SHIPPING AND THE EMPIRE

Evening Star, Issue 18280, 21 May 1923, Page 10

SHIPPING AND THE EMPIRE

LIFE AND PROPERTY UNDER THE RED ENSIGN.

[By Commander H. Bundle, R.N.] In a previous article the high standard of management of British shipping was referred to as the moans by which the various lines have secured a regular clientele of passengers and shippers of cargo. But something more than good business management is required in order that passengers and shippers should have 'complete confidence. Security of life and property whilst on passage is essential. In this realm also the record of-the Imperial mercantile marine is second to none. Scientists, and naval architects in particular, are constantly employed in devising means by which safety at sea may bo increased. No automatic means, however, although they may do much, can eliminate entirely the errors to which human nature is at times liable. At intervals the public is startled by a catastrophe at sea involving great loss of life; it may he from an error in navigation, or it may be from pure chance, but it has the effect of shaking confidence! for a time. At such moments little thought is given to the thousands of ships carrying hundreds of thousands of passengers which every year make their voyages in safety. Loud cries are raised for “ boats for nil,” and for the adoption of measures which experience shows to be ill-timed. Nevertheless, improvements often result from such occurrences. At tho British Empire Exhibition citizens of the Empire, who, as a people, travel more by sea than those of any other country, will be able to see the various devices which modern skill and science have adopted to render security of life and property at sea as great as is humanly possible. That these devices, taken in conjunction with the professional ability of British seamen, have rendered travel by sea practically as safe as it is by land, is abundantly proved by figures that are available. COMPARATIVE IMMUNITY. Sir Westcott Abei, chief surveyor of Register, in a paper on ‘ Sea Casualties and Loss of Life,’ has prepared an analysis of marine risks based on figures relating to British-owned oceangoing vessels during the years from 1890 to 1913. Sir Westcott clearly shows tho marked improvement that has taken place in that period, with consequent considerable reduction in the risk of disaster and loss of life.

The number of British vessels engaged in ocean trade in 1890 and 1913 was about 3,000 and 4,100 respectively, whilst the white crews numbered 100,000 and 150.000, and the passengers carried were 435,000 and 1,076.000. In 1890 the deaths amongst white crews amounted to 3SO from shipwreck, 127 from accidents, and 263 from disease; the corresponding figures for 1913 being 20, 484, and 319. In the matter of passengers, 560 lost their lives by shipwreck in 1890, 22 from accidents, and 545 from disease. In 1913 the loss from shipwreck was reduced to 50, there being 17 deaths from accidents and 1,113 from disease. These figures speak for themselves. Sir Wcstcott, in summarising his investigations, calculates the chance of a serious casually occurring to an oceangoing passenger ship and involving loss of life at 1.2 per cent., whilst the chance of loss of life of a passenger by reason of such casualty he places at .02 per cent. WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY. Foremost amongst the agencies for rendering sea travel safe must be placed wireless telegraphy. The extent to which wireless lias aided in the saving of life at sea in the comparatively few years since its adoption is almost incalculable. Its use enables all ships within reach of the scene of a disaster to speed to the aid of those in peril without a moment’s delay. The 5.0. signal takes priority before all others, and moreover it is international in character. Regulations have been framed with the object of ensuring that such signals should be read by all ships in wireless touch with the ship of origin. These regulations, however, have the defect of not taking full account of human weakness, and consequently experiments have been made—and have reached a successful point—by which the alarm is given automatically on the bridge of a ship, whereupon an officer, nr other, skilled in reading wireless can proceed to the wireless room and road the position of the ship making the call. But this does not conclude the tale of the services of wireless telegraphy to the cause of humanity. Directional wireless has now reached a point where it is certain that it can be turned increasingly to the purposes of safe navigation. Its use will give captains eyes in a fog, and not only will they bo able thereby lo make their way past unseen ships, but wireless "lighthouses" will send nut their beams to guide ships past hidden dangers. Already much has been done in this direction owing to the impetus the science of wireless lias received during the war. It therefore behoves a maritime nation, such as we are, to keep in the forefront in this great march of progress. Our achievements in this respect will be shown at the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley next year. As a well-known writer on the subject said recently; “The, prospect of such an opportunity will stimulate wireless inventors to such a degree that advances and achievements in their domain will be in the forefront of the marvels to be seen at the Exhibition.”

THE RED ENSIGN,

In the region of automatic and constructional devices, or a combination of both, for increasing safety of life and property at sea there is now in use a system _ of power-controlled watertight doors, which can be operated by means of a lever on the bridge. First, a warning bell rings, and ten seconds afterwards all the watertight doors in the ship close automatically and cannot be opened until the power is taken off: also on the bridge. Other devices that should be mentioned include apparatus for indicating on the bridge the presence of fire in any compartments; indicators to show the officers of the watch if all the navigation lights are burning correctly; and emergency electrical installations for lighting the ship should the dynamo room become flooded owing to collision or stranding. Boats, too, and the appliances for getting them over the side of the ship and l into tho water rapidly, have undergone vast improvements in recent years. British shipbuilders excel in this dirction as in ship construction generally. Side by side with improvements in safety arrangements have proceeded improvements for ministering to the comfort of passengers, and for the preservation of perishable articles of cargo in good condition over prolonged voyages. Examples of what has been accomplished in this direction will bo on view at the British Empire Exhibition, and will repay study. Nor will any citizen of our vast Empire be able to look on them without feeling pride in that priceless asset, the Imperial mercantile marine.

Our merchant ships are as good advertisements as we can wish all the world over. The Red Ensign is a sign of efficiency in construction, management, and seamanship; and it must not be forgotten that without our Navy and our great merchant fleet there would not be a British Empire Exhibition. For there would be no British Empire!