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Archiver > Mariners > 2004-10 > 1096830301


From: "JOHN STEVENSON" <>
Subject: Re: [Mar] Re : Reasons for BoT Inquiries
Date: Sun, 3 Oct 2004 20:05:01 +0100
References: <415FCB5D.2020709@yachtingrid.demon.co.uk>


>
> I have an interest in this subject too. There is no logic apparent to
> me about why inquiries were held on certain losses and not others. I
> will
> send a few examples in a separate email, but it seems to me that
> inquiries were sometimes held on incidents that seemed "run of the
> mill" and no different from numerous other similar losses which were
> not investigated.

Good evening Tim,
Nice to hear from you.
I am very interested in your note , lot of food for thought !!
As you know I carry out maritime research work and am continually being
asked for a "copy of the BOT enquiry".
Southampton Library provide a service second to none re wrecks/BOT enquires
.
However, on occasions there has been no enquiry and I sometimes have
difficulty in convincing people that none took place , hence Chris Woods and
I had a "private" discussion on 19th C enquiry's.
Not being able to come up with answers we then decided to ask the LISTERS
help.
Nigel Hughes has a contact in "high places" and I am hoping he is coming up
with some background info !!
Jeff C has just posted a reply which is very interesting and basically
confirms what I have always thought - no hard and fast rule as to the
reasons for holding an enquiry pre 1900.
Your mention of the Merchant Shipping Acts and Amendments of course must be
correct as there has to be the "written word" as to the legality of
convening such an enquiry.
The outcome of any investigation was often crucial to a seaman's career and
had to be conducted in a fair and objective way.
Am downloading your replies to see if a thread runs through them.
Thanks to you all for your interest and help - much appreciated.

Regards.
John.

John D.Stevenson,
Showery, SW F3, 13C
Edinburgh.



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