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Few things ring fear in the hearts of professional mariners as a shipboard fire. When
you’re on a ship at three a.m., YOU are the fire department. While it’s one thing to
study about type A fires and type B fires in a book, things are unpleasant in a real fire.
you’re on a ship at three a.m., YOU are the fire department. While it’s one thing to
study about type A fires and type B fires in a book, things are unpleasant in a real fire.
Acrid fumes from burning electrical equipment can sear the lungs, flashlights can be
useless in thick smoke. Amidst violent flames, it can be difficult to tell if a large
machinery space has been evacuated before you let loose with a blanket of CO2.
useless in thick smoke. Amidst violent flames, it can be difficult to tell if a large
machinery space has been evacuated before you let loose with a blanket of CO2.
In the photo above, the USS Lafayette (formerly the Normandie) burns on New York's
West Side as fire fighting vessels pour tons of water into her on February 10, 1942.
West Side as fire fighting vessels pour tons of water into her on February 10, 1942.
Although the Lafayette was a victim of fire, the actual cause of her destruction was the
weight of so much water from the firefighting efforts. An 82,000 ton vessel could take
on enormous water without fatal consequences, but here it accumulated in a way that
was too much for the ship's righting moment, addressed in naval architecture jobs.
On Sept. 8, 1934, a fire consumed another famous vessel, the S.S. Morro Castle.
weight of so much water from the firefighting efforts. An 82,000 ton vessel could take
on enormous water without fatal consequences, but here it accumulated in a way that
was too much for the ship's righting moment, addressed in naval architecture jobs.
On Sept. 8, 1934, a fire consumed another famous vessel, the S.S. Morro Castle.
Events unfolded in the worst possible
manner that night. The ship maintained
her 20 knot speed into the face of
strong headwinds. Water pressure in
the fire main dropped as hydrants were
simultaneously activated. Wooden
furniture and layers of flammable paint
fueled the spreading flames. In the
melee that ensued, some passengers
faced the dilemma of remaining
aboard a smoldering ship, or taking a
chance jumping into the dark ocean.
manner that night. The ship maintained
her 20 knot speed into the face of
strong headwinds. Water pressure in
the fire main dropped as hydrants were
simultaneously activated. Wooden
furniture and layers of flammable paint
fueled the spreading flames. In the
melee that ensued, some passengers
faced the dilemma of remaining
aboard a smoldering ship, or taking a
chance jumping into the dark ocean.
Firefighting is a very important aspect of the maritime industry. Although employment
opportunities do not arise as frequently as other sectors of the industry, there are a few
resources, such as Kidde Fire Fighting, listed on Other Employers - Listed.
opportunities do not arise as frequently as other sectors of the industry, there are a few
resources, such as Kidde Fire Fighting, listed on Other Employers - Listed.
The ship eventually foundered on the shores of Asbury Park in New Jersey, much to the
horror of spectators on shore. The death toll from the debacle was 137 crew and
passenger lives. Today, the Ward Line is gone. So is the New York to Havana run.
However, what remains as a legacy of the Morro Castle tragedy are the changes made
in shipboard fire safety practices and U.S. limitation of liability law.
horror of spectators on shore. The death toll from the debacle was 137 crew and
passenger lives. Today, the Ward Line is gone. So is the New York to Havana run.
However, what remains as a legacy of the Morro Castle tragedy are the changes made
in shipboard fire safety practices and U.S. limitation of liability law.
In an odd bit of trivia, the Lafayette had taken the Blue Riband from the RMS Queen Mary,
whose funnel is pictured at right. The Cunard liner still serves as a hotel convention center
and we link to her because she regularly features jobs.
whose funnel is pictured at right. The Cunard liner still serves as a hotel convention center
and we link to her because she regularly features jobs.
Click Back to "Who's Hiring Now" to return to the first page of current job resources.