SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA

Hokitika Guardian, 11 July 1929, Page 7

SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA

LONDON CONFERENCE. LIFEBOATS 'AND RAFTS. LONDON, May 31. The subject of boats and other lifesaving appliances on passenger ships lias been under consideration by a com mittee of the International Conference on Safety of Life at Sea, which is now sitting in London. The Life Saving Appliances Committee have kept before them two main principles: (1) That all the life-saving appliances on a ship shall he readily available; and (2) that they shall he adequate. On these matters the committee’s proposals are: (1) That every lifeboat on board should be so carried as to he readily available in an emergency, and no boat should he carried which will impede the prompt handling of the boats that are available; and (2) that these readily-available boats on ocean-going passenger ships should provide accommodation for all persons on board. In addition, the committee propose that light buoyant apparatus should he provided, which will float in the sea and will provide persons with something to which they can cling if by reason of the rapid sinking of the vessel it has been impossible to get them away in the boats. Such apparatus is a definite additional measure of safety nnd is to be provided in a determined proportion to the number of persons on board.

USE OF RAFTS. As regards the use of life rafts, it lias been found that, on certain special voyages, life rafts have proved to be of greater service than inboard boats. The committee contemplate that administrations might, if satisfied that rafts will be more useful than the boats which they replace, allow rafts in substitution for boats over and above a certain specified minimum accommodation in lifeboats, such minimum being sufficient to ensure that in the North Atlantic passenger trades, lifeboat accommodation will be provided for all. , In view of the improved reliability of notor lifeboats, the committee are of opinion that where more than a certain lumber of lifeboats are carried one or nore should he motor boats, fitted with vireless installations and search lights. L’lie advent of large lifeboats has been aken into account by the committee, ind special conditions applying to such boats are proposed, including a limit on heir weight and a requirement,for the it ting of a motor (together with extra nioyancy) in lifeboats carrying 100 perons or more.

Another aspect of the subject- which lie committee have considered is the uestion of regular musters of crew for >oat drill, and an "internationally uniorm emergency signal for summoning passengers to muster stations in tli ivent of an emergency. The committee have considered the question of lifesaving appliances principally in connecion with the ocean-going passenger •;liip, but they also have to take under '•eview, and make special provisions for, passenger ships on voyages not exceeding a specified distance from the learest land, since it may often he imlossible in such ships to carry readily ivailable boats for all on board.

DEALING AVITH FIRE. Special provisions are also proposed is regards the life-saving appliances on ships employed in the carriage of large lumbers of unbertlicd passengers in special trades. In addition to consid-'l-ing the general principles which should he applied in the matter of lifesaving appliances to all ships, the committee have made detailed proposals with regard to the technical requiresnents necessary to carry out those principles. ' The question of fire-extinguishing apiliances has also been dealt with by the •ommittee which has reviewed the pro•isions on the subject in the convention >f 1914. Those provisions w-ere framed n reference to coal-burning ships, but "n view of the new' position which lias ’risen by reason of the extended use of nl in place of coal, additional proposals For dealing with fires in oil-using ships have become necessary. The main prob’em here is the danger of the rapid spread of fire in the stokehold, and this sails for the provision of means for the immediate blanketing of a fire from outside - the stokehold by the use r froth, foam, carbon dioxide, etc., as now provided for on many large oilburning vessels.