SHIP WAS OVERLOADED

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 730, 1 August 1929, Page 9

SHIP WAS OVERLOADED

Cause of Vesiris Disaster MANAGER AND AGENT BLAMED (United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) Received 9.40 a.m. LOXI3OX, Wednesday. THE most protracted marine inquiry in British history culminated in a lengthy report on the Yestris disaster, wherein Mr. Butler Aspinall, Iv.C., commissioner, expresses the opinion that one of the chief contributory causes of the sinking was overloading’. He said that some blame must b 6 attached to Mr. Alfred Woods, the owners’ registered manager, and David Cook, representing the New York agents, who had not taken proper steps to prevent overloading. They were ordered to pay £-500 costs.

Marine Superintendent Harry Wheeler was found blameworthy in a less degree, and assistant superintendent Captain Stanley Heasley blameworthy in a still lesser degree. The commissioner found Cook, Wheeler and Heasley guilty of wrongful default which contributed to the loss of the vessel. He was of opinion that the captain should have sent out an S.O.S. six hours earlier, his action regarding the boats being open to criticism.

“The Vestris was not in a safe condition when leaving Hoboken. She .was unfit to encounter sea perils,” Mr. Aspinall said. The reason why more boats had not left the ship was probably Ihat disaster came before expected. There was no lack of order of. breaches of discipline among members of tne crew, and no fault to be found with the ship’s equipment. Mr. Aspinall, in giving judgment, found that among the causes of the loss of the shii> were tender conditions which showed an insufficient margin of stability and reserve- of buoyancy, and heavy weather and high wind, which caused the vessel to list to starboard. HATCHES NOT BATTENED

The cargo and coal were properly loaded and distributed, and were secured from shifting, but the coal should not have been carried in the upper shoots. Halfdoors on the upper deck were not weathertight, and weatherdeck hatches were not battened down. Tarpaulins had been supplied, but were not available when required. The' vessel had not the freeboard required.

The report states that the lifeboats were in seaworthy condition and arrangements for manning and kiunch-

ing them were proper and efficient. There was no satisfactory evidence that definite orders were given to abandon ship.

Apparently passengers and crew did not go to the prearranged places because no order for boat stations was given. In all owing to the list, other orders were given and passengers and crew were diverted to other places. “WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST” The report adds tha£ there .was some disorganisation owing to passengers and crew going to boats other than those allotted to them. Women and children were placed in port boats in mistaken application of the traditional order, “women and children first.” The court recommended that Board of Trade rules applying to emigrant ships should be extended to all foreign going passenger ships, and that consuls in the various ports should observe the draughts of British ships leaving foreign ports and report to the Board of Trade. The report of the American inquiry lield last December under United States Commissioner O’Neill said the officers of the ship were probably under great mental strain and hesitated to blame them. The life-saving apparatus was of an approved type and should have been able to cope with the situation, but apparently was “not used to the full advantage.” The report said Captain Carey was a good captain and “apparently had good reasons for ordering the lifeboats to be lowered on the port, instead of .the starboard side.” Captain Jessop (United States) differed slightly with this. He said that incompetency was one of the factors of the disaster.