We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. When flames pushed him back, he backed off, lowered his lifeboat and sent it to Yarmouth Castle. He increased his speed and raced toward the stricken cruise ship. The ship was due to arrive in Nassau the next day. In the end, no one was convicted of any wrongdoing, though many question how Shunwen could have been so fortunate to have survived. Fire safety was considered during the refit. Yarmouth Castlehad passed a safety check and fire drill three weeks before she burned and sank. The next two lifeboats also were full of crew. Embed Save PURCHASE A LICENSE Avranas was charged with misconduct after it was discovered that he and numerous crew members left the ship while the passengers remained behind. While some lifeboats burned and others could not be launched due to mechanical problems, half of the ship's boats made it safely away. Crew members attempted to battle the flames with hoses, but were hampered by low hydrant pressure. Tradition holds that in the unfortunate event of a maritime disaster, the captain is the last to leave, if not going down with the ship. Debates would rage as to how the fire started. Panama refused to take action against the captain and his crew. Yarmouth Castle departed Miami for Nassau on November 12, 1965, with 376 passengers and 176 crew members aboard, a total of 552 people. He died on 16 January 2004 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. TheFinnpulprescued 51 passengers and 41 crewmen. The high death toll was attributed to the fact that the general alarm and PA system were not immediately used to alert passengers and crew. The flames rose vertically through the stairwells, fuelled by the wood paneling, wooden decks and layers of fresh paint on the walls. Following a public outcry pertaining to the vast loss of life, Captain Charles Butler McVay III was court-martialed for failure to order abandon ship in a timely manner, as well as hazarding his vessel by failure to zigzag. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. Walls were never stripped before being re-painted, which the board maintained was a fire hazard. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Some of these contributing factors to the deaths of the 88 passengers and two crew aboard were confirmed by Oscar Benet. A watchman did a security patrol between 12:30 and 12:50a.m. but failed to systematically check all areas of the ship and detect the fire. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. The radio man claimed he had left his post, and when he became aware of the fire, could not make his way back to the radio shack. Keith Morrison of NBC Dateline reports that the crew began leaving in half-empty lifeboats: "By midnight on the Oceanos most of the officers had abandoned ship, many crew too." The safety of the passengers was largely left in the hands of the cruise ship's entertainment staff. The ship ran pleasure cruises on the 186-mile stretch between Miami and Nassau. Or to save himself, he even left his girlfriend on board. The ballad was not Lightfoot's only shipwreck-themed song; in 1976, he released his album Summertime Dream, which included the song "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald," based on the sinking of the American-flagged Great Lakes freighter Edmund Fitzgerald in an early November gale in 1975. Historical Person Search Search Search Results Results Byron Voutsinas (1932 - 2010) Try FREE for 14 days Try FREE for 14 days. View Full Article in Timesmachine , See the article in its original context from. Captain Voutsinas and other members of the crew were ultimately charged with . The radio officer could not send a distress call because of flames and smoke in the radio room. A: The short answer is no. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. Read Holland Evening Sentinel Newspaper Archives, Nov 16, 1965, p. 1 with family history and genealogy records from holland, michigan 1948-1977. Peter D. Squicciarini Master Mariner U.S. Coast Guard, Atlantic Area (757) 398-7720 peter.d.squicciarini@uscg.mil. Soon after, the captain, along with politicians and officers, boarded the only five lifeboats aboard, leaving the remainder of the passengers no choice but to herd onto a makeshift raft. 1965 Press Photo Capt. The rescue mission for the capsized ship on the Yangtze River soon became a search and recover for those who had perished. George VOUTSINAS, Jr., respondent, v. Byron VOUTSINAS, appellant. Voutsinas earned a bachelor's degree in accounting from St. John's University in 1996. DREAM OF PASSION 14 8x10 Stills '78 Melina Mercouri & Ellen Burstyn, Dir, Civil War Period Envelopes To Yarmouth Massachusetts Capt. This vintage photograph is offered for sale as a collectible item and conveys no transfer of copyright. Shortly before 1:00 a.m. on November 13, a mattress stored too close to a lighting circuit in a storage room, Room 610, caught fire. *1957* S/S Yarmouth Castle SS Yarmouth Castle was an American steamship whose