LOSS OF LINER.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 September 1922, Page 5

LOSS OF LINER.

.WRECK OF; THE EGYPT, “LACK OF DISCIPLINE.” COURT SUSPENDS CAPTAIN. By Telegraph.—-Press Assn.—Cc-pyrlght. London, Sept. 4. The judgment in the inquiry into the loss of the Egypt stated that it was essential that the commander and all the officers should take part in boat drill. The system had failed, and the commander, chief officer and crew had failed in the court’s view. A great company like the Peninsular and Oriental would do well to take the lesson of the unhappy disaster to heart and set itself a higher standard of care and efficiency in the future. There seemed to have been a slackness and. lack of discipline which, when the hour of trial came, prevented a proper use being made of the boats. Dealing with the conduct of the Lascars, the Court said that some of the crew were seized with panic, but the Court did not think the non-Europeans treated, the passengers with violence. Possibly the non-European crew could have been kept in more effective control if the European crew had gone with alacrity to their allotted boats. It appeared to be a fact that if properly handled the Lascars were reliable servants. The apparatus for lowering the boats was in order at the time of the collision and more should have been got away. The lack of order and discipline, was attributable to the captain and officers giving no definite orders at the time of the collision, which largely contributed. to the loss of life. The Court recommended that the same protection as to safety- of life afforded on emigrant ships through the Board of Trade supervision and inspection should -be extended to all foreign-going passenger ships. The Court found no evidence showing that the passengers were instructed to put on life jackets. Prompt and proper measures were taken by the commander to avert the collision. The Egypt was at all times navigated with proper and Seamanlike care, having regard to the prevailing conditions. The Court found that the loss of 87 was mainly due to default on the part of the master and chief officer in failing to take proper measures to save life, failing to exercise authority to ensure good order and discipline at the time of the collision and failing to make the crew efficient. The loss of life was also due to the failure on the part of the owners, through their officials and servants, to take proper and effective measures to ensure compliance with the regulations and good discipline. The Court suspended the master for six months and severely censured the chief officer. After making every allowance the Court was driven to the conclusion that had the boats been properly handled great loss of life would have been averted. It was noticeable that in no case did the allotted officer and crew go to their ■proper boat.