Life at Sea

Life at Sea

Four hours on, eight hours off, for weeks at a time.

The watch. Traditional watches run 4 on, 8 off: 12 to 4, 4 to 8, 8 to 12. The 4-to-8 sees both sunrise and sunset.

The crew. Deck: master, mates, able seamen, ordinary seamen. Engine: chief, assistant engineers, QMEDs, wipers. Steward's department: cooks and messmen.

The rotation. Many mariners work months aboard, then months ashore.

The rules. Rest hours, drills, safety meetings, the logbook.

History. Sailors' songs, sea chests, scrimshaw, and hard discipline. The Seamen's Act of 1915 improved conditions for American sailors.

See it. Gallery G6: a crew cabin at actual size. Could you share it for four months?

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