Evening star., 1938-09-22
RIVER EXCURSION
STEAMERS MUST
GETOVERHAUL|NC
New Commerce Rules Call
for Works Completion
by April IS. n
STEP is DIRECT RESULT.
OF MANDALAY'S SINKING
Labor on Southport of Potomac
Line Has Already Begun and
More Is in Sight.
BY WILLIAM ]. WHEATLEY.

NsN1>AsAAAAsA
Hundreds Of river excursion steam.
ers, including those operating on the
Potomac. will undergo considerable
renovation of their lfllls this winte,
to guard against loss of life and injury
through collision. in accordance with
sweeping new rules Of the Department,
Of Commerce. The hull work must be
completed prior to April Is, next, &C.
cording to Comdr. r. s. Field, direc-
tor Of the bureau.
Work on the Southport Of the Po-
tomac River Line already has been
started. according to B. B. Wills, presi-
dent Of the line. and 1t is expected
that work on the Potomac will be
inaugurated as soon as her engines
are prepared for winter storage. Mr..
Wills said that the line always was
ready to take any steps to insure the
safety Of its passengers and would
have both vessels ready by the time
limit fixed by the bureau. While the
installations are expensive, he said,
the marine bureau has shown a dis
position TO assist in every way by
approving plans which would give the
required protection, but at the same
time permit full use OF the underwater
hull.
At the Wilson Line Offices it was
said that L. c. Campbell OF Whining
ton, general manager and vice presi-
dent, was expected here in a day or
two, presumably to take up the CUES
ton Of having the steamers Of that
line comply with the new order.
Mandalay Sinking Recalled.
The sweeping order, calling for the
expenditure of hundreds Of thousands
OF dollars for the protection Of the
millions Of people who use these
steamers for pleasure each summer, is
a direct outgrowth of the sinking last
summer in New York harbor of the
steamer Mandalay. However, before
taking any drastic action. the bureau
called ip the steamer owners and out
lined their proposals and worked out
program which met the approval of
the operators.
Because the task is a big one. It
was decided to defer its operation
until next April to give its operators
an opportunity to comply with the
new safety rules, which are a part of
the program Of the bureau to make
water transportation as safe as is
humanity possible.
In general, the new regulations pro-
vide that river excursion steamers
shall be 'one-compartment" vessels.
This, 1t was explained, means that any
one OF several compartments might be
flooded through collision and the ves-
sci still would remain anoat.
New Boats Change Picture.
Because Of the usually heavy pas
senger lists carried by these vessels,
mostly women and children, it was
deemed imperative to take some steps
to insure that the vessels remain afloat
after collision, after study was made
oy the inspectors subsequent to the
Mandalay sinking. Furthermore, the
peculiar construction of these shins
has made them more or less secure
In their underwater hull in the past.
but the appearance of high-speed
small boats has. changed the condi.
tlons. The hulls of these steamers
Usually are set we'll under the main
deck, which has heavy fender timbers
heavy enough to stop a colliding YES
sci before her prov reaches the steel
null. However, the new type boats
are able to get their noses under the
main deck before striking the heavy
timbers, it was explained.
The new construction will consist
OF placing steel bulkheads or walls
throughout the underwater hull, with
necessary watertight doors.