TWO WATCH SHIPS.

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 150, 29 June 1928, Page 12

TWO WATCH SHIPS.

Complaint-was made at tho annual meeting of tho Mercantile SMarino Service Association that there were still some shipowners who send their ships to sea with only two officers, a practlco which necessitates a maii keeping watch and watch about. Having hail ourselves In tho past some experience of a twowatch ship, wo can appreciate tho feelings of those who have to work under tills system (writes the "Syren and Shipping.") ' Wo havo mot men who boast that they can get to sleep In five minutes after turning in, but they aro fortuiiato exceptions to..the general rule, and it can bo taken for granted that the officer in a two-watch ship never obtains more than 3% hours' sleep at ono time. Fur twelve hours out of. tho 24 ho must bo on his feet on the bridge, and in his watch bolow there aro important duties about the deck to be attended to. It is admittedly difficult to earn profits in tho coasting and short-soa trades, and the employment of three officers would perhaps 4bo deemed by sonic owners an unwarrantable extravagance, but that is small consolation to those- who have no alternative but to submit to tho watch-and-watch routine.