Plimsoll Day ― Date, History, and Details
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History of Plimsoll Day and How to Celebrate/ Observe It
Plimsoll Day is an annual celebration in the United Kingdom that commemorates the life and work of Samuel Plimsoll, a 19th-century social reformer and politician. Plimsoll was a leading campaigner for improved safety standards in the shipping industry, and Plimsoll Day is now used as an opportunity to raise awareness of maritime safety issues.
Plimsoll was born in Bristol in 1824, and he first became interested in maritime safety while working as a clerk in the city’s docks. In 1844, he witnessed the wreck of the SS Forfarshire, which had been laden with coal and sank off the coast of England with the loss of all hands. This tragedy had a profound effect on Plimsoll, and he began campaigning for changes to the way ships were loaded and registered.
In 1876, Plimsoll was elected to Parliament, where he continued his fight for maritime reform. He successfully lobbied for the introduction of the Plimsoll line, a mark that was painted on the hull of a ship to indicate the maximum safe load. The Plimsoll line became mandatory for all British-registered ships in 1876, and it is still used today.
Plimsoll Day is now celebrated on 10th February, the anniversary of Plimsoll’s death. It is an opportunity to remember his work in improving maritime safety, and to raise awareness of the dangers of overloading ships.