Storstad Blamed

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 1, 13 July 1914, Page 5

Storstad Blamed

FOR THE EMPRESS OF IRELAND COLLISION. CAPTAIN KENDALL ENTIRELY EXONERATED. By Cable—PreßS Association—Copyright Received 12, 5.5 p.m. Quebec,. July 11, The Commission found that the Storst.Ml was to blame for the Empress of Ireland disaster. LoTd Mersey held that the collision was due to the Storstad's change of course, -which was ordered by the third officer without the first officer's or the captain's sanction. The finding exonerated Captain Kendall completely, but suggests that he would have been better advised if he had navigated the ship so as to pass the Storstad at a greater distance.

It was impossible to criticise Captain .Kendall for an "unseamanlike act" in stopping his siiip, as this action wua simply a proper measure of precaution. The Commission held that the porting of the Storstad's helm was not done to counteract the effect of the current of the river St. 'Lawrence, and t/hat Chief Officer Tuftness was negligent in not calling the captain when the fog arose.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SAFETY. [ LOOSE HAFTS SUGGESTED. Received 12, 5.5 p.m. , Ottawa, July, D. I Tuftness, continued the judgment,wa 1 wrong in thinking that there was no danger, and ought to have called hia captain as ordered. It was negligence on his part to alter the course on his own responsibility.. The disaster was not attributable to any defect in the St. Lawrence course.

!The Commission recommends closing the water-tight doors whenever praotieable during fogs; that all water-tight doors and portholes below , the waterline ought to be closed at sunset and remain closed until sunrise; that rafts ought to be placed on the decks 60 that they will float automatically if the ship sinks.

Lord Mersey pointed out that the Commission had had much difficulty in deciding wfhether the Storstad and the Empress of Ireland approached red light to red light, or green to green, i The stories 'conflicted on this important point. However, they had finally agreed that the Empress of Ireland's officers had told the truth. There were other events which had enabled the commission to fix with approximate accuracy the actual approach of both.