The Life-Boat
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THE LIFE-BOAT, OR JOURNAL OF THE NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION. QTJAKTEBLY.) Pares 4& VOL. IX.—No. 95.] FEBKUABY IST, 1875. DOVBIB NtfMBEB CWITH WSKCK CHART. EOYAL COMMISSION" ON UNSEAWORTHY SHIPS. FINAL EEPOBT IN our last number we commented on the j the test of practical application. It is first portion of this important Beport, stated that the law requiring boats to be comprising the clauses on "Overloading carried in proportion to tonnage had been and Load Line," "Deck Loads," "Grain j found to be impracticable; that by the Cargoes," and "Survey of British Mer- ; Act of 1873 the BOABD OF TBADE had chant Ships." j taken discretionary power in the matter, Of the remaining clauses some will but that their surveyors sometimes dif- only call for a Tery cursory glance, as, fered in their views, the number of boats although affecting more or less the wel- sanctioned at one port being afterwards fare of the Mercantile Marine, they have disallowed at another, occasioning thereby only an indirect connection with the expense to the owner and obstruction to question of loss of life at sea, with which trade. we are more immediately concerned. So as regards ships' lights: it is ad- Semedial Legislation.—Taking the se- mitted that they are most important for the avoidance of collisions, but shipowners veral clauses consecutively, the nest that calls for observation is that headed " Ee- are said to complain that the lights ap- medial Legislation;" which thus com- proved by one surveyor are disapproved by another, and that the BOAED OF TKADE mences :••— have not as yet prescribed any satisfac- "Parliament has during many years been engaged in attempting to regulate minute details connected tory standard of efficiency, yet tell them with Shipping. Shipowners reasonably complain that they must obey the statute. that they have been harassed in their bnsiness by Again, that watertight bulkheads are well-intended but ill-contrived legislation, and Sat this legislation is enforced by a Department undoubtedly a security against a ship's imperfectly acquainted with the science of Ship- foundering at sea, but that the law pre- building and with the interests of our Mercantile scribing two bulkheads as a minimum Harine. The officers of the Board of Trade admit th»t many enactments, designed to secure safety of served but to increase the risk and give a life at sea, have been mischievous, and should be false notion of security. The Commis- modified or repealed. The amount of legislation, sioners, on this head, also see great prac- and the multiplicity of details connected with tical difficulty in the way of legislation. Shipping, which are now regulated by law, have not been altogether successful, and it seems that The position of sea-cocks, double bot- the results aimed at are hardly attainable by Acts toms for water ballast, insufficient security «f Parliament" of the ventilating hatchways of engine- Several instances are then quoted of rooms and stoke-holes, the mode of test- feilure of past legislation when brought to ing chain-cables, the adjustment of com- LOTS-BOAT JOTJBNAL.—YOL. IX.—No. 95. o 202 THE LIFE-BOAT. [FEBIIUAEY 1,1875. passes in iron ships, regulations as to mode of conducting these inquiries; that safety-valves, are all referred to under this the tribunal does not command general head, and the general conclusion come to confidence; that the mode of procedure is that they are not matters for legislation; was said to be dilatory and expensive, the and the Commissioners state that the power of the court ill defined; that in evidence respecting them evinces the in- some cases it could not be enforced; and expediency of incessant interference in that the present mode of conducting these details connected with shipping; that the inquiries assumed the shape of a criminal BOABD OF TRADE have now large dis- proceeding- against the captain, rather cretionary powers; that the judicious than a careful investigation into the cause exercise of those powers will suffice to of the disaster. Again, that the conrt check negligent shipowners without ha- has no power over the shipowner, who, rassing the whole mercantile community, however culpable, was altogether beyond and that much 'legislation OH Matters of its jurisdiction. detail might be advantageously dispensed The Commissioners consider it a matter with. Finally, after observing that the of public interest that these inquiries present system of compulsory pilotage is j should be conducted in such a manner as not conducive to the security of life or ! might best disclose the circumstances to property at sea, and that it will be ad- which every disaster at sea should ba vantageous to get rid of it, they pronounce ! ascribed. They, therefore, attach great the opinion, " that all systems which tend importance to the institution of