The Washington herald., 1918-05-19
LUCIA STYLE
."UNSINKABLE'
IS CONDEMNED
Ship Declared Impracticable
by Naval Board In
vestigators.

The unsuitable Lucia Is imprac'
tieable.
A naval board. appointed to In
vestigate the system OF buoyancJ
boxes. which form the basis for the
steamships claim to fame, has re-
ported the Lucia installation is moi
advisable for general adoption un-
der existing conditions" The re-
port was made public yesterday by
the Navy Department. A well aimed
torpedo would render the Lucia lit
tie better thansa water-logged dere-
lict. in the opinion ofstne board.
In addition, the board inquired
into the general subject Of buoy
ancy. and in each instance declared
against external protection. The
latter reduces speed. lessons ton
mage, and thus far no feasible meth
cd has been discovered. according to
the report. On the other hand, how
ever. the board says a judicious Sc
lection of cargo will aid materially
in obtaining better buoyancy con-
ditions in the case of damage re-
sulting from the flooding of holds
and internal protection. which. II
points out. is the best way to pre-
serve buoyancy of vessels operat-
ing in the war zone.
Reasons Given.
The Lucia was equipped with the
Donnelly system of buoyancy boxes.
and three reasons are given by the
board to show the vessel Is imprac-
ticable. They are:
First-The questionable efficiency
as a preventive against sinking.
Second-The reduction in cargo
carrying capacity. both dead weight
and cubic contents.
Third-The length OF time re-
quired to install buoyancy boxes.
Although the vessel was not
subjected to actual test by the ex-
plosion of a torpedo against her
side" says the report, calculations
were made by the board. based on
results OF damage actually receiv-
ed by vessels that had been tor
pedoed. and it was found that the
Lucia would, after the explosion. be
little better than a water-logged
derelict, and under these conditions.
even should she remain afioat. her
salvage would prove difficult.
The board points out that while
there Is no doubt that buoyancy
boxes could be installed in sufficient
numbers and so located that they
would not endanger the stability of
a vessel, this can be done only by
q loss in actual deadweight ca
pacity of the vessel equal to the
weight of the boxes installed. and
also a reduction in the cubical ca
pacity Of the holds.
Installation Long.
"As regards the time required for
making an installation of this type
on other vessels, this is a matter
OF vital Importance. as the laying
up together, or in succession, of a
large number Of ships for any con-
siderable length of time is not con-
sidered permissible in view of the
present shipping situation. Mr..
Donnelly claims that one week
would be sufficient time to install
the Lucia type of boxes in a YES
sell The board gives its opinion
that this claim is impossible of
achievement on account of the large
number of boxes involved-12,000 in
the case of the Lucia-and the
wharf and storehouse space that
would be required for boxes before
they could be installed, which. un-
der existing conditions OF congest-
ed freight terminals, is impossible
to obtain"
The last report on the Lucia was
the cable message announcing her
safe arrival at a foreign port after
the first lap Of her maiden voyage.