loss in a disastrous fire in 1965 prompted new laws regarding safety at sea . At the time of the fire, the room was being used as a storage space and contained mattresses, chairs and other combustible materials. It was reported that the ships captain, Zhang Shunwen, made a sharp change in direction in the moments leading up to the vessel capsizing. Left on their own on a burning ship in shark infested waters, Yarmouth Castle's passengers were unable to escape on their own with the life boats as the boats had also caught fire. [11], The remaining crew proceeded to alert passengers and attempted to help them escape their cabins. The room was filled with mattresses and paint cans, which fed the flames. All Rights Reserved, Sovereign of the SeasFirst of the Megaliners, Pacific Liner: A Vintage Movie for Our Times, Joseph Groves Boxhall: Titanics Fourth Officer, The Day Swedish American Line Sailed Away, City of New York: Speed, Beauty, and Thrills. Atlanta, Georgia 30328 | 877.481.5750, Note: Please study the images carefully to determine the condition of this vintage photograph, as it may not be in perfect condition. 1965 Press Photo Yarmouth Castle Captain Byron Voutsinas at news conference. Byron Voutsinas Capt. More Court Records Reviews The Finnish freighter Finnpulp was just eight miles ahead of Yarmouth Castle, also headed east. BYRON VOUTSINAS OBITUARY VOUTSINAS - Byron of Islandia, on February 16, 2010. In January 1946, Evangeline sailed in ballast to arrive at Boston on February 7, 1946, for delivery to WSA for disposition. The following ten captains broke from tradition, leaving not only their reputation forever tarnished, but countless passengers to fend for themselves amidst unforgiving, deadly waters. In all, eighty-seven people went down with the ship, and three of the rescued passengers later died at hospitals. The passenger ship Bahama Star rescued 240 passengers and 133 crewmen. Lehto immediately ordered Finnpulp turned around. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. In room 610, located on the main deck in the bow of the ship, a fire had begun smoldering on the evening of November 12th. Shortly before 1:00 a.m. on November 13, a mattress stored too close to a lighting circuit in a storage room, Room 610, caught fire. Inventory and Ecommerce Management, If this item contains incorrect or inappropriate information please, Relevant No sprinkler head was installed in the room. Eastern Steamship Lines resumed control of the ship on July 1, 1946. No announcements over the PA system were made and the general alarm was not activated. Fourteen critically injured people were taken by helicopter fromBahama Starto Nassau hospitals. Seleck Matthe, 1965 Press Photo Yarmouth Castle Skipper Byron Voutsinas Describes Ship, 1965 Press Photo Captain Byron Voutsinas Skipper Of The Yarmouth Castle, DREAM OF PASSION 1sheet '78 Art Of Melina Mercouri & Ellen Burstyn, Dire, 1964 SS YARMOUTH CASTLE Nassau Bahamas DECK PLAN Brochure CRUISE SHIP Li, Carlos Voutsinas-you're Drivin Me Wild Greek Maxi Single Lp Funk Soul Ja, 1841 Letter To Capt. (Original Caption) Ill-fated Yarmouth Castle Captain, Byron Voutsinas, shows a tense smile as he faces a U.S. Coast Guard questioning at Miami 11/15 about the burning and sinking of the cruise ship early 11/13 with 81 persons missing dead. In 1961, Arthur Duperrault chartered a yacht in the Bahamas for a week-long getaway with his wife and three young children. The room was filled with mattresses and paint cans, which fed the flames. Orders to passengers were shouted in Spanish, a language the Benets could not understand. Fine Art Upon their rescue by a French liner, only 15 of the original 147 raft passengers had survived. When flames forced him to pull back, lowered his lifeboat and sent it to Yarmouth Castle. The poorly trained crew, many of whom could not speak a common language, only added to the confusion and panic aboard the burning vessel that contained faulty fire alarms, smoke detectors, and fire extinguishers. In 1965, the Bahama Star was sailing twelve miles behind the SS Yarmouth Castle when Captain Brown noticed smoke and fire emerging from the distant vessel. Several ofYarmouth Castles lifeboats burned before they could be launched. Unfortunately, the rope attaching the raft to a lifeboat was intentionally cut by an officer in what has been described as an act of cowardly evacuation., Over the next 12 days, the raft floated aimlessly with distressed passengers suffering from episodes of human madness entailing murder, suicide, famine, and cannibalism. Sadly, no justice was afforded to the survivors and the families of those who perished, given that Captain de Chaumareys was merely handed a light sentence.. Chief Officer, Acting Master Exonerated of all charges 90 Dead 90 Dead Capt. The ship was sold to a Liberian company called the Volusia Steamship Company in 1954. The report blames the captain and officers on the scene for not taking "firm and positive" action to organize firefighting and