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UNITED STATES SHIPPING BOARD
1918
issued by
National Headquarters
Recruiting Service
United States Shipping Board
custom house
Boston Massachusetts
Henry Howard
Director of Recruiting
A Few Words to
Sailors and Engineers
If you want to serve your country as a licensed
officer in the new Merchant Marine, you may leam
from this book how to go about it.
The United States Shipping Board is creating a
new National fleet of merchantmen, controlled by
the United States Government.
The Shipping Board needs for these ships —
4,000 new watch officers
4,000 new engineers
Men of proper experience will be trained free of
charge to take examinations for licenses in either
branch of the service, to fill these positions.
GOOD JOBS AT GOOD PAY
The American Merchant Marine is the best paid
merchant service in the world. In war or peace,
American seamen have always been better paid than
those of other countries.
After the outbreak of the great war, in 1914, the
earnings of American Merchant Marine officers,
always liberal, steadily advanced, until they reached
the highest level ever known.
3
While there is some variation in ofBcers' earn¬
ings on different classes of ships and different voy¬
ages, the scale paid on Shipping Board ships of
Class " A " and Class " B " may be accepted as
representative of the wages prevaihng on vessels
of good size early in 1918.
Class "A" comprises all single screw vessels
of 20,000 *power tons, and twin screw vessels over
10,000 power tons ; class "B" comprises single
screw vessels between 10,000 and 15,000 power
tons, and twin screw vessels under 10,000 power
tons.
To the wages given here were added a 50%
bonus for voyages through the war zone. The
scale :
Class " A " Ships Class " B " Ships
Per Month Per Month
Captain $275 $250
1st Officer 150 140
2nd " 140 130
3rd " 130 120
4th " 120 none
Chief Engineer $225 $190
1st. Asst. Engineer 150 140
2nd " " 140 130
3rd " " 130 120
♦ Power tons are determined by addition of indicated horse
power and gross tonnage.
4
A LOOK AHEAD
But the United States Shipping Board is not bas¬
ing its plans for the new Merchant Marine on war
conditions. It is taking a look ahead, to a time
when thousands of American seamen will be em¬
ployed where there are now hundreds, and in per¬
manent jobs.
Ship building is expanding in this country as never
before. It will continue to expand for years after
the return of peace, as a result of orders now in sight.
Not less than 8,000,000 tons of new shipping will
go into commission under the American flag in the
next two years.
This means a return to blue water for thousands
of ambitious Americans with a love of seagoing in
their blood.
Are you among them?
WHAT IS EXPECTED OF YOU
First
Read this book through.
Think it over.
Next
Take steps toward attending a United States
Shipping Board Free Training School for Merchant
Marine officers.
Schools are maintained for both deck officers
and engineers.
5
EXPERIENCE NEEDED
Experience specified below insures admission to a
Shipping Board School:
TO STUDY FOR DECK OFFICER'S LICENSE
Two years' deck service on an ocean or coastwise
steam vessel, or .
Three years on a sailing vessel, or
Three years on a sailing fishing vessel, ocean or
coastwise; or
One year, mate of steam fishing vessel, or
One year, master or pilot, lake, bay or sound
steam vessel, or
Graduation from seamanship class of a nautical
Bchoolship.
TO STUDY FOR ENGINEER'S LICENSE
Three years as fireman, on ocean or coastwise
steam vessel.
Two years as oiler or watertender (or combined
service of two years in these positions).
Six months as chief or assistant engineer, on lake,
bay or sound steamer.
One year, chief or assistant, river steamer.
One year as locomotive or stationary engineer
(with six months' sea service, which may be ob¬
tained after finishing school course).
6
Graduation from engineering class of nautical
schoolship.
Graduation in mechanical engineering from a
technical school (with six months' sea service).
One year in charge of stationary plant of not less
than 1,000 horse-power.
Three years as apprentice to machinists' trade
(with six months' sea service).
(A condensed classification of grades in the
Merchant Marine for which experienced men may
fit themselves, either by promotion or by securing
a license for the first time, will be found in this
book.)
WHERE THE SCHOOLS ARE
The United States Shipping Board maintains
Free Navigation Schools at the following ports:
Alabama. ^ Mobile.
California. — San Diego, Los Angeles, San
Francisco, Eureka.
Florida. — Jacksonville.
