HANDLING OF EXPLOSIVES AS CARGO

[Music] e it is a duty of the Coast Guard to regulate and supervise the handling and stowage of explosives and other dangerous articles of cargo on board Merchant vessels both foreign and domestic in the ports of the United States regulations have been made they observ servants will afford maximum safety to vessels their passengers and crew provide protection against sabotage afford security to our Vital Port facilities and Safeguard communities adjacent to our ports remember the success or failure of our armed forces in the field depends to a considerable extent on our ability to get these explosives and Military ammunition to them on time and in an undamaged condition ready for immediate use the principal military explosives are small arms ammunition anti-aircraft and machine gun anti-tank guns chemical warfare ammunition gas smoke and incendiaries rifle grenades hand grenades uses of all types blasting caps anti-tank mines and fuses pyrot Technics ground signals flares star and drift signals spotting charges and other types ammunition for Cannon separate loading shell smokeless powder for Cannon armor piercing shell trench mortar ammunition bombs Torpedoes there are many other types of explosives and Military ammunition that are named in the regulations all these various types of explosives come from such points as arsenals ammunition Depots and manufacturing plants these explosives are transported and arrive at vessel side via trucks barges and Freight cars shipments are especially handled throughout the journey from shipping point to destination the vessel's owner agent or Master must secure a permit from the captain of the port before loading explosives on board a vessel he must submit a preliminary cargo stowage plan showing where it is proposed to Stow dangerous cargo a manifest of the explosives and other dangerous cargo shall also be submitted with a request for a permit a permit to move a vessel from point to point in the harbor during the loading of explosives must be secured from the captain of the port the captain of the port is required to certify to the naval commandant that a vessel about to join the Convoy has been loaded in accordance with regulations it is required that bulk High explosives and certain types of military ammunition liable to mass detonation be loaded on board vessels at explosives loading anchorages or explosives loading perer which are remote from other facilities within the port the Munitions officer is indicating on the chart the explosives loading anchorages in this particular Port observe the distance from the anchorages to the shore this port has an explosives loading Pier authorized for such purposes by the captain of the port the officer is now indicating its location military ammunition as cargo may be loaded at ammunition loading peers authorized by the captain of the port when military ammunition is taken aboard defensively armed Merchant vessels as Munitions the captain of the port May authorize such loading at any Pier which he considers satisfactory the Personnel of the Navy gun Crews assigned to this vessel handle and stole the ammunition for the defensive Armament aboard their own vessel in supplying these vessels a certain portion of the ammunition is stored in the magazine below deck for safety certain other portions are stowed in the ready boxes on Deck adjacent to the mounts ready for instant use explosive loading anchorages are established under authority of Coast Guard headquarters upon recommendation of the captain of the port and the district Coast Guard officer explosives loading peers and ammunition loading peers except those directly under the control of the Army and Navy are authorized by and subject to the authority of the captain of the port he has the authority to decide when and by what vessels they may be used inspection and supervision of the loading or unloading and the stowage of explosives is under the authority of the captain of the port who may assign a coast guard detail to each job the Munitions officer is discussing with the lieutenant in charge of an explosives loading detail the particular problem involved in the loading about to start on a vessel a complete understanding between the commanding officer and his subordinate will facilitate the job of supervising and will minimize the chance of difficulty is arising the loading detail arrives at the explosives loading Pier before proceeding further you are reminded it is essential that you know the parts of a vessel and their Arrangement especially the principal divisions of cargo holdes hatches and cargo handling gear here is a diagrammatic profile of a liberty type cargo vessel when loading explosives the safety of the rigging used in handling such cargo is of the greatest importance here is shown the forward cargo booms and gear familiarize yourself with the cargo winches cable whips blocks and cargo hooks check every item of this rigging to be certain none is defective cargo booms are designed to handle a maximum load do not permit overloading the midship cargo handling gear aft cargo handling gear closeup view of the forward cargo handling gear commencing at the bow of the vessel we we will show you progressively the main divisions of this ship here is the bow of the vessel which includes that part forward of the Collision bulkhead next is the number one cargo hatch this hatch includes number one twe deck hold number one lower hold and deep tanks you now see number two cargo hatch having a tween deck and lower hold only number three cargo hatch note the AFT end of these holds are next to the Boiler Room the ship's main boilers are close to the division bulkhead this bulkhead is called called a heat bulkhead the next main section of this vessel is the Machinery spaces located here are the the main boilers and engines the