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

It was brought out in the evidence that the "Mont Blanc" was preceded up the harbour by an American tramp steamer, which entered the Basin just as the "Imo" was leaving it. To warn her, the "IMO" blew one blast, which meant "I am keeping to the right. "You do the same." In the tramp blew two blasts, which meant "I am keeping to the left." The "IMO" blew two blasts then to show she understood and would keep to the left side, which was the wrong side of the channel.
They passed in safety. Immediately after the "IMO" encountered the "STELLA MARIS" which was 120 feet long, towing two barges. The three craft together covered 400 feet. In order to avoid the "STELLA MARIS", and her tow, the "IMO" stopped dead and reversed her engine in order to swing her head round. Nor did the "IMO" move forward again until the collision occurred, but drifted on until the "MONT BLANC" crossed her bows.