mmc wrote:
"Capt. JG" wrote in message
easolutions...
"Marty" wrote in message
...
This summer while sailing on the St. Lawrence I was passed by a bulk
carrier. The deck hatches were closed, as one would expect, however the
deck was being sprayed by a sprinkler system from bow to aft
superstructure.

Since then I have noticed several similar vessels, also with deck
sprinklers running full tilt.

What is the purpose of this?

Cheers
Martin

? testing the fire suppression system?

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com



If the water is fresh in that part of the river (I know where the St
Lawrence river is but that's about it) they may be taking advantage to wash
off the salt.



Not likely, in each case they were downbound. It was hot, I thought
maybe they were keeping their cargo cool,,, does one need to keep wheat
cool?

Just read this from boatnerd.com

"Hogging is a term used when a vessel is bent up in the middle due to
any number of factors. On the Great Lakes this happens to vessels in hot
weather where the upper part is heated more than the submerged part.
Thats why you see boats with sprinkler systems spraying cool water over
the decks to reduce this hogging. It can also happen with the uneven
distribution of the cargo during loading or discharge (sometimes to
catastrophic results) where the major portion of the cargo is at the
ends of the boat i.e. for'd or after holds"

Learn something new everyday!

Cheers
Martin