NICHOLLS'S Seamanship and Nautical Knowledge Revised by A N COCKCROFT, BROWN, F.R.I.N., F.N.I., M.Phil., EXTRA MASTER GLASGOW SON & FERGUSON, LTD., NAUTICAL PUBLISHERS 4-10 DARNLEY STREET, G41 2SD Copyright in all Countries signatory to the Berne Convention All rights reserved PREFACE FOR several decades Nicholls s Seamanship has served as a standard text-book for ship's officers and cadets It is intended to cover most aspects of Seamanship to a sufficient standard for all grades of examination and to provide an introduction to Ship Construction, Stability and Cargo Work for practical requirements aboard ship Signalling and some aspects of Shipmasters' Business are also covered 25th Edition 1983 26th Edition 1993 Revised 1995 27th Edition 1997 Extensive changes have been made in this edition due to recent developments and amendments to regulations The chapter on Life-Saving Appliances has been completely revised and the chapter on Firefighting has been changed to take account of the requirements of the IMO Safety of Life at Sea Convention and the latest regulations for U.K ships Several amendments to the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea came into force in November 1989 and April 1991 The revised Regulations are incorporated in this edition Changes have been made to other chapters where necessary Grateful acknowledgement organisations for information trations: ISBN 85174 654 (27th Edition) ISBN 85174 637 © 1997 BROWN, SON & FERGUSON, LTD., GLASGOW, G41 2SD Printed and Made in Great Britain is made to the following firms and and permission to reproduce illus- Blohm & Voss AG, Hamburg (Stuelcken Derrick) British Ropes Limited (Wire splice) Finn Tveten & Co AjS, Oslo (Velie Shipshape Crane) Loveridge Limited (Blocks and sheaves) MacGregor & Co (Naval Architects) Ltd (Universal derrick and hatch covers) Nu-Swift International Ltd (Fire extinguishers) P & O Steam Navigation Co (Cargo work photographs) R.F.D Ltd (Liferaft) Pains-Wessex Limited (Line-throwing apparatus) Viking Life-saving Equipment Ltd (Evacuation system) Welin Lambie Ltd (Lifeboat davits) Watercraft International Ltd (Lifeboats) CONTENTS CONVERSION TABLE Metric to Imperial Units Imperial to Metric Units Length inch foot fathom nautical mile = = = = cm = O'394 inches m = 3·28 feet = 0,547 fathoms km = 0·54 nautical miles 2·54 cm 0·305 m 1·83 m 1·85 km Weight 0·454 kg pound = = 1,016'05 kg ton 1-016 tonnes - 2·205 Ibs 0-984 tons = 2,204-6 Ibs kg tonne = Volume or Capacity cu foot = 0-0283 m3 = 4-546 litres gallon gross ton = 2·83 m3 cu m = 35-315 cu ft litre = 0·22 gallons cu m = 0-353 gross tons Rope Size Diameter of rope in mm = Circumference in inches X 8-085 Diameter in mm X 0-124 Circumference of rope in inches = CHAPTER I.-ROPE KNOTS AND SPLICES Construction of ropes-Properties of fibre rope-Rope preservationMiscellaneous cordage-Whippings-Knots, hitches, bends and splices-Wire rope-Wire splicing CHAPTER II.-LlFTING GEAR Strength of rope-Blocks-Purchases-Loads on derricks-Derrick rigsHeavy lifts-Patent derricks or ship cranes 28 CHAPTER III-LIFE-SA VING APPLIANCES Lifeboats- Liferafts- Equipment - Lifebuoys- Lifejackets- Line-throwing appliances-Pyrotechnics-Lifeboat engine-Boat sailing 57 CHAPTER IV-ANCHORS AND CABLES Types of anchor-High holding power anchors-Cables-ShacklesAnchor and Chain Cables Act-Marking of anchors and cables 79 CHAPTER V-REGULATIONS FOR PREVENTiNG COLLISIONS AT SEA Rules to 38-Annexes I to IV-Conduct of vesselsin sight of one another -Conduct of vesselsin restricted visibility-Lights and day signals 89 CHAPTER VI-SAFETY INFORMATION Publications on safety-IALA Buoyage System-Important Merchant Shipping Notices and Notices to Mariners 131 CHAPTER VII-DISTRESS AND RESCUE Statutc,ry obligations-Lifesaving organisation-Distress signals-Linethrowing appliances-Rescue by helicopter-Abandoning shipRescuing crew of disabled ship-Search and rescue-Man overboard · 146 CHAPTER VIH-FlREFlGHTING Definitions-Prevention of fire-Extinguishing agents-Types of fireFire appliances-Fixed installations-Portable extinguishers-Fire drills-Fire fighting · 161 CHAPTER IX-SHIP HANDLING General principles-Propeller effects-Turning short round-Stopping distances-Turning circles-Shallow water effects-Anchor workMooring to two anchors-Berthing-Leaving a berth 175 CHAPTER X-EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES Heavy weather-Heaving to-Lee shore-Defective steering gear-Jury rudder - Collision - Damage control- Beaching - StrandingTowing · 193 CHAPTER XI-CARGO WORK AND MAINTENANCE Cargo-handling equipment - Dunnage - Bulk cargoes - ContainersDangerous goods-Deep tank liquids-Documents-General cargo Refrigerated cargo-Bulk oil-Pipe line systems-Loading operations-Discharging-Ballasting-Properties and use of paints 208 CONTENTS CHAPTER XII-SHIP CONSTRUCTION Stresses on a ship-Welding-Cellular double bottom-Bulkheads-Deep tanks-Shell