The Plimsoll Line and What it Means!
Jan 24, 2021 21:12:14 #
Upon my promotion to district manager of the New Orleans district, which covered Louisiana, a small piece of Texas called the Golden Triangle, and a bit of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, I was anxious to get started.
Even before arriving, I had been told to put calling on the owners of Katz and Besthoff Drug chain high on my list of important people to see. Their headquarters were in New Orleans, not far from Canal Street. The chain had 39 stores and had enough sales volume to equal an additional territory. So, the very first thing on Monday morning I present myself to the pharmacy buyer. He was quite friendly and cordial and told me that Mr. Besthoff, the president wanted to see me whenever I arrived.
So, he takes me to the corner office and introduces me to Mr. Besthoff, president of this chain of some 36 or more drug stores in the city and surrounding area of south Louisiana. Apparently there had been a distribution center for our company there in the past and a close warm relationship existed. Mr. Besthoff said to take care of any business with the buyer and then we would go to lunch!
We all walk about a block to a private club of which Mr. Besthoff was a member, called by the strange name, The Plimsoll Club. I am introduced to soft shell crab as an entrée, just one of the many New Orleans’ treats. Mr. Besthoff then explains the meaning of the Plimsoll line. It came into existence in England in 1876 when a Mr. Plimsoll introduced this line or mark on all ocean-going ships to prevent them from being overloaded and sinking during a possible storm.
It seems that there were unscrupulous merchants that would intentionally have a ship overloaded and then ensure the ship and cargo, so they would collect a large sum of money if the ship sank.
Mr. Peirsol decided to stop this intentional loss of life and shipping, so he began this marking on the side of each ocean-going ship. Then the sailors would refuse to sail if the ship became overloaded and in danger of being sunk in a storm. This mark was the adopted by other nations and finally became a universal mark for all ocean-going shipping. There are separate marks for fresh water (rivers) and summer and winter in the ocean.
The Plimsoll Line is an internationally agreed-upon reference mark located on a ship's hull that indicates the maximum depth a vessel may safely immerse when loaded with cargo. ... Eventually, there was a general adoption of load-line rules by maritime.
Internationally, the Plimsoll line on a ship is officially referred to as the International load line. Every type of ship has a different level of floating and he Plimsoll line on a ship generally varies from one vessel to another.
Technically, no ship is able to absolutely float above, as it travels across the waters. A certain portion of the ship is always immersed in the seawater and the level of submerging is decided by the gross weight of the respective ship.
Even the type of water in which the ship is floating influences the application of the load line. Sometimes even the oceanic regions and changing seasons affect the Plimsoll mark, as well.
Researchers have found out that the temperature and salinity of the water also plays a key role in deciding the height until which the ship rests in the water.
Plimsoll Line
Why should ships have a Plimsoll line?
The International load line is very essential to ensure safe and smooth sailing of cargo-loaded vessels in the sea. Seafarers should be wary of the fact that the water level should not rise above the line markers due to surcharging of cargo or any technological fault.
It might prove to be severely unsafe to the ship as tactless overloading of heavy shipment would sink the ship’s stability. Crossing the assigned limit of the Plimsoll mark or the waterline is considered a violation of an international shipping act and can even land the ship’s crew, including the Captain, in deep trouble.
How was the load line used in the past?
Earlier, the line markers used to be marked on the sides of the merchant ships using paint, and the sailors tried to follow the theory that the weight of the cargo should not cause the draught level of the water to rise above the waterline.
The primary symbol used to indicate the international load line is a circle with a horizontally marked line cutting through the centre of the respective circle.
How did the International load line become mandatory?
Samuel Plimsoll, a widely known personality and esteemed as the founder of the Plimsoll line, was a famous merchant and also a dedicated shipping reformer. He was an active member of the British Parliament and had influenced the Parliament to formulate
The Merchant Shipping Act in the year 1875. He was highly concerned with the safety of the people working in the maritime world. He disliked the organizers of the ships which drowned due to excessive goods that were dumped without any idea about the capacity.
He even took the time to conduct some serious research and was grieved to discover the sorry state of affairs. He once found out that nearly a thousand British sailors lose their lives due to the uninformed overloading.
Plimsoll was deeply affected by this and he was determined to bring about a change, to protect the sailors. He thus devised the Plimsoll line for types of merchant ships.