Illinois. — Chicago.
Louisiana. — New Orleans.
Maine, — Rockland, Portland.
Maryland. — Baltimore.
Massachusetts. — Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, Cambridge ; Gloucester.
7
Michigan. — Detroit.
New Jersey — Atlantic City.
New York. — New York City (2); Buffalo.
Ohio. — Cleveland.
Oregon. — Portland.
Pennsylvania. — Philadelphia.
Rhode Island. — Providence.
Texas. — Galveston.
Virginia. — Norfolk, Newport News.
Washington. — Tacoma, Bellingham.
The Board also has eight Free Engineering
Schools at the following places:
Baltimore, Md. — Johns Hopkins University.
Cambridge, Mass. — Massachusetts Institute
of Technology.
Chicago, 111. — Armour Institute of Technol¬
ogy.
Cleveland, O. — Case School of Apphed Science.
Hoboken, N. J. — Stevens Institute of Tech¬
nology.
New Orleans, La. — Tulane University.
Philadelphia, Penn. — The Bourse.
Seattle, Wash. — University of Washington.
8
WHERE TO ENROLL FOR ADMISSION TO A
FREE NAVIGATION OR ENGINEERING
SCHOOL
You may apply for enrollment direct to the In¬
structor at the school that is nearest your home, or
your home port; to the nearest Section Chief of the
Recruiting Service, United States Shipping Board
(see page 23), or to the Local Inspectors of Steam
Vessels at any port where a school is located. If you
find it more convenient, write a letter to
Henry Howard,
Director of Recruiting,
U. S. Shipping Board, Custom House,
Boston, Mass.
In writing him state your age, whether an Ameri¬
can citizen, what grade you wish to study for, and
what your seagoing experience has been. You will
get a reply from Mr. Howard telling you whether or
not you are fitted by experience to enter a Shipping
Board School, and if so, where to apply for admis¬
sion.
OFFICERS' SCHOOLS ARE NOT FOR LANDS¬
MEN
The schools are NOT for landsmen. No man
without two years' seagoing experience or its equiva¬
lent will be taken into a Free Shipping Board School.
Men experienced in seafaring or engineering, who
may have been at sea in earlier life, and want to
come back, are eligible to enter the schools.
9
The first aim of the Shipping Board's Free Train¬
ing Schools is to help a man get his first license,
and thus establish him as a licensed officer in the
Merchant Marine; but the schools are also open to
licensed men who feel the need of brushing up on
their navigation or mechanical knowledge as a step
toward an advance in grade.
Men in active service in the Army or
Navy are not eligible for admission to a
Shipping Board School or the Merchant
Marine.
WHAT YOU MUST BE TO GET IN
To enter a Shipping Board School you must be:
An experienced sailor or
An experienced engineer.
An American citizen more than 19 years old.
Naturafized citizens are admitted but not "declar¬
ants."
You must be able to speak, read and write English
readily, and to do ordinary figuring correctly.
You must be in good health, with correct vision
and good hearing.
METHOD OF ENROLLING
The school instructor. Section Chief, or local In¬
spector of Steam Vessels to whom you must apply
for enrollment, will give you a blank to fill out. On
this you must state your age, what grade you wish
to be trained for, whether you are a citizen by birth
or naturalization, when and where you were born,
10
whether married, whether you have dependents and
where you live. Married men with dependents are
admitted.
On the back of the enrollment blank you must
give the names and tonnage of the vessels you have
served on, and how long you were on each. To these
statements, and also to those on the front of the
blank, you must take oath. The blank must be filled
out with pen and ink.
To enter a school in navigation you must pass an
examination by a surgeon of the United States
Public Health Service, as to "color sense and visual
acuity," — that is, to show whether you are free
from color blindness and have a proper range of
vision. If you pass this test —and have been two
years at sea — you will be permitted to enter the
navigation school; if you fail in this test you cannot
enter a Shipping Board School, as you would be
denied a hcense when you came up for examination.
Engineers must show that they are able to hear bell
signals under all normal conditions.
PROOF OF SEA SERVICE
If you have any papers in the way of discharges,
letters from captains or owners, or other documents
to prove the accuracy of your statements as to your
service on the vessels you name, you are expected to
submit them with your application, as proof of your
sea service.
