British Wreck Commissioner's Inquiry
Report
Detailed Description
Pumping Arrangements
The general arrangement of piping was designed so that it was possible to pump from any flooded compartment by two independent systems of 10 in. mains having cross connections between them. These were controlled from above by rods and wheels led to the level of the bulkhead deck. By these it was possible to isolate any flooded space, together with any suctions in it. If any of these should happen accidentally to be left open, and consequently out of reach, it could be shut off from the main by the wheel on the bulkhead deck. This arrangement was specially submitted to the Board of Trade and approved by them.
The double bottom of the vessel was divided by 17 transverse watertight divisions, including those bounding the fore and aft peaks, and again subdivided by a centre fore and aft bulkhead, and two longitudinal bulkheads, into 46 compartments. Fourteen of these compartments had 8 in. suctions, 23 had 6 in. suctions, and three had 5 in. suctions connected to the 10 in. ballast main suction; six compartments were used exclusively for fresh water.
The following bilge suctions were provided for dealing with water above the double bottom, viz., in No. 1 hold two 3 1/2 in. suctions, No. 2 hold two 3 1/2 in. and two 3 in. suctions, bunker hold two 3 1/2 in. and two 3 in. suctions.
The valves in connection with the forward bilge and ballast suctions were placed in the firemen's passage, the watertight pipe tunnel extending from No. 6 boiler room to the after end of No. 1 hold. In this tunnel, in addition to two 3 in. bilge suctions, one at each end, there was a special 3 1/2 in. suction with valve rod led up to the lower deck above the load line, so as always to have been accessible should the tunnel be flooded accidentally.
In No. 6 boiler room there were three 3 1/2 in., one 4 1/2 in., and two 3 in. suctions.
In No. 5 boiler room there were three 3 1/2 in., one 5 in., and two 3 in. suctions.
In No. 4 boiler room there were three 3 1/2 in., one 4 1/2 and two 3 in. suctions.
In No. 3 boiler room there were three 3 1/2 in., one 5 in., and two 3 in. suctions.
In No. 2 boiler room there were three 3 1/2 in., one 5 in., and two 3 in. suctions.
In No. 1 boiler room there were two 3 1/2 in., one 5 in., and two 3 in. suctions.
In the reciprocating engine room there were two 3 1/2 in., six 3 in., two 18 in., and two 5 in. suctions.
In the turbine engine room there were two 3 1/2 in., three 3 in., two 18 in., two 5 in., and one 4 in. suctions.
In the electric engine room there were four 3 1/2 in. suctions.
In the store rooms above the electric engine room there was one 3 in. suction.
In the forward tunnel compartment there were two 3 1/2 in. suctions.
In the watertight flat over the tunnel compartment there were two 3 in. suctions.
In the tunnel after compartment there were two 3 1/2 in. suctions.
In the watertight flat over the tunnel after compartment there were two 3 in. suctions.
