VOLUME I Multinational Maritime Tactical Instructions and Procedures

MTP 1(D), Vol. I
SECTION IV — READINESS
1400 SCOPE
This section establishes common procedures for organizing, ordering, and reporting the readiness of
a force.
1401 — 1409 SPARE
1410 READINESS TO GET UNDERWAY
1411 NOTICE TO GET UNDERWAY
The order for number of hours notice for readiness to get underway is issued by the senior officer
present. If, because of weather conditions or operational requirements, the senior officer present shortens
this notice, ships are to report via the chain of command as soon as possible at what time they expect to be at
the new notice. Commanding officers are authorized to shorten their notice for getting underway if they
consider it necessary.
1412 PREPARING FOR SEA
When ships are ordered to have power for a specified number of knots (operational speed) by a
certain time, they are to be ready for sea in all respects by that time.
1413 GETTING UNDERWAY
Because there are many different conditions that may be met in getting underway, no attempt is
made here to provide definite instructions that will be applicable in all circumstances. The following
paragraphs should, therefore, be considered of general application only.
a. Navigation and Pilotage. Each commanding officer is responsible for the navigation and
pilotage of his own ship, and should take action as necessary to avoid endangering his own or other ships.
b. Preserving True Bearing and Distance. When ships of a unit in separate berths have
weighed anchor together, or slipped from buoys together, they are, until further orders are received, to
preserve the same true bearing and distance from the senior officer of their unit as existed before getting
underway.
c. Casting Ship. When ships are leaving harbor in company, the senior officer may order them to
cast to port or starboard or to cast to a particular course. In each case, ships should do so without gathering
headway or sternway and should turn at the same rate as the senior officer of their respective units. In a
confined harbor, it may be unsuitable for all ships to cast in the same direction or to gather headway at the
same time. In such a case, the senior officer should then indicate the direction in which he intends to cast, at
the same time ordering remaining ships to cast as required.
d. Sequence in Leaving.
(1) An OTC will normally indicate in advance the sequence in which his ships are to leave harbor.
After consultation with the local authority, he will promulgate the departure sequence, taking into
consideration:
(a) Threat.
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