook (rescue swimmer), Signalman and Corpsman

Boat Crew1. Boat Officer: - Officer or CPO assigned as the Safety Officer, responsible to OOD for safe and proper operation of boat - Directs the coxswain as necessary to ensure safety precautions are taken and the boat issafely navigated

- Report to senior line officer onboard = ultimately responsible for safety and management of boat

Boat Officer assigned during following conditions:

- Foul weather or reduced visibility exists or expected

- Trips of long duration

- First boat trip into foreign or unfamiliar harbor

- Large liberty parties returning after sunset

- When required by local regulations

Boat Crew2. Coxswain: - Responsible for the care and handling of the boat. - In charge of the boat in the absence of a Boat Officer

- Familiar with all aspects of the boat, including care, operation, capacity, location of safety gear, and navigation.

- Responsible for the behavior and appearance of the boat crew.

Boat Crew3. Bowhook: - Assist the coxswain in the operation of the boat. - Provide lookout while underway, and handle lines and fenders while mooring and getting

underway.

- Has the knowledge to operate the boat in the event of an emergency when the coxswain requires relieving.

Boat Crew4. Sternhook: - Assist the coxswain in the operation of the boat. - Provide lookout while underway, and handle lines and fenders while mooring and getting underway.

- Has the knowledge to operate the boat in the event of an emergency when the coxswain requires relieving.

*SAR swimmer

Boat Crew5. Boat Engineer:

- Ensures proper operation and maintenance of the boat’s engine

- Makes any repairs or adjustments while the boat is underway.

Boat CrewMan Overboard – Additional Boat Crew requirements:

-Corpsman to administer first aid

-Signalman to maintain visual comms with ship

Ready Lifeboat1. Regulations require that a ship at sea has at least one boat rigged and ready for lowering to be used as the ready lifeboat.

2. The lifeboat must be manned and full davit crew standing by for flight operations, underway replenishments, and plane guard duties.

*Boat Officer, Signalman, and Corpsman remain on call

Ready Lifeboat3. Underway on a daily basis the coxswain will: a. Muster the boat crew b. Check the boat and inventory gear c. Report the boat status to the OOD. d. Ensure the boat engineer starts / tests the boat daily

Small Boat Equipment• Life ring• Life preservers• Lights• Harbor charts, compass, and compass log book• CO2 Extinguisher• Anchor and fenders• Signal equipment• Radio (B-T-B)

Small Boat SafetyGeneral Safety Rules include:

a. Non-operating personnel clear the area prior to any boat handling operation.

b. Number of personnel riding in a boat should be kept to a minimum for launching and stowing.

c. Personnel use monkey lines when raising or lowering the boat.

Small Boat SafetyGeneral Safety Rules include:

d. Be alert for any malfunction.

e. All personnel involved in the movement of the boat will wear hard hats and lifejackets

f. All personnel required to wear lifejackets in heavy weather and cut boat capacity by 50%

g. Sufficient lifejackets for all personnel onboard

Small Boat Etiquette

• customs established over years for smooth loading of passengers, governing boat traffic, and expedite movement at piers

Boat Salutes• Rendered to boats carrying officers and

officials• Junior boat salute senior first

– Proceed at slowest safe speed– coxswain rise to salute as conditions warrant

• Senior boat return salute– engine return to speed

Colors

• Small boat within sight or hearing of ceremony

• Proceed at slowest safe speed• Boat Officer (and in their absence

Coxswain) stand at attention and salute in direction of ceremony except when dangerous to do so

• Others in boat shall remain seated or standing and shall not salute

Boarding/Leaving small boats

• Coxswain salutes when officers enter/leave boat if conditions warrant

• Junior personnel board boats first, seniors last

• Seniors depart boats first, juniors last

• At landings, junior boats give way to senior boats

Small Boat Flag Etiquette• National ensign displayed during following

times:– when underway during daylight in foreign port– when ships are required to be dressed/full

dressed– when going alongside a foreign vessel– when an officer/official embarked on official

occasion– when senior officer embarked on boat of his

command– whenever senior officer present tells you to

Boat assigned to Officer for Personal Use

• Officer in command displays following insignia on bow of boat

• Flag/General Officer - stars of rank as arranged in flag in chrome

• Unit Commander (not flag officer) – replica of command pennant

• Commanding Officer or COS (not flag) – an arrow

• Stern typically will have officer’s abbreviated title of command

Flagstaff Insignia• Observe insignia fitted at peak of boat’s

flagstaff to identify officer when embarked

• Types:– Spread eagle - President– Halberd - Flag/General Officer/Cabinet– Ball - Officer of grade Captain in Navy– Star - Officer of grade Commander in Navy– Flat truck - Officer below grade of

commander or civil official not requiring above honors

Hailing an approaching boat• OOD must take notice to approaching small

boats and rank of senior officer embarked so that they will be received with proper ceremonies– hail boat as soon as it is within hearing distance -

“Boat ahoy” (night) or clenched fist raised in direction of boat/training binoculars in direction (day)

– Coxswain will reply with specific hail (night) or number of fingers corresponding to side boy requirements.

• Wave off if no sideboys required

Side Boy Requirements

• Indicate the arrival or departure of an officer, gongs sounded in pairs– Number of gongs = number of side boys

required– Fleet/Vice Admiral – 8– RADM – 6– Captain or Commander – 4– LCDR to ENS - 2

Coxswain Replies• President “United States”• SECDEF “Defense”• SECNAV “Navy”• CNO/Vice “Naval Operations”• Chief of Staff “Staff”• CO of ship “name of ship”• Other Commissioned O “Aye, aye”• Enlisted “Hello”• not intending to go alongside “Passing”

Boat Gongs

• indicate liberty boats are soon to depart over ship’s general announcing system (1MC)

– 3 boat departs in 10 minutes– 2 boat departs in 5 minutes– 1 boat departs in 1 minute

Number of gongs Meaning

Homework

• Read for Monday/Wednesday

• Seamanship Chapters 9-11

• Surface Ship Ops 3