very heart of the vessel number four cargo hatch is next apt of the Machinery spaces note the Deep tank cutting into the forward portion of the lower hold the shaft tunnel passes through the center of this hold hatch number five like the other four hatches consists of a TW deck and a lower hold the shaft tunnel continues through the lower hole the stern note the AF Peak bulkhead this is the AF most complete division bulkhead and forms the AF boundary of the holes in Hatch number five the arrangement of hatches as shown are for the Liberty type vessel other vessels are different in design but basically the characteristics of hatches and holds are the same some vessels will have a shelter deck cargo hose for other types of vessels will have two or three tween decks combination passenger and cargo vessels have an arrangement of cargo holds peculiar to their own design it is important to know the structural arrangements and principal divisions of various types of vessels this knowledge will help in the discharge of your responsibilities a vessel about to load explosives shall be checked for compliance with provisions of the regulations especially for safety and the prevention of fire if possible this is done before the vessel goes to the explosives loading Anchorage or Pier require all debris to be cleaned up and removed from the vessel decks in way of hatches shall be kept free of loose Lumber cables haers and other articles of ship's equipment neatness order and cleanliness contribute materially to safety insist on the vessel being Ship Shape check the pier especially for fire hazard require debris to be cleaned up and removed the officer in charge directs the boss dador to start his long shoreman on board his detail is trained in checking each long shoreman the actual work of handling explosives is done by the specially trained long shoreman to assure safety they are constantly supervised long shoreman winchman and others must have an explosives handling permit a red card before they will be allowed to work in holes containing explosives they shall also possess a coast guard identification card these cards are issued by the captain of the port only to those men who have been examined and found competent before they can commence work each man must be identified by a member of the Coast Guard detail assigned to supervise the loading of the explosives cargo no liquor matches or Firearms shall be carried by anyone who may be about during the progress of the work lunch boxes and thermos bottles shall be checked to be certain they contain only Edibles pen fountain pens envelopes and similar possessions have been made into ingenious incendiary devices Danger from this Source must be alertly guarded against as it is here that sabotage can creep in it is the duty of the Coast Guard detailed to see that the regulations with regard to the equipment used and the methods of handling and sewing are strictly observed safety is assured only to the degree that the guards perform their duties it is very important that all equipment and tle to be used by sodor's men such as Falls slings baskets crates and boxes be in sound condition and of sufficient strength for the work to be done it is required that the ship's officer completely check this equipment before the loading of explosives can begin the ship's officer sees to it that the winchman assigned to the job fully understand the operation of the ship's cargo winches the Coast Guard officer checks up at each point of possible weakness or defect unsound equipment shall be replaced it is the responsibility of the master of the vessel and the boss dador to be sure the equipment is sound any equipment which in the Judgment of the master of the vessel or the Coast Guard officer in charge is not in safe working condition shall be rejected no chances shall ever be taken in handling explosives the gamble is too great mistakes May mean disaster stack fires and Sparks from a stack or Galley smoke pipe can carry live soot particles into the hold of a vessel and cause a fire all vessels including barges lighters and towboats having Smoke Stacks shall protect against Sparks by having such Stacks fitted with spark screen here is a towboat with a galley smoke pipe fitted with a screen note this barge with screen protection improperly fitted on smoke pipe the stack or stacks of a vessel loading explosives shall be covered with a spark screen check the screening to be certain that it is in good condition a vessel loading or having explosives on board shall fly the red flag this flag is known as the baker it is used to warn passing and nearby ships of the dangerous nature of the cargo on board fire is the greatest potential Hazard to a ship with a cargo of explosives smoking shall not be tolerated post plenty of no smoking signs enforce this regulation on the ship in the railroad cars alongside on the pier and its approaches welding or cutting operations involving the use of Open Flame or Arc shall not be undertaken on a vessel having explosives on board except upon special permission of the captain of the port before any explosives Al loaded the fire hose must be run out connected and ready for instant use test the water M for volume and pressure do this with a ship's officer present portable hand extinguishers shall be readily available all members of the detail shall be familiar with the locations of this equipment and shall understand the knowhow of its use at least one member of the detail shall have a roving assignment covering the weather deck he shall check safety conditions on deck and know what vessels or small craft approach from the water side vessels and small craft not having legitimate business shall not be permitted to come alongside a gangway guard shall be posted on all vessels loading explosives he shall be certain none but authorized persons board