Convoys To Chathams

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31678, 14 May 1968, Page 16

Convoys To Chathams

The frequency with which fishing vessels run into trouble while sailing between the mainland and the Chatham Islands gives cause for concern. Fortunately, the several serious failures in navigation have not ended, in disaster; and most of them have escaped public attention. Other failures have called for searches, costly and hazardous, but not, of course, begrudged, to prevent loss of life. The journey is dangerous for small vessels and it calls for good seamanship and strict regard for the rules prescribed by the Marine Department. One fundamental rule, designed to accommodate the desire of fishermen to reach the Chathams in small boats, is that the vessels must sail in convoy and each convoy must have at least two competent navigators. Although this rule seems to strain the supply of qualified men, it achieves its purpose so long as the vessels remain in ednvoy. On several occasions convoys have broken up, as, indeed, may be inevitable in bad weather On one occasion a vessel was left behind because its engine failed. The fact is that most of the boats were not designed for long ocean voyages. Their skippers are probably doing their best to observe the safety regulations: but unless they are able to comply with the rule on convoys all their other efforts may be of little avail v