Evening star., 1901-10-01
LOSSES At SEA.
Annual Statistics of Maritime Casual
ties by LlOyd's Register.
From the London Mariner.

From the London Mariner.
The statistical summary of vessels totally
lest condemned, &C., published by Lloyd's
Register, shows that during 1900 the gross
reduction in the eective mercantile marine
of the world amounted to S4S vessels, Of
677, 1S2 tons, excluding all vessels of less
than 100 tons. OF this total 296 vessels.
of 1868 tons, were steamers, and $50, of
29O,S tons. were sailing vessels. AS re-
CARDS steamers. the present return exceeds
the average of the previous nine years by
sixteen vessels and 27,554 tons: as regards
sailing vessels it is below the average by
274 vessels and So, 1858 tons.
The figures relating to steam and sailing
tonnage owned in the united kingdom are
below the average by 14,OU and 10000 tons,
respectively. Apart from vessels broken
up, condemned. &c, the united kingdom
steam tonnage lost during 1900 Is below the
average of the preceding nine years by
about 10000 tons, while the tonnage owned
has Increased during that period by over
3,250,OO0 tons. The summary exhibits in
tereSting data as to the relative frequency
Of the different kinds of casualty, &c.
which conclude the existence of vessels.
Standings and kindred casualties, which
are comprised under the term wrecked"
are much of the most prolific cause of dis
aSter. To such casualties are attributable
Al per cent of the losses of steamers and 40
per cent of the losses Of sailing vessels.
The next most common termination of
vessels career is by condemnation, break
ing UP. &C.; about IT per cent of the ves-
sells removed from the merchant fleets of
the world are accounted for in this manner.
OF the remaining causes of loss collision is
the most general for steamers (about II
per cent?; while for sailing vessels cases of
abandonment at sea come next in order of
frequency (also about II per cent?. Cases
of abandoned, foundered and missing ves-
sells may perhaps be regarded fire.
quently more or less similar In the circum-
stances of loss. If these be taken collect
lively they comprehend 10 per cent of the
losses of steamers and % per cent of the
losses of sailing vessels.
Thereturn has been compiled by Lloyd's
Register in such manner as to enable
comparison to be made between the per-
centages of loss suffered by each of the
principal merchant navies in the world.
Great as the absolute annual loss of ves-
sells belonging to the united kingdom ap-
pears to be, it is seen to form very mod
crate percentage of the mercantile marine
of the country, and to compare favorably
with the losses sustained by other leading
maritime countries. The merchant navies
which exceed total of 1.000,00O tons are
those Of the united kingdom, the British
colonies the United States of America,
France, Germany and Norway. OF these
countries the united kingdom and the Brit
lsh colonies show the smallest percentage
of loss. viz, 2.39 and 2.34 per cent, respect
lively, of vessels owned: Germany follows,
with 3.39 per cent, and Norway is the high
est, with 6.39 per cent. AS regards steam
ers, while the percentage for the united
kingdom stands at 1.95, the average of the
percentages Of loss for the other five coun-
tries is 2.53. For sailing vessels the other
five countries show an average percentage
Of 300. as compared with 4.O5 per cent for
the united kingdom. The percentages
given at the end of the preceding para
graph suggest that steamers have a much
greater immunity from disaster than have
sailing vessels. This inference is borne out
if the losses. &C., sustained by the chief
remaining merchant fleets of Europe be
also taken into account. While the losses
of steamers amount only to per cent of
the number and Is per cent of the ton
mage owned. the losses Of sailing vessels
reach 81 per cent of the number and 46
per cent Of the tonnage.