Chapter XIII: The Junior Officers

Most vessels now carry one or more junior officers, young men who have some sea experience and who have prepared themselves to a certain extent in navigation. Many of them come on board ship with a very hazy idea as to what it is all about. They are willing enough, but don't know where to begin. They would be glad to tail onto the starboard main t'gallant buntline, but don't know just where it is.

For such as these, the following random +Things to Do+ and to learn about are suggested:

+Do the things you are told to do, then—+

+1. Find our what quartermasters are doing.+

+2. Look after hand leads and lines, are they marked
correctly—accurately?+

+3. See that log is ready for streaming, as soon as past the light ship,
or other mark.+

+4. Find switch for running lights—are they in order?+

+5. Look up log book, see how it is kept, and if up to date.+

+6. See that note book on the bridge is handy.+

+7. See if the clock in the wheel house and chart room is correct.+

+8. Work up the chronometer error.+

+9. See that the bridge dodgers are properly bent, and are clean.+

+10. See that the binoculars and telescopes on the bridge are in their
proper places and are clean.+

+11. Find out where the Coston lights are kept.+

+12. Find out what are red and what are blue lights, how many on board?+

+13. See that the binnacle lights are in working order.+

+14. See that the automatic fog whistle control works; how often does it
blow when set—is it according to law?+

+15. See if the whistle works, don't pull it unless the Chief Mate or
the Master says so.+

+16. Try out the engine room telegraph—the docking telegraph—after
notifying the Chief that you intend doing so and on order of the
Mate or Master.+

+17. Find out what kind of signals are used between the crow's nest and
the bridge. The fo'c'sle head and the bridge.+

+18. Find out if the crow's nest lookout uses glasses—what kind—where
kept.+

+19. Find out what sort of sounding machine is used—how it works—what
kind of tubes are used—where the depth scale is kept—where the
tubes are kept. Look at the "leads" see if they are "armed," see if
there is plenty of "arming" handy. What kind—soap or tallow?+

+20. Overhaul the bridge chests—signal—navigating—put them in better
order than you found them.+

+21. Look after the patent log—the lines—the rotators.+

+22. Become familiar with the entire bridge. Know the use of everything
on it.+

+23. How are the compasses adjusted? Rectangular magnets, or single
magnet?+

+24. Has the ship a Flinder's bar? Where is it? What is it? Why?+

+25. What are the quadrantal correctors? What do they correct?+

+26. Where are the distress rockets? Are they fastened to their sticks?
Where are the sticks? When are they used? How?+

+27. Where is the line-throwing gun? How is it used? Where is the
projectile? Where is the line? What kind of line is it? Why?+

+28. How many lifeboats are on board. How many rafts? How many ring
buoys? How many life preservers? Why?+

+29. What is the required equipment of a lifeboat? See if all of this is
in the lifeboat to which you are assigned on the station bill.+

+30. What is the equipment of a life raft? How is it stowed? How
launched?+

+31. What is your station, at abandon ship? Who is in your boat?
What do they look like? Take a look at the crew assigned to
your boat—know them.+

+32. What kind of davits are used?+

+33. What kind of releasing gear is used?+

+34. Are the gripes easily cast off? Are the falls clear? Are they in
tubs, as required by law?+

+35. What are your duties in case of fire? In case of fire in the holds,
to cargo. Find out about this.+

+36. If the wharf caught fire, and everyone was ashore, that is, all the
officers, but yourself. What would you do? Think over it.+

+37. Where do the seamen live, the firemen, the stewards? Where is the
"glory hole"?+

+38. What are the duties of the boatswain?+

+39. What are the duties of the carpenter?+

+40. What are the duties of the quartermasters?+

+41. Learn the details of the complete economy of the vessels. How the
crew and passengers are fed, where they mess, where stores are
kept?+

+42. Learn the routine in your department. Why are things done as they
are?+

+43. What is the ship's draft? How is it recorded?+

+44. Where are the sounding pipes? Look up the framed sectional blue
print of the vessel that ought to be framed in the chart room.+

+45. What is the tons per inch scale?+

+46. What is the displacement of the vessel?+

+47. Learn her complete dimensions.+

+Length between perpendiculars.+ +Length over all.+ +Depth of hold.+ +Moulded depth.+ +Beam.+ +Freeboard, allowed by underwriters (draft).+ +Gross tonnage.+ +Net tonnage.+ +Horse-power.+ +Speed.+ +Coal consumption.+ +Her most economical speed, and tons per day.+ +Her hold capacity. Holds and 'tween decks.+ +Her tank capacity.+ +Her bunker capacity.+ +Her engines. I.H.P. type.+ +Her boilers, number, type.+ +Her wireless. Range.+

+48. What is the vessel's signal number?+

+49. What is her hailing port?+

+50. What is her rating, when given?+

+51. When built? By whom? Kind of construction?+

+52. Look up old log books if available. Speed under different kinds of
weather conditions.+

+53. Has she bilge keels?+

+54. What kind of propellers, or propeller? Material? Pitch? Right
handed or left? How will it send the vessel's head—going
ahead—backing?+

