37°38′N 70°23′W / 37.633°N 70.383°W / 37.633; -70.383

The Vestris
Postcard of SS Vestris
History
United Kingdom
NameVestris
OwnerLamport & Holt (holding company Liverpool, Brazil and River Plate Steam Navigation Company)
BuilderWorkman Clarke & Co. Ltd., Belfast, Ireland
Launched16 May 1912
Maiden voyage19 September 1912 from Liverpool to the River Plate. 26 October 1912 First sailing to New York
FateSunk, 12 November 1928
NotesFinal voyage from Hoboken, New Jersey sailing from New York to Barbados and South American ports 10 November 1928 - 12 November 1928
General characteristics
Tonnage10,494 tons gross and 6,622 tons net
Length496 feet
Beam60 feet 6 inches
DraftThe salt water draft in 1912 by Lloyds, 26 feet 9¼ inches for summer, and 26 feet 3¼ inches for winter. Salt water draft on on her final voyage was found to have been 26 feet 11½ inches[1]
PropulsionTwin Screw, 2 x 4 Cylinder Quadruple Expansion, 614 NHP, producing 8,000 IHP.
Speed15 knots
CapacityPassengers: 280 First Class, 130 Second Class, 200 Third Class
Crew250
NotesMixed Passenger and Cargo

The SS Vestris was a steamship, built in 1912. She was owned by Lamport & Holt and used in their New York to River Plate service. She is best known for her sinking, with a loss of over 100 lives.

The Vestris disaster occurred on 12 November 1928 when the Vestris developed a severe starboard list, was abandoned, and sank approximately 200 miles off Hampton Roads, Virginia. Estimates of the death toll vary from between 110-127.[1][2][3][4] Time magazine and the New York Times reported that from the complement of 128 passengers and 198 crew on board, 111 people lost their lives.[5] [6]

The sinking of the Vestris is notable for the loss of life, particularly of women and children, after the vessel was abandoned. The sinking attracted significant press coverage at the time.[5][7][8] It has been stated that the sinking and subsequent inquiries had an impact on the second International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) 1929 .[9]

History

The Vestris was built by Workman Clarke & Co. Ltd. of Belfast, Ireland, in 1912. She was the third of a class of three vessels built by Workman Clarke, the others being the Vandyck and Vauban. These vessels were built for the New York to River Plate service. The Vestris was launched 16 May 1912, and made her maiden voyage on 19 September 1912 from Liverpool to River Plate.[citation needed]

During World War I, the Vestris was chartered as a military transport to cross the Atlantic Ocean from the United States to France. While on this service she was narrowly missed by a torpedo in the English Channel. [2] [10] In 1919, the Vestris was chartered to Cunard Line and operated six circular services; Buenos Aires - Liverpool - New York - Buenos Aires.[citation needed]

In September 1919 the Vestris, carrying 550, suffered fire damage from a fire in her coal bunkers. The crew battled unsuccessfully to extinguish the flames for four days before either the HMS Dartmouth [3] [11] or HMS Yarmouth [12] escorted the ship to Saint Lucia in the West Indies. Several days later the fire was extinguished.[12] [13]

In 1922 the Vestris was briefly chartered to Royal Mail.[citation needed] She Vestris sank 12 November 1928.

Sinking

Vestris listing to port so badly that part of the upper deck was awash
Vestris listing to port so badly that part of the upper deck was awash

Vestris left New York bound for the River Plate on 10 November 1928 with 325 passengers and crew. A day after leaving New York the Vestris ran into a severe storm and developed a starboard list. The following day, the list worsened as cargo and coal bunkers shifted and the ship took on water through multiple leaks.[2]

On November 12, at 9:56am, an SOS was sent out giving her position as Lat. 37° 35' N. and Long. 71° 81' [sic] W., which was incorrect by approximately 37 miles.[1] At 11:04am the SOS was repeated.[citation needed]

Between 11am and noon, while the ship was off Norfolk, Virginia, the order was given to man lifeboats and the ship was abandoned. Two hours later, at 2pm, the Vestris sank at Lat. 37° 38' N, Long. 70° 23' W.[citation needed] The rescue vessels arriving on the scene, late in the evening of 12 November and early in the morning of 13 November, were the steamships American Shipper, Myriam, Berlin and the USS Wyoming.[1][14]

Death Toll

While estimates of the dead vary between 110-127. Time magazine and the New York Times reported the following death toll:[5] [6]

None of the 13 children and only eight of the 33 women aboard the ship survived. The Captain of the Vestris, William J. Carey, went down with his ship. 22 bodies were recovered by rescue vessels.

Aftermath

Press reports after the sinking were critical of the crew and management of the Vestris. In the wake of the disaster Lamport and Holt experienced a dramatic drop in bookings for the company’s other liners and their service to South American ceased at the end of 1929.

Many inquires and investigations were held into the sinking of the Vestris.[5] Criticism was made of:

Lawsuits were bought after the sinking on behalf of 600 claimants totaling $5,000,000.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Vestris - Decision on the Merits United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, VESTRIS - DECISION ON THE MERITS, May 24, 1932
  2. ^ a b c The Vestris Disaster. Blue Star on the Web, The History of Blue Star Line and Associated Companies.
  3. ^ a b Lamport & Holts' S.S. "Vestris"
  4. ^ Disaster at Sea: SS Vestris
  5. ^ a b c d Catastrophe: Vestris. Time Magazine, Monday, Nov. 26, 1928
  6. ^ a b Death Toll is now 111New York Times, November 16, 1928, Page 1
  7. ^ a b Vestris Disaster Company's Liability U.S Courts Ruling. New Zealand, Wellington Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 69, 18 September 1931, Page 7
  8. ^ Vestris Inquiry - Further evidence wireless messages unsolved mystery New Zealand, Wellington Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 116, 20 November 1928, Page 11.
  9. ^ Vestris Disaster impact on International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) 1929 Ocean Transportation By Carl E. McDowell, Helen M. Gibbs, Page 431
  10. ^ Faulty Coal Port Blamed In Vestris Disaster By James Donahue
  11. ^ Lamport and Holt Line
  12. ^ a b Liner afire 4 days with 550 aboard New York Times, 16 September 1919
  13. ^ Fire on Liner put out New York Times, 23 September 1919
  14. ^ MY GOD, THE BOAT IS LEAVING US Gare Maritime account of Lifeboat Number Eight and the Vestris.
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