The Vessel members of the crew returning to the vessel and not in full control of all their faculties shall for purposes of safety be turned over to the ship's officer on duty no artificial light except electric lights or electric flood lamps shall be used while loading or unloading explosives in holes or other spaces where explosives are being handled or stowed a non-spark type of hand flash lamp should be used prior to Cargo being received the holes and magazines shall be carefully inspected all debris shall be removed from the hold or magazine all spaces where it would be possible to conceal incendiary or other subversive devices shall be carefully searched a careless search could result in disaster a broken board is being replaced in a type B magazine this type magazine is required for the stowage of ammunition or explosive in bulk as specified in the regulations the primary purpose of this type of magazine is to prevent packages of explosives or ammunition from coming in contact with the metal structural parts of the vessel the projections of the magazine that you see here are necessary to cover structural parts operating rods Trunks and other parts that protrude into the cargo holes stanion web frames and brackets in the holes are similarly sheathed with Lumber the floor of a type B magazine is formed by laying dunnage boards over the deck this is a type a magazine that has been built into part of the square of the hatch note this magazine is constructed with tight boarding with a smooth interior surface the floor of this magazine is formed by the hatch covers of the twe deck hatch the floor is covered with asbestos paper as a barrier against Heat in the event of fire occurred in the hold below here is shown the non-dangerous cargo stowed in the balance of the square of the hatch area observe the construction of the division bulk head between the magazines and this cargo here is shown an operation of loading bulk TNT a pip plate tray or pallet should always be used for drafts of boxes of this description in lifting this draft notice the two boxes that are not supported by the pie plate this is poor loading you now see the draft landed in the magazine observe the handling most of it is carefully done a few times the boxes are handled too roughly check this constantly and stop rough handling broken or damaged packages of ammunition or explosives in bulk shall not be permitted to be stowed on board a vessel if found on the vessel they shall be remove while recouping of packages is a feasible operation it is recommended that no recouping be permitted on board a vessel including barges or on a pair at which a vessel is loading explosives at most loading areas the Army is providing ammunition inspectors who are trained and skilled in such matters where possible after you have safely removed broken packages turn such packages over to the Army representative for such reconditioning as is necessary sorry contrast this loading with the loading you have just seen when the two cases were not properly loaded on the tray this represents a perfect loading of a draft of packages of high explosives a considerable amount of fixed and semi-fixed ammunition rocket shells and powder propellant charges are shipped in the triack package for overseas shipment it is protected by an outside wooden crate as you see it here trays or Nets with pie plates or pallets should always be used in loading Tri packs the triack consists of three fiber tubes having telescopic closing means they are assembled in one bundle by means of a clover leaf shaped metal base and similar metal top the assembly is secured in place by a center rod with threaded ends and Wing nuts for locking in position a safety wire and Lead seal similar to a railway car door seal is fitted because of the shape of the assembled package you will hear it referred to as a bundle pack Tri pack Clover Leaf pack or a fiber pack this package should not be subjected to rough handling the handling shown here here illustrates the correct treatment of the tri pack dropping this package on end may damage the cartridge case enough to render it unfit for use in the field a description of contents the weight cubic measurement of the package and the shipping name as given in the regulations are stenciled on the wooden crate notice the orderly and workmanlike manner in which the tri packs are loaded on the tray or pie plate and how completely the net encompasses the tri packs preventing any chance of one falling from the draft here is some of the ammunition shipped in triack the metal bands and nails of the wooden crate have already already been removed the ammunition inspector now withdraws the remainder of the wooden crate from underneath the tri pack note the clov leaf metal ends that secure the three fiber cylinders in place there is a name plate assembled at each end of the triack one plate carries the military description such as three rounds complete shell with fuse smoke the other plate carries the descriptive name as as required by the regulations in this case ammunition for Cannon with smoke projectile the inspector cuts the seal which holds the wing nut in place on the through bolt and backs the wing nut a sufficient distance to remove one of the cylinders the inspector now unravels the taped seal over the joint of the telescopic section of the cylinder and withdraws the projectile from the cylinder note the care with which these experienced explosives men handle this ammunition the metal shoe is fitted to provide bearing for the shell in the fiber container he reverses the container unwraps the tape from the opposite end of the same container and withdraws the cartridge case note the powder charge inside a cloth bag in the cartridge case this is semi fixed ammunition both inspectors now illustrate how the projectile and cartridge case is assembled for