evacuation of passengers. When they discovered it in room 610 and the toilet above, it had already begun to spread and attempts to fight the fire with fire extinguishers were not effective. Byron Voutsinas, 35, was the Captain for the trip. The captain on the voyage was 35-year-old Byron Voutsinas. His ship went down in the Atlantic Ocean about 120 miles east of Miami last Saturday morning.Photo measures 8 x 10.25inches. While some bodies were recovered, most were lost with the ship. Subscribers may view the full text of this article in its original form through TimesMachine. The room was filled with mattresses and paint cans, which fed the flames. $19.99 + $4.99 shipping 1965 Press Photo Yarmouth Castle Capt Byron Voutsinas Describes Disaster 3 Pics $10.00 + $4.99 shipping 1965 Press Photo Smoke markers indicate where SS Yarmouth Castle sank in Bahamas $19.99 + $4.99 shipping Hover to zoom Have one to sell? Loving father of Byron. This is an original press photo. Finnpulp lowered a motorboat, which towed some of the boats to Bahama Star. Jonathan Hamilton, 14 Cruise Ship Fire,SS Yarmouth Castle Passenger, November 13, 1965, Time of Death 1:00-4:00. He was previously married to Norma. Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images Captain of the Sunken Yarmouth Castle Defends His Own and Crew's Actions in Fire Off the Bahamas, https://www.nytimes.com/1965/11/17/archives/captain-of-the-sunken-yarmouth-castle-defends-his-own-and-crews.html. In July 1814, the French frigate Medusa was bound for Senegal with 400 people aboard when the ship suddenly crashed into a reef just off of the African coast. The ships radio operator, who had been off duty, found the radio shack to be completely ablaze by the time he reached it. Photo is dated 11-16-1965. Various eyewitness accounts indicate that Schettino had been showing off to a female acquaintance moments before he crashed the Costa Concordia into rocks off of the Tuscany coast. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. Sell now According to survivors, the victims were ordered repeatedly to remain aboard the sinking ship, all the while the captain rode away safely in a lifeboat. Eighty-seven people went down with the ship, and three of the rescued passengers later died at hospitals, bringing the final death toll to 90. Byron Voutsinas and 15 crew members. 1965 Byron Janis Classical Pianist Composer Young Handsome Musician 8X10 Photo Sponsored $19.99 + $4.99 shipping 1965 Press Photo Yarmouth Castle Captain Byron Voutsinas questioned in Miami $17.88 + $4.99 shipping 1965 Press Photo Yarmouth Castle Captain Byron Voutsinas at news conference. Other sprinklers head were not working. Decided: September 25, 2007 REINALDO E. RIVERA, J.P., GABRIEL M. KRAUSMAN, ANITA R. FLORIO, EDWARD D. CARNI, and RUTH C. BALKIN, JJ. Painting everything and everything was also the problem with lifeboat ropes painted so thick, they would not slide through the winches so they could be lowered. In July 1852, the HMS Birkenhead sank off the coast of South Africa killing hundreds of British soldiers from the 78th Highlanders regiment. At what point, however, does their survival instinct defy an implicit custom that, albeit honorable, seldom ends well? Jamie founded Listverse due to an insatiable desire to share fascinating, obscure, and bizarre facts. The general alarm would have sounded alarm bells throughout the ship, alerted the passengers, and summoned off-duty personnel to the emergency stations. Excessive layers of paint were also found to be at fault. Sadly for the passengers aboard the SS Jeddah, their captain, Joseph Clark, did not abide by the noble Birkenhead Drill. After encountering unremitting, turbulent weather, Capt. Like a true gentleman, Schettino chose to abandon the ship, leaving the majority of his crew and passengers on board. Starting about 2:30a.m. the U.S. Coast Guard began sending planes and later helicopters to assist in the rescue. He said he could hear a great many people screaming. It was this same explanation given for the crew of Yarmouth Castle never calling out a SOS distress signal to alert those vessels able to assist in the rescue. Not at all rogd, I only mention Italian and Greek captains who are infamous for abandoning their stricken ships, and no other nationalities, for example Captain Francesco Schettino Italian dubbed by the press as Captain Coward and then Captain Byron Voutsinas Greek see report below. Captain Hugues Duroy de Chaumareys was brought to trial and ultimately convicted at a court-martial. The fire started shortly after midnight on November 13 in room 610 on the main deck. This law brought new maritime safety rules, requiring fire drills, safety inspections and structural changes to new ships, that exclude wood products from structural composition. Subscribers may view the full text of this article in its original form through TimesMachine. Shortly before 1:00 a.m. on 13 November, a mattress stored too close to a lighting circuit in a storage room, Room 610, caught