Lloyd’s
CAPTAINS’ REGISTER
CONTAINING THE
NAMES AND SERVICES OF CERTIFICATED MASTERS
OF THE
BRITISH MERCANTILE MARINE NOW AFLOAT
COMPILED FROM THE
RECORDS OF THE
REGISTRAR-GENERAL OF SEAMEN
AND PUBLISHED BY THE
Committee
for Managing the Affairs of Lloyd’s
UNDER THE
SUPERINTENDENCE OF
B.C. STEPHENSON, ESQ.
Secretary of Lloyd’s
___________
1869
___________
LONDON
J.D. POTTER, Agent for Admiralty Charts
31 POULTRY AND
11 KING STREET, TOWER HILL
Price 21s.
ABBREVIATIONS
The following is a List of the Abbreviations:
C before the No. of Certificate denote a
‘Certificate of Competency.’
S before “
‘Certificate of Service.’
C.H.T. before
“ ” “ ‘ Certificate of Competency for
Home Trade Passenger Ships.’
S.H.T. before
the No. of Certificate denotes a ‘ Certificate of Service for Home
Trade Passenger Ships.’
(1st, 2nd,
or 3rd Class refers to the voluntary examination passed between the
years 1845 and 1850.)
Ex Master Extra.
F. and
A. Master for Fore-And-Aft Rigged Vessels Only.
Stm Passed
the Voluntary Examination in Steam.
Crown before name-Officers in Royal Navel Reserve.
VOYAGES
A Africa, West Coast, Canaries, Cape de Verds.
N.A. America,
North. British Territory, Greenland, Iceland.
U.S. Do. Do. United States
(Atlantic and Gulf Ports).
Aust. Australia,
Tasinania, New Zealand.
B Baltic, Norway, White Sea, Gulf of Finland,
The Cattegat.
N.S. West
Coast of Denmark
S.A. Brazils, River Plate
Cp Cape, Ascension, St. Helena, Algea Bay, Natal
C China, Japan and Oriental Archivelago
Ct Coasting Trade, including Coasts of Holland,
Belgium, and France from River Elbe to Brest
E.I. East Indies, Birmah, Mauritius, Red Sea
F.P.S. France
south of Brest, Portugal, Spain outside Straits of Gibralter, Azores
M Mediterranean, Black Sea, Sea of Azof, Adriatic
N.P. North
Pacific and West Coast of N. America
S.P. South
Pacific and West Coast of S. America
W.I. West
Indies, Vera Cruz, Belize, and Caribbean Sea
The number which follows the name of a Ship is her official
number, and corresponds with her number in the Mercantile Navy List.
The information in parenthesis refers to the Certificate only.
When the name of the Vessel is printed in Italics, the man has
served as Mate, on board that Vessel, although holding a Master’s
Certificate.
SPECIMEN.
SMITH, William, London,
1826 (C.23,405, Bristol, 1850.) Violet, 1856, B. Herald, 17,610,
1858 9, Ct., Stafford, 2,929, 1860, A. Robert Taylor, 3,501, 1861-2, A.
Percival, 23,406, U.S., 1863. Miriam, U.S., lost May 3, 1861. Stromboli,
23,484, U.S., 1865-8.
EXPLANATION.
William Smith, born in London in 1826, was examined at Bristol
and received a Certificate of Competency as Master (No. 23, 405) in 1850. He was
Mate of the ‘Violet’ in 1856, when she was in Baltic trade; of the ‘Herald’
(Official No. 17, 610) in 1858 and 1859 in the coasting and Baltic trades; and
of the ‘Stafford’ 2,929 in 1860, in the African trade. He was then made Master
of the Robert Taylor (3,504), and remained in the African trade with her during
the years 1861 and 1862. In 1863 he was appointed to the ‘Percival,’ in the
American trade; and in 1864 tot he Miriam in the same trade. On May 3, 1864, the
Miriam was lost, and he remained unemployed either as a Master or a Mate until
1865, when he was appointed Mate of the ‘Stromboli,’ in which ship he served to
the end of 1868.
