§ 1. Sir ROBERT THOMASasked the President of the Board of Trade what tests his Department has made of the Fleming lifeboat and what were the conclusions reached; whether he has sanctioned its installation in place of oared lifeboats; and, if so, how far it has been adopted?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister)Seating, manœuvring and speed tests of lifeboats fitted with Fleming propelling gear have been made by Board of Trade surveyors, and the Board of Trade have approved it as a satisfactory means of propulsion for ships' lifeboats, subject to the conditions that additional buoyancy is fitted to compensate for the weight of the gear and that half the number of oars required in ordinary lifeboats are carried. Lifeboats fitted with this gear are carried on 35 vessels in lieu of oared and motor lifeboats.