Things You Didn’t Know About Ships And Boats
Interesting facts about ships and boats
Considering the ocean covers approximately 71% of the Earth’s surface and so much of it remains unexplored, there are many hidden treasures out there. We’re not referring to pirate gold but rather interesting stories and fun facts about lost ships and boats. Let’s start with a few terms and sayings that are still used in the maritime world today.
“Cold Enough To Freeze The Balls Off A Brass Monkey”
The phrase, “cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey” originated from old warships where the “balls” were iron cannonballs. Sailors kept them in a pyramid shape on a square brass tray which they referred to as a “monkey”.
In extremely cold weather, the brass would contract so the pile of cannonballs would fall off and roll all over the deck. The reason for keeping the iron cannonballs on brass is that iron rusts fast and the last thing warships wanted were cannonballs rusting into the brass tray.
Of course, in those days they did not have advanced machinery and deck equipment as ships have today. As you’ll see from the Marine Deck Equipment experts at Ship Chandlers, there are a host of ropes and links, chains, cleaning materials, blocks, hoists, winches and lifting slings.
Using The Head
The term “using the head” is popular in television shows around the world but it actually comes from ships and boats. In olden times, only the ship’s captain had a private toilet facility near his quarters which meant regular sailors would relieve themselves at the ship’s front, also called the head or bow. If it sounds dirty and unhygienic, it probably was but the normal wave action cleaned it regularly.
Fortunately, times have changed and there are toilets, showers, bigger cabins, kitchens, maintenance and housekeeping provisions among many others provided by ship suppliers like Ship Chandlers. So, if you need to use the toilet on a ship, ask for the heads instead and don’t be tempted to relieve yourself at the front of the ship as it’s frowned upon these days.
Measuring Maritime Speed In Knots
Ships and aeroplanes use nautical miles to measure speed with one 1 “knot” equalling 1.15 miles per hour. The term originates from the 17th century when sailors measured the speed of a ship by using a device called a “common log.” Interestingly, the device used today to measure boat speed is still called the “log” even though it has nothing to do with an actual log.
They would tie evenly spaced knots into a coil of rope, attach it to a piece of wood which was lowered from the back of the ship where it floated behind. As the ship moved with the log in tow, the number of knots during a certain period of time would be counted once the line was pulled in which would determine the speed of the ship. So, if they counted 20 knots the speed would be 23 mph or 37 km/h.
Quarantine And Isolation
Not that the term quarantine needs any introduction thanks to the pandemic, but it does have a rich history. The noun “quarantine” comes from the Italian words “quarantina giorni” which also means forty days. It originates from the Venetian policy of quarantining ships for 40 days if they arrived from plague-stricken areas to ensure nobody on-board is infected. From the 17th century onwards, quarantine was used to describe “any period of forced isolation”.
Speaking of maritime and healthcare, Link Ship Chandlers is establishing an enviable reputation for providing pharmaceuticals, medical consumables and essential drugs to various shipping and offshore companies in South Africa. This includes cruise ships, oil rigs, gas rigs, merchant vessels, tankers, and long-haul freighters. Visit the website for more information where you can also place an order.
The “Unsinkable” Hugh Williams
Whether this is pure coincidence or something from the X-files, the tale of the unsinkable Hugh Williams has baffled mariners for centuries. The story starts in 1664 when a ship sank in the Menai Strait just off the coast of Wales where only one of the 81 passengers survived and his name was Hugh Williams.
Then, another ship sank in 1785 in the Menai Strait where only one of the 60 passengers survived and he was also a Hugh Williams. This is where it starts getting interesting as a third ship sank in 1820 in the Strait with the only survivor being Hugh Williams.
Twice could be a coincidence but a third time adds even more mystery to the story. It certainly is an incredible tale but is it history or just another famous maritime story?
Lost Ships And Cannibalistic Rats
Stories of the sea have always involved ghost ships and one of the most recent is the MV Lyubov Orlova aptly named after the Russian actress. The 1976 Yugoslavia-built ice-strengthened cruise ship was predominantly used for Arctic and Antarctic expeditions until it was decommissioned in 2010.
The 100m long Lyubov Orlova was last seen adrift off the coast of Newfoundland in February 2013. It was to be sold for scrap and taken under tow to the Dominican Republic but the tow line broke and the ship drifted into international waters.
Some people believe that cannibalistic rats have taken over the ship as there is no food except each other. Many believe the ship has sunk but those searching for her at the time said that sinking it would have activated emergency beacons aboard the life rafts. The ship’s whereabouts are still unknown to this day.
Maritime Superstitions
As anyone in the maritime industry will know, stories and superstitions are an inherent part of life when spending weeks or months on a ship. One great example is whistling as the only people allowed to whistle are the cooks as it means they are not eating the food. If anyone else whistles, it’s considered bad luck as it can bring strong winds.
Bananas might provide great nutrition but when it comes to superstitions, they are not good for a ship, especially on fishing boats. Sailors believe that bananas are bad luck as the fish will stop biting and there might even be mechanical issues.
You wouldn’t normally put cats and water in the same sentence but they were actually considered as good luck for a ship. It makes sense to have cats on a ship as they hunt down and get rid of rodents who might chew on ropes, eat food and spread disease. This practice even dates back to Vikings in Northern Germany between the 8th and 11th century.
Leave a Reply