EXAMINATIONS
of
MASTERS AND MATES FOR CERTIFICATES OF COMPETENCY
UNDER ‘THE MERCHANT SHIPPING ACT, 1854,’
AND
VOLUNTARY EXAMINATION IN STEAM.
Masters and Mates must have certificates.
17 & 18 Vict. c 101, ss.136 ans 161.
1. Under the provisions of ‘The Merchant Shipping Act, 1854,’ no
‘Foreign-going Ship’*
or ‘Home Trade Passenger Ship’* can obtain a clearance or transire, or legally
proceed to sea, from any port in the United Kingdom unless the master thereof,
and in the case of a ‘Foreign-going Ship’ the First and Second Mates of Only
Mate (as the case may be), and in the case of a ‘Home Trade Passenger Ship; the
First or Only Mate (as the case may be), have obtained a possess valid
Certificates, either of Competency or Service, appropriate to their several
stations in such ship, or of a higher grade; and no such ship, if of one
hundred tons burden or upwards, can legally proceed to sea unless at
least one officer besides the Master has obtained and possesses a valid
Certificate, appropriate to the grade of Only Mate therein, or to a higher
grade; and every person having been engaged to serve as Master, or as First or
Second or only Mate of any ‘Foreign-going Ship,’ or as Master or First or Only
Mate of a ‘Home Trade Passenger Ship,’ goes to sea as such Master or Mate
without being at the time entitled to and possessed of such a Certificate as the
Act requires, or who employs any person as Master, or First, Second, or Only
Mater, of any ‘Foreign-going Ship,’ or as Master or First or Only Mate of any
‘Home Trade Passenger Ship,’ without ascertaining that he is at the time entitle
to and possessed of such Certificate, for each offence occurs a penalty not
exceeding fifty pounds.
Certificate of
Competency for ‘Foreign-going Ship’ higher than that for ‘Home Trade Passenger
Ship’ s. 137.
2. Every Certificate of Competency for a ‘Foreign-going Ship’ is
to be deemed to be of a higher grade than the corresponding Certificate for a
‘Home Trade Passenger Ship,’ and entitles the lawful holder to go to sea in the
corresponding grade in such last-mentioned Ship; but no Certificate for a
‘Home Trade Passenger Ship’ entitles the holder to go to sea as Master or Mate
of a ‘Foreign-going Ship.’
3. Certificates of Competency will be granted to those persons
who pass the requisite examinations, and otherwise comply with the requisite
conditions. For this purpose examiners have been appointed, and arrangements
have been made for holding examinations at the ports and upon the days mentioned
in the Table appended hereto. The days for examination are so arranged for
general convenience, that a candidate wishing to proceed to sea, and missing the
day at his own port, may proceed to another port where an examination is coming
forward.
Certificates of Competency granted
to persons who pass requisite examinations. s. 131
4. Candidates for examination must give in their names to the
Local Marine Board if the place where they intend to be examined is a port where
there is a Local Marine Board, on or before the day of examination (except in
the case of London
and Liverpool), and must conform to any regulations in this respect which may
be laid down by the Local Marine Board; and if this be not done, delay may be
occasioned.
Notice of application
for examination to be given to Superintendent of Local Marine Board.
5. Testimonials of character, and of sobriety, experience,
ability, and good conduct on board ship will be required of all applicants, and
without producing them no person will be examined. As such testimonials may have
to be forwarded to the office of the Registrar-General of Seamen in London for
verification before any certificates can be granted, it is desirable that
candidates should lodge them as early as possible. The testimonials of servitude
of Foreigners and of British Seamen serving in foreign vessels, which cannot be
verified by the Registrar-General of Seamen, must be confirmed either by the
Consul of the country to which the ship in which the candidate served belonged
or by some other recognized official authority of that country, or by the
testimony of some credible person on the spot having personal knowledge of the
facts required to be established. Upon application to the Superintendent of the
Mercantile Marine Office candidates will be supplied with a form (Exn. 2), which
they will be required to fill up and lodge with their testimonials in the hands
of examiners.
