Crew Member’s Mistake Caused Canberra Fire

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30038, 24 January 1963, Page 7

Crew Member’s Mistake Caused Canberra Fire

(ti.Z J’.A.-Reuter—Copi/riflht)

LONDON, January 22. The fire that disabled the 45,®M-ton P. and 0.Orient liner, Canberra, en rente to Australia on January 4, was caused by one of the ship’s engine-room staff, an official company report stated today. The report was released in London by the managing director of the P. and OOrieot Line (Mr R. M. Thwaites). It said the mistake occurred when the member at the staff was trying to deal with an off-load generator. “Believing (mistakenly) that some severe damage might re-

suit if it continued to run he forcibly broke the contact in conditions which made this action not only contrary to recognised practice but contrary to a warning notice posted on the spot,” the report said. Severe Arc ‘‘The result was an arc of great severity and a fire which continued to be fed electrically by the other two g. aerators,” it added. Mr Thwaites said that as it would take longer to repair the switchboard than had at first been thought, the company had cancelled the voyage to the Pacific coast of the United States, scheduled for April 10. The next voyage of the Canberra, he added, would be to Australia and back via the Suez Canal, starting on May 24. The Canberra docked in Belfast, Northern Ireland, last night after having been delayed two days by rough weather. The 50 passengers who remained on board disembarked and are to return to England by rail and sea.