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THE CHINA MAIL SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 1959,
The most controversial sea drama of our time.......
Two floating hotels sweep on
to
disaster
For
Across the wide, calm ocean salted the two luxury liners, their officers and crews, with every modern nid to navigation at their disposal, all was routine. In the lounges, bars and cabina 1,600 passengers enjoyed the good life only to be found aboard a ship dedicated to pleasurable living. How could they know that Destiny was at the helm, Inexorably guiding them on a
Collision Course? }
CAPTAIN Piero Calamai sensed fog in the air, and straightaway made for the bridge of his ship, the Italian luxury liner Andrea Doria. The captain, a tall, well-built man whose swarthy, suntanned face was dominated by an aquiline nose, was credited by his crew with a sixth sense by which he could smell fog on the horizon before it could become evident to the man on watch.
He always seemed to arrive on the bridge just before the lookout gave the news which would. have brought him there
anyway.
Su 11 was on this sunny afternoon of July 25, 1950, when his ship, the Onest in the Italian merchant navy. wag nearing New York on the last stage of her Atlantic crossing, with 1,134 passengers aboard.
Delicate
As he stood on one of the bridge wings of his ship.Calamal
unmistakable signs
Buw
10%
on the
at
horizon
posed Once,
of ahead.
#
And that
delicate problem.
Because of a storm two nights
before, the Dória was about
one
by ALVIN MOSCOW
The author spent two years on research to produce this report. which is both an authoritative documentary and a story of com- pelling human interest.
late arrivals cost both money and prestige.
The law about navigation in fog la simple enough (except for those
who have to apply it). Rule 10 of the Regulations for
Collisions at Preventing
Sen Suys:-
years old, was a show ship. To many she was the most beauti- Her owners, in tot ship afloat, heving this ship built to mark the rebirth of the Italian mer- marine afler the war, canill had been determined that she should be a symbol of Italy's
art, and design,
"Every vessel shail, in fog, hatchless heritage, of beauty, public raons, and' there were 31
show.
mist, falling
heavy rainstorms or any other con- dition restricting vlalbilly go at a moderate speed, having careful regard to the existing circumstances and conditions,
nean a speed
Superlative
In size, her 20,000 tons did compete with the glants of
The ship's for whistle, operated by compressed air, wag Bicked on and began to boom warnings at 100-second Intervals through, the fog, In
Public
artists rooms. Ilallin had created within the thip a small art world in murals and
of race woods, panels ceramics, mirrors, mosaics, and
crystals.
The key words, a moderate the British and American lines.
Four artist-designers had been been interpreted but there was something special
about Her, something that commissioned eacli to design his marked the Andrea Dorio apart idea of a superialive luxury anong ships of the world. The suite consisting of a bedroom, Rallan Line tried to express sitting room, powder room, thir opartness of their erea- baggage-room, and bath. tion-
hour behind schedule, speed" have iler
engines, on full speed in the courts to head, were pounding out their at which a vessel can come to 35,000 horse power, pushing the dead stop in half the distance vas: ship, 697 feet long and of the existing visibility.
11. decks high, through the ocean at her full cruising speed
of 23 knots.
Depending on the density of the fog, Captain Calamal knew
High stakes
DRAWING SY
JONM WORKLEY
Carston lunged at the engine telegraph... tha ships drew closer and closer.
The While most ships asaigned that ho was to be summoned at two officers to the bridge, so any time of day or night in the that one could remain lookout ovont of fog or any other while the other tended to radar potentially dangerous event. or navigational aids in the
As soon as the captain left. chartroom, The
determine Stockholm's Carstens decided to owners believed one hard-work- the position of the ship. The captain's
farewell ing officer could discharge the
He switched on the radio dinner and ball had been held necessary duties with no undua direction andor, picking up the the previous evening. No strain.
