A ship`s bell is used to indicate the time aboard a ship and hence to regulate the sailors` duty watches. The bell itself is usually made of brass or bronze and normally has the ship`s name engraved or cast on it. ==Timing of duty periods== Unlike civil clock bells, the strikes of the bell do not accord to the number of the hour. Instead, there...... Found on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship`s_bell
bell used as early as the 15th century to sound the time on board ship by striking each half hour of a watch. The mariner`s day is divided into six ... Found on http://www.britannica.com/eb/a-z/s/84