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Editorial
October 21, 1913
The New Haven Union
New Haven, New Haven County, Connecticut
What is this article about?
The editorial argues that the Volturno disaster highlights the need for modern lifeboat launching methods alongside sufficient boats, learning from the Titanic's insufficient lifeboats, and anticipates international action for sea safety.
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LIFE BOATS THAT FAILED.
One comment on the Volturno disaster says it is startling, after the overcry for boats for all following the Titanic affair, to find that the very provision for safety so confidently urged then only piled horror on horror in this case and actually increased the loss of life. From which is argued the futility of boats for all and the greater necessity for dependence upon the vessel rather than its adjuncts.
This is just the argument that sent the Titanic to sea with an insufficient equipment. The leviathan was supposed to be so safe that lifeboats were merely a formality-until the lack of them cost hundreds of lives.
No one precaution should or can be safely exalted at the expense of another. Protection against fire is the lesson of the Volturno as caution in the ice field and boats for all was the lesson of the Titanic.
That the Volturno's boats were dashed to pieces against her sides with the loss of those they contained does not argue the "futility of boats for all," but it does expose the antiquated methods of boat launching that have hardly changed since the first lifeboat was carried aboard the first ship. Notwithstanding the marvelous progress made in vessel construction, little attention until recent years has been paid to lifeboat launching methods. Following the Titanic disaster inventive genius got to work, and many of the new vessels are equipped with modern devices that will permit the launching of lifeboats or rafts in practically any sea.
The remedy for sacrifices like those on the Volturno is the requirement of boats for all and up-to-date launching apparatus. This will undoubtedly have the attention of the forthcoming international congress for the promotion of safety at sea.
One comment on the Volturno disaster says it is startling, after the overcry for boats for all following the Titanic affair, to find that the very provision for safety so confidently urged then only piled horror on horror in this case and actually increased the loss of life. From which is argued the futility of boats for all and the greater necessity for dependence upon the vessel rather than its adjuncts.
This is just the argument that sent the Titanic to sea with an insufficient equipment. The leviathan was supposed to be so safe that lifeboats were merely a formality-until the lack of them cost hundreds of lives.
No one precaution should or can be safely exalted at the expense of another. Protection against fire is the lesson of the Volturno as caution in the ice field and boats for all was the lesson of the Titanic.
That the Volturno's boats were dashed to pieces against her sides with the loss of those they contained does not argue the "futility of boats for all," but it does expose the antiquated methods of boat launching that have hardly changed since the first lifeboat was carried aboard the first ship. Notwithstanding the marvelous progress made in vessel construction, little attention until recent years has been paid to lifeboat launching methods. Following the Titanic disaster inventive genius got to work, and many of the new vessels are equipped with modern devices that will permit the launching of lifeboats or rafts in practically any sea.
The remedy for sacrifices like those on the Volturno is the requirement of boats for all and up-to-date launching apparatus. This will undoubtedly have the attention of the forthcoming international congress for the promotion of safety at sea.
What sub-type of article is it?
Social Reform
What keywords are associated?
Lifeboats
Volturno Disaster
Titanic Lessons
Maritime Safety
Launching Methods
International Congress
What entities or persons were involved?
Volturno
Titanic
International Congress For Safety At Sea
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Need For Modern Lifeboat Launching After Volturno Disaster
Stance / Tone
Advocating Comprehensive Maritime Safety Reforms
Key Figures
Volturno
Titanic
International Congress For Safety At Sea
Key Arguments
- lifeboat failures in volturno due to antiquated launching methods, not futility of boats for all
- titanic disaster resulted from over-reliance on ship safety without sufficient lifeboats
- no single precaution should replace others; volturno teaches fire protection, titanic teaches ice caution and boats
- modern devices post-titanic enable safe launching in any sea
- require boats for all and up-to-date apparatus via international congress