According to this reform, all cargo ships should have a load line marked on their hulls, to indicate the limit until which the ships can hold cargo. The line markers points at the maximum depth of safety till which the shipment can be loaded.
Thus, Samuel Plimsoll was the pioneer of the concept of the international load line and his contribution holds great significance in the maritime world.
The law found great coverage and it was practically applied to the outgoing foreign ships from the ports of Britain, and other countries observing strict nautical standards also started following the international load line rule.
The invention of the Plimsoll line proved to be a breakthrough for maintaining safety onboard ships, and after it was implemented in Britain, many countries followed the lead, immediately.
In the year of 1930, the International load line was enforced in around 54 countries. In 1968, a new discovery made its rounds in the nautical market. It was an improvisation of the former Plimsoll mark and involved the application of a smaller load-line for the new bulky ships.
The members of the Board of Trade passed an order that the load line was to be painted on all cargo ships. This occurred in the year of 1980.
The contribution of Samuel Plimsoll to the shipping industry is legendary and of great significance. It is due to his sincere efforts that the dangers of ship capsizing were reduced and several lives have been saved at the sea.
The Plimsoll line is now deemed mandatory. This symbol is now accepted all over the world and the waterline still carries the name of its pioneer, Samuel Plimsoll, as a tribute to the great Member of Parliament.
JUST SAYIN…RJS
Even before arriving, I had been told to put calling on the owners of Katz and Besthoff Drug chain high on my list of important people to see. Their headquarters were in New Orleans, not far from Canal Street. The chain had 39 stores and had enough sales volume to equal an additional territory. So, the very first thing on Monday morning I present myself to the pharmacy buyer. He was quite friendly and cordial and told me that Mr. Besthoff, the president wanted to see me whenever I arrived.
So, he takes me to the corner office and introduces me to Mr. Besthoff, president of this chain of some 36 or more drug stores in the city and surrounding area of south Louisiana. Apparently there had been a distribution center for our company there in the past and a close warm relationship existed. Mr. Besthoff said to take care of any business with the buyer and then we would go to lunch!
We all walk about a block to a private club of which Mr. Besthoff was a member, called by the strange name, The Plimsoll Club. I am introduced to soft shell crab as an entrée, just one of the many New Orleans’ treats. Mr. Besthoff then explains the meaning of the Plimsoll line. It came into existence in England in 1876 when a Mr. Plimsoll introduced this line or mark on all ocean-going ships to prevent them from being overloaded and sinking during a possible storm.
It seems that there were unscrupulous merchants that would intentionally have a ship overloaded and then ensure the ship and cargo, so they would collect a large sum of money if the ship sank.
Mr. Peirsol decided to stop this intentional loss of life and shipping, so he began this marking on the side of each ocean-going ship. Then the sailors would refuse to sail if the ship became overloaded and in danger of being sunk in a storm. This mark was the adopted by other nations and finally became a universal mark for all ocean-going shipping. There are separate marks for fresh water (rivers) and summer and winter in the ocean.
The Plimsoll Line is an internationally agreed-upon reference mark located on a ship's hull that indicates the maximum depth a vessel may safely immerse when loaded with cargo. ... Eventually, there was a general adoption of load-line rules by maritime.
Internationally, the Plimsoll line on a ship is officially referred to as the International load line. Every type of ship has a different level of floating and he Plimsoll line on a ship generally varies from one vessel to another.
Technically, no ship is able to absolutely float above, as it travels across the waters. A certain portion of the ship is always immersed in the seawater and the level of submerging is decided by the gross weight of the respective ship.
Even the type of water in which the ship is floating influences the application of the load line. Sometimes even the oceanic regions and changing seasons affect the Plimsoll mark, as well.
Researchers have found out that the temperature and salinity of the water also plays a key role in deciding the height until which the ship rests in the water.
Plimsoll Line
Why should ships have a Plimsoll line?
The International load line is very essential to ensure safe and smooth sailing of cargo-loaded vessels in the sea. Seafarers should be wary of the fact that the water level should not rise above the line markers due to surcharging of cargo or any technological fault.
It might prove to be severely unsafe to the ship as tactless overloading of heavy shipment would sink the ship’s stability. Crossing the assigned limit of the Plimsoll mark or the waterline is considered a violation of an international shipping act and can even land the ship’s crew, including the Captain, in deep trouble.
How was the load line used in the past?
