LOAD-LINE CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 10 September 1930, Page 5

LOAD-LINE CONFERENCE

I United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph .—Copy right. J (Received this day at 12-25. p.m.l LONDON, Sept. 9. Tlie Loadline Conference decided that the northern boundary of the southern winter seasonal zone shall be from th© east coast of South Africa at latitude thirty south along a plumb line to the west coast of Australia at thirty-five south thence along the south coast of Australia to Cape Aria thence to Cape Gum, Tasmania, thence along the north coast of Tasmania lo Etfdystone Point, thence to the west coast of the South Island of New Zealand at longitude 170 ehst thence along the west-south-eaflt coast of the South Island to Cape Saunders.

(Official Wireless.) ~RUGBY, Sept. 9. : The full text is now'. issued of the 'lnternational Loadline Convention; which was signed unanimously on behalf of twenty-nine countries at the recent London conference convention. ■ ■ If ratified, it will take effect from i July Ist, 1932, and will apply to all ‘merchant ■ ships of 150 tons and over 'engaged on international voyages;: It Jays-’down" definite rules for the loading of ships according fo the part of the world in which they may be. ■United Kingdom delegates say in their report that the conference contained technical and nautical representatives of all principal maritime nations; whose considered opinion is that now that the rules are marked are improvement on anything which has gone before. United Kingdom delegates are satisfied that the new rules will raise the standard of safety . of- merchant ships, .throughout the world and draw attention to two out. standing pointß, namely thp protection of deck openings -and the introduction, for. the first time, on British tehips of special load lines for timber ships and tankers. Extreme importance of protecting all deck openings in bad weather is recognised by all seamen and rules on this subject are made more definite than ever before, Uniform loading rules for ships of all nations are established for the first time,.