TNA MT 40 36 Pt 2

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1210.
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A rather similar position arose in the matter of repairs.
There was usually no evidence of the condition of the vessel at the
time it was taken up, and the Committee had to rely on the advice of
the Technical Officers as to the probability of damage having arisen
during the operation and to settle the claims on broad lines.
Considerable difficulty arose concerning hire, owing to the
unsuitability of the rates, framed by the Ministry for long term
chartering, to meet the circumstances of the use of a vessel for a
very short period where the owner had no opportunity to cancel his
insurance or to modify his overhead expenses. The matter was
complicated in many cases by the owners of fishing, or other
commercial craft, desiring to include compensation for loss of
earnings while the boats were out of their hands. The Committee
decided that it had no power to meet claims for loss of earnings which,
in any case, would have been almost impossible of assessment, and it
proceeded on the lines of payment of hire which, though having regard
to the normal rates fixed by the Ministry, was increased to cover the
special circumstances of a short period of service. In the case of
ordinary in-shore fishing vessels, however, it was found possible,
after consultation with the Ministry of Agriculture's Fishery
Officers, to adopt a standard rate of 6d a day per foot of length. Even
so hire formed a very small proportion of the compensation payable.
In regard to certain types of vessels where there were
trade associations available with which to negotiate, it was possible
to arrange terms generally applicable to a class of vessel. For
instance, the owners of sailing barges agreed to make no claim where
their vessels were taken up for one or two days and then released
without crossing the Channel, while a scale of hire based on tonnage
was agreed for those barges which actually took part in the
evacuation. Tug-owners met the Committee generously. One firm made
no charge whatever for the use of its tugs for the Dunkirk operation,
while the others accepted one day's hire for towing barges to or from
the assembly base, but made no charge for the time spent on the actual
Dunkirk operation itself. For other evacuation operations normal
coastal towage rates were applied.
Claims for compensation for the loss of craft at times
presented some difficulty. Mostof the vessels lost were the property on
of single-boat owners, often fishermen of longshoremen, depending that the
the strict application of the terms of the Compensation (Defence) obtain was
vessel for their livelihood. In such cases it was felt Act
undesirable. In the first place it was difficult to any
independent evidence of value, and in the second it was difficult of for
Committee to shut théir eyes to the fact that the question loss
the replacement was all-important in the view of the owner of whose
deprived asked that they might receive, instead of money compensation, when
him of the tools of his trade. In a number cases
fishermen similar to that which they had lost. But it was found,
a boat were made to meet their wishes, that, as in remained other regions of
human unappreciated in life. The attempt to provide replacement failed,
attempts experience, death revealed beauties that had
and the aid of local officers, it was in many cases services found of Mr.
the Committee had to adhere to the system of monetary compensation. possible to
With at agreements for fishing boats, and the for
arrive the Ministry's valuer for yachts, were utilised of valuers various
Barnett, of pleasure craft. In the case of barges, a panel valuation
types in agreement with the industry, and their valuers were was
was set up, For special types of craft other suitable
accepted. and, with the exception of the small to number arrive ofoutstanding at just and
employed, referred to below, it has been possible
cases amicable settlements with the respective owners.
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