Page 105 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 23 - 26

23920. If this were an awning deck vessel that would be D deck? - Yes. 23921. “But when the disc of vessels other than those of the awning deck type is placed higher than required by Table C all the bulkheads should extend watertight to the upper deck.” That would be the upper deck here? - The deck next below the shelter deck, deck D. Just read two lines on and you will get the Rule which guided us with regard to the ship. 23922. Very well. “In interpreting the above Rule, in the case of vessels of the shelter deck type, the deck next below the shelter deck may be regarded as the upper deck, and accordingly the collision bulkhead, as well as the other bulkheads, may terminate at the deck next below the shelter deck.” That would be which deck here? - D deck. 23923. And that is the Rule that should apply here? - Yes. 23924. Will you explain why, if that is so, the bulkheads in this case only came up to deck E? - Because when “the loadline disc of the vessel is placed at least as low as is required by Table C of the Freeboard Tables for awning deck vessels,” that is, the Table for awning deck vessels. This does not necessarily require to be an awning deck vessel if she has a freeboard equal to the Table C for awning deck vessels. 23925. When do you get that from? - It is here. 23926. I may have misunderstood, but I think you will find that is not so. “When the loadline disc of the vessel is placed at least as low as is required by Table C of the Freeboard Tables for awning deck vessels”? - There is no comma there; “Freeboard Tables for awning deck vessels” is a certain table. 23927. This is not an awning deck vessel? - No, I do not think she is. 23928. “The remaining bulkheads may terminate at the deck next below the upper deck”? - Yes. 23929. “But when the disc of vessels other than those of the awning deck type” - this is one of those vessels other than those? - Yes. 23930. “Is placed higher than required by Table C, all the bulkheads should extend watertight to the upper deck”? - Yes. Then it tells you next how to interpret it. 23931. “In interpreting the above Rule, in the case of vessels of the shelter deck type, the deck next below the shelter deck may be regarded as the upper deck” - Yes. 23932. “And accordingly the collision bulkhead, as well as the other bulkheads, may terminate at the deck next below the shelter deck”? - That is right. 23933. That is deck D? - Yes. 23934. If that is the Rule by which you were guided as Surveyor why were not they brought above deck E? - Because they took a freeboard which was slightly greater than Table C. 23935. Do you say this Rule was complied with? - Yes. 23936. Will you explain it, then, in your own way, because I fail to understand that answer in view of your two previous answers? - In measuring the freeboard down from the upper deck, if their freeboard exceeded that over Table C, it says that the bulkheads may terminate at the deck next below the upper deck. She had that freeboard. They took it specially for that purpose. 23937. That brings you to deck D? - The deck next below the upper deck is deck E. 23938. Then I have misunderstood your answer. I understood you to say several times over that was deck D? - Yes, the upper deck is deck D, I take it. 23939. Do you mind making it perfectly clear, because here comes a very important question as to the carrying out of the duties by the Marine Department of the Board of Trade and its Surveyors. Here you say you have a Rule which guides you, and your answers are not quite consistent. Now, will you show here on this model exactly what are the decks in this vessel? - This is the shelter deck. (Pointing.) 23940. That is deck what on this vessel? - C. The deck next below this one is the upper deck; that is deck D. The collision bulkhead terminated at the upper deck in accordance with that Rule. Then she had a freeboard measured from that deck down, which was in excess of table C.