Wreck Statistics for 1910.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 26 September 1911, Page 4

Wreck Statistics for 1910.

Tho statistical summary of vessels totally lost, broken, up, condemned, etc., published , by Lloyd's Register, shows that during 1910 the gross reduction in tho effective meroanti'e marine of the world amounted to 963 vessels of 947,090 tons, excluding v.h vessels of less than 100 tons. ' i thi total '121 vessel of 667,440 v.& are steamers, and 442 of 280,250 to. e, were sailing vessels. The total i>>r stoamers exceeds that r <ir 1309 tv 21,770 tons, whereas the figures lor sailing vessels are 13,312 ' tons le- 1 : than those foir that year. At'en tion may be drawn again to the * <■■ usual number of ves els which *iave been Iroken up, dismantled, etc., not so far as known, in consequent of the stress of weather. This i; ,\ veiT common torminatio.i to a •I^-

sol's career, but tho amoivnt of •<■>. rage so dealt witfh djr.ng ifJIO (386,Li1' tons), is in excess of the figures for 1009, which were tlvev.solvesthe highest reported tin the society's wreck returns. Nearly 301 per cent, of tho steamers and ovu , 39 per cent, of the sailing vessels removed from tliie merchant fleets of the world in the course of 1910 are accounted for in this manner. Of the total tonnage of such cases over 41,1 per cent, is represented by United Kingdom vessels. The statisteal tables exhibit interesting data, as to the relative frequency of the- different kinds of casualty, etc., wlhleii conclude the existence of vosse. s. Strandings and kindred casualti.s, whiolu are comprised undier the term "wrecked," are much the most prolific cause of disaster. To Rur-h casualties are attributable noairlv - r >3 per cent, of siailing vessels. Cas -s of abandoned, foundered and missing vessels are no doubt frequently more or less similar in the circumstances of loss. If these be taken collectively, they form nearly 21 per cent, of tho steamers, and 29 per cent, of the sailing vessels removed from tho mercantile marine during 1910, owing to casualty. As regards vesso:s owned in tho United Kingdom, it is satisfactory to observe that the number of suolil losses in the present return, namely 22. is the lowest reco.t] since these wreck statitics iliave boon ■compiled 'by Lloyd' Register. I'lie return has been prepared in such a manner as to enable n comparison lO be made between tho percentages ' f loss suffered by each of the primipail merchant navies in the world. Great as the absolute annual loss < f vAssels belonging to the United Kingdom appears to be. it is s-pon •< form a very moderate percentage .if ffio mercantile, marine of the conn try. The pprcentonre vp.c«^l s l O :~t by the United Kimrdom in T9lO ■'- though somewhat higher than Inst year, compares favouralilv with that of the other principal maritime om in tries.