AMERICANS AT WORK — OCEAN LINER WORKERS

[Music] build the an ark of wood thus did Noah according to all that God commanded him the history of Man and the Sea is long and filled with tradition traveling in crude canoes along the rivers cutting through the jungles of early civilization men carried themselves to new places to new ways of living the shorelines they saw in the age of Discovery have changed as much as their vessels with the discovery of steam as a method of propulsion the great sailing ships gave way to self-propelled craft [Music] some of the tradition was gone but the spirit of these men lives on in Americans at work seafaring men carrying on a tradition as old as communication between nations transporting across the Seven Seas the people and products of all lands [Music] a luxury liner at the end of a transatlantic Crossing lies offshore of a great Port coming aboard our customs agents Health officers and the harbor pilot it is a typical scene at the mouth of any Harbor on the bridge the harbor pilot will set the course for the men in the wheelhouse he is there to guide the huge liner through Waters he knows better than a bus driver knows his [Music] routes the second mate translates his directions into action on the engine Telegraph he sets the pointer for the power and Direction required Below in the engine room a similar Telegraph repeats the message as the engineer adjusts the power plants he returns a signal to the bridge notifying the officer that his order has been received and carried out standing by in the engine room are the engineers on watch keeping a constant check on the gauges that keep them informed of the engine's condition each time the telegraph signals the engineer makes the corrections ordered [Music] while the ship is still moving into the harbor channel the radio officer is kept busy sending last minute messages to the shore announcing time of arrival and necessary ship's business his sending key operates almost constantly telling friends and relatives of passengers of the homecoming when the radio man has finished sending he's ready to receive his headphones carry the code signals that answer requests sent out earlier and spell messages of Welcome to passengers in the main Harbor the tugboats small powerful craft assist the liner in approaching the duck at C though there are no tugs to help guide her all the navigation must be done aboard ship where radar helps keep the captain informed the whereabouts of other craft and approaching Shores even in the harbor the radar screen marks the path the ship can safely [Music] take the magnetic compass used for centuries to guide vessels across the trackless seas is still found on the bridge of any ship without it there would be no way to set and maintain a course safely into the harbor the liner is ready to begin the docking operation from a tug comes the docking pilot a specialist in guiding huge ships into tight BS from the bridge he will direct the tugs on the bridge Wing the first officer transmits signals from Pilot to tug [Music] The Voyage is nearly over the hearty tugs churning the water push the liner sideways to the duck on the bridge the captain traditional Master of the ship at Sea commands the operation a line pass to the ship from the tug is made fast the liner moves slowly to the dock side on the decks below Sailors prepare the mor lines ready to heave them to the waiting dock hands [Music] [Music] finally contact with the shore is secured as the gangways are hauled into position luggage collected from the state rooms is brought to the deck carrying its owner momentos of a holiday well spent down the gang flank LIE home and friends and family while passengers go ashore ending their trip eagerly looking forward to another sometime in the future the people who have served them while on board go about their jobs busily preparing State rooms and cabins for the return Voyage to be made in a few days time while in Port all the ship's crew will be busy to make the new passengers trip a pleasant one during each day of the crossing these same men and women will give personalized service to every Traveler [Music] three meals a day for passengers and crew require large stocks of Provisions there can be no shortage because there is no way to replenish supplies a th000 miles at Sea when a ship stays in Port for any length of time the engineers are kept busy caring for their equipment Valves and tubes and engines receive periodic checks and services safety inspections in port or at Sea protect passengers and crew watertight doors between compartments open and close automatically but men must make sure the controls operate correctly there are many jobs to be done in preparation for a Crossing floors must be cleaned and Shining just as every part of a ship is traditionally kept [Music] the hull of a ship is always in contact with the saltwater in Port the paint crews are busy chipping away old paint and refinishing the steel of the hull hanging over the side on scaffold scrapers and Painters apply their chipping Hammers and brushes to the surface marred by the [Music] water exposure to Salt Air and water means a continuous maintenance program for the entire ship between Crossings State rooms are redecorated to keep the vessel looking fresh and new when the passengers Come Aboard everything will be [Music] shipshape safety at Sea is an important part of every sailor's life regular drills are carried out for the Emergency that probably never will happen a ship at sea must be able to take care of any emergency including abandonment if necessary each man has a duty station and the drills teach him to act automatically getting the lifeboats overboard demands precision and training during the Lifeboat drills the boats are lowed over the side the men take their places and perform assigned tasks the equipment aboard the boat must be checked for for completeness and operation in the locker essential gear is stowed away life jackets first aid kits ropes fuel lights and lanterns flares fishing gear and emergency rations when the passengers Come Aboard they too will be assigned Lifeboat stations and instructed in safety procedure as the passengers come up the gangways an adventure is beginning living aboard a floating Community miles from land in the greatest luxury when the ship is ready State rooms salons dining rooms and lounges cleaned and waiting Provisions stored and maintenance completed the passengers Come [Music] Aboard just as in a modern Hotel they are taken to their their stateroom by a bell booy these are the people with whom most guests anywhere deal directly the bellboys and stewards see to every want of the passengers looking after their comfort and pleasure from sailing to arrival [Music] amid the Fanfare that marks a departure passengers take a last look at the shore and the people who've come to see them all but while the passengers have nothing to do but enjoy the trip the ship's crew and the harbor crews are busy moving the ship into the channel preparing to make the journey a pleasant one as the tugs move the giant vessel about getting it out to seea the crews move about in what may seem like confusion to the onlookers but they know their jobs and handle them quickly and efficiently just as they have always done during the second world war the men on the merchant ships carried troops and supplies to every corner of the globe today they are the suppliers of Peace transporting people and products to all points of the compass [Music] aboard the ships of America's Maritime Fleet our commercial Navy our Maritime workers of the AF L CIO men and women who provide a link between nations whether on freighter or tankers or luxury passenger ships they are vital to America in peace and in Conflict it was the sea that led men to discover the world to develop it and at times to rule it today the sea and those who work on it bring the people of the world closer together Americans at work for for [Music] you Americans at work presented as a public service by the AFL CIO next week another interesting story of Americans at work Americans whose skill and effort help keep our country great and strong