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Verbal Notes and Sketches for Marine Engineers

Author J W M Sothern

Publisher James Munro & Co Ltd, Glasgow

Date1921

Object number00038292

NameBook

MediumInk on paper, cloth covered boards

DimensionsOverall: 240 x 163 mm, 2.22 kg

ClassificationsBooks and journals

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Graham Goodfellow

Terms

DescriptionSothern's book became a standard text for marine engineers studying the essential Board of Trade Certificate in Marine Engineering. Without the certificate, membership to professional institutes such as the Institute of Marine Engineering could not be obtained, and employment options would be severely restricted.HistoryThroughout the 19th century and for most of the 20th seagoing marine engineers were mostly drawn from the ranks of those who gained their engineering experience in shipbuilding yards and engineering establishments ashore. The experience of these engineers varied considerably and there were no defined rules regarding the standards of training required, unlike deck officers. In order to ensure that ships were crewed to a reasonable standards level, in 1862 the Merchant Shipping Act was modified to include the skills and qualifications of engineers. The new rules stipulated that seagoing engineers were required to obtain certificates of competency and all ships had to carry certified engineers. Two grades of engineers were established, First and Second Class. Standards of training varied widely however and the Institute of Marine Engineers, established in 1889, became the driving force to change the rules relating to training and apprenticeships. In 1901 the Board of Trade, which controlled the granting of Certificates of Competency, introduced new regulations requiring formal qualifications, longer sea time and more stringent testing of candidates. Successful candidates were granted membership to the Institute of Marine Engineers. In Scotland, later considered the home of marine engineering, the first Chair of Engineering was founded at the University of Glasgow in 1840. L D B Gordon was appointed the first professor. James William Major Sothern founded the Sothern's College of Marine Engineering at 59 Bridge Street, Glasgow, Scotland with his relative R M Sothern sometime in the early 1900s. He was a Member of the Institute of Engineers and Shipbuilders in Scotland; Member of the Institute of Marine Engineers, London; and Hon., Member, Marine Engineers' Association. The College was set up to provide expert technical advice and instruction for engineers of all grades to meet the new and revised Board of Transport Standards of Examinations for marine engineers. Sothern wrote a number of texts on marine engineering which over time became standard works on marine engineering and were used by marine engineers all over the world. As well as VERBAL NOTES AND SKETCHES FOR MARINE ENGINEERS, which was republished at least 18 times between 1907 and 1940, Sothern also wrote NOTES AND SKETCHES ON MARINE DIESEL OIL ENGINES PRACTISE (1922); MARINE ENGINE INDICATOR CARDS (1918); OIL FUEL BURNING IN MARINE PRACTISE, SIMPLE PROBLEMS IN MARINE ENGINEERING DESIGNS and THE MARINE STEAM TURBINE (1921). SignificanceAlthough not rare, well-provenanced books on marine engineering, which have been used at sea by a practising marine engineer, are scarce.