Lifeboat "Not Adequate" As Wartime Shipping Safeguard

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28104, 20 October 1956, Page 11

Lifeboat "Not Adequate" As Wartime Shipping Safeguard

’Rec. 7 pm.) LONDON. October 18 Thousands of British merchant seapen s lives might have been saved Suring the last war if there had been •satisfactory alternative to a ships lifeboat, an advisory committee to the “ntish Government, the Medical Relearch Council, reported today. The council had been asked to say ’•’hat lessons could be learned from • study of the hazards to men in •“ips lost at sea in 1940-44. *ts report is based on an analysis statements made by men who survived. Records of 448 sinkings, almost enhrely merchant ships, involving 27.000 Persons were available. About 68 per cent, were saved. But Z 6 per cent were lost before they •eached one or other form of liferaft. “Every effort should be made to tocresse the chance of passengers or •earnen reaching some form of liferaft,” the council urged.

“Lifeboats may be excellent in temperate climates if they can be launched, but a satisfactory alternative would have saved thousands of lives.’ Biggest Hazards Crews should have realistic survival training, and the alternative to the lifeboat should, if possible, be capable of being manned and got away regardless of the weather and the angle taken by the ship. Three of the biggest hazards were: Cold: This was the main cause of death. Protective suits would have made all the difference to the survival rate, even at relatively high temperatures. Lack of fresh water: When less than tour ounces of fresh water a man was available each day. dehydration became an important cause of death. Sea water drinking: Every effor: should be made by the provision of enough fresh water, to remove the I temptation for men to drink sea water