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[tonyH]

Maybe a daft question but is there a convention as to where a captain has his chair on an open bridge on a warship?  To Port, to Starboard or anywhere that suits him?

Tony

[Bob K]

I would have thought close by the engine telegraph, compass and other instruments. The positioning of these is more up to the builders.

[pugwash]

On the one open bridge ship I served on the captains seat was just to port and slightly
behind the pelorus compass which was dead centre.  This would allow room for  the Officer of the
Watch to take sightings whilst skipper was in his chair.

Geoff

[derekwarner]

Not an open bridge ...but the enclosed bridge on HMAS Brisbane .....a 4700 tonne DDG...three civvies onboard.....40 Km off Jervis Bay in a gale storm force 7.......so yours truly sees the one single chair [like a draftmans chair] on the bridge ....as pugwash says toward the port side ......& so I plonk my backside down

Within 20 seconds    much disapproval from the Officers on the bridge ... no one sits on the captains chair do they  ... Derek 

[NFMike]

From what I recall of enclosed RN bridges I was on 40 odd years ago the captain's (or OOW's) chair was on the starboard side of the binnacle, etc, (that being central) and immediately behind the windows giving him a good view ahead. Various phones and stuff for his use were mounted in front of the chair on the bulkhead and around the window.

[Neil]

a very interesting topic...........never thought of that one.......mind you a very long time since I built a ship of war. many thanks guys. neil.

[Netleyned]

All the ships I served on over 25 years from Ham class through Ton class, Several Frigates, and
Victorious and Eagle, Captain's chair was to Port.
The Hams and Tons were open bridge and the rest enclosed.
FWIW.

NED

[sailorboy61]

Usually towards the centerline, but don't believe there are any rules - where it can fit in and have access (these days at least) to plug into the systems.  The old mans job is usually to oversee the whole operation and approve the decisions of his officers such as navigator, ops, weapons etc..

[tonyH]

Thanks for the interest.

The reason for the question is that it's such an obvious bit of kit on such as the Flowers that it should be in an appropriate spot. I know I should watch Cruel Sea again for Compass Rose but since I'm converting to US Spec and the only aerial photo I've seen puts it at the after starboard corner of the 'box' I didn't know whether there was an unwritten or even written rule, possibly along the lines of one side of the quarterdeck being reserved for the captain to take his exercise!

Tony

[pugwash]

After saying I thought the seat was usually on the port side if you go to images of HMS Cavalier there
is a clear pic of  "fathers" seat - slightly back and on the starboard side so you pays your money and
takes your pick.

Geoff

[McGherkin]

Port side is slightly preferable from a COLREGs point of view if you can't have it in the middle, as you pass port to port and therefore have a clearer view of the oncoming traffic and it's easier to see if you're not far enough apart (think trying to drive a left hand drive car in the UK) without having to leave your comfy chair, but it's not a legal requirement and not universally followed.

A majority of small boats are also commanded/controlled from the port side (particularly lifeboats), but luxury motor yachts seem to be almost exclusively right hand drive, of course all this is leaving aside vessels which are commanded from the centreline.

In short it's still a case of 'pays your money and takes your pick', but if I was designing a boat and couldn't stick the boss in the middle, then he'd be sat on the port side.

[rickles23]

Hi,

This might help.

Regards

[Nemo]

On my 1/96 Minotaur Class cruiser HMS Swiftsure, (open bridge) the skippers chair is on the starboard front.

[Jerry C]

You're all missing the point. The Old Man's chair goes where the Old Man wants it, end of.
Jerry.

[Netleyned]

Best to have it where the holding down fittings been positioned 


Ned

[Nemo]

Precisely Ned!