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Halifax Disaster Record Office
Chronicle Building
Halifax, N. S.

Theory of Collision

Communicated by C. J. Burchell to Director March 12, 1918.

The difference in English and French system of orders would account for the confusion on board the "MONT BLANC" which resulted in the collision. The terms "port" and "starboard" originated in the days when the helm was moved by means of a tiller. "Port your helm", meant moving the tiller to the left side of the ship, which would consequently move the rudder to the right hand side and swing the ship's head also to the right hand side. Recently the French Navy and the American Navy have abolished these terms, and substituted 'right ' and 'left'. When the steering wheel was substituted for the straight tiller, the order "Port your helm." turned the ships head to the left. The French captain Lemedec understood English. On the way up the harbour Mackay, piloting the "MOUNT BLANC" indicated slight changes in the direction in the direction of the ship by movements of his hand. But when the "IMO" was close enough to make a collision possible he gave orders in English which the captain communicated to the helmsman in French. The helmsman got the word "Babord".According to the English custom this would mean swinging the head of the ship to the right. According to the French -- to the left. The "MONT BLANC" went to the left, with the result that the "IMO" rammed her.