A steering apparatus for a marine craft or other vehicle having a communication bus and a plurality of helm apparatuses. Each of the helm apparatuses includes a steering device. Additionally, each of the helm apparatuses is connected to the communication bus. Each of the helm apparatuses provides helm signals indicative of incremental and decremental movement, of the steering device thereof. The helm signals are transmitted over the communication bus. The steering apparatus further includes a rudder which has an actuator and a control means for receiving each of the helm signals and which provides rudder signals to the actuator to steer the rudder in accordance with movement of the steering devices of the helm apparatuses. The control means is connected to the communication bus. Each of the rudder signals are derived from each of the helm signals from one of the helm apparatuses which is steered fastest when a plurality of the helm apparatuses is simultaneously steered.