Testimonials of character,
conduct, and ability required. s. 134.
Exn. 2
6. Services which cannot be verified by proper Entries in the
Articles of the Ships in which the candidates have served cannot be counted.
Thus, for instance–A Man will state his Service to have been as Second or Only
Mate, and to support his assertion will produce a Certificate of Discharge or of
Employment by the Master, stating that he served as Mate, when on reference to
the Articles it appears that he has actually been rated as Boatswain; the
Service in such a case will not be regarded as having been in the capacity of
Mate.
Verification of Services, &c. by
Articles.
Whenever a man has, from
any cause, been regularly promoted on a vacancy in the course of the Voyage from
the rank for which he first shipped, and such promotion, with the ground on
which it has been made, is properly entered in the Articles and in the Official
Log Book, he will of course receive credit for his service in the higher grade
for the period subsequent to his promotion.
7. The examinations will commence early in the forenoon on the
days mentioned in the Table appended hereto, and will be continued from day to
day until all the candidates whose names appear upon the Superintendent’s list
on the day of examination are examined.
Continued till all the Candidates
are examined.
8. Where the Local Marine Board are in every respect satisfied
with the testimonials of a candidate, service in the coasting trade maybe
allowed to count as service, in order to qualify him for examination for a
Certificate of competency for Foreign-going Ships as a Mate, and two years’
service as Mate in the coasting trade may be allowed to count as service for a
Master’s Certificate, provided the candidate’s name has been entered as Mate on
the Coasting Articles, and provided he has already passed an examination.
Qualifications for
Certificates of Competency for a ‘Foreign-going
Ship.’
The qualifications required for the several ranks under-mentioned
are as follow:--
9. A SECOND MATE must be seventeen years of age, and must have
been four years at sea.
Qualifications for Certificates of
Competency. mm 131, 132.
Second Mate
In Navigation.-He
must write a legible hand and understand the first five rules of arithmetic, and
the use of logarithms. He must be able to work a day’s work complete, including
bearings and distance of the port he is bound to, by Me??? method; to correct
the sun’s declination for longitude, and find his latitude by meridian altitude
of the sun; and to work such other easy problems of a like nature as may be put
to him. He must understand the use of the sextant, and be able to observe with
it, and read off the arc.
In Seamanship.–He
must give satisfactory answers as to the rigging and unrigging of ships, stowing
of holds, &e; must understand the measurement of the log-line, glass, and
lead-line; be conversant with the rule of the road, as regards both steamers and
sailing-vessels, and the lights and fog signals carried by them, and will also
be examined as to this acquaintance, with ‘the Commercial Code of Signals for
the use of all Nations.’
10. An ONLY MATE must be nineteen years of age, and have been
five years at sea.
Only Mate.
In Navigation.–In
addition to the qualifications required for a Second Mate, an Only Mate must be
able to observe and calculate the amplitude of the sun, and deduce the variation
of the compass therefrom, and be able to find the longitude by chronometer by
the usual methods. He must know how to lay off the place of the ship on the
chart, both by bearings of known objects, and by latitude and longitude. He must
be able to determine the error of a sextant, and to adjust it, also to find the
time of high water from the known time at full and change.
In Seamanship.–In
addition to what is required for a Second Mate, he must know how to moor and
unmoor, and to keep a clear anchor; to carry out an anchor; to stew a hold; and
to make the requisite entries in the ship’s log. He will also be questioned as
to his knowledge of the use and management of the mortar and rocket lines in the
case of the stranding of a vessel, as explained in the official log-book.
11. A FIRST MATE must be nineteen years of age, and have served
five years at sea, of which on year must have been as either Second or Only
Mate, or as both.
In Navigation.-In
addition to the qualifications required for an Only Mate, he must be able to
observe azimuths and compute the variation; to compare chronometers and keep
their rates, and find the longitude by them from an observation of the sun; to
work the latitude by single altitude of the sun off the meridian; and be able to
use and adjust the sextant by the sun.
