'In Their Own Words'- Hawsepiper

Lately, we've been hearing about the Hawsepipe and Hawsepipers because one of our own has become a Third Mate this way.  After the war, the BROWN was a Maritime High School in New York City for over 30 years.   Since Project Liberty Ship restored the BROWN, we've kept the education theme alive in many ways.  Some of our crew members started volunteering on the ship as kids and later attended maritime colleges, like:

• SUNY  
• Massachusetts Maritime Academy 
• The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point

Currently, one of our first STEM graduates is attending Norwich University The Military College of Vermont with another crew member attending the Great Lakes Maritime Academy.  And there is another way: coming up through the ranks, or as they say, coming up through the Hawsepipe.  

The Hawsepipe is the pipe that passes through the bow of the ship through which the anchor chain passes.  The term 'coming up through the Hawsepipe' is an informal way of explaining  in the nautical world, the way an officer of a merchant ship can begin their journey by starting as an unlicensed merchant seaman, then getting the sea time, the training and classes needed, and the on-board assessments to qualify for and test for a license as a Third Mate.  Below is our very own Felix and his story.

Felix, in uniform.  On one hand it seems like so long ago, but in some ways it feels like yesterday. 

Felix and his oldest son

"It was always my dream to become a Merchant Marine, even as a child growing up in the province of Bohol, in my native country, Philippines.  With a lot of hard work and sacrifices, I obtained my Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation from the Philippine Maritime Institute. 

In 1999 I started shipping out through a Japanese Company under the command of a Korean Captain, as a Deck Cadet in a log bulk ship for a 12 month straight contract.  After that, I was given another assignment as Ordinary Seaman in a Car Carrier until promoted to Able Bodied Seaman.  As AB, I gained a lot of sea experience on board various vessels and worked with people of different nationalities.  

I immigrated to the US in September of 2006 through a petition by my wife.  Unsure of which career direction to go, I initially worked as a Maintenance Mechanic in a hotel before I decided to pursue my original dream.  It was in 2011 when I finally got my Able Bodied Seaman Unlimited here in the US.  It would not have been possible for me to complete all required sea time without the help of the JOHN W BROWN.  

Two friends, Percy and Bien, convinced me to volunteer on the BROWN.  I joined and started working on this historic ship in 2010.  I met many people who have shared their amazing stories during the time I've been volunteering on the Liberty Ship.   

AB Felix at the wheel on the BROWN's flying bridge in 2011.

I joined the Seafarers International Union in 2011.  Since then, I've gained numerous experiences in American Fleet vessels.  I later developed an interest in becoming an officer, so while working on board, I began reading study guides for deck officers. 

Studying and preparing for the Coast Guard exam for my Third Mate Unlimited License was very challenging.  Around the time that I was self-reviewing for the test, my wife delivered our son Daniel and we also moved to our new house.  Through the love and support of family and friends, my own commitment and dedication, and the help of my old notes, which I've kept for a long time, I recently successfully passed the exam. Thanks to God."

 ~Feliz S.   2/7/2015

Above: Felix and his son working on the gun. 

Felix and Bien on deck.  Bien was one of the people who was instrumental in Felix becoming a member of the ship.

General ships meeting.   Pete and Felix (in the foreground).

Project Liberty Ship, Inc is a 501(c)3 non-profit, all volunteer organization engaged in the preservation and operation of the historic ship JOHN W. BROWN as a living memorial museum. Gifts to Project Liberty Ship are tax deductible.

"In their Own Words" -Jack the Wonder Dog

"I don't really know anything about these blog things, and I'm sure these writers are going to act like they wrote this, but we all know the truth...this is my blog, and I wrote it.  That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.  I was born on October 31, 2007 on that really weird night when everyone dresses funny and wears scary masks (people are SO weird!)  I've also heard my dad, Zack, say my name is Jack O' Lantern, but I don't get it.  I just answer to Jack.  

Will you look at me?!?  I'd forgotten how small I was!  This is me and my dad.  He takes me everywhere with him, when he can.  I've been from Maine to Ohio and even to NC by T-boat.  I'm trying to convince my dad to be a lighthouse keeper for a summer.  ME and a lighthouse on an island, with my dad...how fun would that be?

I've heard people on the ship say that ship mascots have long been a part of maritime history and they have long been a tradition on the JOHN W BROWN.  That's another blog post.  My dad sometimes brought me and my Black Lab brother, Kooper to the ship.  But then Kooper got sick and died in 2011.  My dad and I were sad, so he started bringing me to the BROWN a lot more.  I have tons of friends on the ship and one of my favorite people is the Captain.  I get to stay with him and his family sometimes, and he adds yummy people food to my kibble (shhhh...don't tell my dad).  I follow the Captain around the ship, in fact, as soon as I get aboard, I run up to see if he's in his quarters, and if not, then I'll come back down and go visit everyone.  Some crew actually thought I belonged to the Captain.  How silly is that?!

I'm what you might call an ambassador for the ship.  Kids are OK but they smell AWESOME...ice cream, cookies, and cheddar cheese fish crackers.  So many scents on one small body!  Here I'm in Fell's Point at the Privateer Festival, greeting people (and smelling them) and bringing them to our display.  

So, I am an Australian Cattle dog/Blue Heeler.  My dad tells people that my 'kind' are highly intelligent and need to be a 'working dog'.  I do love to be moving and running and I also know that I can out smart some people I know.  I go everywhere on this ship, even down to the engine room. Once some police were doing training and their dogs would not come on the ship.  So my dad had me show the dogs that the gangway was not so scary and soon those police dogs were following me up to the deck. 

