TRAINING FOR THE SEA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 12 March 1930, Page 7

TRAINING FOR THE SEA

ON A SAILING SHIP A committee was recently formed in London to advance a scheme projected by Sir William Garthwaite for the provision of an ocean-going sailing ship for the training of oflicers of the mercantile marine. Sir William Garthwaite, who was the owner of the Garthpool, lost at Cape Verde last November, said that ship was the last of the glorious fleet of sailing ships which had sailed under the British Hag for many centuries. It was not, perhaps, essential, but it was desirable that the young officers of the mercantile marine should have a training afloat under working conditions. It was impossible at the present time to trade a sailing ship and make a profit on it, and therefore it would be necessary to find money to provide for the running of a sailing ship that would give the necessary facilities. While Germans, Belgians, Norwegians, Danes and other Con-

tinental peoples were able to run several sailing ships, there was something wrong if the British Empire was not able to run one. He submitted two schemes, one for a sailing ship which would cost about £50,000, involving an annual loss of something over £4OOO, the other for a, smaller ship, the loss on which would not be so great. Liner companies which had been approached had refused to take part in the scheme, most of these companies having their own arrangements for the training of apprentices for their vessels. The owners of tramp steamers were interested, but rather lukewarm, and the Board of Trade, which had been approached, could not give any assistance. lie could hot agree with those who said that the officer trained in the sailing vessel was not likely to be of more use than the officer trained on the steamer. The former was likely to be of more use in an emergency. It was one thing to be on the deck of a big steamer 40!t or 50ft above the waterline, and another thing to be an officer on the deck of a sailing ship sft or 10ft above (lie waterline. In fhe one case little attention had to be paid to weather; in the other the greatest attention had to he paid to it, and paid quickly. If it happened that in an emergency if was necessary to put the boats of a liner into the water, the sail-trained officer was in his element,"' but tlie steamer-trained officer was not.