THE FREEBOARD OF VESSELS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1425, 22 June 1899, Page 51

THE FREEBOARD OF VESSELS.

ALLEGED OVERLOADING

PROTESTS BY WELLINGTON UNDERWRITERS.

A question of vast and vital importance is raised in a correspondence of which copies have been supplied to this journal for publication. The correspondence commenced with the following letter addressed. 4m 3rd October last to the Collector of Customs. Wellington, by the chairman of Wellington Marine Survey Combination : —- I beg to band you herewith copies of Captain Beudalfs report relating to the statutory freeboard as applied to sailing vessels trading to and from the Australasian colonies. The non-arrival of the ship Lake Ontario, now 160 days out from Liverpool, lias again drawn our attention to the loading of ships sailing from Liverpool to New Zealand. As long, however, as owners are within their legal rights they will continue to send their ships to sea too deeply laden. We are of opinion that these rights should be curtailed, and to this end wo respectfully request you to draw the attention of the Board of Trade to the existing state of things. Captain Bendall's report so fully explains the position that we hope you will forward a copy to the Board. Quite apart from any monetary losses, the grea> risk to human life should move them to take immediate action in this matter. If any further testimony is required. the report of the voyage of the ship Akaroa. now in harbour, verifies Captain Bendall's contention that the minimum statutory freeboard is insufficient. Yours faithfuliv. C'has. A. Ewen.

The report by Captain Bcndull referred to in the foregoing letter bears date May 23. 1898, and was made to the Marine Underwriters’ Association. The following statements occur in the document : —"You will doubtless remember that I have repeatedly had occasion to comment strongly on the deplorable condition of Glasgow and Liverpool laden ships arriving here. A glance at these ships is quite sufficient to convince one of the struggle with the elements they have had to endure to reach here. Some years ago I wrote fully to tin then chairman on this subject, mentioning vessels that came under my notice at that time. and calling attention to the inconsistency existing in the application of the freeboard tables to sailing ships out of British ports visiting the high latitudes of the Southern Hemisphere. The, British Board of Trade in 1890 and 1892 issued tables of freeboard for the various types of steam and sailing vessels, which since then have been compulsory by Imperial statute. While it must be generally admitted that these tables, which are similar to those adopted by Lloyd's Register Office in 1882, provide a fair approximation to what is required, there are certain inconsistencies which should be adjusted as well as the need of greater discretionary power in their application to various types of vessels according to the nature of their cargoes. . . I should sav there would be little difficulty if

properly represented in getting the Beard of Trade to make the necessary alterations. That is. to make the maximum or Winter North Atlantic Freeboard the legal freeboard for sailing vessels visiting the high latitudes of the Southern Hemisphere at all times, as there are no reliable periods free from heavy weather to justify v. distinction between summer and winter freeboard. In nearly every instance of vessels arriving here with damage sustained on the voyage, these vessels have been loaded to the minimum freeboard with dead weight cargoes. . . . We hear of numerous instances by cable and otherwise of these deeply laden vessels arriving at various ports in the other colonies in damaged condition, and in many cases with lo«s of lives either killed or washed overboard. In the interest of humanity the Board or Trade should be approached on this subject with the view of minimising the risk to life and property at sea.” On the 21st October last Mr Glasgow v-rote acknowledging receipt of Mr Ewen’s letter, and stating that he had brought the subject matter under the notice of the Board of Trade, to which a. copy of the letter and report had been sent. On receiving the annexed reply from the Board of Trade. Mr Glasgow, on 29th April of this year, wrote to Mr Ewen, enclosing a copy of it. The letter from the Board of Trade, bearing date London. 11th March, is as follows:

The Secretary, Marine Department, Wellington. New Zealand.—Sir.-—I am directed by the Board of Trade to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 21st October last, forwarding a copy of a. communication from the chairman, of the Wellington Marine Underwriters’ Combination, suggesting that the freeboard of sailing ships trading between the* United Kingdom and the Australasian colonies should he increased. In reply lam (o state that the Board have given this matter careful consideration, but that, having regard to the information at their command, they are ot opinion that there does not appear to In any sufficient reason to increase the stntutorv requirements regarding the freeboard of sailing vessels trading between ports in the United Kingdom am! the Australasian colonies. I am to add that, the Board have consulted on this subject the authorities appointed by them to assign freeboards to vessels on their behalf, viz., Lloyd's Register of British and Foreign fe'hipping. tire Bureau Veritas, and the British Corporation for the Survey and Register of Shipping, and ihat the opinion expressed by those societies coincides with the view of this department, as above stated. —I am. etc.. Ingrain B. \t alk or.