SAFETY AT SEA

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 145, 16 December 1933, Page 30

SAFETY AT SEA

NEW REGULATIONS

ORDER OF BOAT DRILL \

was launched in 1838, and was appropriately named Ironsides. "Coming to modern times, probably the fastest passage recorded is that of I the ship Maulesden, of Dundee. She ! ran from Glasgow to Port Phillip Heads | in fifty-two days, and arrived at Maryborough (Queensland) on the seven-1 tieth day from Glasgow Docks. This was done in the year 1882. The maiden voyage of the White Star ship Patriarch in 1869, sixty : seven days from London, is generally regarded as the fastest passage to Sydney, while in the Melbourne trade the Thermopylae holds the blue ribbon. However, taking the average of passages made the ship Cutty Sark shows by far the best record."

In a circular issued by the Marine Department the following order of boat drill is suggested for the guidance of masters and officers in conaection with the new Safety at Sea'regulations which are to come into operation shortly in New Zealand:— The boat's crow fall in standing in single line with lifejackets on facing the boat. One of them is then told to act as coxswain, and he proceeds to detail the crew to their several duties, such as to' act as lowerers, bowman, stroke, and to attend gripet, chocks, etc. The stroke oarsman takes up his station abreast of the sternpost, thu bowman abreast of the stem, and the lowerers opposite the falls. While in this position they are instructed in, and questioned as to their knowledge of, the details of the boat, its equipment and management. On. the coxswain giving the. order "Clear away" the boat's covers and spreaders, if in place, are removed by the combined crew, and the bowman and stroke oarsmen get into the boat. The bowman sees that ■ the painter is clear and ready to pass to the deck, and also sees that the forward lifeline is clear. The stroke oarsman sees the after-lifeline clear, ships the plug, and prepares to ship the rudder or steering oar. Both these men should see that oars and boathooks are clear and ready for use. The lowerers, see that the falls are taut and properly belayed and clear for running. Other members, as detailed, release the gripes (outboard gripes first), and see that the chocks and gripes arel clear, and the boat ready for turning out. The crew then return to their former, positions, with the exception of the bowman and stroke oarsmen. At the order of "Swing out" the boat is swung out as quickly as possible, and brought square to the ship's side and the guys secured. The painter is passed forward to a suitable position and the rudder or steering oar shipped. Before the boat is lowered, the operation of swinging out from the

chocked and griped position (there is no reason to deal with covers or spreaders again) should be repeated several times. A different man should act as coxswain each time, and the positions of the other members should be varied. At the order of "Lower away" the boat is lowered, care being taken that she is kept as near as possible on an even keel. "When the boat is waterborne, the remainder of the crew will take their places in the boat. The oarsmen will unhook the falls, ship outboard crutches, and toss their ears. The bowman either hauls in or slips the painter, and with the stroko oarsman shoves the boat away from the ship's side with boathook or oar.. Each member of the crew should take part in the actual lowering of the boat in turn. This can be arranged by lowering in stages. The order "Still" is given when, through some misunderstanding or accident, or for the purpose of instruction, it is necessary to suspend operations. At this order each man stops what he is doing, retaining his position and remaining silent, and if the order is given whilst the boat is being lowered, the lowerers immediately take an extra turn of falls or belay them. At the order "Carry on" operations are resumed. Each member of the crew should be required to take turn in rowing, steering, and giving orders such as "pull starboard," "back port," "in bow," also in assisting to set the sail, float the anchor, and bring the boat alongside. The orders "pull starboard" and "back port" should not be confused with helm orders.