FIRES ON STEAMERS

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 11933, 13 September 1924, Page 9

FIRES ON STEAMERS

LIBERTY OF GENERAL PUBLIC.From the annual report of the Marino Department :■ —The usual number of marine casualties occurred during tne year. The casualty involving the greatest loss of property was the total loss bv stranding of the s.s. Port Elliot near East Cape. Other casualties of minor importance, suoli as damage owing to fire, stranding, collision, etc., were investigated by the department. Many outbreaks of fire on vessels continue to occur, but in most cases little damage has resulted. The origin of such fires continues to be difficult of definition. Tho fires which assumed greatest dimensions during tho year were those on the s-s. Kaikoura and the s.s. Canadian Pioneer, at Auckland. Fires among wool or part-wool cargoes have not been an outstanding feature of fires on vessels during the past year, but the possibility to suol. fires becoming more numerous is to be expected when vessels loading wool remain on the coast for considerable periods, visiting many ports and picking up a little at each place, as ia done at present, as this necessitates. the holds being opened and closed ' many times and their being visited by many different gangs of men, and of the visits often being of a hurried nature. Under such circumstances it is difficult for a vessel’s officers to be continuously watchful to prevent matches being Used in the holds. Some of the outbreaks of fire may have resulted from the liberty enjoved by the general public to walk and to amolce in the vicinity of vessels and cargoes whilst loading or discharging operations are being performed, hitch liberty does not exist in older countries. The matter is primarily one for governance by harbour board by-iaw, and it is to be preferred that the boards should act in the matter. Collisions affecting sea-going vessels have been infrequent, and their infrequency shows, generally speaking that the collision regulations are being well interpreted by those who necessarily have to observe them. Minor collisions between vessels of the launch class continue to occur, and tho time has arrived when an elementary knowledge of the collision regulations, etc., should be demanded of all persons who have charge of such launches. At present, launches which are licensed to carry passengers and cargo may be in charge of persons whose only qualification is an ability to drive the engine of such : vessels. In the interests of safety to life and property it would appear _ necessary that such persons should be qualified so as io enable them to take proper action to avoid collision. The same would apply to pleasureyachts, of which there are a large number, and the persons in charge of which are not at present required to possess any knowledge of the oollision regulations, etc., or even to show a slight ability to avoid collision if such became imminent. This matter is now under consideration.