cold-iron watch
v.— «American Export Lines put “a cold-iron watch” on the $53,000,000 Savannah in Galveston, Texas, last week.…It means putting a cadre crew aboard to keep essential maintenance on a dead ship. Electricity, water, steam and other utilities are received from shore.» —“‘Cold-Iron Watch’ on Savannah Maintained by American Export” New York Times July 28, 1963. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
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