SEA WATER FOR DRINKING

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 24028, 17 August 1943, Page 3

SEA WATER FOR DRINKING

1 ALL LIFEBOATS TO HAVE STILLS RESULT OF EXPERIMENTS LONDON, May 12. The development of a satisfactory method of producing drinkable water from sea water has been the subject of experiments for some time. It is now announced by the Ministry of War Transport that distillation has been proved to be the most successful procedure, and arrangements have been made to equip all lifeboats of oceangoing merchant ships with stills, Three types of still have been produced—one by the Department ox Scientific and Industrial Research which has been making experiments on behalf of the Ministry of War Transport; one developed under the auspices of the Admiralty, and another produced commercially, in collaboration with the Ministry of War Transport. The last mentioned is already in production, and is capable of producing about half a gallon of fresh water for each hour it is worked. Thus, on a 14 days’ voyage, the still, working 10 hours a day, would produce about 70 gallons of drinking water, which is twice the minimum amount of water carried in a lifeboat intended to carry 40 persons. The still can be worked with either solid fuel or paraffin, but it is intended to rely primarily on coal briquettes, which are readily stored in odd cor tiers oi the lifeboat, supplemented by any wood or waste materia; in the boat or recovered from the sea The development ol the two other types, which are paraffin consumers and which are expected to have a some what nigher output in relation to tlu fuel consumed, is continuing, with the intention of offering the shipping industry a choice of apparatus of the highest practicable utility. The stills can also be used for boiling water to make hot drinks, and their heated surfaces will dry wet clothes. The fresll water_ rations already carried in tanks in lifeboats will be maintained and, in addition, the Ministry of War Transport is producing a new type of device, made of cotton fabric, for catching rain. This device will be suitable for both lifeboats and' rafts. A demonstration of the stills and other life-saving measures was given yesterday in H.M.S. Chrysanthemum, on the Thames. It was shown that the stills are simple to work and are reliable Improved life-saving waistcoats, fitted with rope gear to facilitate rescue work; portable ladders, pro vided to enable men in the water to climb into lifeboats; new lifeboat ration biscuits with an increased fat con tent; and side-seat extensions to provide lying-down facilities in lifeboats are among other emergency needs which are being met by the Ministry of War Transport. Mr P Noel Baker, Joint Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Transport, referring to the commercial type of still, said that about 1000 stills had been supplied to about 200 ships, and others would be equipped as soon as possible.