Not every dog gets to hang their head out of the 'window' of a WWII Liberty Ship when they go for a ride!

I might work hard, but I'm nobodies fool; I know where all the cool spots are on the BROWN.

I hope you don't think I'm just a dog.  I'm actually a crew member (with my own ID badge) and I will jump in when needed.  They don't think I can do some of this work, but I taught them a thing about line handling. 

I couldn't find my PFD, so i'm hanging out with Howard. 

Not one to be left out of anything on the ship, I jumped right in the lifeboat with my Captain.  Just call me  Chief Canine.

I've seen this at the firehouse with my dad.  A bunch of amateurs here...I need to supervise EVERYTHING!

When the Captain is busy, I am busy; where he goes, I will follow.  Sometimes I'll leave his side to go check on my dad and see who else has come on board, but then I go find the Captain again.  It's my job. 

Easy peasy.  I do better on some of these than the humans do.  I can even do about 2-3 rungs on a vertical ladder.

I'm a bit annoyed here... they SAY they are painting or something.  Hmmmff... the nerve of them keeping me alone in a cabin.   The least they could do is leave a human to play ball with me. 

Here are some more pictures of me.  Not to toot my own horn, but I'm the bees knees.  I'm pretty cool.  Well, thanks for reading my blog.  I've got to go check out Amazon...I heard there is a special on balls.  My dad thinks my lack of thumbs keeps me off the internet.  Little does HE know....

Yours truly,

Jack 

We would love to see your pictures of your special animals on your ships; plus I'm always looking for animal friends.  If you have a dog (or cat) that likes boats, post your pictures on our Facebook page."

Project Liberty Ship, Inc is a 501(c)3 non-profit, all volunteer organization engaged in the preservation and operation of the historic ship JOHN W. BROWN as a living memorial museum. Gifts to Project Liberty Ship are tax deductible.

Adopt A Rivet 2015 Own A Piece of History

Riveting began with the first iron hulled ships in the early 1800's and followed on the way blacksmiths joined two pieces of metal together.  As new technology was developed the process could be done by fewer men and more efficiently.

Liberty ships continued to be built with rivets after welding hulls had become more common.  Skilled rivet teams were plentiful and welders were still learning their trade.  Welding also came with problems of cracks and fractures.  The riveted hulls of the Liberty Ships produced at the Fairfield shipyard did not experience any failures.  The method used produced extremely strong hulls and the ships were in great demand even after the war for this reason.

The challenge to having rivet work done today is that there aren't many people who can do it.  Beyond skill it takes strength and endurance.  The rivet gun is heavy and most of the work is done facing upward on the bottom of the hull.  A visit to the shipyard takes a great deal of coordination, and money.  One way to raise funds for new rivets is to place old rivets in good homes.  For a tax deductible donation you can own your own piece of history.  Once you've read through the blog and watched the video you can CLICK HERE and send for your own rivet on a commemorative stand.

Our Rivets are available for a donation of $100.  We invite all donors to pick them up on the ship on April the 11th from 11am to 2pm. We will offer light fare, VIP access to the ship and the ability to have a preview of some of the new parts of our Living History Cruises.  If unable to attend April 11th, we will ship the rivets at that time to the remaining donors.

Here's a video showing the process of riveting the hull.  This is our own JOHN W BROWN at Colonna's Shipyard  this past fall.

Work begins in the plate shop. The steel plate has been cut to size and the holes are being drilled for the rivets.

The sized steel plate has been fitted into place on the ship’s hull. The butts of the plate are tack welded into place and the seams will be riveted.  This arrangement gives the hull more flexibility and strength than an all welded hull.

This is a reaming tool.  Once the two plate have been lined up this tool makes sure the holes for the rivets are perfectly matched and the same size.

The riveters will measure the thickness of the plates to be joined by the rivets.  Here a rivet is cut to the proper size.  The hull plates are thinner than the keel plate so it is important to measure.

The rivets are counted and arranged in the order that they will go into the forge.

This way the rivet team works seamlessly in getting the job done.  It’s a six-man team so organization makes the job run smoothly and quickly.

The rivets are heated to over 2000 degrees Fahrenheit in a kerosene-fired forge.  This team member knows where the rest of team is in the process just by listening.

The timing for heating the rivets is crucial as there is a small temperature range to get the hot rivet into place and the end peened over.

You get a nice glow on a rivet at 2000 degrees Fahrenheit.

This is the pneumatic rivet gun.

The two plates are initially bolted to hold them into place.  The riveters remove the bolts and replace them with rivets.

The bolts are placed in a W pattern.  When the first set of rivets has been installed the bolts will be removed and the remaining rivets will be installed.  The rivets are inserted from the inside of the hull.  You can see the peened rivets on the right of the photograph and the empty holes on the left.

The rivet is held in place from the inside of the hull and the pneumatic drill peens it into place.

Seen above: The double bottom tanks of the BROWN do not offer a spacious work environment for the "Bucker."  There are at least two men in the tanks at any time during the process.

This riveter is using a caulking tool to assure that the seam is watertight.  This is not your ordinary caulking gun.  It forces the edge of the outer plate tightly against the inner plate.

You can own your own piece of history!  CLICK HERE to make a tax deductible contribution to the Rivet Drive.  All contributions will go towards keeping the JOHN W BROWN in tip top shape and sailing for years to come.

Project Liberty Ship, Inc is a 501(c)3 non-profit, all volunteer organization engaged in the preservation and operation of the historic ship JOHN W. BROWN as a living memorial museum. Gifts to Project Liberty Ship are tax deductible.