Foreign-going Ship.
In Seamanship.-In
addition to the qualification required for an Only Mate, a more extensive
knowledge of seamanship will be required, as to shifting large spars and sails,
managing a ship in stormy weather, taking in and making sail, shifting yards and
masts, &c., and getting heavy weights, anchors, &c., in and out; casting a ship
on a lee-shore; and securing the masts in the event of accident to the bowsprit.
12. A MASTER must be twenty-one years of age, and have been six
years at sea, of which at least on year must have been as First or Only Mate,
and one year as Second Mate. He must also have served one year, at least, in a
square-rigged ship.
In addition to the qualifications for a First Mate, he must be
able to find the latitude by a star, &c. He will be asked questions as to the
nature of the attraction of the ship’s iron upon the compass, and as tot he
method of determining it. He will be examined in so much of the laws of the
tides as is necessary to enable him to shape a course, and to compare his
soundings with the depths marked on the charts. He will be examined as to his
competency to construct jury rudders and rafts; and as to his resources for the
preservation of the ship’s crew in the event of wreck; and of his knowledge of
lights and fog signals, and steering and sailing rules. He must possess a
sufficient knowledge of what he is required to do by law, as to entry and
discharge, and the management of his crew, and as to penalties and entries to be
made in the official log; and a knowledge of the measures for preventing and
checking the outbreak of scurvy on board ship. He will be questioned as to his
knowledge of invoices, charter party, Lloyd’s agent, and as to the nature of
botomry, and he must be acquainted with the leading lights of the channel he has
been accustomed to navigate, or which he is going to use.
Master Ordinary.
In cases where an applicant for a certificate as Master Ordinary
has only served in a fore and aft rigged vessel, and is ignorant of the
management of a square-rigged vessel, he may obtain a certificate on which the
words ‘fore and aft rigged vessel’ will be written. This certificate does
not entitle him to command a square-rigged ship. This is not, however, to apply
to Mates, who, being younger men, are expected for the future to learn their
business completely.
Service in fore and aft rigged
ships.
13. An EXTRA MASTER’S EXAMINATION is voluntary, and intended for
such persons as wish to prove their superior qualifications, and are desirous of
having certificates for the highest grade granted by the Board of Trade.
In Navigation.-As
the vessels which such masters will command frequently make long voyages, to the
East Indies, the Pacific, &c., the candidate will be required to work a lunar
observation by both sun and star, to determine the latitude by the moon, by
Polar star off the meridian, and also by double altitude of the sun, and to
verify the result by Sumner’s method. He must be able to calculate the altitudes
of the sun or star when they cannot be observed for the purposes of lunars-to
find the error of a watch by the method of equal latitudes-and to correct the
altitude observed with an artificial horizon.
He must understand how to observe and apply the deviation of the
compass; and to deduce the set and rate the current from the D.R. and
observation. He will be required to explain the nature of great circle sailing,
and know how to apply practically that knowledge, but he will not be required to
go into the calculations. He must be acquainted with the law of storms, so far
as to know how he may probably best escape those tempests common to the East and
West Indies, and known as hurricanes.
In Seamanship.-The
extra examination will consist of an inquiry into the competency of the
applicant to heave a ship down, in case of accident befalling her abroad; to get
lower masts in and out; and to perform such other operations of a like nature as
the Examiner may consider it proper to examine him upon.
Master extra.
Foreign-going Ship.
Qualifications for
Certificates of Competency for a ‘Home Trade Passenger Ship.’
14. A MATE must write a legible hand, and understand the first
four rules of arithmetic. He must know and understand the rule of the road, and
describe and show that he understands the Admiralty regulations as to lights. He
must be able to take a bearing by compass, and prick off the ship’s course on a
chart. He must know the marks in the lead line, and be able to work and heave
the log.
Home Trade Passenger Ship.
Mate.