plating-Pillars-Hatchways-Stem and sternRudders-Stern tube-Transverse sections 244 CHAPTER XITI-SHIP STABILITY Displacement-Centre of Buoyancy- Metacentre- TPC-Centre of Gravity-Inclining Experiment-Moments-Longitudinal stability -Righting lever-Metacentric Height-Stability curves-Dynamical stability-Negative stability-Free surface-Simpsons Rules 280 CHAPTER XIV-MISCELLANEOUS Departments and organisations-RegistrationTonnage Safety certificates-Log books-Loadlines-Classification surveys-Drydocking-Dock regulations-Pest control 328 CHAPTER XV-SIGNALLING International Code - Flag signals - Morse - Procedure signals Signalling by flashing and sound-Quarantine and pilot signals 358 NICHOLLS'S SEAMANSHIP AND NAUTICAL KNOWLEDGE CHAPTER KNOTS, BENDS, SPLICES The Construction of Ropes ROPEcan be made from almost every pliable material, but is generally c~mposed of vegetable fibres, synthetic fibres, steel, iron or copper wires The vegetable fibres used are Manila from the Philippines; Sisal from East Africa; Hemp from Europe, India and New Zealand; Cotton; Coir, often called grass line, which is manufactured from the husks of coconuts The fibres are combed out and formed into a continuous ribbon, spun into Yarn and wound on bobbins The yarns are made into Strands which are Layed into the finished rope The Lay or Angle at which the strands are twisted together is an important factor governing the performance of the rope The higher the "angle of lay", the harder the rope Right Hand Lay or "Z" Twist signifies that the spiral shape of the strands is similar to that of a standard screw thread Left Hand Lay or "S" Twist is the opposite to the above Standard Lay is that which from experience is found to be the best angle of lay for all general work to withstand chafing and to combine pliability with strength Soft Lay (or Long Lay) has an angle of lay less than normal in order to increase the pliability of the rope, and to reduce elasticity Hard Lay (or firm or Short Lay) has an angle of lay greater than normal in order to increase elasticity and to reduce the absorbtion of water The breaking strain and pliability are reduced, but the elasticity is increased The types of rope are divided into the following classes: (1) Three-strand or Hawser-laid Rope This construction, sometimes called "Plain Lay", is the general standard type of rope for all ordinary purposes (Fig 1) (2) Four-strand or Shroud lay, provides the rope with a greater bearing surface than three strand, but its weight is greater and its strength less than three-strand rope of the same size A core is NICHOLLS'S SEAMANSHIP AND NAUTICAL KNOWLEDGE generally placed in the centre of thIS rope for stability Both three and four strand ropes are normally made "right-hand" (Fig 2) KNOTS, BENDS AND SPLICES warping drums because the area of contact is greater This construction is used only for nylon ropes (Fig 5) Natural Fibre Rope Manila glossy comes from the Abaca plant The rope is smooth and Sisal is relatively cheap but is not as strong as manila It is almost white and has a hairy surface Hemp is used mainly for small cordage (3) Cable-laid rope (or Water Lay) This is made by laying three three-strand ropes together It is normally made "Left Hand" but when required can be made "Right Hand" When used in conjunction with wire rope as a towing spring, it is essential that the lay of the rope is the same as that of the wire rope (4) Unkinkable lay In this construction the twist of the yarn and the strands is the same, usually Left Hand, while the rope is Right Hand Lay This provides resistance to kinking when running through sheaves and is recommended for lifeboat falls, in certain cases (5) Eight strand plaited rope is made by plaiting two pairs of righthand strands with two pairs of left-hand strands This construction give the same strength as three-strand rope of the same size but it is extremely flexible and is resistant to kinking It grip:, well on winches and capstans, making it very suitable for mooring ropes (Fig 4) Coir is made from coconut fibre It was formerly used for towing and harbour springs because it will float on water but it has low strength and has been superseded by polypropylene Cotton is very soft rope, used for ornamental Synthetic Fibre Rope Rope made from synthetic fibres is unaffected by rot and mildew and has greater strength than natural fibre rope The following materials are used: Polyamide (Nylon) This is the strongest of the synthetic fibre ropes It has exceptional resistance to substantial loading It is resistant to alkalis, oils and organic solvents but is attacked by acids Polyester tret-::h as IT •" '.' SId (6) Braided rope consists of a braided sheath over a braided core It gives greater strength than three stranded or eight-strand rope, is very flexible, does not kink and gives more grip on capstans and purposes rT'erylene) is almost as strong as nylon and does not