Jodie finished a week of classroom instruction learning about small boats, and now for a week she is going to receive waterfront hands-on experience.
She is learning how to drive a Rigid Hull Inflatble Boat or RHIB. Jo will learn how to do pivot turns, make an abrupt change in course, rescue people who have fallen overboard, tow other vessels, and hail the Stennis (if a high ranking officer is on board the RHIB).
When a RHIB passes a large ship, the officer of the deck will say, "Boat ahoy." According to what rank of officer is in the boat, the Boatswain's Mate will have a different response. For example, the BM will raise his/her hand and hold up four fingers which would mean a captain was onboard the RHIB. The four fingers represent how many sideboys need to be ready to salute the officer when he comes onboard the Stennis.
