What the heck is a Plimsoll???

Why are we writing a quick, short blog about Plimsoll's?  Well, for the second time in the last 6 months, our Plimsoll glasses have gone viral thanks to social media (Facebook and Twitter).  We've also been asked by a bunch of people this week alone, what 'those marks' mean. It's a very cool thing that not all of our readers actually have a maritime background.  Many are relatives of veterans or mariners, others are history and museum buffs and a large number ARE those that make a living (or did, at one point) on the sea.  So the timing is perfect for a quick, short history lesson. 

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Well, it ALL started with a politician.  I KNOW, right?!?!?  Sounds like a punch line or a sea story in the making.   But really, Samuel Plimsoll (1824-1898) was an English reformer who is known today for his work to make seamen more safe. He wrote and spoke out against 'coffin ships'; ships that were over insured, over loaded and were very likely to be unseaworthy and dangerous.  The Plimsoll mark/Plimsoll line is also known as the International load line.  As that name suggests, 'ole Plimsoll created such a stir, that this mark that was placed on cargo ships was seen to be common sense and needed not just by the English, but internationally. The British Merchant Shipping Act of 1875 set the stage for the International Convention on Load Lines in 1966 to place a load line on the hull of cargo ships to show the safest levels a ship can be loaded to while still being safe.  

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Polly: "O, Dear Jack! I can't help crying, but I'm so happy to think you're not going in one of those dreadful ships!"
Jack: "No, No, lass - never more - thanks to our friend Master Plimsoll, God bless him."

John Tenniel, The Coffin-Ships, Punch Magazine (1873)

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SO, what does it all mean, for those of you that don't know?   What does AB mean, for instance?  AB refers to the registration authority, and AB is the American Bureau of Shipping.  You will also see on ships LR (Lloyd's Register), NV (Det Norske) or RI (Registro Italiano Navale) just to name a few. 

The science of the other initials you can see in the above image, is that the temperature and salinity of the water that the ship is in, actually determines how deep the ship should safely be submerged.  Warm water is less dense than cold water (so there is less buoyancy) and fresh water is less dense than salt water. So for today's blog you got some history and some science.  Ta da!!  Wait..are you still awake?  We didn't help you fall asleep, did we?

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 A huge thanks to Matthew Abbott for this shot or our Plimsoll. Check out his photography page on Flickr HERE.

So if you are looking for a cool gift for yourself or someone you love, check out our online store and the types of merchandise we sell.   All of the profits of the store go directly into the maintenance of this WWII Liberty Ship and as we are always being told "these Plimsoll glasses are too cool!"  Here is the link to them directly, and have a cold refreshing drink on us!!    ;)

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Until our next blog, have a great week!  

Project Liberty Ship, Inc is a 501(c)3 non-profit, all volunteer organization engaged in the preservation and operation of the historic ship JOHN W. BROWN as a living memorial museum. Gifts to Project Liberty Ship are tax deductible

NAVHISDET

While at the Inner Harbor last month, we had some of our members from the  U.S. Naval Armed Guard Detachment who also helped participate and explain the Naval Armed Guard in WWII.  In the gallery below, you can see them standing at some of their possible gun duty stations.  These crew members are part of the NAVHISDET, short for “Naval Historical Detachment” formed back in the 1990’s to help the Armed Guard veterans restore the Navy facilities aboard the ship.  The NAVHISDET is comprised mainly of re-enactors and history buffs from up and down the east coast and as far away as Iowa.  The men are portraying typical 1940’s era sailors assigned to the Armed Guard branch of the Navy.  We have members who are in their 80's and some that are in their teens, who are members of NAVHISDET and Project Liberty Ship.  Normally the group helps with living history cruises interpreting the life and roles of the navy men who served on board the merchant ships of WW2, man the “working” gun stations and perform honor guard duties.  They also help with the displays in the ship’s US Navy Armed Guard museum located of the port side of the #2 hold tween deck.

Over the years both the veterans and NAVHISDET crew restored the various guns aboard the ship. These stations include on the stern: One 5”38 dual purpose gun (originally she had a WW 1 era 5”51), two dual purpose 3”50 guns and two 20mm anti-aircraft guns. On the flying bridge are four 20mm anti-aircraft guns and the forward gun deck holds two 20mm anti-aircraft guns and one 3”50 dual purpose gun. Of the 12 gun stations on board the two aft 20mm and entire forward gun deck are built to simulate gun fire through use of various gas systems.