radio beacon algnal Arst from parties or formal dress were So there was nothing unusual Nantucket Lightship and then scheduled for the final night in the, young third officer, the radip beacon from Blok
It was meant to be Johan-Ernst Carstens-Johansen Island, which the
Stockholm a quiet, relaxed evening for Carstens to his young fellow lind passed three hours previ- the passengern.
ufflers-taking sole responsi- ously. bility for the watch from 8 p.m. to midnight.
generally were oblivious. turn of weather, sunt those who the hud been lounging near The 12 watertight doors, three swimming pools back inter-connecting the ship's it into their coblas for the final
were day's packing. watertight compartments closed by the control panel on the bridge. And the lookout down from the was ordered crow's-nest to stand his watch on the peak of the ship's bow. There, he was expected to sight The entire ship was at anything ahead of the ship conditioned. Bach of the before it was seen by the look- three. clames had Its own cuts and officers on the bridge. cinema theatre, Each had its own swimming-pool- and· sur- rounding recreational Area. Each pool was in a country- club' bolting of tables. umbrellas, pool bars, and
Stan
"For the period of her voyage a whip must be a whole way af She life for her passengers, But to apply that literally must provide them with an that the law required him to might mean lying hulted, a few experience that will somehow be slow down. He knew equally hours' steaming from port, for a different and better than a com- well that any reduction in day, two days, or a week, losing parable experience they could anywhere else, This speed would ineun a further money all the time and incur delay in arriving in New York, ring the wrath of the owners experience must be one they will
white-walsteosled wallers. Anyone could enjoy while they have it...and where he was due to bring the and passengers, Doria Into.. harbour at
Due they will never forget as six take that safety-first course; it o'clock the following morning. the skilful cuplain who brings long as they ve....
"The Andrea Doria
Was Although the Italian Line, 1, ship into part safely and on like
designed as a diving testament all shipping companies, time voyage after voyalje. nover istructs
For Colamol the stakes both in to the importance of beauty in A captain TU break the low to arrive on motwy and prestige were the everyday world... schedule,
Captain Calumai especially high. The Andrea Works of art were every- knew,
us du all captains, that Doria, only three and a hall where, particularly In
Could it be Roundworms?
Microscopic roundworm eggs are everywhere. In vegetables, fruit, water. Even in the best ordered families there is always the danger of infection. And
· children are most liable to attack. They don't realise the
dangers in uncooked foods and contaminsted water.
Happily, there's a simple, proved romody
'ANTEPAR
'ANTERAR'
TRADE MARK
Qui dose of "Antepar" get rid of roundworms in a day, Pleasant-lasting ANTEPAR should be taken; si bedtime, · · Then roundworms are expelled the next day easily, and naturally!"ANTIPAR” is always.quick, sure, safe. It causes no pain or sickness. Not even with small children.
Make 'ANTIPAR' a routlue family habit. Give everyona.- one dose every three months, And be sure your family sig always free from roundworms!
'ANTEPAR' the one-dose, one-day roundworm remedy
Now conte legs without duty,
JOHN D. HUTCHISON & COULTD. (PHARMACEUTICAL DEPTI. “UNION, BUILDING, HONG KONG^'...
Trade Raqul bey Crown Saly Aanais šo HONG KONG [w
BURROUGHS WELLCOME & CO. mhaslicams Foundation Lot) - LONDON
the
That was the ship. under the command of Piuro Cajumal; a ship dedicated to good living. Catamal, a fine seaman liked by all his crew, brought into for on that summer afternoon.
That was the ship which
They knew
At first the fog was Light and patchy, but Captain Calamal zensed from his vast experience
expected,
Of the two radar sele on the
Reduced
at sea.
}
wore on.
Confidence
He drew Jincs on the ghart to represent the Stockholm's barr- go on these two pointa, Where the tinos intersected was the And at 10.06 ke ship's position, found he was two and a half miles off the course set by the captain.
On the bridge of the ship all /wisqulet but not quite relaxed. The afternoon fou patches grew closer and thicker as the day Captain Calumal Nor
did
Calamai fully expected to spend Caplain
the neglect to telephone down to whole night on watch, guiding
Carstens was 26, a heavy-set, Wo're in his beloved ship through the and handsome six-footer. the engine room.