+55. Learn everything you can about her construction, and equipment.+

+56. What is her draft when light—holds empty? What is her stability
when in this condition? Is her propeller out of water in that
condition? How much? What is her light displacement? How can you
determine her stability—by means of shifting weights on deck?+

+57. How many cubic feet to a ton of bunker coal?+

+58. How many pounds to a cubic foot of sea water? Fresh water?+

+59. How do you figure the cubic capacity of a lifeboat? How many cubic
feet allowed per person?+

+60. What is the strength of a new six-inch manila line? Of a five-inch
wire hawser?+

+61. What is the tensile strength of mild steel? Of cast iron? The
compressive strength?+

+62. Can you figure out the safe load for a steel boom under given
conditions? Shell and stiffening given, supports and angle given?
Safety factor 5.+

+63. Become familiar with the fittings of the holds. Go in, look around
and study out the plan of construction and use.+

+64. Find out the location and use of the following parts—+

+Limbers.+
+Limber boards.+
+Ceiling.+
+Cargo battens.+
+Rose boxes (strums, also strainers).+
+Intercostal plates.+
+Keelson.+
+Stringers.+
+Framing.+
+Beams.+
+Shell plating.+
+Pillars.+
+Bulkheads.+
+Tanks.+
+Bilges.+
+Smothering lines.+
+Sounding pipes.+
+Fire lines.+
+Light connections.+
+Mast partners.+
+Mast wedges.+
+Shaft trunk.+
+Hatch coamings.+
+Hatch strong backs.+
+Hatch fore and afters.+
+Hatch battens.+
+Hatch covers.+
+Wedges.+

+65. Where do the steam pipes lead into the holds?+

+66. Where are the valves located? Which is which?+

+67. Where are the plugs for cargo clusters?+

+68. Where are the cargo clusters kept? How many are there?+

+69. Are they all in good condition?+

+70. How much dunnage wood in the holds?+

+71. What cargo was carried last?+

+72. What cargo loading or coming in?+

+73. How much and what kind of dunnage will be needed?+

+74. Who is the boss stevedore? Watch him.+

+75. Note where each ventilator leads to.+

+76. Get acquainted with the deck engineers.+

+77. What kind of winches are used?+

+78. Get familiar with all details of the cargo handling gear. How many
booms, capacity? Is gear rove off on steel boom? Where is it
stowed? In what condition? How is it rigged?+

+79. How many hawsers in the vessel? Where stowed? In what condition?+

+80. How many wires in the vessel? What size? Where and how stowed?+

+81. How does hand steering gear work? What type of steering engine? How
is it locked when shifting from steam to hand?+

+82. Are there wave oil tanks? Where? How is flow of oil controlled?
What kind of oil is used? How much on board? How much required by
law?+

+83. Where are the following lockers, and what do they contain?+

+Boatswain's.+
+Paint.+
+Lamp.+
+Sail.+

+84. Is there a steam line running into the paint and lamp lockers for
smothering fire?+

+85. What kind of windlass is fitted? How does it work by hand? How many
men needed to weight anchor by hand?+

+86. Do the gangways abreast of cargo hatches turn in, lift out, or are
the rails and bulwarks stationary? Are the freeing ports well oiled
and loose?+

+87. Where is the ice plant? What hatch?+

+88. Where is the washdeck gear kept? Are reducers fitted on salt water
line for inch and a half wash deck hose?+

+89. Where is the sand locker?+

+90. Has the vessel range lights?+

+91. Learn the names and condition of the stays and shrouds. What strain
do they bear—ordinarily—when lifting heavy weights?+

+92. What kind of coaling gear is used?+

+93. Has the vessel a sea anchor? Was it over used?+

+94. Examine the turnbuckle screws in the rigging. Are they covered with
canvas? How old? Are they whiteleaded and tallowed?+

+95. Where are the slings, chain and rope kept? In what condition? How
many?+

+96. How many net slings on board? What condition?+

+97. What happens when metal becomes fatigued? Where is this liable to
happen? What is a crystalline fracture?+

+98. What kind of wood in the decks? In the margin or waterway planks?
Know Oregon pine—pitch pine—yellow pine—teak, when you see it.+

+99. How are decks caulked? What kind of filler is used—pitch—marine
glue?+

+100. What do you know about the following parts of a steamer? Of her
fittings, etc.?+

