The Life of a Merchant Marine: Documents

Hello Everyone,

I'm the curator here at SS John W Brown and I LOVE MUSEUMS, no shame. A lot of stuff, or objects as we like to say in the industry, come across my desk and this one folder I am thoroughly enjoying.

This file, object number 2016.25 (no accession numbers, I have a big pile of stuff so I consider it one big accession) is basically the sailing life of this one guy: Charles A. Scarpello. I don't know how we acquired this file, as with most of our objects. Most likely someone put this with a "lot" of other memorabilia on Ebay, it was then purchased by a Merchant Marine collector then given to us. That's pretty much how we acquire objects and we love getting more Merchant Marine objects! If you have anything you want stored securely in our archive, put online on our Omeka site for the world to see, then eventually put on display... we'll take it!

Without further adieu, I present to you 2016.25:

Charles A. Scarpello

Mr. Scarpello sailed during World War II and was awarded at least these two awards for his service, but was not considered a veteran until 1988.

These are pre-war discharge certificates from his sailing career in the 1930's. Note that the Department of Commerce regulated these until 1942, when the USCG took over regulation of the Merchant Marine. Also, note his rise through the ranks from Messboy, to Able Seaman, then Quartermaster (a type of specialized watchstanding Able Seaman who is proficient in navigational duties found on ships with larger crews). 

During World War II Mr. Scarpello then earned his third mate's license and thus became an officer in the United States Maritime Service. This government service (akin to the Lighthouse Service or Public Health Service) was a paramilitary government organization created to quickly and efficiently train personnel for the Merchant Marine. This was needed because Liberty Ships (requiring between 30 and 60 crew) were built at an average pace of 52 a month (that's 1,560 to 3,120 mariners by the way) for the duration of their respective shipbuilding program. This certificate was part of his training as an officer in the USMS.

Mr. Scarpello kept sailing into the late 1960's and belonged to the union MMP (Masters, Mates, and Pilots), which many Merchant Marine deck officers are members of to this day. Note his travels to Vietnam during that war as well as Egypt in 1964.

Well that's it for this week from the archives, check us out next week when I highlight another object and also check out collections website for your research and casual perusal! 

Training

We have a busy cruise season this year with two port visits in addition to our regular schedule (Norfolk in 3 weeks and NYC in September). The Captain announced 2 training days (April 16 and 23rd) and required all who were planning on cruising this year to attend at least one of the events.  Crew members came from as far away as Maine, NY, Pa, De and Ga, and a good turnout was seen.  Most of the first training on the 16th was actually cleaning and work on the ship, from the engine room to the deck department to the electricians. The captain actually roamed the ship with a list of things that needed to be done, from organizing linen lockers and other storage spaces, to getting things, like the #2 tweendeck and the newest addition (a lifeboat), painted. Here are some shots of some of the things that occurred before lunch.

Trying to maximize the numbers on board the ship in an organized way, lunch of hamburgers, hotdogs and salads was served at 1130 for the crew.  Some of the more glamorous shots of engineers in the shaft alley or this photographer cleaning and organizing the slop room, were fortunately NOT captured. 

The big event on Saturday's training was the long meeting, where abandon ship, security issue and medical emergencies aboard the ship were covered.  This was also a chance for the captain to go over procedures and policies from everything from badges to TWIC cards as well as giving out the most up to date details about our planned trips to Norfolk and NYC.   Finally, a new docent manual was given out to all crew, to help with tours and also giving directions on our blue-line-tour (self guided).  

On April 23rd, there were some similarities (the same meeting was held by the Captain for those who had not been on the ship on the 16th).  But the ship was a bit more chaotic.  We had a previously scheduled model shoot that morning, as well as a tour by 3 WWII vets and their families  (LCT FLOTILLAS of WWII). 

We also had an abandon ship drill and our watchful crew were able to spot 'suspicious' packages found in places on the deck (to practice our security plan).  We have so much more to do in terms of preparation for Norfolk and the rest of the cruising season but we are, as usual, doing lots of training and preparation for the visit.  If you are in the Virginia area and plan on taking the Norfolk cruise, please note that the last day to order tickets is May 7.   See you next Wednesday for that blog.  

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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

What the heck is a Plimsoll???

Why are we writing a quick, short blog about Plimsoll's?  Well, for the second time in the last 6 months, our Plimsoll glasses have gone viral thanks to social media (Facebook and Twitter).  We've also been asked by a bunch of people this week alone, what 'those marks' mean. It's a very cool thing that not all of our readers actually have a maritime background.  Many are relatives of veterans or mariners, others are history and museum buffs and a large number ARE those that make a living (or did, at one point) on the sea.  So the timing is perfect for a quick, short history lesson. 

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Well, it ALL started with a politician.  I KNOW, right?!?!?  Sounds like a punch line or a sea story in the making.   But really, Samuel Plimsoll (1824-1898) was an English reformer who is known today for his work to make seamen more safe. He wrote and spoke out against 'coffin ships'; ships that were over insured, over loaded and were very likely to be unseaworthy and dangerous.  The Plimsoll mark/Plimsoll line is also known as the International load line.  As that name suggests, 'ole Plimsoll created such a stir, that this mark that was placed on cargo ships was seen to be common sense and needed not just by the English, but internationally. The British Merchant Shipping Act of 1875 set the stage for the International Convention on Load Lines in 1966 to place a load line on the hull of cargo ships to show the safest levels a ship can be loaded to while still being safe.  

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Polly: "O, Dear Jack! I can't help crying, but I'm so happy to think you're not going in one of those dreadful ships!"
Jack: "No, No, lass - never more - thanks to our friend Master Plimsoll, God bless him."

John Tenniel, The Coffin-Ships, Punch Magazine (1873)

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SO, what does it all mean, for those of you that don't know?   What does AB mean, for instance?  AB refers to the registration authority, and AB is the American Bureau of Shipping.  You will also see on ships LR (Lloyd's Register), NV (Det Norske) or RI (Registro Italiano Navale) just to name a few. 

The science of the other initials you can see in the above image, is that the temperature and salinity of the water that the ship is in, actually determines how deep the ship should safely be submerged.  Warm water is less dense than cold water (so there is less buoyancy) and fresh water is less dense than salt water. So for today's blog you got some history and some science.  Ta da!!  Wait..are you still awake?  We didn't help you fall asleep, did we?

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 A huge thanks to Matthew Abbott for this shot or our Plimsoll. Check out his photography page on Flickr HERE.

So if you are looking for a cool gift for yourself or someone you love, check out our online store and the types of merchandise we sell.   All of the profits of the store go directly into the maintenance of this WWII Liberty Ship and as we are always being told "these Plimsoll glasses are too cool!"  Here is the link to them directly, and have a cold refreshing drink on us!!    ;)

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Until our next blog, have a great week!  

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