The following papers may be used for the required
proof of service:
(1) A letter from the master or owners of the ship
on which an applicant has served, stating the period
of his service.
11
(2) A discharge issued to the appUcant by a
United States Shipping Commissioner.
(3) A discharge from the United States Navy.
These forms of proof of service are required by
the local inspectors of the Steamboat-Inspection
Service, Department of Commerce. The question of
service is one in which the decision of the Steam¬
boat Inspectors is final. If it is not possible for an
applicant to produce documentary evidence before
entering a school, and he agrees to produce the neces¬
sary papers before taking the examination of the
Steamboat Inspectors for a hcense, such procedure
wUl be acceptable to the Recruiting Service.
Stationary engineers, graduates from schools of
technology, schoolships, etc., seeking admission to
the schools should submit hcenses, letters from for¬
mer employers, diplomas or equivalent proofs of
experience.
LENGTH OF SCHOOL TERMS
The ordinary term for a Shipping Board Free
Navigation School is six weeks, and for an Engineer¬
ing School four weeks.
There is no charge for tuition or the use of instru¬
ments.
■V The student receives no compensation while
studying, and must arrange to pay his own board.
When graduated, a student quahfied by previous
sea service to act as master or mate, chief engineer
or first assistant, will be given the option of going to
12
sea on the first ship available needing a man of his
grade, or of taking additional sea training in order
to qualify for a speciaOy desirable position.
A graduate requiring additional training
at sea must agree, unless excused by the Sec¬
tion Chief, to serve while receiving that
training in such position as may be desig¬
nated by the Sea Service Bureau of the U. S.
Shipping Board Recruiting Service, as
seaman, quartermaster oiler or watertender,
at the going wage for those grades, plus pre¬
vailing bonus, or as a Reserve Officer at $75
a month. Service in the war zone carries a
bonus of 60 per cent, in all grades except for
Reserve Officers, who receive no bonus.
On completing his special training, the student
is eligible to take a position as a regular officer in
accordance with the grade of his license and at regu¬
lar wages in that grade. If ordered to sea by the
Sea Service Bureau he will receive transportation
to the port to which he is ordered, and reimburse¬
ment for subsistence while traveling.
NOTE CAREFULLY
The schooli for training navigators and marine
engineers are meetmg a demand for men which is
now active and which is expected to become very
great during the coming year. Men leaving the
schools should not expect, however, to be placed on
board ship at once, but should realize that the posi¬
tions open depend upon the number of men leaving
the schools on a given date, and upon the rapidity
with which the new ships are placed in commission.
The Kecruiting Service's Sea Service Bureau will
place men at the earliest possible moment, and under
ordinary circumstances very little time should elapse
between leaving the schools and being placed in sea
service.
13
KINDS OF EXPERIENCE REQIHRED
Under the rules of the United States Steamboat-
Inspection Service, which govern the admission of
students to the schools, applicants fall into two
classes, as foUows:
Those who have had two years' sea service.
Those who have not had two years' sea service
but have had sufficient equivalent service to enter,
or will take the required additional sea training
after their graduation.
It is well to remember that the Rules and Regula¬
tions of the Steamboat-Inspection Service referring
to experience have been materially modified. Copies
of their amendments may be obtained from the
nearest local Board of Inspectors. The Inspectors
have discretionary authority to accept service con¬
sidered a fair and reasonable equivalent to that
specified for any grade by the regulations.
ADMISSIONS AND PROMOTIONS
For the guidance of men who may wish to take the
course at a Shipping Board Free Training School, the
rules of the Steamboat-Inspection. Service are here
summarized as a guide as to the experience required
for promotion, or to obtain a license for the first time.
The service'Specified here, unless stated to the con¬
trary, is understood to have been rendered on an
ocean or coastwise steam vessel. The mini¬
mum experience required for admission to the various
grades in the Merchant Marine is specified.
14
THESE MAY QUALIFY AS CAPTAIN, OCEAN¬
GOING:
Chief mate, one year, ocean.
Second mate, two years, ocean, one year while
holding a chief mate's license.
Watch officer, two years, actually in charge of a
bridge watch, ocean, while holding a chief mate's
license.
Third mate, five years, ocean, two years while
holding a chief mate's license.
Captain, one year, coastwise.
Chief mate, one year, coastwise.
