the helmsman
http://www.eurodamnews.com/2008/04/29/how-do-you-steer-the-ship/
"It is a common misconception that the captain steers the ship himself or is always on the bridge when the ship is at sea. The presence of the captain on the bridge is required when entering or leaving port, during reduced visibility, in heavy weather or dense traffic, and when circumstances so dictate.
The captain or the second in command — the chief officer — always maneuvers the ship alongside or off the berth, but this does not mean we are actually steering or are “at the helm” as we prefer to call it. This job is done by helmsmen who have the rank of quartermaster, which at Holland America Line is a position in between able-bodied sailor and boatswain. In pairs of two, these gentlemen assist the watch officer on the bridge on a four-hours-on, eight-off rotation. They are not licensed, but are qualified to act as helmsman and lookout, and to provide general assistance to the watch officer.
When at the helm, they take orders from me, the chief officer, the watch officer or a pilot, depending on who has what we call “the conn,” which means who is handling the ship at the time".
hope this helps