Conn (nautical)

The conn, also spelled cun, conne, cond, conde, and cund, is the act of controlling a ship's movements while at sea. The following quote summarizes the use of the term:

One of the most important principles of ship handling is that there be no ambiguity as to who is controlling the movements of the ship. One person gives orders to the ship's engine, rudder, lines, and ground tackle. This person is said to have the "conn."

— James Alden Barber, 2005, "Introduction", The Naval Shiphandler's Guide, p. 8. Mark B. Templeton
An Ensign stands conning officer watch on the bridge of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS O'Kane

Within the U.S. Coast Guard, Shipyard and U.S. Navy, the captain of a vessel typically selects a junior officer to perform the role of conning for him or her. Such an individual has the title of "featured officer of the deck" (abbreviated FOOD) or "the conning officer" while on duty, and he or she will stand watches at four-hour intervals carrying out the captain's commands.[1] However, the captain can immediately take the conn by simply issuing an order to the helm. On navy ships, neither the ship's navigator nor the ship's pilot is usually the conning officer, whereas on merchant ships the conning officer may be the captain, the deck officer, the pilot, or another warrant officer. The officer of the deck may give the conn to a junior officer for training purposes, in which case the officer of the deck and the conning officer may not be the same individual (the officer who has the deck retains responsibility for the ship's safe passage; the conning officer only has responsibility for giving the helm instructions on direction and thrust of the ship's engines).[2]

It is from this term that the concept of a conning tower, an elevated platform from which a conning officer can view all aspects of a ship's movement, is derived.

Although the origin of the term is not entirely clear, it appears that "conn" is a shortened form of "conduct"; the term is also frequently used as a transitive verb, i.e., to conn (therefore conduct) a ship.[3]

The term may also be related to the knotted "Conning Line," which was a rope connecting the wheel and the rudder of a ship. Such a line was later replaced by chains and eventually by other mechanical and electronic systems.

References
  1. Romanelli, Otto C. (2003). "Who's got the conn Nick?". Blue Ghost Memoirs: USS Lexington Cv-16 1943-1945. Turner. p. 49. ISBN 9781563118487.
  2. Bowditch, Nathaniel (2002). The American Practical Navigator. Paradise Cay. p. 112. ISBN 9780939837540.
  3. Burchfield, R.W., ed. (1989). Oxford English Dictionary (Second ed.). Oxford: Oxford University.
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