DRBA Should Equip Vessels with Infant Life Preservers

To The Editor:
One hundred years ago, on April 15, 1912, the Titanic disaster cost the lives of 1,509 of the 2,214 people on board — 56 of the 112 children perished. The vessel was certified to carry 3,547 people with 3,560 life belts on board, all approved by the Board of Trade. However, there were no life belts for infants and children. She was equipped with 20 lifeboats able to carry 1,128 people; only 52 percent of the people on that voyage. Post accident investigations by the U.S. Senate and British government resulted in new laws and regulations that resulted in the passage by Congress of the Lafolette Seaman’s Act of March 4, 1915 and the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention signed in London on Jan. 20, 1914-see Article 51 (1) Life-jackets and Life-buoys. This was the first time children’s life preservers were required by law on passenger vessels. Since Titanic’s sinking there have been many advances in marine safety including life preservers. However, even with these advances, the most recent accident involving the Italian cruise ship Costa Concordia on Jan. 13, only proves that passenger vessels are still vulnerable and founder with the loss of lives; 32 people, including a five year old child (Payana Arlotti). The ship had life preservers for all passengers including infants and children that met the latest SOLAS regulations (effective July 1, 2010). For current USCG regulations see CFR 46 §75.40-10 (a).
Surprisingly, not all passenger vessels adhere to the regulations despite these modern laws. The Twin Capes and other DRBA ferries have USCG-approved Type 1 life preservers for adults but no child’s life preservers safe for children under 50 pounds and none for infants. After a discussion with the Cape May/Lewes Delaware Ferry Port Captain Bryan C. Helm about the law, and the risk posed to small infants and children in the event of an accident, he said he would not put these life preservers on their vessels unless he was forced to do it.
If passengers on the Titanic knew there weren’t enough lifeboats to accommodate everyone on board would they have sailed on the voyage? Perhaps the hype of the boat being unsinkable would not have changed their minds, but the history of passenger vessel accidents since that time proves, to this day, none are immune to this kind of tragedy. If Mrs. Helm had infants and small children would she allow them to travel aboard the ferries knowing that suitable life preservers were not available to protect them?
Until the time the DRBA equips their vessels with life preservers to protect all infants and children under 50 pounds, you can purchase your own. Type 2 PFD Infant (0-30 pounds) and Type 2 PDF Infant/Child (0 –50 pounds) preservers are available locally at Sea Gear, Utschs’ Marina, West Marine, and Wal-Mart starting at $8.99.
The FAA considers infants “precious cargo.” Commercial airliners carry infant life preservers on board-14 CFR-121.340(a). The U.S. Coast Guard, the regulators of the passenger vessel industry, considers infants and children expendable. It is a national disgrace that 100 years after the Titanic disaster we still do not protect the most vulnerable members of our society.
For the protection of our “precious cargo” aboard commercial passenger vessels, contact Cong. Frank LoBiondo (chairman, USCG Sub-Committee) at 202- 225-6572 asking him to enforce the law requiring the DRBA ferries, and all vessels nationally, to be equipped with life preservers suitable for infants and children.
The first infant life preserver 1435 B.C.— “an ark made of bulrushes” — see Exodus 2:2-3.
RONALD G. SINN
Cape May