LIFE SAVING

Hokitika Guardian, 28 May 1929, Page 5

LIFE SAVING

COMMITTEE’S RECOMMENDATIONS. (British Official Wireless.) fßeceived this da.v at 11.25. a.m.) RUGBY, May 21. The subject of boats and other lifesaving appliances on passenger ships has ' ceil under consideration by a committee of the International Conference on safety of life at sea now sitting in London. A previous international conference held in 1914, which lollowed the loss of the Titanic very great public interest was centred in this quest on of life-saving appliances. The lifeboats on the Titanic were suTcient lor 1178 persons, hut only 052 left tlie Titanic in boats out of 2201 persons on Board.

The popular demand was 'for boats for all and the con r erence made provision to meet tin's demand. The convention of 1914 did not come into operation as a convention hut national regulations adopted many of the convention provisions. For some years past'practically all the ocean-going pas. songer ships have been required to comply with tlie convention standard as regards ti e number of lifeboats carried. Experience gained since 1914, however, has shown tlie prime necessity ifor boats being carried so as to he readily available for launching, and it has also proved that where this requirement is not complied with, the provision of a large number of lifeboats may be a source of danger.

The Life Saving Appliances Committee have .therefore kept before them two main principles. Firstly, that all life-saving appliances on a ship shall he readily nvilable; and secondly, they shall be adequate. On these matters the Committee’s proposals are:—Firstly, that eveiy liieboat on board should he so carried as to be readily available in emergency and no boat should be carried which will impede tlie prompt handling of boats that are available, and, secondly, that tnese readily available boats on ocean-going passenger ships should provide accommodation for all persons on board.

In addition the committee propose that buoyant apparatus be provided which will float in the sea and provide oersons with something to which they can cling, if by reason of the rapid sinking c*f n vessel ifc li<vs keen unpossi hie to get them away on boats. Such apparatus is a definite additional measure of safety and is to he provided in a determined proportion to the number of persons on board. Regarding the use of life rafts it has been found that on certain special voyages life'rafts have proved to l e of greater service than boats. The Committee continue that administrations might, if satisfied that rafts will be more useful than boats, allow rafts in substitution for boats over and above a certain specified minimum in the accommodation of lifeboats, such minimum being sufficient to ensure that in the North Atlantic passenger trade and in most of tno other trade loutes lifeboat accommodation will he provided for all. In view of the improved reliability of motor lifeboats the committee express the opinion that where more than a certain number of lifeboats are carried, one or moic should he motor-boats fitted with wireless installations and searchlights.