Themes
Portsmouth Dockyard
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Learning
Riggers
Riggers were another trade that had its origins in the sailing navy. They worked on the rigging needed to operate the sails. Their role evolved with the ships and they were still an integral part of the twentieth century Dockyard. They worked on rigging and splicing with both traditional rope and steel.
Riggers created the protective matting used by ships and boats to prevent damage to their hulls when berthed.
Their main role within the Dockyards was to move ships. They "walked" ships in and out of the docks and basins. Riggers would do this using long steel hawsers or ropes attached to capstans to pull the ship out of the dock or the basin. They also came into their own with submarines. Submarines did their first diving exercises or trials in number three basin. They held the submarine in the centre of the basin while she submerged and ascended. There were other ships trials where riggers worked on ships such as inclining and heaving trials. Riggers would rig up all the ropes or steels wires to control the vessels ensuring the safety of the tests.