15. A MASTER must have served one year as a Mate in the Foreign
or Home Trade. In addition to the qualifications required for a mate, he must
show that he is capable of navigating a ship along any coast, for which purpose
he will be required to draw upon a chart produced by the Examiner the courses
and distances he would run along shore from headland to headland, and to give in
the writing courses and distances corrected for variation, and the bearings of
the headlands and lights, and to show when the course should be altered either
to clear any danger, or to adapt it to the coast. He must understand how to make
his soundings according to the state of the tide. He will also be questioned as
to his knowledge of the use and management of the mortar and rocket lines in the
case of the stranding vessel, as explained in the Official Log Book.
As first-class Pilot may be examined for a Master’s Certificate
of Competency for Home-trade Passenger Ships, notwithstanding that he may not
have served in the capacity of Mate.
Master.
_______________________________
General Rules as
to Examinations and Fees.
16. The candidates will be allowed to work out the various
problems according to the method and the table they have been accustomed to sue,
and will be allowed five hours to perform the work; at the expiration of which
time, if they have not finished, they will be declared to have failed, unless
the Local Marine Board see fit to extend the time.
Time allowed for working problems.
17. The fee for examination must be paid to te Superintendent of
the Mercantile Marine Office (Shipping Master). If a candidate fail his
examination, half the fee he has paid will be returned to him by the
Superintendent of the Mercantile Marine Office on his producing the Form Exn.
17, which will be given him by the Examiner. The fees as follows:-
For
‘Foreign-Going Ships.’
£ s. d.
Second
Mate 1 0 0
First and Only Mate, if previously possessing
an inferior
certificate 0 10 0
If
not 1 0 0
Master, whether Extra or
Ordinary 2 0 0
Master, if previously in possession of a certificate
For ‘fore and aft rigged
vessels’ 1 0 0
N.R.-Any person having a Master’s Certificate of Competency
for Foreign-going Ships may go up for an extra examination without payment of
any Fee, but if he fails in his first examination, half a Master’s Fee will be
charged for each subsequent examination. Any person who has obtained a
Certificate of Competency in any British Possession abroad, may present himself
for examination at any Local Marine Board in the United Kingdom, upon the
production of such Certificate, without payment of the usual fees, but should he
fail to pass his examination, the usual fee will be demanded.
Fees to be paid by applicants for
examination. s. 133. Exn. 17.
For ‘Home
Trade Passenger Ships.’
£ s. d.
Mate 0 10 0
Master 1 0 0
18. If the applicant passes he will receive the Form Exn. 176,
from the Examiner, which will entitle him to receive his Certificate of
Competency from the Superintendent of the Mercantile Marine Office, at the port
to which he has directed it to be forwarded. If his testimonials have been sent
to the Registrar to be verified, they will be returned with his certificate.
Notification of having ? And
will be given to successful candidates. Exn. 16.
19. If an applicant is examined for a higher rank, and fails, but
passes an examination for a lower grade, he may receive a certificate
accordingly, but no part of the fee will be returned.
Unsuccessful candidates may receive
certificates for inferior grades, if competent.
20. In every case the Examination, whether for Only Mate, First
Mate, or Master, is to commence with the problems for Second Mate.
Examination to commence with that
for Second Mate.
21. In all cases of failure the candidate must be re-examined
de novo. If a candidate fails in Seamanship he will not be
re-examined until after a lapse of
Six months, to give him to time to gain experience. If he fails three
times in Navigation he will not be re-examined until after a lapse of
Three Months.
Re-examination in case of failure.
22. As the examinations of Masters and Mates are made compulsory,
the qualifications have been kept as low as possible; but it must be distinctly
understood that it is the intention of the Board of Trade to raise the standard
from time to time, whenever, as will no doubt be the case, the general
attainments of officers in the merchant service shall render it possible to do
so without inconvenience; and officers are strongly urged to employ their
leisure hours, when in port, in the acquirement of the knowledge necessary to
enable them to pass their examinations; and Masters will do well to permit
apprentices and junior officers to attend schools of instruction, and to afford
them as much time for this purpose as possible.
________________________________
OFFICIAL NOTICE.-- NOTICE TO CANDIDATES FOR
MASTERS AND MATES’ CERTIFICATES OF COMPETENCY.
