VESTRIS WRECK

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 August 1929, Page 5

VESTRIS WRECK

REPORT OF INQUIRY. (Australian Press Association.) (By Cable-e-Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received August 1, 11.30 a.m.) «. LONDON, July 31. The most protracted marine inquiry in British history culminated in a lengthy report on the Vestris disaster, in which Commissioner’ Aspinal expresses' the opinion that one of the chief contributory causes to the sinking was overloading. Some blame must be attached to Woods, the owners’ registered manager. David Cook, representing the New York agents, who had not taken proper steps to prevent overloading, was ordered to pay £5OO costs. Mr Wheeler, marine superintendent, was blameworthy in a still lesser degree, and Heasley, assistant superintendent, was blameworthy in a still lesser degree. Commissioner Aspinal found Cook, Wheeler, and Heasley guilty of wrongful default, which contributed to the vessel’s loss. The captain should have sent out the S.O.S. six hours earlier. His action regarding the. boats was open to criticism. “The Vestris was not in a safe condition on leaving Hoboken. She was unfit to encounter sea perils.” The reason why more boats had not left the ship was probably that the disaster came before expected. There was no lack of order or discipline among the crew, and there was no fault to find with the ship’s equipment.

The Court recommended that tire Board of Trade rules applying to emi-" grant ships should be extended to all foreign going passenger ships, and Consuls should observe the draughts of British ships leaving foreign ports, and report to the Board of Trade.