Page 50 - Greystones Archaeological Historical Society

THE ACCIDENT THAT TIME FORGOT

with the Ramp berth at our stern. Both engines were going
full speed ahead at the time of the incident.

Superficial damage was caused to the shell plating and
superstructure about the waterline at stern of the vessel.
Cloudy clear weather with Fresh to Strong WSW wind when
berthing.’

Chief Officer Shirley Duckels who was assisting Captain J.M.
Ferguson, Master, with the berthing, jointly signed this entry.

th
Incident 3: 25 November 1951
The third incident clearly showed how vulnerable this vessel
was to the entry of seawater onto the car deck and should have
been taken as a clear warning that the potential existed for a
serious mishap. On that day she was under the command of
Acting-Captain Duckels with John Hey as acting Chief Officer,
for the Stranraer – Larne crossing.

As the vessel neared Larne, a strong wind blew up and
developed into one of hurricane force just as she began to turn
around to begin the stern first entry to Larne. The vessel failed
to respond and Acting-Captain Duckels then tried to take her into
the wind first to bring her round to enter Larne stern first but as
the stern faced into the sea and wind, sea water flooded the car
deck resulting in the vessel developing a 10 degree list to
starboard. Acting-Captain Duckels then opted to return to
Stranraer as berthing at Larne was now impossible due to the
prevailing weather conditions

Acting-Chief Officer Hey was sent down to investigate the
extent of the flooding on the car deck and on arrival discovered
that the starboard side was flooded to a depth of 3 feet reducing
to between 1½ and 2 feet amidships, consisting of between 75

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