Candidates are required to appear at the examination room
punctually at the time appointed.
Candidates are prohibited from bringing into the examination room
books or papers of any kind whatever. The slightest infringement of this
regulation will subject the offender to all the penalties of a failure.
In the event of any Candidate being detected in defacing,
blotting, writing in, or otherwise injuring any book or books belonging to the
Board, the papers of such Candidate will be detained until the book or books so
defaced be replaced by him. He will not, however, be at liberty to remove the
damaged book, which will still remain the property of the Board.
In the event of any Candidate being discovered copying from
another, or affording any assistance or giving any information to another, or
communicating in any way with another, during the time of examination, he will
subject himself to a failure and its consequences.
No Candidate will be allowed to work out his problems on a slate
or on waste paper.
No Candidate will be permitted to leave the room until he has
given up the paper on which he is engaged.
Candidate will be allowed to work out the various problems by the
method and tables they have been accustomed to use, and will be allowed five
hours to perform the work. At the expiration of five hours they will, if they
have not finished, be declare to have failed, unless the Local Marine Board or
Examiner see fit to lengthen the period in any special case. If, however, the
period is lengthened in any case, the special circumstances of that case and the
reasons for lengthening the period, must be reported to the Board of Trade by
the Examiners at the time they send in the report on Form Exn. 14.
Candidates will find it more convenient, both her and at sea, to
correct the declination and other elements from the Nautical Almanac by the
‘hourly differences’ which have been given in that work in order to facilitate
such calculations; they will thereby render themselves independent of any
proportional or logarithmic table for such purposes.
The corrections by inspection from tables given in many works on
navigation will not be allowed (see Tables IX., XI., and XXI. In Norie’s
Epitome, &c.); every correction must appear on the papers of the Candidates. The
First-class and Extra Master are referred to page 519 of the Nautical Almanac,
1867, for further information on this subject.
Candidates are expected to bring their answers to all problems
within, or not to exceed, a margin of one mile of position from a correct
result.
In finding the longitude by chronometer the logarithms used in
finding the hour angle should be taken out for seconds of arc.
In all other problems the logarithms to the nearest minute will
be sufficiently correct for all grades, except Extra Master, from whom a degree
of precision will be required, both in the work and in the results, beyond what
is demanded from the inferior grades.
THOMAS GRAY, Assistant Secretary. Board of Trade, Marine
Department, Jan 1, 1869.
EXAMINATION OF MASTERS AND MATES WITH REFERENCE TO
THE COMMERCIAL CODE OF SIGNALS FOR THE USE OF ALL NATIONS.
Instructions to
Examiners.
23. In transmitting the accompanying copy of the latest edition
of the Commercial Code of Signals for the use of the Examiners, the Board of
Trade desire to direct attention to the principal points connected with this
Code as to which Candidates for Examination should be questioned.
24. At the same time, as the subject is probably new to some of
the Examiners themselves, the Board recommend to them a perusal of the Report
of the Signal Committee of 1855 (which will be found at the commencement of
the Signal Book), and also the first few pages of the Book. The
information therein given will be found sufficient to make the Examiners
theoretically acquainted with the characteristics of the New Code, and the
advantages it claims to posses over the other Codes, and will enable them to
appreciate and urge upon Candidates for Examination the facilities which the new
System of Signalling affords for easy and rapid communication.
25. The ‘comprehensiveness’ and ‘distinctness’ of the Commercial
Code are its chief recommendations.
26. The form of the Hoist generally indicates the nature of the
Signal made, so that an observer can at sight understand the character of the
Signal he sees flying.
The annexed plate gives examples which illustrates this.
27. The examination should tend to elicit a knowledge of the
distinctive features of the Code above alluded to.
With this object the Examiners should make the 2, 3, and 4 Flag
Signals on the Frame board which is furnished for the purpose (always taking
care first to show the Ensign and the Code Pennant at the Gaff),
questioning the Candidates as to the distinguishing Forms of the respective
Hoists (see Plate annexed), which will be indicated according as a
Burgee, or a Pennant, or a Square Flag, is uppermost.
