Plimsoll Line

[eieioh]

The following topic came under discussion on another list I subscribe to. You C-Brats may find it interesting.

Bill and Evelyn Macdonald
16' Cruiser, "Brave Heart"


Samuel Plimsoll, Member of Parliament.
(1824-1898)
Samuel Plimsoll brought about one of the greatest shipping revolutions
ever known by shocking the British nation into making reforms which have
saved the lives of countless seamen. By the mid-1800's, the overloading
of English ships had become a national problem. Plimsoll took up as a
crusade the plan of James Hall to require that vessels bear a load line
marking indicating when they were overloaded, hence ensuring the safety
of crew and cargo. His violent speeches aroused the House of Commons;
his book, Our Seamen, shocked the people at large into clamorous
indignation. His book also earned him the hatred of many shipowners who
set in train a series of legal battles against Plimsoll. Through this
adversity and personal loss, Plimsoll clung doggedly to his facts. He
fought to the point of utter exhaustion until finally, in 1876,
Parliament was forced to pass the Unseaworthy Ships Bill into law,
requiring that vessels bear the load line freeboard marking. It was soon
known as the "Plimsoll Mark" and was eventually adopted by all maritime
nations of the world.


For more technical information, follow this link ...

http://tinyurl.com/34h9o

[El and Bill]

Bill and Evelyn --
Great bit of history -- thanks for posting -- sure won't forget a Plimsoll line.