Titanic Movie Procedure.

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[firestar12]

Howcome when i take the titanic and try the procedure that the did in the movie and in real life (Hard Starboard, Engines Full Astern) She doesnt turn to port like in the movie?

[mvsmith]

Hi firestar,
“Hard a starboard” means “turn the ship to port”. It has meant that from the time sailing ships were steered with tillers, up until the 1930s when that terminology was eliminated by international conventions and national statutes. In the US it was outlawed by act of Congress in the 1800s—the Helm Order Act.

The Titanic’s wheel, like all modern wheels, should be turned to port—counterclockwise—to turn the ship’s head to port, just as it was in Jim Cameron’s film.

The correct helm order on US vessels is “Left rudder”. Other countries may use their linguistic equivalent of “Port rudder”, but never “Hard a starboard” (Except, perhaps, by weekend sailors).

If you want to reenact according to best evidence, you need to first ring “Full Astern” to signal emergency, and then return the telegraph to Stop.
Remember that the real Titanic took a full 30 seconds to move her rudder hard over, and that there was less than 40 seconds from sighting the berg until collision.

Regards,
Marty

[matt5674]

Hey firestar,
I heard you got the saying "hard a starboard" mixed up with "hard a port." The saying is talking about the direction the rudder is facing.

[RMS Canada]

I'm going to attemp the same thing too.

[mvsmith]

Actually, matt, you have got it wrong. Neither “Hard a starboard” nor “Hard a port” is correct usage today. When they were in use, they did not refer to the way the rudder faces, but to the way the tiller was moved in the days when ships were steered by a tiller directly connected to the rudder.

When the whipstaff was introduced, it had to be put over in the opposite direction—in the same direction as a modern wheel. However, the same helm order convention was continued so that the Sailing Master did not have to use different orders depending upon the particular steering gear of the ship. The helmsman was expected to do the right thing.

[firestar12]

Actually, matt, you have got it wrong. Neither “Hard a starboard” nor “Hard a port” is correct usage today. When they were in use, they did not refer to the way the rudder faces, but to the way the tiller was moved in the days when ships were steered by a tiller directly connected to the rudder.

When the whipstaff was introduced, it had to be put over in the opposite direction—in the same direction as a modern wheel. However, the same helm order convention was continued so that the Sailing Master did not have to use different orders depending upon the particular steering gear of the ship. The helmsman was expected to do the right thing.

So when im a cruise ship captain I wont be able to say HARD A STARBOARD! Damn...Ive always wanted to sa....Scream that in a serious way

[pauljanaway1]

Actually, matt, you have got it wrong. Neither “Hard a starboard” nor “Hard a port” is correct usage today. When they were in use, they did not refer to the way the rudder faces, but to the way the tiller was moved in the days when ships were steered by a tiller directly connected to the rudder.

When the whipstaff was introduced, it had to be put over in the opposite direction—in the same direction as a modern wheel. However, the same helm order convention was continued so that the Sailing Master did not have to use different orders depending upon the particular steering gear of the ship. The helmsman was expected to do the right thing.

or a simple way to put it is like a canal boat where to turn right you move the tiller to the left