Instructions to Commander and Officers

[Chris Isaac]

I have recently acquired the Clan Line "Instructions to Commander and Officers" dated 1921.
They make for fascinating reading when life at sea was far more austere than was our experience.
A full copy of these can be found here:
http://www.bandcstaffregister.co.uk/page2924.html

[Doc Vernon]

Thanks Chris
Some good reading there!
Cheers

[j.sabourn]

Reads somewhere similar to the safety manuals put onboard most vessels for the Owners to cut back on any blame due to groundings ,fire and shipwreck. If they are so good should go and do the job themselves. Shows the mentality of shipowners and seamen going back to the time I first went to sea in the early 50"s, trying to control a vessel and its crew from afar. When regulations were changed and new legislation brought in, wouldnt have taken much to change such manual to a Safety Manual. Also shows the class system,which was later brought in to try and pacify public opinion and appear to be a very democratic service industry. Wonder how the constructors of such manuals would react now when they had to compile with small crews, communal feeding etc. I sailed with masters who threatened to resign if such was done, it was and they resigned, and was the end of the class system as was enforced in earlier years and the start of the new way of thinking. Myself apart from the Bull I would prefer the old way with bigger crews or at least enough men to handle a dire situation. For those who on reading the Manual as put up on here, these conditions no longer apply as far as I am aware. It makes good reading and some will remember well. It is part of the past however. It would be unable to comply in a lot of respects due to lack of manpower. JS

[happy daze john in oz]

But the regulations ahve come a long way from the days when they either flogged you or hanged you from the yard arm. Not even DR available now.

[j.sabourn]

#4... Still do that in the Middle East ashore John... JS