Steering

1. Initial position: The rudder on the front float is pointed strait
astern. Rudder position relative to the front float does not
change when the front float is turned to the right or left
by waves.
2. The rudder is turned to port. This does not
change the course initially; only the front
float is affected (see next phase).
3. The front floar turnes to port.
4. Only now does the ship as a whole
change the course; the front float acts as a rudder
and steers the ship to port. The rear floats passively follow
the movement.
Steering wheel movements on the brid­ge are transferred to the rudder on the front float in such a way that any passive movement of the float due to waves does not affect the rudder position. In other words, turning the wheel causes the rudder to turn only relative to the float but not relative to the main hull. The rear floats, having their vertical axes of rotation at the front, only passively follow any change of course. Therefore, when making a turn, these floats always assume a position that reduces drag to a minimum. The overall result is significantly less drag in turns than would be the case with conventional vessels. (Please refer to “Making turns of one-hull vessels”). A bow thruster on the front float is used to navigate in harbour waters. When this float is turned at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the vessel and the main drive of this float is started, the ship immediately turns in place.
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