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NAVAL LIFE and CUSTOMS, Part 2 of 2 by Lieutenant Commander John
Irving, Royal Navy Another battleship - HMS Resolution (courtesy
- Maritime Quest) VI. ROUTINE - A.M. So far we have chiefly
contented ourselves with viewing the ship and its officers and
men "off service," that is to say, in their own quarters and
virtually off duty. Now let us see them at work. Everything that
goes on in a ship has its basis in routine. There is a special
routine for the daily work in harbour, and a special routine for
Sundays in harbour; there is a sea routine as well. The design
and framing of the ship's routine is the sale prerogative of her
Executive Officer. As "Chief Housemaid" he has to set aside
adequate time for his ship to be cleaned, swept and garnished.
He has to fit in the meal hours "laid-down" by regulations. He
has so to adjust matters that the day's work does not begin too
soon, with no daylight to see what is being done, nor end too
late when ef