Newly Qualified Deck Officer

[j.sabourn]

#29... Terry in my earlier years at sea when you had seamen at sea and the lookouts were on the forecastle head, when the bridge bells were rung by whoever was on the wheel every half hour, used to be repeated by the lookout on the forecastle bell, and he used to report the navigation and masthead lights by shouting "Lights are Bright". Nowadays such doesn't happen as bells are not rung as keep people awake, and in any case is no one to ring them. People go to sea now with mobile phones and alarm clocks to tell them the time. Most modern seamen would not know of the bell system and the proper names of the watches in any case. We are all being nostalgic now and remembering things that no longer exist. Cheers JWS

[j.sabourn]

For those not aware of the 3 watch system. The following is what it used to be. Errors excepted and put right by those who remember. 0800 to 1200 Forenoon Watch. 1200 to 1600 the afternoon watch. 1600 to 2000 the Dog Watches ( 1600 to 1800 and 1800 to 2000 1st and 2nd. dog watches) 2000 to 2400 the evening watch. Midnight to 0400 the middle watch. 0400 to 0800 the morning watch. Watchkeepers were the 3rd mate 2nd.mate and Mate who had the Dog watches. Although the 8 to 12 watch as was commonly known was the 3 mates watch, it was officially the masters watch, and was rare to see a master turn in before Midnight unless had too much ale under the belt. The bells were rung every half hour on the hour and half past and were rung in pairs. Like 3 bells ding ding-pause- ding. 8 bells being the end of the watch. Also 1 bell was rang 15 minutes before the end of a watch. If were late on watch depending on who you were relieving was hell to pay. JWS

[j.sabourn]

When 3 seamen on a watch used to split up the duties so was different times kept re wheel and lookout every watch. One man 2 hours wheel next hour stand by last hour lookout, next man lookout next hour stand by last 2 hours on wheel, next man what was known as the Farmer and came around every third watch, first hour stand by then 2 hours lookout and last hour stand by, call watches etc. and if on 4 to 8 and kind hearted start peeling the spuds for the galley staff. Have never seen this watchkeeping system for years, would be interesting if some of the younger ones have or even heard of it. In addition it was not unusual for the stand by man spending his time turning the cowled ventilators on or off the wind due to rain or type of ventilation required for specific types of cargoes. For example coal cargoes required surface ventilation to get rid of the surface gases, for this used to open a couple of side hatches and had to batten down again in any sign of bad weather. Every cargo of different types required some sort of ventilation, whether it was natural or induced. There were numerous hands on jobs of the old type of shipping, and I know some of these ship types are still there with reduced crew sizes. JWS

[Jim Brady]

I never came across any kind hearted deck hands to peel my spuds when I was galley boy worse luck.
Regards.
Jim.B.

[cappy]

## alad told me he was galley boy on a esso tanker and it had a potato peeling machine ...... no it wasnt him but i never believed him......used to like sitting outside in warm climates doing me spuds could always do them quick and leave a couple to do but still looked busy......didnt like coal burning galley stoves......specially up the gulf in summer ......best job on the ship galley boy ...but the money was awful ......paid me union dues but they never did out about me wages lol cappy

[Jim Brady]

What you had to do cappy when you had a spud peeler machine was eye the spuds,the smart galley boys threw and onion into the spud bucket so they cried their eyes out.
Regards.
Jim.B.

[cappy]

###could never be classed as a smart galley boy jim......but like the onion bit ......but was often refered to as a wicky little barsteward...regards cappy