![\"SS](\"http:\/\/www.tomgrimshaw.com\/tomsblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/SS_Warrimoo-300x294.jpg\")
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SS Warrimoo<\/p>\n
Sea story!<\/p>\n
The passenger steamer SS Warrimoo was quietly knifing its way through the waters of the mid-Pacific on its way from Vancouver to Australia. The navigator had just finished working out a star fix and brought Captain John DS. Phillips, the result. The Warrimoo’s position was LAT 0\u00ba 31′ N and LONG 179 30′ W. The date was 31 December 1899.<\/p>\n
“Know what this means?” First Mate Payton broke in, “We’re only a few miles from the intersection of the Equator and the International Date Line”.<\/p>\n
Captain Phillips was prankish enough to take full advantage of the opportunity for achieving the navigational freak of a lifetime. He called his navigators to the bridge to check & double check the ship’s position. He changed course slightly so as to bear directly on his mark. Then he adjusted the engine speed. The calm weather & clear night worked in his favor.<\/p>\n
At mid-night the SS Warrimoo lay on the Equator at exactly the point where it crossed the International Date Line!<\/p>\n
The consequences of this bizarre position were many:
\nThe forward part (bow) of the ship was in the Southern Hemisphere & in the middle of summer.<\/p>\n
The rear (stern) was in the Northern Hemisphere & in the middle of winter.<\/p>\n
The date in the aft part of the ship was 31 December 1899.<\/p>\n
In the bow (forward) part it was 1 January 1900.<\/p>\n
This ship was therefore not only in:
\nTwo different days,
\nTwo different months,
\nTwo different years,
\nTwo different seasons
\nBut in two different centuries – all at the same time!<\/p>\n
(Extra credit to those who can spot the error in the diagram!)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
SS Warrimoo Sea story! The passenger steamer SS Warrimoo was quietly knifing its way through the waters of the mid-Pacific on its way from Vancouver to Australia. The navigator had just finished working out a star fix and brought Captain John DS. Phillips, the result. The Warrimoo’s position was LAT 0\u00ba 31′ N and LONG … <\/p>\n