SHIPS AND CARGO

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 100, 22 January 1935, Page 10

SHIPS AND CARGO

Effect of New Harbour Regulations NUMEROUS SAFEGUARDS Commenting on the general harbour regulations which were gazetted last Thursday and referred to in “The Dominion” the following day, the Minister of Marine, Hon. J. G. Cobbe, yesterday explained in . some detail the scope of the alterations. For instance, the regulations dealing with signals had been altered in some respects to make the signals prescribed conform to those in the international code. In respect of numerous regulations dealing- with the loading and discharging of vessels, the Minister recalled that a commission took evidence in New Zealand in 1919 on the conditions under which waterside work was carried out, and as a result regulations were made generally for the protection of workers. During the last few years the International Labour Office’had been investigating the position in various countries, and as a sequel an international convention, the parties to which were now issuing regulations, was concluded. These regulations had been very carefully considered in New Zealand, and several of them, principally those relating to lighting of holds, safe access, safety of cargo gear, guarding of holds and open spaces, had been inserted in the draft, with modifications to suit conditions in the Dominion. Extended provision had been made for proper and suitable staging for repair and paint work on ships, and for safety lines on the higher classes of staging. A new regulation dealt with the draining of oil on’docks or slipways, as a protection against tire. As regards vessels .in dock or on sljp or undergoing overhaul or repair, extensive alterations had been made, as the existing regulations were in many respects deficient. The regulations were based generally on the British code,' with the decisions of international conferences as a guide. The Minister said that several of the new regulations were designed for safety purposes where, repairs were being carried out in, or in the vicinity of ships’ tanks which bad contained inflammable oil. Recent cases of disaster, through explosions during such work, had been reported, and as a large number of vessels of this class were now trading to and in New Zealand waters, and repairs were of necessity required to be made, it was urgently necessary to make safety provisions. The new regulations were based on the British regulations, and on the whole had met with no serious opposition from parties affected. ■> The only alteration to the regulations dealing with explosives was an addition allowing the shipment or discharge between sunset and sunrise of up to 5001bs. of explosives, under special permit. As regards ships very little alteration had been found necessary, the principal one being an additional provision prohibiting smoking on vehicular ferries in order to eliminate danger from fire while motor vehicles were on board. __________