HC Deb 14 July 1887 vol 317 cc767-9
MR. CHANNING (Northampton, E.)

asked the Secretary to the Board of Trade, Whether the Board have received and considered the findings and evidence of the inquiry held at New York by the British Consul, in the case of the collision between the Britannic and the Celtic; and, whether the Board of Trade will consider the advisability of farther amending the Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea, and especially of modifying Article 19, by which the use of distinctive blasts on the steam-whistle, to indicate the course of the vessel, is left optional, and of making more definite and stringent the Regulation as to the speed of steamships in a fog generally, and when the whistles of other vessels are heard?

THE SECRETARY (Baron HENRY DE WORMS) (Liverpool, East Toxteth)

The Board of Trade have received the Report and Evidence referred to, and as a result of their consideration have issued a cautionary notice pointing out as follows:— With reference to the recent collision between the steamships Britannic and Celtic, the Board of Trade desire to call the attention of shipowners and shipmasters to the wording of Article 19 of the Regulations for preventing collisions at sea—namely— Article 19.—In taking any course authorized or required by these Regulations, a steamship under way may indicate that course to any other ship which she has in sight, by the following signals on her steam whistle—namely One short blast to mean 'I am directing my course to starboard.' Two short blasts to mean 'I am directing my course to port.' Three short blasts to mean 'I am going full speed astern.' The use of these signals is optional; but if they are used the course of the ship must be in accordance with the signal made. By which it will be seen that these signals were never intended to be used during fog, but only in cases in which a steamship has another vessel in sight. This case shows the great imprudence and danger of altering the course of a vessel to avoid another vessel which is not in sight, and whose position it is impossible correctly to determine. HENRY G. CALCRAFT, Secretary. THOMAS GRAY, Assistant Secretary. Board of Trade, Marine Department, July, 1887. Article 19 refers to optional sound signals, which may be made by one steamship to another ship which is in sight, and does not apply to signals in fog, unless the vessels are in sight of one another. As regards the speed of steamships in fog, the existing Article is as follows:— Every ship, whether a sailing ship or steamship, shall, in a fog, mist, or falling snow, go at a moderate speed. I am advised that the Rule which requires vessels to go at a moderate speed in fogs is sufficient if obeyed; and if the master of a vessel on hearing a signal from another vessel not in sight immediately gets the way off his vessel and does not alter his course. I am advised, further, that it would add to the dangers of navigation if any additions are made to the existing Rules, which would have the effect of leading masters of ships, on hearing signals from another ship in a fog, to alter their course before they can know the position as well as the course steered by the other vessel.