such to remove responsibility from shipowners searching and impartial inquiry as might and their paid servants are against the show whether the casualty had arisen true principles of public policy, and that , from faulty construction of the vessel, bad they consider compulsory pilotage to be stowage, or from circumstances connected one of those systems." i with her navigation—the incompetence of Without disputing the general correct- • the officers, or the neglect or misconduct ness of the principles above enunciated by •j of the crew. the Commissioners, we question whether, ii In commenting on the preliminary in- looking to the fearful calamities that occur quiries made by the "Keceivers of Wrecks," from time to time, such as those to the \', they state that, founded on the evidence La Plata and Cospatrick, the British they had obtained, they recommend that public will be satisfied that such ques- :', the preliminary inquiry by the Receiver tions as those on adequate supply of of Wrecks should be limited to such a boats and rafts, and a sufficient number : narrative statement as would enable the of watertight bulkheads in iron ships, { BOABD OF TRADE, with the aid of their shall be left to the discretion and respon- \ legal adviser, to decide on the propriety sibility of shipowners, at least in the case of an official inquiry. And, should such of passenger ships. Property may be left i an inquiry be deemed advisable with the to the care of those interested in, it; but j view of ascertaining the cause of the dis- experience has amply shown that a sense aster, and thereby guarding against future of duty and feelings of humanity, where casualties, that there should be a com- their pecuniary interests are concerned, plete severance between the inquiry and have not sufficient influence over many any proceedings of a penal character; that persons to induce them to provide for the it should be a mere inquest into the cause safety of human lives intrusted to their of the loss or casualty, the result being care. reported to the BOARD OF TKADB, and the Board having power to prosecute the Inquiries 5y the Board of Trade.— shipowner, or to proceed criminally against The Commissioners, at the outstart, the master, mate, or any member of the under this heading, state that serious ob- crew, whose neglect of duty might have jections are entertained to the present occasioned the disaster. FEBRUAKY 1,1875.] THE LIFE-BOAT. '203 The Commissioners then proceed:— of movement may at any moment prove "We think that the llth section of the Mer- fatal. The Report states, on this head, chant Shipping Act, 1871, should be amended, that and be made expressly to extend to the Master "The growth of trade, aa<i the consequent addi- of the vessel; for it is very important to avoid tional opportunities for employment on shore, as any doubt that the Master who, without justifiable well as at sea, have increased the difficulty of ob- excuse, leaves port with his vessel in an unsea- taining Able Seamen. The wages of Seamen have vrorthy condition, renders himself amenable to risen largely within the last few years, bat yet Ship- the criminal law. On comparing the accidents owners complain that they are often compelled to occurring at sea with those taking place on land, take such men as present themselves, of whom and especially on railways, we are struck by the many prove to be incompetent to discharge pro- fact that, whereas in the latter cases it is usual perly the duties of Seamen. The ignorance and to prosecute those servants whose negligence incapacity of these men throw additional work on has occasioned loss of life, there is scarcely a the good Seamen, cause dissatisfaction in the ship, tingle instance of a prosecution of a Master or and enhance the dangers of navigation." Mate, or a man on the look-out or at the helm of a vessel, although the cases have undoubtedly been, So great, indeed, is said to be the de- numerous in which vessels have been lost either by the negligence of the master or crew. We think ficiency of British able seamen, that cap- that enactments relating to the punishment of the tains of our merchant ships could not master or crew whose negligence has ocoasioned man their vessels without Swedes, Nor- loss of life or property should be framed of a more wegians, and Lascars. The British sea- definite and stringent character than those no-w in existence. We are of opinion that the present man, as a rale, is said not to be deficient system, under which the certificate of a Master or in elementary education, it being a rare other officer is suspended, very frequently only for exception when he cannot write; but he an error of judgment, should be entirely discon- tinued, and that neither the Court of Inquiry nor is often deficient in thrift, in sobriety, the Board of Trade should have the power of deal- in discipline, and in that self-control ing with the certificate.