UK: Budding Navigators Tested on HMS Echo

HMS Echo took eight would-be navigators to sea as experienced sailors assessed whether they had ‘the right stuff’ to guide Her Majesty’s ships on the world’s oceans. The survey ship was used by staff and students on the Fleet Navigating Officers course – which sets the benchmark for all navigators of Royal Navy warships – using the approaches to Plymouth and waters of the Channel Islands for the assessment.

Eight would-be navigators and four seasoned instructors joined HMS Echo were given the rare chance to try their hand at guiding one of the nimblest vessels in the Fleet.

Budding navigating officers usually conduct the key at-sea training aboard a frigate or destroyer.

But for the most recent assessment week the students, from the Maritime Warfare School at HMS Collingwood, had the unique experience of manoeuvring Echo – which is driven through the water by Azipod thrusters rather than traditional propellers.

It makes the survey ship (and her sister Enterprise) particularly agile.

For the students, the assessment week consists of four practice and three assessed visual pilotage runs conducted by day and night to test their ability to navigate under pressure and produce a sound pilotage plan within a short time frame.

The student navigators are given only thirty-six hours to plan for the next run during which time they have to execute their current pilotage plan and assist the other student navigators as either the Radar Pilotage Safety Officer, WECDIS Officer (responsible for the computer navigational chart system), or the stern mark taker.

The pilotage runs were carried out both on WECDIS and traditional paper charts – which also challenged the bridge team to pull together and work hard if they were to become qualified navigators.

Echo spent the first two days around Rame Head and the Plymouth Green Shoals pilotage track, sailing into and out of Devonport to allow students to get used to how Echo handled before their assessed runs began.

The team then had to undertake some more testing runs around the notoriously difficult waters of Jersey and Guernsey – the Channel Islands are a favourite for the navigational where their assessed runs began. Strong tidal streams, gale force winds, and conditions of up to sea state seven presented tough challenges for the student navigators.

“It was a challenging few days for the student navigators but they have responded well to training and I wish them every success for the future,” said Cdr Matt Syrett, Echo’s Commanding Officer.

The final assessments took place around the Solent and the Isle of Wight whereupon the students were debriefed and given their final results (for the record, all eight passed).

“It was very pleasing to see such an improvement in how the students performed. The week also showed the impressive versatility of hydrographic ships and has ensured that the aim of the course was achieved,” said Lt Cdr David Knowles, one of the assessors.

For Echo, this was the first chance to put to sea in earnest following a spot of maintenance after her east-of-Suez exertions.

The ship was deployed for 19 months gathering data in the Gulf, Indian Ocean, Red Sea and Mediterranean before returning to Plymouth in the summer.

She headed to Falmouth for an eight-week revamp, which saw both azipods removed and given a full refurbishment.

The ship’s communications systems and sensors were overhauled and updated. Essential maintenance on the ship’s hull and upper deck was also carried out, keeping the ship’s company and contractors extremely busy.

All four of the ship’s messes received a complete makeover (totalling £20,000 – more than half of it from the courtesy of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity and Rebalancing Lives welfare programme).

The captain’s cabin and wardroom were refurbished with new leather sofas and armchairs.

The wardroom and senior rates’ mess received a range of new hard and soft furnishings: a new bar, drinks cabinets and optics, new carpets, new kitchen units, television cabinets and bar stools.

The junior rates mess was outfitted with a new carpet, bar top, and new seat covers. Both the senior and junior rates’ dining halls were also stripped and new carpets, tables, and chairs provided.

Such refurbishments have gone a long way to ensure that every member of the ship’s company of Echo have a comfortable mess in which they can relax and enjoy themselves.

[mappress]
Naval Today Staff, December 6, 2012; Image: Royal Navy