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messy, showers may not drain properly, either. And in a worst-case scenario, a poorly trimmed vessel can have stabil- ity issues and possibly capsize. Port: Do all ships have listometer lights? If not, what other indicators are used for that purpose? Stewart: The listometer light system is not universal. On vessels that don't have the lights, mariners will rely on a clinometer to determine if the vessel is listing. Clinometers may be found on the bridge, on deck, and in the master and chief mate office. The clinometer must be mounted on the vessel's centerline to measure list and amidships to measure trim. The centerline is an imaginary line running fore and aft bisecting the ship. The amidships point is the middle of the vessel measured fore and aft. If not mounted in these locations, corrections will be necessary when reading the cli- nometer. The final trim of a vessel is determined by looking at all six draft marks on the vessel. However, accuracy in reading draft marks can be difficult if there are waves or currents. Flanked by Captain Jeff Flumignan (left) from MARAD and Adam Tindall- Schlicht (right) from the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, UWS Professor Emeritus Dr. Richard Stewart receives the Merchant Marine Medal for Outstanding Achievement during the Duluth-Superior Maritime Club's National Maritime Day event on May 22, 2023. DON'T GET ALL TIPSY A mere half-degree can make all the difference. Here's a guide on how to read a standard listometer: More than 1.5 degrees starboard list 1/2 degree starboard list 1/2 degree port list 1 degree port list More than 1.5 degrees port list 1 degree starboard list The William A. Irvin, then the unofficial flagship of the Pittsburgh Steamship Company, takes on a load of iron ore during the 1940s in Duluth. During her time of active service on the Great Lakes, the Irvin hauled an estimated 15 million tons of iron ore, in addition to limestone and coal. Listometer lights helped ship loaders keep the vessel balanced during the loading process. DULUTHPORT.COM | 9 Trim

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