New-York tribune., 1913-10-13
COMMITTEES WORKING T0
PREVENT SEA DISASTERS
Body Named by Secretary Of
Commerce Has Been Iona
Studying Question.
SUGGESTS SAFETY PLANS
Fire and Boat Drills, Signals
and Searchlights, ALI to Aid
in Making Ocean Less
Dangerous.

Acting under orders from the Secretary
Of Commerce, special committees, ar.
pointed by him. to study questions re,.-
tive to the better protection OF the ,v.,
of passengers and crews Of ocean s,ear-
ships have been at work for the last 81,
months obtaining information. and for.
mulating recommendations which ara n
be submitted by the delegates of N.
United States to the international Con.
ference on Safety at Sea to be held dur.
ing the coming winter.
The committee on efficiency Of oficer,i
and crews is composed OF f. T. Chamber.
lain. Commissioner OF Navigation (chair.
mani; ID. p. Foley, senior captain, U. &
Revenue Service; Henry NJ. Seeley. super.
vlsing inspector, I'd District, Steamboat
Inspection Service, and W. ]. Pettus.
assistant surgeon general, Public Health
Service.
Seven meetings have been held by this
committee, and thirty-two answers have,
been received to its letters OF inquiry
sent to ocean steamship companies, mari.
time exchanges. chambers Of commerce
and organizations OF masters, mates andt
engineers. These have been carefully
considered, resulting in many important
and additional suggestions for the safe
guarding Of passengers and crews.
The committee at the outset concurs,
with the report on May Is of the British
Departmental Committee on Boats and
Davits, which It would seem applies par
which confronted the officers and crew Of
the .yolturno in the gale OF last Thurs
day. The paragraph reads as follows:
THE efficiency Of the arrangements for
saving life at sea, depends as much upon
the competency Of the officers and crew
| board. The boats and other efficient az
pllances require efficient crews 10 handle
them. Strict discipline and obedience are
essential"
The report states the training OF crews
is the second essential TO efficiency ard
that the standards for such training are
proper and necessary subjects for inter
national regulation The basis OF such
training. so far as safety is concerned, il
says should be the fire drill closing bulk.
head doors and lifeboat drills. The eff
cheney OF crew as a unit il declares
can be attained only by frequent and
thorough drills of the entire crew. or at
least of not less than a full watch OF all
departments.
An efficient boat hand is described as
one trained in the launching. lowering
detaching and handling OF boats and the
use OF oars and who shall have served al
least one year on vessels navigating the
ocean, bays. sounds, or large inland seas
or lakes. He IS also to have govern
ment certificate. which shall be recos-
nized by other governments.
The committee on aids and perils to
navigation, or which Commander George
F. Cooper. L. S. n. hydrographer, Is
chairman. recommends the use OF the
searchlight on all ocean-going steamers
equipped with a dynamo. so placed as 70
illumine all points OF the horizon as far as
practicable. and of sufficient power 70
distinguish ships twenty-four foot boat
at distance OF not less than one nau-
teal mile on a clear dark night.
It is held that the objection raised by
some seafaring men. that the searchIsns
has a binding effect. is not valid one
II the light is properly used. The light
IS maintained, is of very great assistance
in the vicinity of ice at night and In ei'
fecting a rescue In case Of collision az
night
The use OF rockets or shells thro"'ns
red stars OF any description fred al ons
time. at short intervals. Is recommenoea
as a universal signal OF distress ra'ne'
than the present signal, which permits 'n'
firing Of rockets or shells OF any color OF
description.