A NAKED LIGHT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 277, 12 August 1918, Page 6

A NAKED LIGHT

CAUSE OF THE DEFENDER FIRE BENZINE BOATS SHOULD ■ BE LICENSED FINDINGS OF THE COURT The findings of tho Court which inquired into tho loss of tho steamer Dofender wero delivered by the president of the Court (Mr. W. G. Hiddell. S.M.) on Saturday mm-ning, as follows:— "Tho Court having considered the evi. deuce presented to it regarding tho causes by reason of which the s.s. Defender was burned and became a total wreck in Wellington Harbour on August, 2, 1918, finds that tho fire originated through a naked light being used in the ttokehol'd while a cargo of benzine affected by leakage was being stowed :n tho adjoining hold. "The Court also finds that the bulkhead and tho stokohold was neither air nor water-tight, and tho fire was primarily due to the negligent act of Fireman Dossett in leaving a iwked light on the floor of the stokehold and, the wrongful default of the master and the chief officer of the Defender in failing to take all necessary stops lo prevent naked lights being used in the stokehold or near the bulkhead and the hold in which tho benzine was being stowed. It was evident from the statements of Captain Green, the chief officer, and those memlwrs of the crew called as witnesses that nono of them appreciated ihe danger they were exposed to when carrying benzine in tho hold.

"The Court does not consider that the other members of the crew or any of the waterside workers employed in the loading of the cargo tin any way contributed to tho cause of the fire.

"The attention of the Court was called to Kegulation 91 of the Harbour Board by-laws, which stales that no fires or light shall ibo burned during the time dangerous goods are being carried, lauded, discharged, or shipped by, from, or to any vessel. It was stated that instructions were given by the Harbourmaster lo the agents of the- Defender that no Ores or lights wcro to be used on the vessel while ,the ' loading was in progress, but no Harbour Board official was present to see that those instructions were carried out. Wo think that some supervision should have been exercised by the Harbour Board to see that their instructions were obeyed. "It is common knowledge that within recent times several outbreaks of firo have occiiirred on coasting vessels carrying benzine, and the present one indicates the 'necessity for all parties concerned in the carriage and handling, cf dangerous cargo to tako evjry precaution possible to prevent surh occurences Although outside the questions stated in the notice of investigation, the Court is of opinion that the hold of the s.s. Defender was not suitable for the carriage of a cargo of benzine in that the bulkheads were neither air nor watertight, and were useless to present tko escape of fumes into the stokehold or forecastle. The Court recommends that stricter supervision should be exorcised by harbour boards ove,- the handling of dangerous cargoes such as benzine and similar light oils, and that in tho framing of by-laws dealing with, these matters provision should 'he made for the inspection and licensing of vessels to be need in the carriage of such dangerous goods. , "Proper supervision by Harbour Board officials or similar persons would, under suitable by-laws, ensure greater safoty for those handling dangerous cargoes, and the crews of the vessels engaged in such a business,and the vessels themselves. The president added: No order will be made with regard to costs. Mr. C. H. Izard (representing Wellington Harbour Board): 1 dunk the whole question of these, by-l.ws-of making them.applicable to the whole or the country—is now under consideration. Ine Harbours' Association set up a committee to go into it. The president: It is i.ecessary that some iby-laws should be made and stirictly carried out in connection with -.ho carriage of cargo such as benzine. It is o most dangerous form of cargo. Ordinary cargoes avo harmless compared with it.