Silencing the Chime
To silence the strike, simply slide the small pin
(located near the“8” on the Ship’s Bell dial,
and near the “11” on the Shipstrike dial) away
from the bell symbol. To resume striking, slide
the pin toward the bell.
Warning:
Do not turn off the strike while the clock is strik-
ing. Be sure to move the pin completely in one direction or
the other to prevent jamming.
The Ship’s Bell Code
Mariners have used a unique bell code to tell time at sea
for hundreds of years. The code is based upon the crew’s
typical, 24-hour workday routine. The day is divided into
six four-hour periods, each called a “watch.” Similarly, the
crew is segmented into three divisions. Division members
perform their duties on two watches per day, with eight
hours off between watches. To rotate each division’s
watch times, the evening watch is typically divided into
two watches (called dogwatches). The first dogwatch is
the period between 4 and 6 p.m.; the second is the period
between 6 and 8 p.m.
First Watch
8:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.
Mid-Watch (also Black Watch)
12:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m.
Morning Watch
4:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.
Forenoon Watch
8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Afternoon Watch
12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Evening Watch
4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