Captain of a sailing vessel, two years in a total
service of five years on vessels of 300 tons gross or
over.
Seaman, five years on sailing vessels of 300 tons
or over, two years while holding captain's license.
THESE MAY QUALIFY AS CHIEF MATE,
OCEAN-GOING:
Second mate, one year.
Watch cflficer, two years, while holding second
mate's license.
Third mate, two years, one year while holding
second mate's license.
Chief mate of sailing vessel of 200 tons or over,
with two years' service as mate in five years' total
service.
Fisherman, two years on fishing steamer, one
year as captain.
15
Fisherman, five years' service on sailing vessel,
two years as captain.
Captain, two years, lake, bay or sound, 1,000 tons
or over.
THESE MAY QUALIFY AS SECOND MATE,
OCEAN-GOING:
Third mate, one year.
Seaman, three years on deck, one year as watch
officer or quartermaster.
Graduate seamanship class on a nautical school-
ship, with three months' deck service, ocean or
coastwise.*
Second mate, one year on a sailing vessel of 200
tons or over, in a total of three years' service.
Quartermaster, one year, while holding a third
mate's license.
Seaman on a sailing vessel, three years, and one
year steamer.
Seaman, five years, on a sailing vessel of 100
tons or over, ocean or coastwise.
Fisherman, five years, on a sailing vessel of 100
tons or over, ocean or coastwise.
First-class pilot, one year, lake, bay or sound,
500 tons or over, and 3 months' deck service at sea.*
Graduate in seamanship, nautical schoolship,
who has had three months' deck service at sea.*
• This three months* service at sea may be obtained after
graduation from the school and before taking United States
Steamboat-Inspection Service examinations, for license as an
officer.
16
THESE MAY QUALIFY AS THIRD MATE,
OCEAN-GOING:
Seaman, two years on deck, steam.
Seaman, three years on deck, sail.
Captain or pilot, one year, lake, bay or sound
steamer, size not specified.
Graduate in seamanship, nautical schoolship.
THESE MAY QUALIFY AS CAPTAIN, COAST¬
WISE:
Chief mate, one year, ocean.
Chief mate, one year, coastwise.
Second mate, two years, one year while holding
a chief mate's license.
Third mate, five years, two years while holding a
chief mate's hcense.
Seaman, five years, ocean or coastwise sailing
vessel of 300 tons or over, two years as master.
Captain, one year, sailing vessel, ocean or coast¬
wise, of 700 tons or over.
Captain, one year, lake, bay or sound, who has
had one year as second or third mate, quarter¬
master or wheelsman, ocean or coastwise.
Captain of a lake, bay or sound tug qf two years'
service may go as captain of a coastwise tug of 300
tons or imder.
17
THESE MAY QUALIFY AS CHIEF MATE,
COASTWISE:
Second mate, one year.
Third mate, two years.
Fisherman, two years, on a fishing steamer, one
year as captain.
Fisherman, five years, sailing vessel, two years
as captain.
Captain, two years, sailing vessel 200 tons or
over, ocean or coastwise.
Seaman, three years on deck, is quahfied for
license as chief mate, 500 tons or imder.
Seaman, two years, sailing vessel, and one year
deck service, steamer, is qualified for hcense as
chief mate, steamer of 500 tons or under.
First-class pilot, one year, lake, bay or sound,
and one year as quartermaster or wheelsman on an
ocean steamer while so Ucensed.
Captain or first-class pilot of a lake, bay or sound
tug, may go as chief mate on a coastwise tug up to
300 tons.
THESE MAY QUALIFY AS SECOND MATE,
COASTWISE:
Third mate, one year.
Quartermaster or wheelsman, one year, while
licensed as third mate.
Seaman, three years.
Seaman, two years, sail, with one year on deck,
steam.
18
Graduate in seamanship, nautical schoolsbip,
with three months' deck service, ocean or coast,
steam.*
Fisherman, one year as chief mate, steam.
Fisherman, one year as master, sail.
Captain, one year, lake, bay or sound.
First-class pilot, two years, lake, bay or sound.
First-class pilot, one year, lake, bay or sound,
and three months' deck service at sea.*
Graduate in seamanship, nautical schoolship,
who has had three months' deck service at sea.
THESE MAY QUALIFY AS THIRD MATE,
COASTWISE:
Seaman, two years, steam.
