What is the purpose of the large hole directly on the point of the bow about 10 feet under the rail? Kip, can you answer this for me? Thanks!

-- Laura (lrc@usit.net), January 31, 1998

Answers

Response to Hole in the Bow

Well, I'm not Kip but hope this will do. The Titanic had a third anchor which is still visible on the bow deck of the ship. This was an emergency anchor and would be set by the yardarm at the bow of the ship (also still visible, I believe). The "hole in the bow" was the hauser for this anchor. Regards, Peter

P.S. Kip DOES have the nuts and bolts of this ship down to a science!

-- Peter Nivling (pcnivling@capecod.net), January 31, 1998.

Response to Hole in the Bow

Y'know, I've never read what that hole in the bow is. It can't be a hawsepipe, because they didn't feed the auxillary anchor chain through it. My guess is that it was a drain for water that collected in the well that the auxillary anchor sits (sat) in (Sure doesn't seem to be doing much good now ;-).

Cheers!

-- Kip Henry (kip-henry@ouhsc.edu), February 01, 1998.

Response to Hole in the Bow

Kip: I'm going to research this one because I think I remember seeing that item discussed before somewhere. I have a very good friend who is an oceanographer that may be able to help us out. I believe the "hole in the bow" would be way too large to be mearly a drain. At any rate, you are right: Neither one of the applications did much good! I'll let you know my findings here.

-- Peter Nivling (pcnivling@capecod.net), February 01, 1998.

Response to Hole in the Bow

I just had a thought: They had way too few lifeboats, but they had 3 anchors! Wow, where were their priorities!!!

-- Peter Nivling (pcnivling@capecod.net), February 01, 1998.

Response to Hole in the Bow

I think the hole is used if the ship needs to be taken under tow; they would run the towline through it. Might seem weird, but that's what I read somewhere.

-- Dave Cook (dcook@idirect.com), February 01, 1998.

Response to Hole in the Bow

OK, gang. Since I didn't know the answer to this one, I posted it to Mark Taylor's Titanic Discussion List, which is frequented by some of the most knowledgable Titanic scholars in the world.

The opening was apparently used for hawsers when the ship was tied up in port or when being towed, but it's primary function was as a hawsepipe for the center auxiliary anchor. As it was explained to me, the center anchor was lifted out of its well by the anchor crane mounted at the bow, then swung out over the side of the ship. The anchor chain was then fed through this nose hawsepipe and attached to the anchor. After use, the process would be reversed, and the anchor dropped back into its well.

So, I'll have to eat a little crow (pass the barbecue sauce, please) and retract my original answer, and give thanks to Patrick Delage and Roy Mengot for the real answer to this question.

BTW, for those interested in the Titanic Discussion list, the URL for the information and sign-up page is http://www.silverquick.com/titanic.htm

Cheers!

-- Kip Henry (kip-henry@ouhsc.edu), February 01, 1998.

Response to Hole in the Bow

Kip and All: I woke up about 3:30 A.M. and said to myself: "Hello.. Why don't you check the "Leaving Port" video clip that you downloaded?? I got home from work just now and did just that but they were not using that for the forward tug but it is certainly a viable option. By the way, I believe the terminology for "the hole in the bow" is the "bullnose"(also determined at 3:30 A.M.)but I might be all wet on that one! Wow, I need to get some Nytol or stop with the coffee and get some sleep at night!

Regards, Peter

-- Peter Nivling (pcnivling@capecod.net), February 02, 1998.