LIGHT LOAD LINE.

Northern Times, 11 May, 1912.

POINTED PARS

(By "Parted Points)

Arising out of the Koombana loss,

comes the suggested passing of a

"Light Load Line" Act. Such an

Act, designed to prevent vessels 

putting to sea with empty holds and 

at times over-weighted with deck 

cargo, was thrown out by the House of

Lords in Britain several years ago.

The Plimsoll mark now prevents over

loading - it is argued, with some show

of reasonableness, that another mark

showing the highest safe elevation of

a modern passenger steamer above

water is badly needed. The Koombana 

was admittedly light-laden ; she was 

reputedly supposed to be top heavy, 

particularly when in that trim. It would 

be better that the times for the sailing 

of boats should not only be altered to 

suit the whims of shipping companies 

and their directors but also in the event 

of a reputable official being satisfied that 

she was too light to tempt the frequent 

storms of our coasts. His task would be 

an easy one if each vessel was provided 

with a 'light load line'. While that was 

above water she was to be detained in

port regardless of cost to owners. The

results would be fewer accidents, which

would more than recompense us for

fewer vessels of the 'sky scraper' class.

And indeed in light of the Waratah, 

Yongala and Koombana tragedies, 

Australia would be wise to complete

what the British Houses of Commons

and Lords bungled between them. 

Vessels built for speed on the shoaling

coasts should not be allowed to pander

to the passengers demanded a deck 

cabin and promenade and other decks 

above, regardless of stability in extreme

cases; unfortunately 'extreme cases' have

a habit occurring too frequently to make

the game worth the candle. What is 

demanded is yet a little more 'interference

with private enterprise'. With regard to 

the foregoing, Mr. Moss is hereby assured

it has not been written (vide our telegrams)

by somebody the Press object of 'up

scandalous rumours'. It is written solely

as a suggestion to if possible minimse

the possibility of the occurrence of too

many more of those 'mysteries unfortunately

periodically happening at sea.'

   

Another suggestion that should be seriously 

considered by the Federal authorities to save 

a few pounds, many lives are annually risked,

and I believe I am safe in saying, more than

half of them annually lost in the attempt to

navigate such vessels as dredgers, hoppers,

and other barges, intended for use only in

safe waters, across many thousands of 

miles of ocean, as from New Zealand to

Australia. All hopes are given up for the 

dredge Manchester and her crew hence

these remarks. The suggestion is that 

regardless of cost, barges and dredges

for use in Australia should be built there,

and then at the nearest shipyard to 

where they are to be worked. Failing 

this, owners to be given the option of 

having such vessels towed by sea-

going steamers. The crew of the dredge

would be given some fighting chance if

they were being towed, although in a 

blow chance would be the very reverse of

rosy. This restriction would perhaps prevent

the importation of dredges other than in 

sections aboard some better vessel; that 

may be a disadvantage in the eyes of the

import-everything crowd. To my mind, the

saving of lives of citizens with sufficient

pluck to take the terrible risks entailed

by 'such an undertaking such a voyage

in such a vessel' would more than 

recompense the Commonwealth for

the loss of a little of the capitalists' sinews

of war.   

courtesy Trove.