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Steamship Bell Time and Crew Watch Shifts - 1889 Ocean Liners

Transatlantic Steamships kept time using a 24 hour clock and the rang bells at specific intervals. They also had watches, primarily to avoid collision with ocean obstacles like icebergs and other ships. This article from 1899 explains the Bell Time and Crew Watch Shifts.

Bell Time

Bell Time and Crew Watches - September 1889

THE twenty-four hours are divided on board ship into seven parts, and the crew is divided into two parts or watches, designated Port and Starboard Watches. Each watch are on duty four hours, except from 4 to 8 P. M., which time is divided into two watches of two hours each, called Dog Watches, by means of which the watches are changed every day, and each watch gets a turn of eight hours' rest at night.

  • First Watch, 8 P. M. to midnight;
  • Middle Watch, midnight to 4 A. M.;
  • Morning Watch, 4 to 8 A. M.;
  • Forenoon Watch, 8 A. M. to noon;
  • Afternoon Watch, noon to 4 P. M.;
  • First Dog Watch, 4 to 6 P. M.;
  • Second Dog Watch, 6 to 8 P. M.

In the French service there are no Dog Watches, but there are two watches of six hours each.

THE BELL IS STRUCK EVERY HALF HOUR TO INDICATE THE TIME:

  • 00:30 Hours - 12:30 A. M. : 1 Bell
  • 01:00 Hours - 1:00 A. M. : 2 Bells
  • 01:30 Hours - 1:30 A. M. : 3 Bells
  • 02:00 Hours - 2:00 A. M. : 4 Bells
  • 02:30 Hours - 2:30 A. M. : 5 Bells
  • 03:00 Hours - 3:00 A. M. : 6 Bells
  • 03:30 Hours - 3:30 A. M. : 7 Bells
  • 04:00 Hours - 4:00 A. M. : 8 Bells
  • 04:30 Hours - 4:30 A. M. : 1 Bell
  • 05:00 Hours - 5:00 A. M. : 2 Bells
  • 05:30 Hours - 5:30 A. M. : 3 Bells
  • 06:00 Hours - 6:00 A. M. : 4 Bells
  • 06:30 Hours - 6:30 A. M. : 5 Bells
  • 07:00 Hours - 7:00 A. M. : 6 Bells
  • 07:30 Hours - 7:30 A. M. : 7 Bells
  • 08:00 Hours - 8:00 A. M. : 8 Bells
  • 08:30 Hours - 8:30 A. M. : 1 Bell
  • 09:00 Hours - 9:00 A. M. : 2 Bells
  • 09:30 Hours - 9:30 A. M. : 3 Bells
  • 10:00 Hours - 10:00 A. M. : 4 Bells
  • 10:30 Hours - 10:30 A. M. : 5 Bells
  • 11:00 Hours - 11:00 A. M. : 6 Bells
  • 11:30 Hours - 11:30 A. M. : 7 Bells
  • 12:00 Hours - 12:00 Noon : 8 Bells
  • 12:30 Hours - 12:30 P. M. : 1 Bell
  • 13:00 Hours - 1:00 P. M. : 2 Bells
  • 13:30 Hours - 1:30 P. M. : 3 Bells
  • 14:00 Hours - 2:00 P. M. : 4 Bells
  • 14:30 Hours - 2:30 P. M. : 5 Bells
  • 15:00 Hours - 3:00 P. M. : 6 Bells
  • 15:30 Hours - 3:30 P. M. : 7 Bells
  • 16:00 Hours - 4:00 P. M. : 8 Bells
  • 16:30 Hours - 4:30 P. M. : 1 Bell
  • 17:00 Hours - 5:00 P. M. : 2 Bells
  • 17:30 Hours - 5:30 P. M. : 3 Bells
  • 18:00 Hours - 6:00 P. M. : 4 Bells
  • 18:30 Hours - 6:30 P M. : 5 Bells
  • 19:00 Hours - 7:00 P. M. : 6 Bells
  • 19:30 Hours - 7:30 P. M. : 7 Bells
  • 20:00 Hours - 8:00 P. M. : 8 Bells
  • 20:30 Hours - 8:30 P. M. : 1 Bell
  • 21:00 Hours - 9:00 P. M. : 2 Bells
  • 21:30 Hours - 9:30 P. M. : 3 Bells
  • 22:00 Hours - 10:00 P. M. : 4 Bells
  • 22:30 Hours - 10:30 P. M. : 5 Bells
  • 23:00 Hours - 11:00 P. M. : 6 Bells
  • 23:30 Hours - 11:30 P. M. : 7 Bells
  • 00:00 Hours - 12:00 Midnight : 8 Bells
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The Folks Behind the GG Archives

The GG Archives is the work and passion of two people, Paul Gjenvick, a professional archivist, and Evelyne Gjenvick, a curator. Paul earned a Masters of Archival Studies - a terminal degree from Clayton State University in Georgia, where he studied under renowned archivist Richard Pearce-Moses. Our research into the RMS Laconia and SS Bergensfjord, the ships that brought two members of the Gjønvik family from Norway to the United States in the early 20th century, has helped us design our site for other genealogists. The extent of original materials at the GG Archives can be very beneficial when researching your family's migration from Europe.