THE PLIMSOLL MARK

Hokitika Guardian, 22 July 1929, Page 1

THE PLIMSOLL MARK

A memorial to Samuel Plimsoll, the “sailors’ 'friend,” is to be erected by the llritisli National Union of Seamen and Firemen. Every ship flying the Union Jack has to carry the Plimsoll mark amidships on both sides. The level of this line shows the depth to which a ship may safely be loaded. The Plimsoll mark was originated in the latter half of last century. Concerned by the great loss of life at sea during the nineteenth century, Plimsoll set to work to discover the cause of the disasters He came to the conclusion that most of the tragedies of the sea were due to overloading. A Mill devised by him was submitted to the Board of Trade, and after much discussion was made law. A circular white line crossed by a straight line comprises the Plimsoll mark. The circle is Lloyd’s registration mark, and the straight line is merely to facilitate judgment. Should the ship be loaded until the straight line is submerged the port captain may withhold her papers and prevent her from clearing, the crew may refuse duty when ordered to put to sea. Close to the Plimsoll mark is painted a vertical straight line with several small lines branching off it. These are to show how far the ship may ! be loaded in , fresh water. In Europe and America many large' ships enter the mouths of rivers and voyage inland. As the Ifresh water is not as dense as seawater the ship may he loaded further down. This distance is often several inches.