XN000022-1977-08-22 — Page 4

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MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 1977

MARINE DEPARTMENT ACTS ON ABERDEEN EXPLOSION FINDINGS

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THE MARINE DEPARTMENT IS TAKING SEVERAL COURSES OF ACTION TO PREVENT A RECURRENCE OF THE TRAGEDY IN ABERDEEN HARBOUR LAST APRIL WHEN THREE OF ITS OFFICERS DIED AS A RESULT OF AN EXPLOSION ON BOARD A FISHING VESSEL.

FOLLOWING THE FINDINGS OF THE DEATH INQUEST, THE DEPARTMENT WILL ADVISE SMALL CRAFT OPERATORS OF THE PROPER AND SAFE USE OF LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS (L.P.G.) ON THEIR BOATS WHICH, HOPEFULLY, WILL PREVENT SIMILAR ACCIDENTS IN THE FUTURE.

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A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY THAT OFFERS OF ASSISTANCE HAVE BEEN READILY FORTHCOMING FROM THE L.P.G. INDUSTRY, THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, THE MARINE POLICE AND OTHER ORGANISATIONS FOR COMPILING AND PUBLICISING THIS ADVICE.

+ THE MAJOR OIL COMPANIES, REPRESENTING THE INDUSTRY, HAVE AGREED IN PRINCIPLE TO ASSIST IN PUBLICATION AND HAVE ALREADY GIVEN SOME USEFUL ADVICE AND INFORMATION, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, AT THE SAME TIME, IS PREPARED TO BROADCAST INFORMATION ON THE PROPER USE OF L.P.G. TO FISHERMEN ON THE +FISHERMEN'S HALF HOUR+ RADIO PROGRAMME, WHILE THE MARINE POLICE HAVE OFFERED THE USE OF PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS ON THEIR LAUNCHES FOR BROADCASTING PRE-RECORDED MESSAGES.

THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT THE SAFETY MESSAGE IS ALSO EXPECTED TO BE CONVEYED BY POSTERS OR PAMPHLETS, WHICH WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO BOAT CLUBS, FISHERMEN'S ASSOCIATIONS AND COMMERCIAL CRAFT ASSOCIATIONS.

THEY WILL ALSO BE OBTAINABLE AT THE MARINE DEPARTMENT AND OTHER GOVERNMENT OFFICES TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE WIDELY DISTRIBUTED.

THE MESSAGE WILL FURTHER BE INCLUDED IN THE NEW EDITION OF THE MARINE DEPARTMENT PAMPHLET +SAFETY AFLOAT+, WHICH IS BEING PREPARED FOR PUBLICATION.

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