Captain Allen’s response was in answer to a direct question from lead counsel, Cheryl Bethell.
He said the information given was that no log book was available.
He said however, that the Department did receive a ship’s log and an engineer’s log from the United Star.
Captain Allens also revealed that when the Sea Hauler left New Providence on Friday, Aug. 1, enroute to Cat Island, it left with 196 persons onboard, an unapproved number of passengers from the Port Authority.
Captain Allens said according to procedures, the vessel should not have been allowed to leave the dock after exceeding the approved figure of 150 persons.
He said in a letter dated June 10, 2003, the Sea Hauler’s captain, Allan Russell, had requested permission to carry out excursions to Cat Island on three dates – July 28 for 100 passengers, July 30 for 100 passengers and Aug. 1 for 200 passengers.
The witness said the first two dates were approved for 100 passengers, but a request for 200 passengers to be ferried to Cat Island on Aug. 1, was reduced to 150 persons, which should have included the crew and committee members.
But, he said information reaching him stated that the additional 46 persons included the crew and organisers.
“The explanation was that the number of passengers were 150 and the additional persons were crew, the organisers and their families made up the difference,” Captain Allens said.
He explained that this was the reason why the police was not called, as is normally the case in circumstances where there is an overcrowding of passengers.
Captain Allens said prior to the excursion leaving the capital, an inspection of the vessel was conducted on June 17, (2003) to ensure that all the necessary requirements were in place and to ensure that the vessel had the required life saving equipment onboard and they were in good working condition.
When questioned about the hydraulic crane onboard the Sea Hauler, which fell and crushed four persons to death, Captain Allens said according to his information the crane was in a cradle, in and where the equipment was secured.
The hydraulic crane is primarily used for lifting cargo on and off the vessel.
Captain Allens also recapped the United Star’s movement from July 30 to Aug. 2. There were questions about whether the vessels crew members had proper rest periods given the continuous movement and whether there was another licensed person onboard to relieve the captain if he required rest.
It was revealed however, that only one licensed individual was onboard during the time of the collision.
But, United Star attorney Charles Mackay rebutted implications that fatigue may have been a factor in the Aug. 2 boating collision between the United Star and Sea Hauler.
He pointed out that entries made within the United Star’s log book indicate that on Friday, Aug. 1 between 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. the vessel anchored at Little San Salvador to fish, not departing until 10 p.m. A time he considered to be a rest period.
Ian Ford, one of two persons assigned to take a count of the passengers boarding the Sea Hauler on Aug. 1, had no idea how many persons were authorised to be on the vessel.
“At the time I had no idea how many persons should have been on the boat,” Mr. Ford, a tug engineer, and an employee of the Port Department for 23 years, told the Commission yesterday.
Mr. Ford and co-worker Anthony Williams, were assigned to carry out the duty. Mr. Ford said he had a count of 196 passengers.
However, he said it was only at the end of the counting process, when the ship had already left the port he learned that Mr. Williams had only counted 150 persons.
Mr. Ford told the Commission he did not see it as a problem for the Sea Hauler to carry 196 passengers as it usually carries 200 passengers on excursions.
The Commission was convened to find out what were the events surrounding the collision of the MV Sea Hauler and United Star on Aug. 2, 2003; what were the circumstances surrounding the collapse of the hydraulic crane onboard the MV Sea Hauler; what were the circumstances surrounding the deaths of 14-year-old Lynden Riley, Livingston Seymour, 38, and sisters Brenda Smith-Ellis, 40, and Brennel Smith-Leslie, 29.
Over 25 individuals were also injured in the boating accident.
The Sea Hauler is insured for $400,000, while the United Star is insured for $1.6 million..
By Keva Lightbourne, The Nassau Guardian
