DECK COVERSAboard ship, deck coverings get more wear thanany other material. Unless deck coverings are properlycared for, costly replacement is required. There areseveral materials used for covering decks, but only twotypes are covered here. These are the resilient and thenonslip (nonskid paint) types.Resilient deck coverings include vinyl tile, vinylasbestos tile, and linoleum. These deck coverings do notneed painting; however, daily sweeping and wipingaway spills as soon as possible are required. Resilientdeck covering is clamped down (cleaned with a dampswab) frequently, allowed to dry, and then buffed with abuffer. For more thorough cleaning when the deck isunusually dirty, apply a solution of warm water anddetergent with a stiff bristle brush or buffer and rinsewith clean water to remove residual detergent. Stubborndirt and black marks left by shoes can be removed byrubbing lightly with a scouring pad, fine steel wool, or arag moistened with mineral spirits.After the deck covering is washed and dried, it canbe polished (with or without waxing) with a buffer, or itmay be given a coat of self-polishing wax and allowedto dry without buffing. Deck coverings can be buffedseveral times before rewaxing.No wax should be applied to the deck when the shipis going out to sea or when heavy weather is anticipated.This is an added precaution against slipping, eventhough the approved floor waxes are designed to be slipresistant.Nonslip (nonskid paint) deck coverings containpumice, which provides a better footing. To clean anonskid painted deck, use a cleaning solution ofdetergent and dishwashing compound. To make thesolution, mix 1 pint of detergent and 5 tablespoons ofdishwashing compound. You can mix this compoundwith freshwater to make 20 gallons of cleaning solution.Apply the solution with a hand scrubber, let it soak for 5minutes, and then rinse with freshwater. Don’t wax orpaint nonskid deck coverings. Waxing or paintingreduces their nonskid properties.NOTEIf it becomes necessary to spruce up theappearance of a nonskid deck cover, brush itwith deck paint diluted with mineral spirits.The diluted paint should be as thin as possibleso that the nonskid properties are not affected.ZONE INSPECTIONFrequent inspections are held to make sure that allspaces, machinery, and equipment are in a satisfactorystate of operation, preservation, and cleanliness. Onetype of inspection, the zone inspection, divides the shipor station into various sections. Each zone is thenassigned to an inspection party or team. Usually the COwill head one team, while an officer or chief petty officerwill head each of the remaining teams. If you areassigned to present a compartment, you present thespace to the inspecting officer by saluting and greetingthe inspector in the following manner: “Good morning(afternoon), sir/ma’am; Seaman Apprentice Frost (yourrank and name) standing by compartment (name ornumber), for your inspection, sir/ma’am.” You will thenstay with the inspecting officer during the inspection ofyour spaces to answer questions and provide assistance.Such things as stowage cabinets, lockers, and drawersshould be unlocked before the inspection for easyaccess. Usually the inspecting officer will give anoverall grade to the space; for example, a grade ofoutstanding would indicate that no new discrepancieswere noted and all previous discrepancies have beencorrected. You can be proud of an outstanding grade.REVIEW 1 QUESTIONSQ1. The responsibility for cleaning and maintainingcertain spaces in the ship is listed in whatpublication?Q2. What person is generally assigned to clean livingor berthing spaces?18-3Student Notes:
Integrated Publishing, Inc. - A (SDVOSB) Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business
