§ 68. Mr. SHINWELLasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the court of inquiry into the sinking of the s.s. "Ranee" off the east coast of the Malay Peninsula reported in regard to the inadequate number of officers on this and similar vessels; whether the matter has been reported to his Department; and whether it is proposed to amend Section 92 of the Merchant Shipping Act so as to remedy the existing state of affairs?
§ Viscount WOLMERThe s.s. "Ranee" was sunk by collision with the Siamese s.s. "Boribat," and the court of inquiry found that the collision was due to the default of the master of the "Boribat." The court state that the "Ranee" had her full complement of officers, and the comments to which the hon. Member refers relate to the officering of the foreign vessel, not the British vessel.
§ Mr. SHINWELLIs it not the case that the full complement of officers is regulated by Section 92 of the Merchant Shipping Act, which provides that not more than two officers of a certain certificated capacity should be employed on vessels of this size, and have there not been very strong adverse comments with regard to this Section of the Merchant Shipping Act all along the China coast?
§ Viscount WOLMERWith regard to this particular ship, the court found that all the requirements of the law had been carried out.