+Anchor davits?+
+Anchors?+
+Awning deck?+
+Ballast—water—dry?+
+Beams—camber of—duty of—theory of—spacing—strength—types?+
+Bilges—bilge keels?+
+Boat chocks. Davits—cranes?+
+Bollards? How many, etc?+
+Bow—different kinds—framing?+
+Breast hooks?+
+Bridge—locations—names, etc.?+
+Buckled—plates—spars?+
+Bulkheads? How many—what kind—where?+
+Bull rope?+
+Bulwarks?+
+Bunkers—how many—what capacity—where?+
+Buoyancy? What is it? Reserve buoyancy?+
+Bureau veritas? What is it? What does it do?+
+Buttock lines?+
+Buttstraps?+
+Cables—size—weight—strength—studs—marking—shackles—
forelocks—swivels?+
+Cant frames (old dagger knees)?+
+Cantilever principle—where used?+
+Capstans—where—how many—what uses?+
+Cargo—a big subject—takes a year or two to master it.+
+Catheads?+
+Cattle steamers—guards—footlocks, etc?+
+Caulking—tools—materials? Steel plates—wood decks? Ceiling?+
+Cement—hydraulic—asphaltic?+
+Chain—slings—for clearing limbers, etc.?+
+Chart house?+
+Cheek plates?+
+Circulating pumps?+
+Coaling hatches—ports—chutes?+
+Coamings?+
+Coefficient of fineness?+
+Commercial efficiency of a vessel?+
+Composite construction?+
+Corrosion—where most prevalent—how to keep down?+
+Dead weight cargo? also measurement cargo?+
+Decks—how many—where—what purpose?+
+Derricks? How many?+
+Docking—stresses—all—data?+
+Dolly—what is it?+
+Donkey boiler—where—why?+
+Doors—water-tight—where—how closed—how controlled?+
+Double bottom? See plans—study.+
+Doubling plates? Where?+
+Drain holes—in bottom?+
+Elastic limit—of materials used in construction of vessel?+
+Electric welding—how—how strong?+
+Engine—learn all you can about it.+
+Escape holes—for trimmers?+
+Expansion joints—bends—trunks?+
+Fair leads?+
+Fans?+
+Fiddley?+
+Floors—rise of?+
+Flush deck?+
+Fore foot?+
+Forgings?+
+Frames?—look them over when in the hold.+
+What are+
+Z bars?+
+Bulb angles?+
+Channel bars?+
+Web frames?+
+Reverse frames?+
+Transome frames?+
+Freeboard? How determined?+
+Freeing ports—percentage of in bulwarks?+
+Frictional, or skin resistance?+
+Galley? Where—how many?+
+Garboard strake?+
+Girders?+
+Grain bulkheads?+
+Gudgeons?+
+Gunwale?+
+Gutters?+
+Half beams?+
+Hatches—how many—where—names? Booby hatch?+
+Hawse pipes? Clearing hawse?+
+Heeling?+
+Hogging?+
+Hydraulic derricks—principle?+
+Insulation of holds?+
+Isherwood system of framing?+
+Jogged framing?+
+Jib-booms?+
+Keel—kind, plate, bilge?+
+Keelson? Where—why?+
+Knighthead frame?+
+Lapped joints?+
+Launching—how done?+
+Limbers—limber boards?+
+Lloyd's—register—rules?+
+Load line?+
+Longitudinal bulkheads—framing?+
+Manholes—where—why?+
+Margin plates?+
+Masts—caps—coats—holes—partners—steps—stiffeners—telescopic—
wedges? Bending forces—Buckling—failure—material—painting
interior—rake—strength of?+
+Natural draft?+
+Neutral axis of a beam?+
+Oil fuel—flash point?+
+Oxy-acetylene blow pipe—how used?+
+Paints—what kind used aboard ship—how mixed? Where stowed—
How much used? What surface will gallon cover? How long
in applying?+
+Panting—what is it—have you noticed it at sea, etc.?+
+Peak tanks—fore peak—what stowed there?+
+Pillars—stations, etc? Their function?+
+Pintles?+
+Plating—how thick—how joined?+
+Portland cement—same as hydraulic—what uses?+
+Pratigue—what is it?+
+Propellers—how many—what kind—pitch—motion?+
+Pressure—steam—in deck lines—main boilers—donkey boilers—water
pressure—under bottom?+
+Pumps—where are hand pumps—what will they throw—do they work?+
+Quadrant tiller—how connected to steering engine?+
+Red lead—use of?+
+Relieving tackles for steering gear—how rove?+
+Rigging—chain plates—screws—spread of—strength of?+
+Rivets—in what kind of shear? Pitch—strength?+
+Rolling chocks (bilge keels)?+
+Rudder—angle of—balanced, or not—cross head—how supported?+
+Sanitary tanks—where located—how filled?+
+Scuppers where located? Are those on deck house tops clear?+
+Scantlings—what do they include?+
+Shaft—bearings—stools—tube—tunnel?+
+Sheathing—wood—copper?+
+Sheer?+
+Shell plating?+
+Skylights?+
+Sounding pipes—rods—how marked—how used?+
+Spar deck?+
+Sponsons?+
+Steel strength of—tensile—shearing—compressive?+
+Stem?+
+Steering gear—learn all about it.+
+Stem—ordinary—cruiser?+
+Stoke holds (fire rooms)?+
+Stress?+
+Strain?+
+Stringers? Duty of?+
+Surveys—purpose—by whom?+
+Sweating—cork paint?+
+Tail shaft—where—after gland—what?+
+Tanks—how lined—where?+
+Thrust block?+
+Ventilation—how accomplished—natural or blower?+
+Vibration?—note it at sea.+
+Water ballast—part of tank data?+
+Water line?+
+Water-tight doors—where—how managed?+
+Well decks?+
+Winches?+
+Yards—if any?+
+Zincs—what used for—why?+

A young officer must become an enthusiast about a vessel; everything on board must be known to him, if he cares to rise in his profession.