THE RISKS AT SEA

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1501, 25 July 1912, Page 4

THE RISKS AT SEA

HOW DIMINISH THEM? REPORT TO HON. F- M- B- FISHER, REALITIES FACED AT LAST. Tho Minister for Marino (the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher) is at present considering tho question of amending the Shipping and Seamen Aot this session, with a view to altering tho regulations governing the provision of life-saving apparatus on vessels at 6ea. A report embodying tho detailed recommendations of a number of .New Zealand! experts oil the. subject of life-saving has been furnished to the Marine Department. It is submitted in this document that tho want of men experienced ill tho use and handling of boats is a serious matter ill casa of shipwreck, and it is suggested that before the New Zealand regulations are altered it would be advisabla to wait for the report of the British Board of Trado, which is now considering tho matter of boat accommodation. It is pointed out that tho Board of Trado has a largo number of experience which they have in Great Britain should enable them to devise suitable 'and workable regulations. It is further suggested that when, tho report of tho Board of Trade, cornea to hand, a conference of the principal offioers of the Marine Department might be held at Wellington to consider what alterations should be made in tho local, regulations.

Present Regulation! on Materiel, The present regulations provide that if tho boats required by them to bo carried and placed under davit 3 do not provide sufficient accommodation for all on board, tlieu additional wood, metal, collapsible, or other boats of approved description, whether placed under davits or otherwise or approved life-rafts, approved buoyant deck-scats, or other approved buoyant deck-fittings shall be carried to provide for further persons, but not necessarily for all on board. On Boat Drill. As to boat drill, the existing regulations provide for a monthly boat drill in tho case of coastal ships, and one boat drill on each round voyage in the case of intercolonial ships. The Shipping and Seanteu Act, 1908, does not provide for the manner in which tho drill shall bo carried out. Tho report reoommenda that tlio present provision in tho Act relating to boat drill should be repealed, and a new clauso inserted, authorising tho Governor-in-Council to make regulations as to boat drill, so that the regulations may be'altered from time to time, as circumstances require it. Some Drastic Recommendations, Any minor discrepancies in tho sum--1 marised recommendations which follow aro due to the fact' that reports wero obtained independently from a number of experts who do not agree upon all matters of detail. One expert, lor instance, recommends that boat-drills should 1)0 held weekly on all vessels, and the crews properly drilled and exerciscd, whereas tho burden of expert opinion seems to bo that a monthly drill would suffice, provided that other requirements wero satisfied. 1 Olio recommendation is that the Government should _ provide instructors in the uso and handling of boats, and that officers and men who aro not expert in tho use of boats should not bo allowed to ship on vessels. It is. stated, inter alia, that the scale of boats prescribed in tho existing regulations gives sufficient boats, and. that if there aixv not enough for, all persons on beard, approved life-rafts should be supplied for tho remainder. Tho experts state that these rafts are as reliable <is boats, and more easily handled. Tliey think, also, that restricted limit shins should ( have sufticieut life-saving appliances, including life-belts for all on board, that vessels running excursion, trips should have nil emergency boat swung out, tliat all New Zealand-owned vessels should have similar disconnecting gear, that boat drill should be carried out away from the wharves, that all the crow 6liould muster at drill with life-belts on, and that there should bo a regular coxswain for. each boat. One expert recommends that all boats should ue lowered into tho water, and 'handled under oars at the monthly boat drill, and tliat there should bo an annual drill on intercolonial and Ilome-trado ships in. the prosonoo of a Surveyor, wlio should see tho crew exercised in rowing and sailing. Another report ur&es that enough lifeboats should be carried to accommodate all on board on ordinary voyages, and that on excursion trips thero should bo enough life-boats and rafts for all. Another recommendation is that enough boats should bo carried to accommodate all on board, irrespective of tho nature of tlio voyago • . * Are Our Collapsible Boats Good Enough? Ono expert considers that the boats and rafts provided for in the present rules are sufficient, but that the present collapsible boats are liot satisfactory. He points out that satisfactory collapsible boats which oro similar to those which tho Titanic had,, aro carried on 6onie of the Homo steamers. He also thinks that ono life-raft should not bo carried on top of another, and that life-buoys should bo placed at frequent intervals round the rails Af' ferry tyiats. When Harbour Boats Touch "Blue Water." In reference to vessols making excursion trips beyond harbour, and river limits, tiiero is some divergence of opinion amongst tho experts. Ono recommends that tiiose vessels should carry boats for all on board, but another thinks that their ordinary boats, with an emergency lifo-boat swung out and a sufficiency ot lifo-buoys and life-belts, aro all . that should lie required.