Skipper has the con

[BurnitBlue]

I hear this in American movies about the sea. When a skipper, exec officer etc enters the bridge to start his watch, he announces over the loudspeaker that he has the con. "Captain has the con".

What does con mean please?

 

[RichardS]

I hear this in American movies about the sea. When a skipper, exec officer etc enters the bridge to start his watch, he announces over the loudspeaker that he has the con. "Captain has the con".

What does con mean please?

controls or console?

 

[Ceejay]

r.v. conned, con·ning, cons or conns
To direct the steering or course of (a vessel).
n.
1. The station or post of the person who steers a vessel.
2. The act or process of steering a vessel.
[From cond, from Middle English conduen, from Old French conduire, from Latin condcere, to lead together; see conduce.]

 

[penfold]

Wikipedia says it derives from the french conduire, so it's an abbreviation of conduct really; it means to be in command of the ship. I think a submarine's conning tower has the same derivation.

The sequence of call-back is to let everybody on the bridge know what's going on, so when the new guy gives an order the coxswain (or whoever) knows to obey it.

 

[capnsensible]

Its the norm in military operation of vessels (RN) to formally state who has taken responsibility for its control.

As in 'I have the submarine/ship, I have the watch, I have ship control' or whatever. Used also, I understand , by aviators as in ' I have the aircraft'.

In the USN the wording appears similar and would, I suspect, mean control, conduct or conn with the double n as in drive.

Not the staff answer but bet I'm close!!!

 

[snowleopard]

Ask any crossword devotee. References to steering boats always mean 'con' is part of the solution.

 

[electrosys]

Ah-ha - another piece of the nautical-mystery jigsaw slots into place: you know how orders on a ship are always repeated back .....

"Let go aft" "Let go aft it is, Sir"

So that's why Long John Silver carried a bl##dy parrot on his shoulder !

Yeah, right .... I'll get me coat.

 

[Reverend Ludd]

It's the same between pilot and co-pilot.
eg You have control, I have control.

 

[mcframe]

Its the norm in military operation of vessels (RN) to formally state who has taken responsibility for its control.

As in 'I have the submarine/ship, I have the watch, I have ship control' or whatever. Used also, I understand , by aviators as in ' I have the aircraft'.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Officer_of_the_deck for formal handover.

In aviation circles I've heard variously of "My aircraft! my aircraft!" and "Your aircraft!, your aircraft!" as things start to go, err, unplanned...

I did my CS exam with a commercial aviation first officer - he really got the "repeat back", so during blind nav exercises, I stuck him on the helm and got the full "Make our heading 330" "Altering heading to 330" "Our heading is now 330".

Best bit was when I sent him down below to do a log entry and stick the kettle on, and he stuck his up the companionway with "Logged; 2 coffees, one black, one white (one sugar), one white tea, ETA, 4 minutes" ;->

For shame, I sometimes use "I/you have the conn" at work, meaning I have the (remote) console (of a computer server) so please don't mess with it.

Set condition 1SQ for kite launch; the use of spinnakers has been authorised.

 

[SAWDOC]

Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman spent most of a memorable submarine movie shouting "I've got the con" at each other... fairly recent but the name escapes me.

 

[OGITD]

Crimson Tide

Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman spent most of a memorable submarine movie shouting "I've got the con" at each other... fairly recent but the name escapes me.

Crimson Tide: Denzel Washington vs Gene Hackman:

 

[Capt Cautious]

Its the norm in military operation of vessels (RN) to formally state who has taken responsibility for its control.

As in 'I have the submarine/ship, I have the watch, I have ship control' or whatever. Used also, I understand , by aviators as in ' I have the aircraft'.

In the USN the wording appears similar and would, I suspect, mean control, conduct or conn with the double n as in drive.

Not the staff answer but bet I'm close!!!

