DUE TO NEGLIGENCE

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 36, 10 August 1918, Page 5

DUE TO NEGLIGENCE

THE DEFENDER FIRE

FINDING OP NAUTICAL COURT

STRICTER SUPERVISION'

NECESSARY.

The.Nautical Court; 1 consisting of' Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M. . (chairman), Caplain Lambert, and Dr. J. S. Maclaurin (Government Analyst), gave its .finding this morning as the result of the enquiry into the burning of the s.s. Defender in Wellington Harbour on 2nd August. The finding was as follows :—

"The Court, having considered the evidence presented to it regarding the causes by.reason of which the s.s. Defender was burned and became a total wreck in Wellington Harbour on the 2nd of August,. 1918, finds that the fire originated through a naked light being used in the "stokehold while a cargo of benzine. affected. -by. -leakage- was . heing stowed in the adjoining hold. "-•

' "The' Court also finds that the bulkhead between the hold and stokehold was neither air ,nor watertight, and the fire was: primarily, due to.the negligent act of • Fireman Dossett in leaving a naked light on the floor of the stokehold, and: the.', wrongful default of the master and chief officer of the Defender in failing to take ■ all necessary steps to prevent naked lights being used in the stokehold or near the bulkhead between the stokehold and the hold in which the benzine was being stowed. ,:■'.'.. . '■'■'.", ■

"It was evident irom the statements of Captain' Green, the chief officer, and those members of the crew called as witnesses, that none of them appreciated the danger they were exposed to when carrying benzine in the hold. The Co"urt does not consider that the other members of the crow lor any ■of the waterside workers employed in the loading of the cargo in any way contributed to the cause of the fire.

' "The attention o£ the Court was called to Eegulation 91 of the Wellington Harbour Board Bylaws, "'.which/ states that no fire or light shall, be burned during, the time dangerous ■ goods are being carried, landed, discharged, ■or shipped, by, from, or to any vessel. It was stated that, instructions were givenby the harbourmaster to the agents of the, Defender, that no, fires: or. lights,were to be used on the vessel; while,.: -the" loading was in progress, but -no • Harbour Board' official .was'preifen'irto'.'.'see that these instructions' were-carried" .out/ We think some supervision shguldy have been exercised by the Harbour"'Board to see that the, instructions were obeyed.-

"It is. common knowledge that within recent times severe ■ ' outbreaks -of fire. have occurred: on coasting "vessels carr>v ing benzine, arid jthe present one indicates, the necessity for all .parties concerned in,'the carnage and handling of dangerous cargo to take every precaution possible to prevent such occurrences. • _ "Although outside the questions stated: in •the notice of investigation,/the Court is of the opinion that the..hold' of the s.s. Defender was not suitable for the carriage of a cargo of benzine, in that the bulkheads were neither air nor watertight, and were useless to prevent, the escape of fumes into the stokehold or forecastle. ..■.■:-■•'.■■■

Court recommends that stricter supervision should be exorcised "by Harbour Boards over the handling of dangerous cargoes, such as benzine and similar light-oils, and "that in the passing cf bylaws dealing with these matters provision should be made for the inspection and licensing cf vessels to be'Uscd in the carriage of such dangerous goods. Proper supervision by Harbour Board.officials, or similar persons with authority; would, under suitable byla\y6, ensure greater Bafety for those handling dangerous cargo, the crews of the vessels engaged in such a business, and the vessels themselves."

No order was made as to costs.

The Hon. C. H. Izard said the question of making bylaws applicable to tho whole of the Doniinion was being gone into by the Harbour Boards' Association, which had set up a sub-committee. It was absolutely essential, and probably the chairman'looked at tho statute law and saw the difficulties.

Tho Chairman : Yes. It is necessary there should b© some bylaws, and that they should be strictly carried out in connection with the carriage of such.dangerous cargo as benzine. It is most dan-, gerous. Ordinary explosives are-harm-lew in comparison.