The Ships Bell: Ship's Name Permanently Recorded

Many new and very old shipwrecks have been   identified thanks to inscriptions cast onto the ships bell.     Normally a ship's bell carries the name of the vessel and the year of its construction. Even if the ship is bought and sold and the name changed, the bell preserves its original name, its baptism name. The bell is an important part of the ships life; often used to ring out the rhythm of daily life on board. In fog, the bell serves as a signal for other ships in the vicinity. 

The quarter bell will be located normally not far from the crews quarters, close by the mess and sleeping quarters. A second "fog" bell will often be located at the front of the vessel.

The photo opposite is the bell of the Order Charcot on the "Why Not". The bell was cast in 1908 and placed on board ship. The ship sunk not many years later, and the ship was rediscovered by the team of Jacques Cousteau; the inscription on the bell identified the ship.