SHIPPING NEWS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10153, 25 November 1910, Page 3

SHIPPING NEWS.

LOSS OF LSFE AT SEA,

Figures have been published giving the number of lives lost by uivck, drowning or other accident at sea, in river or harbour from sea-going vessels registered in ibo United Kingdom. In these s-tai-Utics it is shown that (hiring last year the losses of and seamen were the lowest on record, being only 169, or 1 out of every 127 employed, as compared with 1 in 09 in 1908, and 1 in 65 in 1907. In steamers the lives of 778 masters and seamen were lost, being 1 in '283, which compares with 1 in 313, in 1808, and 1 in 262, in 1907. Taking steamers and sailing vessels together, the total loss of life was 94.7, which is the lowest on record, comparing with 1042 in 1908, and 1241 in 1907. The passengers lost by wreck last year totalled 118, against 9-1 in 1908, and 105 in 1907, last year's figures including 93 passengers lost in the Waratah.

COMPULSORY WIRELESS

It is reported that for the present no further steps will be taken to pass the compulsory wireless measure introduced into the. House of Cc nions by Sir Edjvard Sassoon. The b. I was on the lines of the American Act, and the criticisms of it have shown that the proposal did not commend itself to shipowners as a whole. The fact that Mr Winston Churchill and Mr Buxton have both declined to promise legislation on the subject lias led to the inference that they think the adoption of -wlfSTess telegraphy by the principal shipping, companies is already proceeding at an encouragingly rapid rate.

THE LARGEST SHIP

Cable advices announce the launching at Belfast <p£ the largest ship in the world. This is the White Star liner Olympic, which b of 45,000 tons register, and as regards size far exceeds any vessel afloat. By thu launching of this mammoth ship the White Star line once more takes first place. On the launching of their new liner the position will later go to the Hamburg-American Company, and so the contest for supremacy may proceed indefinitely.

THE LARGEST DOCK

Huge ships are useless unless there are sufficiently large docks to accommodate them, so that it is fitting that side by side with the announcement of the launching of the largest ship there should be the announcement of the completion of the largest dock. This is the new graving dock constructed to the order of the Belfast Harbour Commissioners. It is 850 feet long, but is capable of being extended by 150 feet. On the floor the width is 100 feet. The dock took seven years to build and cost £350,000. One of the largest Dreadnoughts and the White Star liner Olympic could be accommodated in the dock.

TURBJJN'ES

i- A German official publication states that the turbine engine has revolutionised German shipbuilding, and has proved most satisfactory in the naval and mercantile marine. There are now in course of construction 42 turbine warships: 1

RESCUE AIDED BY WIRELESS.

A British tramp steamer recently caught fire and was abandoned in mid Atlantic. The crew took to two boats, 16 men in all. For three days they battled with the waves and suffered severely. They eyeriually drifted apart. One iboat was picked up. by a steamer, but diligent search failed to locate the mising boat. Wireless messages -were then sent out to other vessels to keep a sharp lookout, with the result that the drifting boat with its occupants was picked up by the Cunard liner Mauretania.

A WHALING MYSTERY

In 1903 the whaler, James T. Duncan, went out on a whaling expediand was not again heard of. An accident which occurred recently to the German steamer Pallanza is believed to throw some light on the fate of the missing vessel. The Pallanza arrived recently at Philadelphia from Hamburg, and reported having collided with a whale. The creature was firmly impaled on the prow of the steamer, and died after a terrific struggle. Imbedded in its side there was discovered a harpoon bearing the letters "J.T.D., 1902." In consequence of this discovery it is assumed that the men of the J. T. Duncan drove the harpoon into the whale, which in txirn managed to sink the little vessel by a blow from its tail.