Seaman, three years, sail.
Captain, one year, lake, bay or sound steamer.
First-class pilot, one year, lake, bay or sound
steamer.
Graduate in seamanship, nautical schoolship.
In addition to the above, any wheelsman, watch¬
man or sailor on a lake steamer who may have had
two years' deck service on ocean-going steam
vessels is eligible to enter a Shipping Board School.
• This three months' service at sea may be obtained after
graduation from the school and before taking United States
Steamboat-Inspection Service examinations, for license as an
officer. ,
19
The old rule, that some part of this service must have
been within three years of the date of application
for a license, has been annulled. A man who sailed
salt water ten years ago can now get into a training
school for Merchant Marine officers.
PLACES FOR ENGINEERS
After taking the Shipping Board School course
in engineering, engineers and others may qualify
for berths in the new Merchant Marine as specified
herein.
THESE MAY QUALIFY AS CHIEF ENGINEER,
OCEAN-GOING:
First assistant, one year, ocean or coastwise
steam vessels.
Second assistant, two yeais, ocean or coastwise
steam vessels.
Fireman, oiler or watertender of three years'
engine room service, ocean or coastwise steam
vessels, may qualify as chief on ocean steamer of
500 tons or under.
Chief, one year, lake, bay or sound.
First assistant, two years, lake, bay or sound.
THESE MAY QUALIFY AS FIRST ASSIST¬
ANT ENGINEER, OCEAN-GOING:
Second assistant, one year, ocean or coastwise
steam vessels.
20
Fireman, oiler or watertender of three years'
engine room service, ocean or coastwise steam
vessels, may qualify as first assistant, 1,000 tons
or under.
First assistant, one year, lake, bay or sound.
Second assistant, two years, lake, bay or sound.
Apprentice to machinist trade, with three years'
service on marine, stationary or locomotive engines
and one year at sea.
Graduate in engineering, nautical schoolship,
with six months at sea.
Graduate in mechanical engineering at a tech¬
nical college, with six months at sea.
Locomotive engineer, two years, with one year
at sea.
Stationary engineer, two years, with one year
at sea.
THESE MAY QUALIFY AS SECOND AS¬
SISTANT ENGINEER, OCEAN-GOING:
Third assistant, one year, ocean or coastwise
steam vessels.
Chief, six months, lake, bay or sound.
First assistant, six months, lake, bay or sound.
Second assistant, six months, lake, bay or soimd.
Third assistant, one year, lake, bay or sound.
21
stationary engineer in full charge of a 1,000
horse-power plant.
Locomotive engineer, one year, and six months
at sea.
Stationary engineer of plant of less than 1,000
horse-power who has had six months at sea.
Apprentice to the machinist trade who has had
six months at sea.
Graduate in mechanical engineering at a tech¬
nical college, with three months at sea.*
Graduate in engineering, nautical schoolship,
with three months at sea.*
THESE MAY QUALIFY AS THIRD ASSIST¬
ANT ENGINEER, OCEAN-GOING:
Fireman, three years.
Oiler or Watertender, two years (or combined
service of two years in these grades), ocean or
coastwise steam vessels.
Chief, six months, lake, bay or sound.
Assistant, six months, lake, bay or soimd.
Graduate in engineering, nautical schoolship.
Chief, one year, river.
Assistant, one year, river.
Journeyman machinist who has been engaged
in construction or repairs of marine engines.
* This three months' service at sea may be obtained after
graduation from the school and before taking United States
Steamboat-Inspection Service examinations, for license as an
officer.
22
Names and Addresses of Section Chiefs
Section I
Mr. Henry G. Vatjghan,
Twelfth Floor, Custom House,
Boston, Massachusetts.
Section II '
Mr. John F. Lewis,
108 South Fourth Street,
Philadelphia, Pa.
Section III
Mr. Hardy Groom,
130 Riverside Avenue,
Jacksonville, Florida.
Section IV
Mr. Ernest Lee Jahncke,
814 Howard Avenue,
New Orleans, Louisiana.
Section V
Mr. Farnham P. Griffiths,
465 California Street,
San Francisco, California.
Section VI
Mr. William J. Grambs,
860 Stuart Building,*
Seattle, Washington.
Section VII
Capt. Irving L. Evans,
933 Guardian Building,
Cleveland, Ohio.
23