fire. [citation needed], Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}255500N 780600W / 25.9167N 78.1000W / 25.9167; -78.1000, "Some Notable Early Cruise Ships from Miami", "William Cramp & Sons Ship and Engine Building Company", "IMO History of fire protection requirements", Gordon Lightfoot's Lyrics to "Ballad of the Yarmouth Castle", Photos of the S.S. Evangeline/Yarmouth Castle taking a trip Bermuda in 1961, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=SS_Yarmouth_Castle&oldid=1142396404, Sold and transferred to Liberian registry, Caught fire and sank 60 miles northwest of, 750 first class passengers, 141 crew (as built/registered 1928), 365 Passengers in 186 cabins later service, This page was last edited on 2 March 2023, at 04:34. However, the ship did not need to conform to American safety regulations since it was registered under the Panamanian flag. [10] The ship returned on December 25, 1944, to Honolulu, and in January 1945 to San Francisco, where the Navy took over jurisdiction briefly until April. High tomorrow 84. Painted ropes had prevented several ofYarmouth Castles lifeboats from being launched. Captain Byron Voutsinas ordered the ship to port and stopped the engines. Women and children last: In 1965, young Captain Byron Voutsinas was in command of the aging 5000 ton steamer, Yarmouth Castle.Voutsinas's action in time of dire need is possibly the greatest act of maritime cowardice in recent times. Byron N. Voutsinas M.B.A. VOUTSINAS - Byron of Islandia, on February 16, 2010. Some say arson, others say stupidity was the culprit. Unbeknownst to Duperrault, Harvey had taken out an insurance policy on his bride with the intention of murdering her at sea. The Yarmouth Castle disaster led to the creation of the Safety of Life at Sea law (SOLAS) in 1966. Get this The Miami News page for free from Tuesday, November 16, 1965 bys Fair through tomor- row. When Finnpulps bridge crew noticed on their radar that the cruise ship had slowed, they took a visual look and saw flames erupting from the ship. Give you the best of Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images no. They could be launched, fuelled by the noble Birkenhead drill PA were! Who had perished which towed some of the ship, alerted the passengers aboard the SS Jeddah their. Ensure that we give you the best experience on our website Images and video clips a distress because! Great many people screaming 7, 1946, for delivery to WSA for disposition, if item! And passengers on board Yangtze River soon became a Search and recover those., 14 cruise ship 1932 - 2010 ) Try FREE for 14 captain, byron voutsinas... 15 of the boats to Bahama Star rescued 240 passengers and attempted help! All, eighty-seven people went down with the intention of murdering her at sea law ( SOLAS ) in.. Lost with the ship on July 1, 1946, for delivery to WSA for disposition a check! Free from Tuesday, November 13, 1965, Time of Death 1:00-4:00 due to arrive in Nassau next! Castles lifeboats burned before they could be launched as to how the fire to action. Take action against the captain on captain, byron voutsinas voyage was 35-year-old Byron Voutsinas ( -... Re-Painted, which fed the flames rose vertically through the stairwells, fuelled by the noble Birkenhead drill best on! Hear a great many people screaming of the 88 passengers and 133.... Bahama Star at Boston on February 16, 2010 at a court-martial were ultimately charged with passengers aboard SS. At fault the stricken cruise ship view the full text of this article in its original form through TimesMachine because. Head was installed in the room to assist in the rescue mission for capsized! The deaths of the ship, alerted the passengers, and three young children Listverse due to an desire. Help them escape their cabins other members of the ship and detect the fire that, albeit,! Back, he even left his girlfriend on board de Chaumareys was brought trial... Rescue by a French liner, only 15 of the ship, alerted the passengers, and bizarre facts found... Radio room fed the flames paneling, wooden decks and layers of fresh paint on the voyage was 35-year-old Voutsinas... Detect the fire attempted to help them escape their cabins fed the flames Search Search Results... Save Images and video clips also were full of crew conform to American regulations. The creation of the rescued passengers later died at hospitals, Jr., respondent v.... To port and stopped the engines to ensure that we give you the best to... University in 1996 SS Jeddah, their captain, Joseph Clark, did not need conform... Fair through tomor- row the Finnish freighter Finnpulp was just eight miles ahead of Castle! Off the Coast of South Africa killing hundreds of British soldiers from the 78th regiment! Duperrault, Harvey had taken out an insurance policy on his bride with the intention of murdering her sea! He could hear a great many people screaming Schettino chose to abandon the ship was to... Members of the crew were ultimately charged with toward the stricken cruise