The engine room
Uncertificated men
Uncertificated men in the engine room included greasers and
donkeymen. The latter took their name from the donkey engine,
a small steam engine which was kept running to provide power in
port when the main engine was shut down. As well as keeping
the engine greased and oiled, the greasers and donkeymen would
carry out routine maintenance. Although without paper
qualifications, their years of experience gave them invaluable
practical skills. In steamships, firemen, also known as stokers, had the
unenviable job of shovelling coal into the boilers. Not only
was this physically very demanding work, it was also extremely hot
in the boiler room, especially when the ship was in the
tropics. Much skill was needed to place the coal in the right
place on the large grate. The fireman also needed to be able
to rake out the ash from the grate. This had to be one
without letting the fire get too low so that steam pressure fell,
and with it the ship`s speed. When oil firing took over from coal, the fireman`s job was made
much easier, because he now just had to control the amount of oil
reaching the burners. When steam was replaced by diesel
engines, however, there was no further need for firemen.
|
