WRECK OF THE VESTRIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20323, 2 August 1929, Page 13

WRECK OF THE VESTRIS.

MARINE COURT'S REPORT.

CHIEF CAUSE OVERLOADING.

TWO OFFICIALS TO PAY COSTS. PRECAUTIONS NOT OBSERVED. Australian PreßS Association—United Service LONDON. July 31 Mr. Butler Aspinall, K.C., Wreck Commissioner, has issued a lengthy report on tho wreck of the steamer Vestris, of the Lamport and Holt Lino. Tho vessel foundered 7,00 miles off Hampton Roads, Virginia, on November 12, 1928, when 112 lives were lost. Tlip report expresses the opinion that one of (ho chief causes which contributed to the sinking of tho steamer'was overloading. Some blame must he attached (o Mr. Woods, the owners' registered manager, and Mr. David Cook, representing tho Now York agents, who had not taken proper steps to" prevent overloading These two were ordered to pay £SOO costs. Mr. Wheeler, marine superintendent, was found blameworthy to a lesser degree, and Mr. lfoasley, assistant-super-intendent, blameworthy to a still lessor degree.

The commissioner found that Messrs. Cook. Wheelei and Ileasloy had been guilty of wrongful default, which contributed to the loss of the vessel The captain should have sent out an S.O.S. call six hours earlier than ho did. ITis action in regard to tho boats also was open to criticism. Vcssol Not in Safo Condition. Continuing, the report says: "The Vestris was not ir, a safe condition. When sho left Ilobokcn she was not fit to encounter perils at se-i The reason why moro boats had not left the ship was probably that the disaster happened bot'oro it was expected "There was no la<l- of order or discipline among the crow Wo have no fault to find with the ship's equipment." The Court recommends that tho Board of Trade's niles which apply to emigrant ships should tie extended to all foreign-going passenger ships Con suls should observe the draughts of British ships as they leave foreign ports and should report to the Board of Trade. Lifsboats Considered Seaworthy. A British olficial wireless message ssvs the Court found that among the causes of the loss of the ship were the tender conditions. These showed an insufficient margin of stability and reserve of buoyancy. Another cause was the heavy weather and the high wind, which caused the vessel to list to starboard.

1 The cargo and coal were properly loaded and distributed and were secured from shifting, but tho coal should not have been carried in the upper shoots. Half the doors on the upper deck were not weather-tight. The weather deck hatches were not battened down. Tarpaulins had been supplied, but were not available when they were required. The vessel had no freeboard as required. The lifeboats wero in a seaworthy condition, and the arrangements for manning and launching them were proper and efficient. Ho Order Given for Boat Stations. There was no satisfactory evidence that definite orders had been given to abandon the shin. The passengers and the crew did not go to pre-arranged places because no order for boat stations was given, in all probability owing to the list.

Other orders were given and the passengers and the crew wero diverted to other places. There was somo disorganisation owing to the passengers and tho crew going to beats other than those allotted to them.

Women and children were placed in tho port boats in a mistaken application of the traditional order "Women and children first."

The Board of Trade inquiry into the loss of the Vostris was opened on April 22. It was the most important shipping inquiry since that into the loss of the Titanic off Newfoundland in April, 1912, when 1635 lives were lost. Mr. Butler Aspinall, K.C., Wreck Commissioner, conducted the inquiry at the Institution of Civil Engineers, Westminster. lie had tho assistance as assessors of Vice-Admiral E. L. Booty, Engineer Lieutenant-Commander W. M. Fletcher, Major S. H. Uambling, Captain H. P. Leannont and Captain F. J. Thompson. The ox-Attorney General, Sir Thomas Inskip, K.C., with Mr. W. N. Raeburn, K.C., and Mr. L. F. C. Darhy, represented the board. Tho inquiry was directed mainly to three matters These were: — What was the cause or causes of tho inclusion of watef ? What caused the vessel to take a list which appears to have begun at an early stage in her voyage and increased with the increase of wind and sea? What led to (he very heavy loss of life which resulted ?