SHIPS THAT HAVE PASSED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19438, 26 October 1925, Page 8

SHIPS THAT HAVE PASSED

LOSSES TO WORLD’S FLEETS Lloyd ’s Register of Shipping has issued a statistical summary of ships of one hundred tons and upwards totally lost, broken up, condemned, etc., during .192-1. It shows that the gross re duction last year in tho mercantile marine of the world amounted to 316 ships, of 1.857,679 tons. Of this total, seventy-seven ships, of 1,614,662 tons, were steamers and motor-ships, and 239, of 243,017 tons, were sailing ships. Compared with 1923. the figures indicate in increase of 157,792 tons as regards steamers and motor-ships, but a decrease of 16,892 tons for sailing ships, the net increase for 1924 being .140,900 tons. The total increase, it is pointed out, is not due to actual casualties —the figures for which show a decrease of ,53,900 tons f »r steamers and motor-ships —but to tho large amount of tonnage broken up during last year, viz., 1,326,134 tons. This tonnage exceeds the similar figure for 1923 by 185,927 tons, and is the highest ever recorded. The tonnage of ships in Great Britain and Ireland which were broken up, dismantled, etc., during 1924, amounted to 261,575 tons.

The tables in the summary have been prepared in a manner to facilitate comparison between tho principal maritime countries of the world, and exhibit interesting data as to the relative frequency of the different kinds of casualties. Stranding and kindred casualties, which, are comprised under the term “wrecked,” are he most prolific cause of disaster. To such casualties are attributable 50 per cent, of tho losses or steamers and motor-ships, and 50 per cent, of sailing ships. Cases of abandoned, foundered, and missing ships, it is mentioned, are frequently more or less similar in the circumstances of loss, and if they are taken collectively they comprehend 27 per cent, of steamers and motor-ships, and 36 per cent of sailing ships removed from the mercantile marine during 1924 owing to casualty.

A large proportion of the tonnage actually removed from the merchant fleets of the world, it is stated, comes to what may be termed a natural end by being broken up, dismantled, condemned, etc., for reasons not known to be consequent upon casualty- or stress of weather. During 1924 the ships so broken up, condemned etc., amounted to 72.73 per cent, of tho tonnage of steamers and motor-ships, and 62.45 per cent, of the sailing ships included in the table given. The number and tonnage of steamers and motor-ships of all nationalities lost through marine and war casualties since 1902 is shown in a tabular statement. This list is exclusive of ships broken up, condemned, etc., not in consequence of casualty or stress of weather. The table also gives for each country the percentages lost of the total tonnage owned. Excluding the five war years 1914-18, the average percentage of loss of -steamers and motor-ships belonging to Great Britain and Ireland during the remaining eighteen years amounted to less than 1 per cent, per annum of the tonnage owned. The percentage for 1924 was 0.57.