Safety at Sea

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 144, 20 June 1931, Page 9

Safety at Sea

NEW STEERING COMMANDS RATIFIED BY THE LORDS [By Telegraph—Press Association Copyright] Received Juno 19, 9.50 p.m. LONDON, June 18. In tho House of Lords, during a discussion on tho new international safety at sea convention, Lord Inchcapo strongly opposed the proposal to alter the stecrings commands. The convention proposed that the command “starboard” or ’ right” should be given only when the head of tho ship was to move to the right, and a similar command in regard to “port” or “left,” whereas now the command “port your helm” meant <langer was on tho port side and the ship must bo steered to starboard or vice versa. No fewer than 8590 British officers and pilots had opposed the cha ige, which was contrary to present practice, and therefore likely to lead to accidents. Lord Jellicoc, on the other hand, supported tho change. Ho had so often seen tho helm put tho wrong way under the present system that in every ship he commanded he had a hole cut iu the compass platform in order that tho officer could see the helmsman carrying out the command correctly. Ho was confident that officers would soon become familiar with tho convention’s new and simpler system . The House ratified tho convention.