ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT |
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Camera Shy: Ens. J.J. Profilet,
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| Most people don't know what makes a ship move, other than the boilers generate
steam, steam turns the engines, the engines turn the shafts with their
screws and the screws drive the ship through the water. Sounds simple,
doesn't it? Well, that is all most people need to know about how a ship
is propelled, but here are the men who don't think it is that simple and
who have to know a lot more than that about it. These are the men you
don't often see on the main deck of a ship, because they are down below
in the engine rooms and fire rooms working and sweating to keep the ship
running; supplying the things we so often take for granted like fresh
water, electrical power and ventilation and heating; and at the same time
keeping the ship ready to answer all bells and hence ready to carry out
all assignments. A discussion of the department wouldn't be complete without
mentioning the three groups of repair personnel, the electricians, ship-fitters,
and "A" gang. These are the men who are responsible for keeping the ship
supplied with power and interior communications; maintaining the ship's
watertight integrity; doing all the odd jobs of metal work which come
up on a ship; and finally, keeping all the ship's auxiliary machinery
in operating condition. If it's mechanical and isn't part of the main
propulsion plant, these are the men who will keep it running. It has been
said that "she isn't much for chow, and she isn't much for liberty," but
with this crew of engineers working down below us, she really is a steamer. |
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