SEA DISASTER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 204, 28 August 1937, Page 9

SEA DISASTER.

OFF JAVA COAST.

Scuttle Ports Left Open Were

Cause of Tragedy.

CHIEF HATE SUSPENDED. SINGAPORE, August 24. Open scuttle ports which allowed sea water to enter were solely responsible for the disaster last October to the 2600-ton K.P.M. steamer, Van do Wijcfc, which capsized and sank off the Java coast with the loss of 55 lives. That was the finding of the Council of Shipping at Batavia. The council found that the trouble was due to the negligence of the first officer, H. J. N. Hermse, who had ordered the scuttle ports to be opened. He was suspended from service as captain or officer of any Dutch East Indies vessel for three months. In fixing the penalty, which can be a maximum of two years, the council took into consideration the chief officer's past service and the fact that, althouph they had been gazetted in 1935, the shipping regulations regarding scuttle ports were not known to the chief officer, and neither the shipping officer nor the captain had told the crew anything about the prohibition. Xo disciplinary action was taken in regard to the master of the ship. Captain B. C. Akkerman, as the scuttle ports had been opened and left open without his order, knowledge or consent. Forgot About Them. Recounting the circumstances of the disaster, the president of the council said that the chief officer, for the sake of ventilation, ordered the opening of two scuttle ports. At Sourabaya more cargo was taken on, giving the vessel deeper draught, and the scuttle ports were left open. The chief officer had intended to have them closed, but eventually he forgot about it. After leading Sourabaya 6ea water entered through the scuttle ports, and 3 J hours after leaving the port the fourth officer noticed a list of six degrees to starboard. ' An S.O.S. was broadcast, orders were •riven to rouse passengers and crew and to lower the lifeboats. Soon the list increased so greatly that it was impossible to lower the boats.