28. The Candidate ought to know how to find the Signal Book the
communication or the inquiry he desires to make, and how to make the Signal. The
Signal to be made should invariably be sought for by the Candidate in the
Vocabulary and Index, Part II., and never in Part I.
29. The Candidate ought to know how to interpret a Signal.
The Examiner should place a Signal on the Frame board, and vary
the Signal by showing a 2 or 3 Flag Signal, or a ‘Geographical’ or a
‘Vocabulary’ Signal, or the name of a Merchant Ship a Ship of War.
The two latter Signals would not of course be found in the Signal
Book. The candidate ought to point them out in the Code List of Ships.
30. A candidate ought to be able to read off a Signal at sigh, so
far as to name the Flags composing the Hoist.
31. He ought to know the use of the Code Pennant, and of the
Pennants C. and D., ‘Yes’ and ‘No’.
32. The candidate should be practised in the use of the Spelling
Table, by being made to spell his own name, or some word not in the Vocabulary
of the Code.
33. As Ships of War use a different set of Code Flags, the
candidate ought to be aware of the fact, and should know that a plate of the
Admiralty Flags is to be found in the Signal Book, as well as plates of the Code
of Flags which Foreign Ships of War will use in signalling to Merchant Vessels.
He should also know that every official Log Book contains plates of the these
Code Flags.
34. A knowledge of the Distant Signals should be required of the
Candidate, their object, and the mode of signalling by the Distant Code, which
will be found at the end of the Signal Book.
For this purpose 2 Black Balls, 2 Black Square Flags, and 2 Black
Pennants will be furnished with the Frame board, and the candidate should be
required to make one or two Distant Signals, and to read off one or two made by
Examiners.
The Ball being the distinguishing symbol of the Distant Signal,
any Pennants or Flags of the Code may be employed in conjunction with it,
irrespective of colour. The Black Pennants and Flags are merely sent as showing
best in the light background of the Frame board.
Semaphores.
35. We have as yet no Semaphores on our coasts. The French,
however, have upwards of 110 such stations established on their coasts, at which
the Commercial Code of Signals only is used.
36. A plate at the end of the Signal Book explains the method by
which the arms of the Semaphores are made to represent by their position (up,
down, or horizontal) the three symbols used for distant signalling-viz, a Flag,
a Ball, or a Pennant. Before making Signals with the Semaphores, the Black Disc
with the white rim should be placed on the top of the Semaphore Mast, as it
properly forms a part of the Mast itself.
37. The Board of Trade think it of consequence to observe that,
as the Commercial Code has (in his integrity) been translated into French, and
as copies of the Signal Book are furnished to all French Vessels of War and
Semaphore stations, any Englishman can now by this Code make his wants known to
them.
Other nations are now negotiating for the adoption of the
Commercial Code, and from the favour with which Foreigners seem to have accepted
the Code whenever it has been presented to their notice, there is every reason
to believe that in a short time the Mercantile Marine of all nations will have
the advantages of being able to communicate by an ‘Universal Language of
Signals.’
38. Her Majesty’s Government have done all in their power to
promote the use of the Commercial Code, and the Government of India and nearly
all the Colonial Governments have adopted it, and a large number of Signal Books
and Code Lists have already been circulated in the British Possessions abroad.
The Examiners are to insert in the Report of Examinations (under
the heading of ‘Remarks’) the words ‘passed (or failed) in Commercial Code of
Signals,’ as the case may be.
_________
Note.-The Commercial Code of Signals for the use
of all Nations, with the Code List, is published by Sire WILLIAM MITCHELL, 54,
Gracechurch-street, London, and may be had (price 10s.) of the principal
Booksellers and Superintendents of Mercantile Marine at the various ports.
The Official Mercantile Navy
List and Maritime Directory, published for the use of Merchants, Shipowners,
Shipbrokers, and others, may be obtained in like manner, price 5s.
