Watertight bulkheads and canonsTO SAIL IN an 18th century ship the size of the “Götheborg" in modern times, various requirements onseaworthiness and working conditions have to be met. Engines for propulsion were one of the demands stipulated by the maritime authorities. The crew should obviously also be provided with a sound environment during the long voyages on the world´s oceans.According to Sture Arvidsson, the man responsible for designing and installing the technical systems on board, the main challenge has been to create technical systems that meet the requirements of international maritime authorities, while at the same time re-taining the ship´s profile as a historic East Indiaman. Modern machinery and the majority of the ship´s technical equipment have been located deep down in the hull. Unlike the original, the new ship is also equipped with five watertight steel bulkheads that reach up to the upper deck for maximum safety at sea, a feature that presented constant challenges when it came to routing pipework and cables. The bulkheads also satisfy demands on fire integrity. The two main engines, with propeller shafts and adjustable propellers, have a combined output of 1,100 hp, equivalent to 800 kW. These will be used for example when manoeuvring in ports and narrow fairways, as well as in any emergencies.Two main generators, each producing 180 kW and powered by two auxiliary engines, are responsible for the power supply. One generator has the capacity for the ship´s normal consumption, the other operates as a backup generator.
Film: A technical description of the ship, see the machinery. By Peder Jacobsson
There is also a further generator with a slightly lower capacity, an emergency generator, in a fireproof cell on the upper deck. As the ship is meant to be powered by the wind, the fuel store is not particularly large. The four fuel oil tanks on board hold a total of 36,000 litres of diesel oil. In other words, the 18th century ship has a hightech interior to ensure approval from national and international maritime authorities. In all, some 40 different systems have been built in, including propulsion, power, heating, water, sanitation, ventilation, a pump system, firefighting, communication and navigation. The ship has also been equipped with a modern galley as well as a supply of provisions with refrigerated and frozen storage areas. The galley is one of the main consumers of power and water on board. The machinery project began in spring 1999. For the technical design work, the interior of the ship was built up in a threedimensional computer program in 2000. With an estimated water consumption of 5,800 litres a day, i.e. just over 72 litres per person with a crew of 80, the 18,000 litres held in the freshwater tanks are only enough for around three days. This is why a desalination plant has been installed, in which fresh water is produced from salt water. The process, which is called reverse osmosis, means that when the salt water passes through a mem-brane (a screen with very small holes) under high pressure, the salt remains on one side and fresh water is obtained on the other. If neces-sary, as much as 18,000 litres of water can be produced per day. There is also a heating system on board. An oilfired boiler produces hot water for the taps, as well as hot water for heating the ventilation air and a number of radiators. Washing machines and tumble dryers have also been installed. The East Indiamen of old would probably have viewed the vacuum toilets as a little bit of heaven. In the 18th century, the “crew´s convenience" as it was called was situated in front of the bow in the figurehead. Fire protection, in the form of insulation and a fully automated sprinkler system, pumps and standpipes, has been approved by the Swedish Maritime Safety Inspectorate. In order to protect the ship against direct and indirect lightning strikes, there is an advanced system whereby the power from any lightning strike is routed symmetrically down either side of the ship and then out into the water through earth plates.The pilot house also doubles as a control room for the machinery through primary monitoring and alarm functions. The duty engineer can check the status of the equipment from here. Pipework, electrical, insulation and instrument work was conducted while the machines were being installed. Many metres of pipes, cables and pneumatic lines have been installed in the ship. A ventilation system ensures a good exchange of air in cabins and forecastles. However, this should ideally be neither visible nor audible. Concealing 500 metres of ventilation pipes was not the easiest of tasks, but was completed successfully. And by locating the fans deep down in the hull, the noise is greatly reduced. It is perfectly possible to switch off both the engines for the main generators and the ventilation for six to eight hours, and to draw power from batteries on the weather deck and so experience absolute silence at sea.
