SOCOTRA WRECK.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17097, 21 February 1916, Page 6

SOCOTRA WRECK.

BOARD OF TRADE'S JUDGMENT. DUE TO MASTER'S NEGLECT. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. 5 LONDON, February 18.

The Board of Trade's judgment in the Socotra case says: " The disaster was due to the master's neglect to take adequate steps to ascertain and verify the position of the vessel, and not making allowances for tides and . currents, or intelligent use of sound- ■ ings. The captain, however,' has a good record and his certificate will be suspended for six months.'*' (A message on February 16 said:— The evidence at the Board of Trade inquiry into the loss of the liner Socotra showed that the captain believed the vessel was not near the French coast and mistook a light on the French coast for Beachy Head. The captain attributed the error to a strong southerly inset.)