I recall the topic of coaling at sea while under way has come up from time to time in our discussions; while searching for something entirely different, I found the web site of the International Journal of Naval History and what do I find? A lengthy article on the subject of Replenishment at Sea in the Era of Coal
All I knew about coaling at sea yet was from my books on German AMC operating in WWI. From those accounts it must have been a very dirty, dangerous and exhausting work. But my books provided no details. I always wonders how they managed, given they replenished from ships they stopped that were not equipped in any kind for such procedure...
Bruce, I've just come across another interesting article on coaling in warships and the strains it imposed on the crews.
I'll forward you a copy via email, its on my files at work, so hopefully sometime next week.