Page 55 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 19 - 22

increased? - Broadly speaking, yes. 20767. (The Commissioner.) Before you answer that question, tell me whether you have considered the matter? - In general terms, yes, my Lord. 20768. Very well, then you are able to express an opinion? - Yes. The Commissioner: Then answer the question. 20769. (Mr. Scanlan.) Just give my Lord your opinion then with regard to that? - It is possible to carry three boats in the manner that was indicated to us on the sketch prepared by Mr. Welin. Whether it is altogether a desirable arrangement or not, is the question we were discussing amongst ourselves at Belfast. 20770. (The Commissioner.) What conclusion did you arrive at, if any? - As far as my memory serves me, the conclusion we arrived at was that it was not one which we cared to recommend to the owners. 20771. Why not? - In our opinion, the number of boats was sufficient for the purposes for which they were most likely to be wanted. 20772. (Mr. Scanlan.) As some consideration was given by builders to the provision of additional boats and to the plan, I want to know why you did not give the owners, that is the White Star people, the benefit of your consideration and give them an opportunity of deciding? - A great many matters of technical detail are left by the owners, the White Star Line, to us as their experts for decision. 20773. Have you considered whether it is practicable to carry lifeboats on the poop? - Yes; it is practicable to carry them there. 20774. Have you provided lifeboats on the poops of some ships made at Messrs. Harland and Wolff’s? - Yes, I believe we have, for foreign owners. 20775. On these Welin davits? - No. 20776. (The Commissioner.) I should like to ask you with reference to that last question. Can you give me the name of a foreign ship for which you provided lifeboats to be placed upon the poop? - In the “Amerika,” I believe it was, for the Hamburg-Amerika Line. 20777. Did you ever build steamers for the Hamburg-Amerika Line? - Yes, a number. 20778. Did you build the “Amerika”? - We did. 20779. You can tell me something about that. Can you tell me what the size of the “Amerika” was, the tonnage? - I am quoting from memory, but I think it was 670 feet by 74 feet, and about 23,000 tons measurement. 20780. 23,000 tons? - About that. 20781. She was then a smaller boat than the “Titanic”? - About half the size. 20782. Can you give me any idea how many passengers and crew that boat was designed to carry? - I could give the figures, but I do not recollect them; I could readily get them. 20783. You would assist me if you will get those figures? - Very well, my Lord, I will arrange to have them here. 20784. Perhaps you can answer this question without those figures. What proportion did the lifeboat accommodation bear to the number to be carried in the ship, passengers and crew? - I would like to get the correct figures, but my impression is that the “Amerika” could carry about the same total number of passengers, or rather more than the “Titanic” could carry, and that she had somewhere about the same total capacity in lifeboats. 20785. Do you mean to say then that the accommodation on the “Amerika” was much more confined than it was on the “Titanic”? - It was. 20786. Although she was only about half the size of the “Titanic,” she was designed, you think, to carry about the same number of passengers? - The two ships were designed to carry about the same total of passengers. 20787. That is to say, the “Amerika,” being about half the size of the “Titanic,” was designed