USCG Exam PracticeAB watchkeeping and helm commands
Under 46 CFR §58.25-5, which of the following is explicitly prohibited from counting as part of a vessel's required steering capability, except on a vessel with an integrated propulsion and steering system?
- A. The auxiliary steering gear power unit.
- B. A non-followup control system located in the pilothouse.
- ✓ A bow or stern thruster.Correct
- D. An automatic pilot connected to the main steering gear control system.
Why C is correct
46 CFR §58.25-5(g) states explicitly that except on a vessel with an integrated system of propulsion and steering, no thruster may count as part of a vessel's required steering capability. Non-followup controls and automatic pilots are addressed elsewhere in the regulation as ancillary equipment, not as prohibited substitutes for required steering.
Cited:46 CFR §58.25-5