Page 56 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 23 - 26

The Witness: Practically 316 cubic feet they would come to. 23335. (The Commissioner.) Instead of 600? - Yes. 23336. How many people would they accommodate? - Thirty-one persons each. 23337. How many is it? - They would accommodate 820 people. That is boats under davits. 23338. And then add on the 3/4ths? - 1,432. 23339. How many people does that make altogether? - That would be 1,432 people. 23340. Now let me see whether I understand it properly. The boats that the “Titanic” carried were calculated to accommodate 1,178 persons. That is right, is it not? - Yes. 23341. If you are right about your recollection, the boats that you suggested a vessel of that size should carry would have accommodated 1,432? - That is correct. The Commissioner: Is not that right? Mr. Scanlan: That is how I calculated it on the new data, my Lord. The Commissioner: I was making a very great mistake in my figures. Mr. Laing: If your Lordship allowed for dispensation for the bulkheads you get down to a figure below that for which we had accommodation. 23342. (The Commissioner.) Yes, that is right, is it not, Captain Young? The Witness: The figure you are alluding to? 23343. No, you heard what Mr. Laing said, that allowing for the dispensation that the “Titanic” would be entitled to under the Rule, because of the bulkheads, your recommendation for boat accommodation would be less than what the “Titanic” actually carried? - Precisely. The Commissioner: I have been occupying a great deal of time about something which appears to me now to be very immaterial. But I think perhaps, Mr. Scanlan, it would be better if we waited until tomorrow morning. We will rise now and then you can see the documents tomorrow. Mr. Scanlan: Yes, thank you, my Lord. (The Witness withdrew.) (Adjourned to tomorrow, at 10.30 o’clock.)