One last shot from this month.  The crew are always interacting with the public and explaining very specific parts of WWII history aboard Liberty Ships. 

Just in case we have not given you enough information...

The U.S. Navy Armed Guard was a service branch of the United States Navy and was

responsible for defending U.S. and Allied merchant ships from attack by enemy aircraft, 

submarines and surface ships during World War II.  Starting in February 1941 with war

overseas, the U. S. Navy began reforming the Armed Guard to provide gun crews for

 duty aboard the country's merchant ships, just as it had done in World War I when crews

were assigned to some 384 U.S. merchant vessels.  The first crews were assigned to

ships on April 15, 1941.  Due to short supplies most of the armament initially consisted of

.30 and .50 caliber machine guns, World War 1 era deck guns and sometimes painted

telephone poles. It was not until 1945 when the supply of more standard 20 mm

cannon and  3”/50 AA and 5”/38 dual purpose guns could be supplied to all of the

Armed Guard crews, since that weaponry was provided to the capital ships first.

We've got SOOO much more to tell you about but we'll save that for another blog. For

now, here are some shots of the NAVHISDET during Living History cruises in the past...

Until next blog, "Fair winds and following seas..."

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Project Liberty Ship, Inc is a 501(c)3 non-profit, all volunteer organization engaged in the preservation and operation of the historic ship JOHN W. BROWN as a living memorial museum. Gifts to Project Liberty Ship are tax deductible

It's Pawsitively Exhausting being the Ship's Greeter

Pawsitively exhausting, but someone has got to do it.   Do you really think all my fellow crewmates could manage to greet so many people with so much style?  Yep... me neither.  I mean, they are all great men and women, but they are people.  They don't have the style, refinement and adorableness that a well mannered Australian Cattle Dog naturally has. Besides, I like people (they are easy to train, in my experience, anyway).

A while ago, it could have been two weeks ago or maybe 2 months ago (Dogs CAN'T tell time, cut me some slack) we took the BROWN over to the west wall of the Inner Harbor in Baltimore.  You might ask what MY job is, on a WWII Liberty Ship.   While we are underway, I tend to stay up on the Flying Bridge with the Captain and those pilots that talk on walkie talkies.  Everyone else seems to be busy at the bow and stern, so this way I can keep out of everyone's way while having a 'dog's eye view' of activities. 

Once we got to the pier, I needed to be on my game.  They say that I'm like the Walmart Greeter for the ship, so I have to happily pose to get my picture taken with visitors, give quick kisses and welcome all to the ship. 

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I didn't let on that I was a bit creeped out about the green man.  I'm a professional...

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I even thanked visitors as they were leaving by giving them some more of my time 

Sometimes crew members need a break from work, so I help them out too.   My dad (in the yellow shirt) also needs some 'selfie-time' with me.  Sometimes I know I've done a good job with training them, when they stop to give me water or even better, when they stop to play catch with me using one of my favorite toys, an empty plastic water bottle. 

But my biggest job is to keep the small miniature people happy.  Sometimes this means letting them play the 'throw the water bottle and I'll bring it back to you so you can throw it again' game with me.  Other times, they just want to pet me, and sometimes I can tell that they would appreciate one of my licks.   If they have recently eaten something, EVEN BETTER (because they are sloppy little people and taste good).  Adults seem to like having their pictures taken with me, too. 

So now you know what a ship's mascot does.   I need to be friendly, professional, and on my game at all times.  When the day is done, I try not to let them see how exhausted I am, and sometimes I can sneak up on the Captain's bunk or padded bench if no one is around.  But I can't wait until we do it again, because I'm the kind of dog that needs a job.  I wont bore you with my psychology, but I'm pretty smart and I like doing a job.   On the ship, I have two jobs...follow the Captain around, AND greet passengers.   Until next time, humans!   If you live near Virginia, I'll be on the BROWN when we go to Norfolk in May.  Here is more information HERE. Hope to meet more of you then. 

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Project Liberty Ship, Inc is a 501(c)3 non-profit, all volunteer organization engaged in the preservation and operation of the historic ship JOHN W. BROWN as a living memorial museum. Gifts to Project Liberty Ship are tax deductible.