RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY COURT

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31862, 14 December 1968, Page 1

RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY COURT

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, December 13. Ships like the Wahine should carry an extra senior officer so that in an emergency a senior officer could be freed from all duties save that of damage control officer.

This is one of the major recommendations made in the report of the Court of Inquiry into the sinking of the Wahine in Wellington Harbour on April 10.

The Court, in its report issued today, said that during the hearing it had been moved to wonder whether there were in fact sufficient senior officers available to cope with all the matters of the emergency. It was recognised that the Wahine w’as fully-staffed in accordance with the law and carried three mates. The Court also urged immediate consideration should be given to having a salvage or deep-water tug available at Wellington. Tapuhi and Taioma are harbour tugs, lacking the draught and the power to be expected in a tug of the type recommended, said the report. Surface Water Concerning the vessel itself the report said it would be apparent that the necessaryexistence of a vehicle deck on a drive-on ship opened the way to difficulties with free surface water should water find its way on to that deck. It must be equally apparent, said the report, that if any means could be devised, additional to those now existing, to deal with water that found its way on to the vehicle deck, then those means should be adopted. In designing future ships the Court recommends that consideration be given to the provision of improved access to the forecastle head, protected from the weather as much as possible. Any other means which would enable anchors to be

lavailable for a sudden unex-i ipected emergency should be! 'given all consideration. Vehicle Deck As a further poin in future j design the Court suggested it i might be possible to providemeans for the effective closing or sealing off of openings •on a vehicle deck liable to allow water from below to find its way on to that deck in the event of underwater damage. Several points recommended by the Institute of Marine and Power Engineers were adopted by the Court. These were: That ventilators from void spaces below should not I necessarily terminate at the vehicle deck, but wherever possible be carried to a deck higher in the ship. That consideration be given to providing double skins or side tanks round vital machinery rooms where this was possible. That spillable cargo (such as coke and eggs on the Wahine’s vehicle deck) be securely lashed and covered with tarpaulins or other effective means. Coke and egg shells strewn about the deck became a cause of concern to the chief engineer because of possible interference with the efficient operations of his pumps. That electrical switchboards, wherever possible, be centralised and placed in an inboard position. That portable salvage pumps or other flexible pumping arrangements be provided. - That gas welding apparatus or, if that be not nermitted for reasons of safety, pneumatic cutting equipment be carried.

; The Court recommenoed I that steps be taken to provide [seafarers with practical training in the use of liferafts. Although the Court recogInised that requirements for [boat drills were complied with, it recommended consideration should be given to an amendment to the present rules to require boat drills to cover the possibility of abandonment? of the ship from one side only, Shore Radar The Court made no specific recommendation on the installation of shore radar at Wellington, but said it appeared to be a matter for consideration and expert appraisal. On the Beacon Hill signal station, the Court suggested the Harbour Board should instruct signalmen they should advise an approaching vessel if there was a marked change in weather conditions at the harbour entrance before the ship reached it.