Earlier, the line markers used to be marked on the sides of the merchant ships using paint, and the sailors tried to follow the theory that the weight of the cargo should not cause the draught level of the water to rise above the waterline.
The primary symbol used to indicate the international load line is a circle with a horizontally marked line cutting through the centre of the respective circle.
How did the International load line become mandatory?
Samuel Plimsoll, a widely known personality and esteemed as the founder of the Plimsoll line, was a famous merchant and also a dedicated shipping reformer. He was an active member of the British Parliament and had influenced the Parliament to formulate
The Merchant Shipping Act in the year 1875. He was highly concerned with the safety of the people working in the maritime world. He disliked the organizers of the ships which drowned due to excessive goods that were dumped without any idea about the capacity.
He even took the time to conduct some serious research and was grieved to discover the sorry state of affairs. He once found out that nearly a thousand British sailors lose their lives due to the uninformed overloading.
Plimsoll was deeply affected by this and he was determined to bring about a change, to protect the sailors. He thus devised the Plimsoll line for types of merchant ships.
According to this reform, all cargo ships should have a load line marked on their hulls, to indicate the limit until which the ships can hold cargo. The line markers points at the maximum depth of safety till which the shipment can be loaded.
Thus, Samuel Plimsoll was the pioneer of the concept of the international load line and his contribution holds great significance in the maritime world.
The law found great coverage and it was practically applied to the outgoing foreign ships from the ports of Britain, and other countries observing strict nautical standards also started following the international load line rule.
The invention of the Plimsoll line proved to be a breakthrough for maintaining safety onboard ships, and after it was implemented in Britain, many countries followed the lead, immediately.
In the year of 1930, the International load line was enforced in around 54 countries. In 1968, a new discovery made its rounds in the nautical market. It was an improvisation of the former Plimsoll mark and involved the application of a smaller load-line for the new bulky ships.
The members of the Board of Trade passed an order that the load line was to be painted on all cargo ships. This occurred in the year of 1980.
The contribution of Samuel Plimsoll to the shipping industry is legendary and of great significance. It is due to his sincere efforts that the dangers of ship capsizing were reduced and several lives have been saved at the sea.
The Plimsoll line is now deemed mandatory. This symbol is now accepted all over the world and the waterline still carries the name of its pioneer, Samuel Plimsoll, as a tribute to the great Member of Parliament.
JUST SAYIN…RJS
Jan 24, 2021 21:18:12 #
Jan 24, 2021 21:30:09 #
Why take a chance? I've been sent there for less. if someone can find a suitable Plimsoll Line drawing to copy and t***sfer, please do. I cannot. just Sayin...RJS
Jan 24, 2021 21:58:25 #
Foodfisher
Loc: SO. Cal coast
https://intlreg.org/2019/11/30/do-you-know-what-plimsoll-lines-on-ships-are/&ved=2ahUKEwiKs6DbirbuAhVPRqwKHXZrCGQQqa4BMCZ6BAgxEAQ&usg=AOvVaw2l4icdGeaf5dwwSGxXccYy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://intlreg.org/2019/11/30/do-you-know-what-plimsoll-lines-on-ships-are/&ved=2ahUKEwiKs6DbirbuAhVPRqwKHXZrCGQQqa4BMCZ6BAgxEAQ&usg=AOvVaw2l4icdGeaf5dwwSGxXccYy
Jan 24, 2021 22:01:41 #
Jan 24, 2021 22:04:10 #
Foodfisher
Loc: SO. Cal coast
One last try https://intlreg.org/2019/11/30/do-you-know-what-plimsoll-lines-on-ships-are/&ved=2ahUKEwiKs6DbirbuAhVPRqwKHXZrCGQQqa4BMCZ6BAgxEAQ&usg=AOvVaw2l4icdGeaf5dwwSGxXccYy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://intlreg.org/2019/11/30/do-you-know-what-plimsoll-lines-on-ships-are/&ved=2ahUKEwiKs6DbirbuAhVPRqwKHXZrCGQQqa4BMCZ6BAgxEAQ&usg=AOvVaw2l4icdGeaf5dwwSGxXccYy
Jan 27, 2021 01:47:53 #
GSMJr
Loc: SoCal> Pflugerville (Austin), TX
Here is a YouTube video showing the Primsoll line, now known as the International Loadline for ships:
https://youtu.be/6E0bT6B5Zm4
https://youtu.be/6E0bT6B5Zm4
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