His broad shoulders and That was not much at that fag." was all he had to say. fog to Now York.
Inrrel-shaped chest were offset dinge of the journey.. Carstens The engineers knew what to do.
Directly ahead beyond the by a boyish face with a rosy decided to re-check the position There are two ways to reduce fog lay the the speed of a ship. One could ship, anchored 10 miles off the expression of youthful candour, any
Nantucket light pink hue, smooth texture and in half an hour before taking correctivo action. Ho reduce the number of nozzles Americon coast, marking the His dark chestnut hair, wavy checked the do, tables, which the ситерія feeding steam from the boilers gateway for Atlantic shipping and long, came down in a sharp convinced him Into the turbines. Or,
the Stockholm one to und from the United States. widow's peak to his broad, were pushing could reduce the steam pressure For inward-bound shipping it unwrinkled brow, He had the northwards. In the ballers.
A: represented the first sighting of appearance of a man without o
10.30 Carstons Americo and a sign that the worry in the world.
check. another similar last lap of the Journey had The day of departure is al- Stockholm was two and three- begun.
ways a long, hard day for the quarter miles off course, officers of A passenger ship. Carstens walked back to the Carstens, up since 0 a.m., had wheelhouse, supervised the securing of passengers' curs abbard.
But now he felt cleansed of
hearty
The latter was the procee on the Andrea Doria, It was cheaper to reduce steam près- sure and burn less fuci, "
clared turbine nozzles,
up
Departure
Had
a
Three seamen constituted his watch. They divided the four.
mado The
"Steer 89," he told the helms- man Johansson,
helm
Concerned
of this part of the Atlantic that although cutting steam pressure reduced the power and the fog would grow thicker. Ho
manoeuvrability of The ship gave the order that fog pre- in event of emergency, for it
A few minutes later s Danish cautions bo taken, and his takes far longer
For another ship, a glistening the city's humid mugginess. He cosman named Peter Larsen lo build
the dinner. took over
from ofcors knew exactly what was boller pressure than to open all-whijo vessel which, resembled bad
a long, sleak pleasure yocht followed by a steam bathi, and Johansson. It was his first wyje more than a linor carrying 634 shower and an hour's rest in with the Stockholm, though he
sight. YEA bridge, the one to the right of The enging telegraphs on the passengers on Transatlantie his cabin before. coming up for had had
duty.
training. the helm was switched on to bridge and in the engine room schedule to Scandinavia, the the 20-mile range, and one of retrained at FULL SPEED Nantucket Lightship represented the two officers of the watch AHEAD. The Doria was making the point of departure from the posted himself a the radar 21,8 knols through the sea and United States,
Beur watch, Into equal 60-minute screen as a, jookout for any ship fog, instead of 29 kpole.
periods, taking turns as halms- or object within. 20. mifas of
This ship. the Of the precautions taken and American liner Stockholm, was and stand-by, lookout. A feeling steer the ship, well enough when Swedlib man, lookout in the crow's-nest, Carstens thought Larsen could the Andrea Doria.
no! taken, the passengers heading due
east towards the of confidence and well-being ho kept, his, mind, an, the fab, Nantucket Lightship 13 the pervaded the young officer us be. But the. Danish segman seemed Andrea Doria was approaching went through his routine gutles, to have an insatiable curiosity it from the opposite direction. At about nine o'clock in the about what wàs going on about evening the Stoqkholm's master, him, and be allowed his attep- For the Stockholm, whose Captain H. Gunnar Nordgaon,, tion, to wander, from, the compass white was broken only by a eams on, the bridge for aỷ look he was, supposed to watch. single yellow funpol, mat, and round..
