New-York tribune., 1921-06-29
Marine Engineers Status
Old Shipmaster Would Hold Them
in Strict Subordination

IN StTict SubordInatoD
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: VIII you kindly accord the
courtesy of you columns to an officer
of the old school? I am a shipmaster
end, if 1 may say so without appear
ing boastful, 4 shipmaster of a time
when our merchant marine reflected
glory upon our flag. We have heard
so much of late about our merchant
shipping and so much Of it has been
the voice Of new order of spokcsmen
that l am fully convinced no part Of
the present condition of mutiny is
worse than that centering about the
motive power of the vessel.
AS a boy at sea I was taught that
dirt and lubberly conduct go hand in
hand. 1t seems that the old ideas
were sound, for with the grease and
filth in the engine and fire rooms has
come lack of sea tradition and lack
of respect for authority that bids fair
to wreck our shipping.
Lately l have been informed that
the men who manage engines have
taken it upon themselves to aspire to
complete command of the vessel. Off,
GERS have always held themselves re-
sponsible for the support Of recognized
authority at sea, and now we have
body of men who claim to be officers,
Cd oa~+sGoJ hx- fhair
government; we have these men seek
ing full command of the ship while
they themselves are fitted only to
manage the machinery. 1t is as bad
as if the boatswain and his mates, in
the old days, had aspired to take over
the lawful authority cf the master.
There is grave doubt in my mind as
to whether engineers, as they style
themselves, are legally entitled to be
considered as officers of seagolng
vessel. Many students of marine law
will agree with me that they have no
greater status than the oarsmen worS-
ing in the gaheys plying out Of Tyre
An engineer stops or goes ahead When
he is ordered to do so by the master
or by the masters regularly constituted
esentative-namely the officer OF
the watch. I believe ] ana correct IN
stating that an engineer who willfully
stops or starts, his engine, thsreoy
moving the ship as whole, over walen
he has no authority, is liable to sas-
pension or revocation of his license 70
drive marine machinery.
Marine engines, as rule, are an
excellent thing, but by what stretea
of the imagination do the men who
start and stop and oil and repair these
machines take on such seeming I'M
portance?
The majority of engine drivers arc
undoubtedly worthy men in their way
in fact, men with considerable mechan'
ical skill of a strictly limited appllea'
tion. 1t is not necessary for them 70
have knowledge of nautical astronomy
to know anything of the great move
ments in the celestial heavens 81
necessary to navigating officers. Tness
men need not study sea laws ana
usages as part of their duty--tney
have no knowledge of the larger PROF.
lens of seamanship involving the man
agement of the vessel as whole.
A complete reformation of our seS
laws is now in order. The ship as
whole must be recognized as suprems'
being greater than any Of its COM
ponent parts. Students will recognns
an automatic truth of elementary
geometry. And at sea the master u
command of the whole ship, eafso'
passengers and engines, is supremS
The engines, being minor parts, are
in charge of minor persons. Sea as.
cipline should be upheld by American
shipmasters with an iron hand, and ts'
respect for authority, so conspicuous
in the old, successful days OF our met-
chant marine, will again come back y
the sea. OLD SHIPMASTEh
New York, june 81, 1921.