Slop chest: [noun] A stock of merchandise, such as clothing, tobacco, etc., maintained aboard merchant ships for sale to the crew.
WAR SHIPPING ADMINISTRATION
Washington
October 7, 1942Operations Regulations No. 13
Pertaining to Service Agreement for Vessels of Which the
War Shipping Administration is Owner or Owner Pro Hac Vice
(Dry Cargo and Passenger Vessels and Tankers)SUBJECT: SLOP CHEST
EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELYThe following provision of the Navigation Laws of the United States (46 U.S.C. 670-671) is quoted:
"Every vessel mentioned in section forty-five hundred and sixty-nine of the Revised Statutes shall also be provided with a slop chest, which shall contain a complement of clothing for the intended voyage for each seaman employed, including boots or shoes, hats or caps, under clothing and outer clothing, oiled clothing, and everything necessary for the wear of a seaman; also a full supply of tobacco and blankets.
Any of the contents of the slop chest shall be sold, from time to time, to any or every seaman applying therefor, for his own use, at a profit not exceeding 10 per centum of the reasonable wholesale value of the same at the port at which the voyage commenced.
And if any such vessel is not provided, before sailing, as herein required, the owner shall be liable to a penalty of not more than $500. The provisions of this section shall not apply to vessels plying between the United States and the Dominion of Canada, Newfoundland, the Bermuda Islands, the Bahama Islands, the West Indies, Mexico, and, Central America.
Pursuant thereto, General Agents of WSA shall provide a slop chest for the benefit of seamen aboard each vessel as soon as it enters service.
The Master shall submit to the General Agent a requisition for the items required for the intended voyage and the General Agent shall purchase sane for account of WSA and arrange for delivery of same aboard ship to the custody of the Master.
The General Agent shall supply the Master with the cost price of each item and the Master shall sell, from time to time as specified by him, any of the contents of the slop chest to any or every seaman applying therefor.
The Master shall charge for each item a price approximating, but not exceeding 110% of the reasonable wholesale value of the same at the port at which the voyage commenced.
All receipts of the Master shall be accounted for to the General Agent.
The General Agents shall account to WSA for the cost of the slop chest and receipts in accordance with the accounting regulations of WSA.
Neither the General Agents nor the Master shall place insurance on the contents of the slop chest purchased for account of WSA as the WSA assumes all risks, marine and war, thereon.
It shall be the responsibility of each General Agent and Master to exercise reasonable care and diligence in the compliance with the Owner’s obligations hereunder and in the protection and disposition of the contents of the slop chests.
(Sgd.) J. E. Cushing
Assistant Deputy Administrator for Ship Operations
Photos of mariners in work clothes -- knit watchcap, sweatshirt and dungarees; chambray or khaki shirts, tee shirts and dungarees or chino pants.
SCHEDULE II OF OPERATIONS REGULATION NO.13 Supplement No. 1
[List of items included in slop chest and maximum purchase price to be paid by ship operator. The price charged the mariner was 10% over the purchase price.] No cigarettes are included in this list, because they were supplied free to mariners and servicemen by the tobacco companies.Clothing