Larson allowed the Blackholm kingposts, it was the first day. out of New Yorit,
Contain, Nordansan, who, had; at times. 19 yaw, two, thren, and commanded at ong timme or even four degrees to either siz another avery ong. of the, of the course Swedish-American, Line shipu, Aware of this trait of his was a strict disciplinarian, who helmaman, Carmies" sought to spared few wards in casual keep, a dght réin, upon) timp. conversatiop with either his Bock time he walked threillja The Swedish ship Just three filem of crow Carstens, the wheelhouse, which__was mheaca shore of 39. feet from engrossed in his duties, was every three to five minutes. her barely raid boy to her unware of the captain's ursival Carstens pointedly stoppast to at Fifty-seventh Street in New storioar, wing of the bridge, round stern, had left her plan uni ha. policed him pacing the look at the compass by which York at 11:51 that morning.
CURIOUS CHARACTERS: No. 4
The
Earl's dogs wore boots
THERE was never anything quite like the 19th century Paris household of the Reverend Francis Egerton, Earl of Bridgewater or, for that matter, anyone quite like the Earl,
Like many eccentrics, the was banished from, the table, Earl had plenty of money to dressed in servant's Every and indulge his whim. He had an confined to another room. army of servorite and an enor- mous mansion.
When the. Earl borrowed
ர
Unexcelled
First trip
Nordensona
Larson, was, steuring.
Carstens was still acutely end- The day had been hot, muguy, ..
cerned about tho Combis and overcast In New York, and
drifing of the Stockholm off not much better out at sea. A haze blurred, the rays of the
course. Ho decided on a third men grown check.. · 'sumber, sun, yet there was no portly but not soft with age, It was actually, made at 10.40, Stockholm salted walked with red down, back if ond computes the, ship's speed fog, as the
and forth along the narrow and distance, from, tha, pupulou But the Earl's peculiarities away from New York,
The accommodation for her passageway on the oft part of fix, but Carstens noted ine, time were not confined to dogs, For book, he returned it with cla- instance, he bought a new pair passengers could not match the the bridge wing. He responded an 11 p,mi, Why he did, this ho borate ceremony. The book of boots every der.. Discarded itsury, of the Andrea Doris. to Carstens greeting and then could never explain. Was placed on a pile of purple, pairs were arranged carefully in J. H builders, and designers continued bils pocing.
Inaccuracy was to, plaque, himn cushions, carried to a special rawa, and the Earl used them as concentrated on ocnitort. Her About ten o'clock, Captain in the months ahead at Ha conch and driven by a liveried; a calendar.
crew gavo ūņezgelledi service, Nordenson como into the wheel- could not know this at the Labe. coschmann to the lender.
The Swedish Line expected house and announced "ho was Nor could, ho formare, sweg 21 and received a full day of would be there if needed. He
going down to his coiln, and minutes into the nature
This time the check. shaund work from every member of told the third officer, "Call me that, despite the site the crew. The ships of the when you see Nantucket," change of two, degruta made 45 lina word, among the very few: Neither man could remember 10.30, the Stockholm, was now which Rasaned only one officer, the abort, casual conversation three miles off course. The time to men watch,
afterwards, Whether the cap, was causing her to drift further. inin had-sajd anything about and; further to the north, the powelġlifte of fog or not, - Candwik stande, back into the naliber man could recall, what hous, and, ordered anyther But Carstens hung of Captain (79) demone, turn, Lampen data Nordenson's standing orders
Human friends. Boots were in, obsessien välk k Klin. He had special ones made )· Dinner at the Earl's estate for each of his dogs, and they' listinent, was a fantastic affair, never appeared on the streets of His dog and he had a great Paris without them. Later on number of them would be seat oven that was not good enough ed at a white-clothed”- “rable, for them, they travelled by draped with embrokiared nep- Carriage, with footmen in att kina and fed the choicest tit- fondass. |bils. Ilveried servants walled on;
them.
Whâm haqsind, the Eori), "not "I any dog behave violently, unnaturally,,· had, ng, friendT |or displayed undue gresit, de, friends to rosam "him
pas, beek, Collision: Couran, from which thle merion, ie, Manastod, will; DA PARENDRA JA