CHAPTER XTL
CARGO.
THE primary purpose of a merchant ship is to carry cargo. The
British Merchant Navy is comprised of approximately 11,000 vessels,
of over 100 tons burden excluding fishing craft, aggregating 22 million
tons burden. They convey annually millions of tons of raw material and
manufactured goods between home and foreign ports. The handbng
of that raw material, the skill and labour of manufacturing it into
desirable commodities and the transporting of the finished products
to all parts of the world form the basis of the livelihood and the wealth
of the British nation.
The shipowner's responsibility for the cargo carried in a ship begins
when it is delivered alongside the vessel and ends when it is landed
from the vessel at her destination. The officer's duty is to taks all the
precautions dictated by prudence and experience to protect the goods
during the time they are in contact with the ship so that they may be
delivered in good order and condition,
CARGO GEAR.
Cargoes are handled by stevedores employed by the shipowner.
The officers supervise the work and are held responsible for the satis-
factory completion of the job. The gear used depends upon the nature
of the goods and consists of Slings, Snotters, Nets, Trays, Can Hooks
and' Bull Ropes, in addition> of course to the lifting gear of Derricks,
Falls, Winches, etc.
Slings are made of 3-inch to 4^-inch manila rope, 5 to 8 fathcms
being cut from a coil and the ends joined by a short splice. When
splicing, two tucks of the whole strands should be given each way,
then halve each strand and tuck again, but don't cut the ends of the
strands close to the rope as the splice will draw a bit at first when the
load is on.
Snotters may be either of rope or wire, 2 to 4 fathoms in length,
386.