NavList:

To all,   Obviously, I forgot to mention two (2) things in m previous post, for which I certainly apologize ...   1. The universal and old seaman's adage, applicable to so many posts appearing on this List, i.e., "Different ships, different long splices.', meaning many things are done differently on different ships, in different Companies, and with different Unions..   2. The Radio Shack clock, which may not be applicable to many modern ships not carrying a Radio Operator. As traffic lists were scheduled by GMT, it was necessary that the RO be aware of GMT - his clock was sometimes set to GMT, sometimes a dual handed special manufacture clock, and sometimes he just kept track of the time difference. On single operator ships, he ususally arranged his work hours independently to coincide with traffic list broadcasts - otherwise the "auto alarm"  kept watch for distress calls. It is perhaps interesting to note that in the early days of radio one of the deck officers, usually the 3rd Mate, acted as the radio operator. Again, however, "differnt ships, different long splices".   Jeremy has otherwise amply and well filled us in on procedures applicable to the modern "all electronic" ship". I rather suspect that his interest in clestial navigation has made him into somewhat of an "enigma" to his compatriots. I have now discovered that the USCG apparently issues a special certificate, or endorsement, as a "Qualified Celestial Navigator" - can this really be true?   Regards,    Henry --- On Sun, 11/15/09, Anabasis75@aol.com <Anabasis75@aol.com> wrote: From: Anabasis75@aol.com <Anabasis75@aol.com> Subject: [NavList 10692] Changing Zone Descriptions at Sea To: navlist@fer3.com Date: Sunday, November 15, 2009, 3:12 PM I will add to Henry's description of how time is changed at sea.  He is correct, the MOST ships still maintain the three 20-minute changes during the evening watches.  I do have one captain who defies tradition, as is his derogative, and changed it one hour at a time.  The trick was that he would switch watches that this was done on as we entered each new time zone.  For example, for the first change the 8x12 would do it at 2200 hours.  For the next zone the 12x4 would do it at 0200, and finally the 4x8 would do the third change at 0500.  This makes all time changes outside of the work hours of all but the two people on the bridge and would not cause major confusion (usually).   The reason for the 20 minute changes is indeed to spread the pain or sleep bonus among the three watches.  The normal times are 2200, 0200, and 0600 so as not to interfere with people's work schedule.  To be frank, typically the watch officer hits the "advance" or "retard" button on the master clock when he wants to.  For example, when I do it on the 4x8 watch, i do it soon after I arrive, so between 0400 and 0430.  It doesn't really matter at that point.   The navigational time it is COMPLETELY different.  The DR's, fixes, all of that, are retarded the WHOLE hour at 0200 on the 2nd Mate's watch (he's the navigator.).  He usually also does the bridge clocks (not hooked up to the ship's master clock) at this time as well.  So you will see either no 0200 fix, or two 0200 fixes depending on what direction we are traveling, as well as a note in the deck log book about advancing or retarding the clock 1 hour to conform to a particular time zone.   I suspect that this may have been done on the 4x8 watches in times past due to the fact that the 4x8 were traditionally the 2nd mate watches.  Perhaps Henry can weigh in on that point.   For some very fast ships, I have also heard of 2 hour changes in a night.  I have no personal knowledge on how that is done.  I suspect 40 minutes per watch.   Jeremy --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ NavList message boards: www.fer3.com/arc Or post by email to: NavList@fer3.com To , email NavList+@fer3.com -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---     Reply Browse Files Drop Files NavList What is NavList? Get a NavList ID Code Name: (please, no nicknames or handles) Email: Do you want to receive all group messages by email? Yes No A NavList ID Code guarantees your identity in NavList posts and allows faster posting of messages. Retrieve a NavList ID Code Enter the email address associated with your NavList messages. Your NavList code will be emailed to you immediately. Email: Email Settings NavList ID Code: Custom Index Subject: Author: Start date: (yyyymm dd) End date: (yyyymm dd) Visit this site Visit this site Visit this site Visit this site Visit this site Visit this site