Hammocks and capstanThe number of decks on the old East India-men can be seen from preserved drawings, but we now only have a vague idea of what the in-terior of the ships looked like as there are no detailed drawings of the furnishings, fixtures and fittings. There are clear details about the size of the cabins and where they were situa-ted, and this information has been used as a basis when fitting out the ship. In addition, a great deal has been governed by the water-tight bulkheads, which reach up to the upper deck. The East Indiaman “Götheborg" has three complete decks: lower deck, upper deck and weather deck.At the bottom of the ship there is a lower room housing engines, generators, tanks and other technical equipment. As far as possible, pipes, drums and cables for the various on-board systems have been routed so as to be concealed.On the lower deck there are two large fore-castles for the students, up to 60, in the crew. There are berths for 30 students in each fore-castle, either in hammocks or fixed bunks. On the lower deck there are also cabins for some members of the permanent crew. There is room on board for
everyone to sleep at the same time.Towards the front on the lower deck, one of the quietest places on board, is the galley. Fitting out a complete modern galley with capacity for 80 people and satisfying all the modern regulations and hygiene requirements in the same space as on an 18th century ship called for a whole range of special solutions. A supply of provisions for 60 days´ sailing and emergency provisions for a further 30 days were also required. The forepeak houses a store for sails, ropes and other equipment. There is also storage space in the afterpeak. The upper deck, or gun deck, has been fitted out as it is believed it would have looked in the 1700s, which is why it is also referred to as the museum deck. This deck is home to the lower capstan, bitt, cannon, folding mess tables se-cured with hinges to the ship´s side, as well as permanently installed chests that act as seat-ing benches. The gun deck is used as a dining area, but also for socialising, relaxation and work. Everyone on board now eats at the mess tables, although originally only the mess teams used to eat here, i.e. the deckhands and able bodied seamen. The food on board is now served at the bitt, which resembles a long table. The bitt, which is towards the front of the ship, was previously used for securing the anchor hawser. The bitt comprises two securely bolted thick vertical oak beams, as well as one large beam lying across these two. In the stern are the large reception room and cabins for the officers. The furniture, materials and colour scheme in the interior are in line with the style of the mid 1700s. Most of the fittings are fixed to the walls. The windows in the large cabins have 56 millimetre thick toughened glass, which means they are as strong as the hull. The weather deck, the uppermost deck, is where ship´s boats, the rubber dinghy and life rafts can be found. Also here is the capstan, which provides extra power when manoeuvring sails, such as when bracing yards. The capstan comprises a vertical wooden cylinder bolted together around a vertical shaft that passes through the deck. A rope end or a hawser is wound around the cylinder three times. It is held taut and then wound in by the crew turning the cylinder. This is done with the aid of bars inserted into sockets in the top of the cylinder. The increased power is obtained from the leverage against the shaft. The capstan is manned by between six and 12 people. When anchoring with hawsers, as was done in the past, the capstan in this case the lower capstan was used to wind in the anchor hawser. The capstan could also be used when kedging. The shaft around which the upper capstan is mounted also passes through the lower deck, where the lower capstan is mounted. Both capstans can be manned when performing heavy work. An impressive double steering wheel for manoeuvring the rudder, as well as the pilot house, is located below the roof on the weather deck.At the back of the weather deck are officers´ cabins, the small reception room as well as stern and quarter galleries, i.e. balconies and side extensions. Above the weather deck, in the stern, is the cabin and sundeck. This is where distinguished gentlemen stayed in the 18th century. The balcony, also known as the terrace, was a pleasant haven in warmer climates. The crew had to remain on the weather deck, however. Externally the “Götheborg" looks exactly like her predecessor, while on the inside the East Indiaman is a modern ship equipped in line with today´s seaworthiness requirements in order to sail on the world´s oceans.
Six-pound gunsIn the 18th century, the East Indiaman “Götheborg" was armed with a total of 30 cannon, both six-pound and three pound guns, for protection against pirates and privateers. According to the charter, the East Indiamen were entitled to meet violence with violence. The crew practised operating the cannon in order to be prepared in the event the ship came under threat.The name “six-pound gun" comes from the weight of the cannonballs, six pounds (2.5 kg), that could be fired 250-300 metres with ap-proximately 1.5 kg of nitric powder. The cannon weighs 700 kg and has a muzzle of 9.5 centimetres. The gun ports also greatly helped ventilation in warm climates. The new East Indiaman´s gun deck has ten six-pound cast iron cannon. The cannon were cast according to a drawing dating back to the 1700s from Åkers Styckebruk in the province of Södermanland, the most important cannon producer in Sweden at the time. The cannon on board will now be used for peaceful purposes, such as firing salutes on ar-rival in distant ports. The normal salute in the Company´s day consisted of eight single shots. This was how harbour cities and the ships lying at anchor were greeted. A shot was also used to call for a pilot.