OPTIMISM THAT OVERSEAS SHIPS MAY BE FAMILIAR

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 15, Issue 84, 18 August 1950, Page 4

OPTIMISM THAT OVERSEAS SHIPS MAY BE FAMILIAR

The different meanings of the dozens of flags and markings carried by ships are generally unknown to Whakatane people. However, there is optimism in some quarters that it will not be long before Whakatane will be familiar with overseas shipping. Among the merchant ships of the world there are standard signals with very definite meanings. Perhaps the best known signal is the Blue Peter. This is a white square set in a blue square and is hoisted on the day the ship is about to sail and means that the ship is about to proceed to sea. Although most people know where to find a Plimsol Line, few know th e meaning of it. The letters L.R. stand for Lloyd’s Register, and the other letters S, W and W show the depth the ship may be submerged to in summer winter and fresh water.

In port a ship flies several flags. On her staff at the stern she flies the ensign. On British •>ships this is the Red Ensign.

House Flag The mainmast carries her company’s house flag and on her foremast; as a courtesy, she flies the flag of the country she is visiting. The house flag may be flown on the staff at the bow.

When a ship is under way her ensign, or national flag, is transferred from the stern to a gaff on the afterpart of the mainmast. The letter Q, a yellow square, is flown by a ship entering port if she has a clean bill of health but requires pratigue or licence to berth. If a ship has mail aboard the letter Y, a yellow square with red diagonal stripes, is flown. This is lowered when the mail is discharged.

If a pilot is required, G, a yellow square with blue vertical stripes, is hoisted. A ship with a pilot hoists H, a square half red and white.

Tonnage is a measure of all enclosed spaces in a ship in tons equal to 100 cubic feet. ( Gross tonnage ‘ includes caber, cargo and other spaces.' Net tonnage is a measure of a ship’s earning capacity.

Deadweight tonnage (tons in weight of cargo,-stones, and other material a ship can carry when fully loaded) and displacement tonnage (the sum of a ship’s own weight and all cargo) are the only two tonnages actually measured in weight. The funnels on modern liners are not always what they seem. The exhaust fumes are discharged from a vent and the funnels are used for storage space or living quarters. The noise from a ship berthed in port comes from the generators and ventilating system.