I'd say its a pretty good answer. We use it to formalise the responsibilities on the bridge. Just because the master has walked onto the bridge does not mean that he has re-assumed the responsibility for the navigation of the vessel that he had delegated to the OOW. It needs a formal announcement, and is also entered into the deck logbook. It is also for the benefit of the voyage data recorder which records everything that happens on the bridge. It is plain and simple "con", as someone else has said - not short for anything.
CC

 

[maxi77]

I'd say its a pretty good answer. We use it to formalise the responsibilities on the bridge. Just because the master has walked onto the bridge does not mean that he has re-assumed the responsibility for the navigation of the vessel that he had delegated to the OOW. It needs a formal announcement, and is also entered into the deck logbook. It is also for the benefit of the voyage data recorder which records everything that happens on the bridge. It is plain and simple "con", as someone else has said - not short for anything.
CC

That was certainly the way it was in my time, there is a need for every one to know who at any time is in charge so there is no confusion. Then in submarines the term was 'I have the boat' and variations on that theme. When taking over the watch the departing OOW would pass on all the information about the state of the boat, other ships in the area captains orders etc etc and the relieving OOW would only say he had the boat or watch ubtil he was happy.

As for conning tower it is the one double hatch in the boat where the upper hatch comes above the casing of the boat. In early boats the boat was conned from there with orders shouted down the tower. Today the tower is encased within the 'fin' (sail if you are of US persuasion) and the boat is conned from the bridge at the top of the fin. RN bridges are open and in bad weather you wear a safety harness as it is quite possible to be washed out of the bridge when you take it green over the top.

 

[Sybarite]

Ask any crossword devotee. References to steering boats always mean 'con' is part of the solution.

There are quite a few in France too.

 

[prv]

I did my CS exam with a commercial aviation first officer - he really got the "repeat back", so during blind nav exercises, I stuck him on the helm and got the full "Make our heading 330" "Altering heading to 330" "Our heading is now 330".

Seems a bit longwinded

On Stavros it would be "Steer 330" "330................330 On" "Thank you".

(The "Thank you" (or some similar acknowledgement) is a required part of the procedure.)


Pete

 

[BurnitBlue]

Thanks for the replies. It really makes sense when it is explained why it is announced. I am a bit surprised that I have only heard it on American movies.

So the RN uses something similar as do aviators. As I said it makes a lot of sense to tell the crew who is currently in charge.

 

[capnsensible]

That was certainly the way it was in my time, there is a need for every one to know who at any time is in charge so there is no confusion. Then in submarines the term was 'I have the boat' and variations on that theme. When taking over the watch the departing OOW would pass on all the information about the state of the boat, other ships in the area captains orders etc etc and the relieving OOW would only say he had the boat or watch ubtil he was happy.

As for conning tower it is the one double hatch in the boat where the upper hatch comes above the casing of the boat. In early boats the boat was conned from there with orders shouted down the tower. Today the tower is encased within the 'fin' (sail if you are of US persuasion) and the boat is conned from the bridge at the top of the fin. RN bridges are open and in bad weather you wear a safety harness as it is quite possible to be washed out of the bridge when you take it green over the top.

Remember running 'shut down' in bad weather with the upper lid shut?

One could listen for a particularly nasty goffer and then:

'Bridge, Helm.'

'Bridge.'

'Warm and dry in the control room, sir.'

Followed at some stage later by a one way interview with the First Lieutenant, without tea.

 

[mcframe]

Remember running 'shut down' in bad weather with the upper lid shut?

One could listen for a particularly nasty goffer and then:

'Bridge, Helm.'

'Bridge.'

'Warm and dry in the control room, sir.'

Followed at some stage later by a one way interview with the First Lieutenant, without tea.

That sounds like the one I heard involving a JOOW sitting in the hot seat when the captain walked in: "Enter in the log: 'Captain's chair tested satisfactory for comfort and pre-warmed' " ;->

Wandering through the ops room of BULWARK at SIBS, I was surprised at just how many seats there are there. I know it coordinates land & air as well as amphibious ops - does anyone have any non-classified links as to how they operate?

 

[VO5]

There are quite a few in France too.

And the header as well.

 

[jax]

I have the con

it helps to avoid this situation -------A pal of mine under instruction in a Blanik glider got a call from the instructor in the back seat while on landing aproach " Jim you are too high" and the reply "God God! Ted I thought you were flying it!"