MASTERS AND MATES’
VOLUNTARY EXAMINATION IN STEAM.
39. Arrangements have been made for
giving to those Masters and First or Only Mates who are possessed of or entitled
to certificates of competency, an opportunity of undergoing a voluntary
examination as to their practical knowledge of the use and working of the steam
engine. These examinations are conducted on the premises, and under the
superintendence of the Local Marine Boards, at such times as they may appoint
for the purpose; and the Examiners are selected by the Board of Trade, from the
Engineer Surveyors appointed under the fourth part of ‘The Merchant Shipping
Act, 1854.’
Candidates
may be examined as to their knowledge of the steam-engine.
40. Any Master or Mate desiring to
be examined in Steam must deliver to the Superintendent of the Mercantile Marine
Office a statement in writing to that effect, upon the Form of Application (Exn.
2); if the applicant has a Certificate of Competency, such certificate must be
delivered to the Shipping Master along with his statement. If he is about to
pass an examination for Certificate of Competency at the same time, the
applications should be sent in together.
Course
to be pursued by candidate for Steam Certificate. Exn. 2
41. A fee of one pound must be paid
by the applicant for the examination in Steam, and the Superintendent of
the Mercantile Marine Office will thereupon inform him of the time and place at
which he is to attend to be examined, and the examination will then and there
proceed in the same manner as the other examinations. If the applicants fails,
and has given in his certificate, it will be at once returned to him, but no
part of the fee he has paid will be returned.
Fee to
be paid. Conduct of examination, &c.
42. If he passes, the
Report (Exn. 14) will be sent to the Board of Trade, and the Certificate of
Competency with the Form (Exn. 2) to the Registrar-General of Seamen; the words
‘Passed in Steam,’with the date and place of examination, will then be
entered on the certificate and its counterpart, and the certificate will be sent
to the Superintendent of the Mercantile Marine Office of the port named in the
Application (Exn. 2) to be delivered to the applicant in the usual manner.
Record
of certificate. Exn. 14
43. The examination is viva voce,
and extends to a general knowledge of the practical use and working of the
steam-engine, and of the carious valves, fittings, and pieces of machinery
connected with it. Intricate theoretical questions on calculations of
horse-power or areas of cylinders and valves, or any of the more difficult
questions which appertain to steam-engines and boilers, will not be asked. The
examination will in fact be confined to what a master of a steam-vessel may be
called upon to perform in the case of the death, incapacity, or delinquency of
the engineer.
Extent
of examination.
44. If the applicant fails to
answer some few of the questions, and yet, in the opinion of the Examiner,
possesses such a competent knowledge of the parts of the engine generally, and
such other practical knowledge of the subject as will enable him to effect the
object in view, the Examiner will exercise his discretion as to whether a
sufficiently high standard of knowledge has been attained, and pass him or not
accordingly.
Applicant
not required to answer every question.
45. The Examiner will provide
drawing and working sections, on a sufficiently large scale, of the various
parts of the steam-engine, and of the valves and slides, &c., as may be
necessary, and will require the applicant to make use of them in giving his
answers to the various questions put to him; and, if an opportunity offer, the
applicant will be permitted, under the guidance of the Examiner, to start and
stop the engine of some vessel which may have her steam up.
Such
Examiner will provide drawings, &c.
_____________________
CERTIFICATES OF
SERVICE.
46. A Certificate of Service
entitles an Officer who has served as either Master or Mate in a British
registered Ship before the 1st January, 1851, or as Master or Mate in
a Home Trade Passenger Ship before the 1st January, 1854, to serve in
those capacities again; and it also entitles an Officer who has attained or
attains the rand of Lieutenant, Master, Passed Mate, or Second Master, or any
higher rank in te service of Her Majesty or the late East India Company, to
serve as Master of a British Merchant Ship, and may be had by application to the
Registrar-General of Seamen, Adelaide Place, London Bridge, London, or to any
Superintendent of a Mercantile Marine Office in the Out-ports, on the
transmission and verification of the necessary and testimonials.
Certificates
of Service. s. 135.