Steam winches were operated in sets of two to control the cabling system and positioning of the booms. It takes two crewmembers to operate a set along with a Bosun who coordinates their movements. You will see a set of winches located beneath each mast and boom as you explore the deck.
The set consists of two steam engines connected to the same crankshaft. The two cranks are set at 90 degrees to each other so that the winch will always start no matter what position it is in. The crankshaft is connected to a drum by means of reduction gearing. Metal cable is wound on the drum, which turns at a much slower speed than the crankshaft.
The other end of the cable is carried up a boom and passed through a block which is then used to transfer cargo from the hold to the dock or vice-versa. A brake is fitted to the drum of the winch, controlled by a foot lever so that it may be held with a load on it when the steam is shut off.
There are many boom and tackle combinations to be used when working cargo. In most ports, longshoremen handled the cargo gear under the supervision of the ship’s First Mate, whose rank was just below that of the Master.
Currently, the ship uses a diesel-powered air compressor in lieu of steam when the boilers are not lit.
Explore this Station's Gallery
Proceed forward to observe the Main Mast and Cargo Booms, along with the block and tackle that makes up the cargo transferring system.