It's an old navy tradition (in the RN for sure, not sure about other countries) that at midnight at new year, sixteen bells are struck. The first eight are struck by the most senior officer aboard, to symbolise the old year, and the last eight are struck by the most junior rating, to symbolise the new year. Or something like that. Normally only eight bells are ever struck (marking the end of a four hour watch) and they'd reset their 'clock' by the sun at noon.

That's the problem with my head - too many factoids, not enough useful information applicable to actually getting through life. Naval trivia is incredibly useful here in Nepal, as you can imagine given that Nepalese coastline = 0km.

G