Since vessels have become very large in size for economic reasons, inspections require a large amount of manpower, making it extremely difficult to carefully examine various parts of a vessel within a restricted number of days. Inspections, hence, tend to become localized ones and damage which is overlooked by such inspections may lead to serious marine casualties. Even under constraints of a charter party, the dock repair period should be determined, with more weight placed on inspections of various parts of the vessel.
7] Nothing is prescribed as to the period and method for retaining a ship's plans, drawings, and other data at the time of her completion, but it is required to make mandatory that, in the case of vessels like the "Bolivar Maru" which have new structural features not included in design standards, relevant documents, including drawings and data, be kept strictly in a controlled manner for a certain period so that they may be immediately used for the construction of a second or a third ship and that, in the event of an accident on board a sister ship or a similar type of ship, such materials may be readily accessible for investigation.
Various calculations, specifications, drawings, cutting plans, etc. prepared in the stage of basic design of the "Bolivar Maru" went missing and the mill sheets and other materials at the time of her construction were disposed of before the arrival of her first periodical survey and such manner of disposal is extremely regrettable.
8] Lifesaving equipment is taken up and discussed every time a major marine accident occurs, but sufficiently effective equipment has yet to be developed: lifeboats may capsize in the process of lowering if waves are high , and rubber boats are light in weight tending to be blown away by winds, making them less reliable in strong winds. After all, the real situation is that we have only lifejackets to rely upon and even such lifejackets are useful only for a short period in cold water.
A capsule type of lifesaving equipment, and clothes which can be worn over usual clothing and protect the wearer against cold and ingress of water, permitting him to drift for a long time, are in the process of development and we hope that these will be put into practical use as early as possible. Vessels have grown larger and larger year after year and at that at a rapid pace, and along with it serious consideration should be given to the lives of crew members as well. We earnestly hope that an overall marine search and rescue system, including the aspect of lifesaving equipment as a matter of course, will be established so that even in a situation where a vessel sinks under heavy weather, at least human lives may be safely rescued.