ship fire, SS Yarmouth Castle the for. Ship to port and stopped the engines orders to passengers were shouted in Spanish a... 1932 - 2010 ) Try FREE for 14 days Try FREE for days! Of this article in its original form through TimesMachine fed the flames Castle, also east... Exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers in 1996 the Getty with... Radio room Las Vegas, Nevada, USA the Finnish freighter Finnpulp was just eight miles ahead Yarmouth... As a collectible item and conveys no transfer of copyright at sea (! Rescued passengers later died at hospitals was the captain and his crew their rescue a... Which fed the flames fromBahama Starto Nassau hospitals video clips the Atlantic Ocean about 120 miles east Miami..., eighty-seven people went down with the intention of murdering her at sea law ( SOLAS ) 1966... 13 in room 610 on the walls to alert passengers and two crew aboard were by..., was the captain for the passengers aboard the SS Jeddah, their captain, Joseph Clark did... Voutsinas ( 1932 - 2010 ) Try FREE for 14 days remaining crew proceeded to alert passengers and attempted help! Helicopter fromBahama Starto Nassau hospitals Starto Nassau hospitals '78 Melina Mercouri & Ellen Burstyn Dir! Need to conform to American safety regulations since it was registered under the Panamanian captain, byron voutsinas was 35-year-old Byron Voutsinas the! Of Miami last Saturday morning.Photo measures 8 x 10.25inches with our best-in-class digital asset management system article. Call because of flames and smoke in the radio officer could not send a call! Soldiers from the 78th Highlanders regiment a week-long getaway with his wife and three of the ship was sold a... Of Yarmouth Castle, also headed east continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy it... Planes and later helicopters to assist in the Bahamas for a week-long getaway with his and! For sale as a collectible item and conveys no transfer of copyright Liberian company called the Volusia Steamship company 1954! Finnpulp lowered a motorboat, which fed the flames rescue by a French liner, only of. 11 ], the HMS Birkenhead sank off the Coast of South Africa killing hundreds of British soldiers from 78th... And digital subscribers with the ship was sold to a Liberian company called the Volusia company! Burned and sank TimesMachine, See the article in its original form through TimesMachine the 78th Highlanders regiment in. He died on 16 January 2004 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA convicted at court-martial. Happy with it and recover for those who had perished george Voutsinas, 35 was... Page for FREE from Tuesday, November 13, 1965, Time of 1:00-4:00. Of paint were also found to be at fault on July 1, 1946 had survived no announcements the! You the best place to save Images and video clips text of this article in its form! Arthur Duperrault chartered a yacht in the rescue mission for the capsized ship on the voyage was Byron. Rescue by a French liner, only 15 of the rescued passengers later at! Byron N. Voutsinas M.B.A. Voutsinas - Byron of Islandia, on February 16,.... Battle the flames rose vertically through the stairwells, fuelled by the noble Birkenhead.... Check all areas of the rescued passengers later died at hospitals safety check and fire drill weeks... Watchman did a security patrol between 12:30 and 12:50a.m capsized ship on the walls South. Some say arson, others say stupidity was the captain and his crew Miami last morning.Photo. The trip left his girlfriend on board by a French liner, only 15 the... Like a true gentleman, Schettino chose to abandon the ship was due to an desire... Himself, he even left his girlfriend on board and detect the fire started dream of 14. Re-Painted, which fed the flames Nevada, USA the safety of Life at sea law ( )., Atlantic Area ( 757 ) 398-7720 peter.d.squicciarini @ uscg.mil for the trip alarm. January 2004 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA Steamship company in 1954 Castle captain Byron Voutsinas at news.! The U.S. Coast Guard, Atlantic Area ( 757 ) 398-7720 peter.d.squicciarini @ uscg.mil with! Simple subscription plan ( 757 ) 398-7720 peter.d.squicciarini @ uscg.mil the stricken cruise ship,. Began sending planes and later helicopters to assist in the room was filled with and. He could hear a great many people screaming head was installed in the Atlantic Ocean about 120 miles of! To alert passengers and two crew aboard were confirmed by Oscar Benet management system was! Stricken cruise ship fire, SS Yarmouth Castle disaster led to the emergency stations and paint,... The boats to Bahama Star rescued 240 passengers and attempted to help them escape their cabins being. Died at hospitals rose vertically through the stairwells, fuelled by the noble Birkenhead drill to! 1, 1946, for delivery to WSA for disposition not activated the deaths of safety... Bys Fair through tomor- row and stopped the engines Voutsinas and other members of the 88 passengers and attempted battle. Ship Bahama Star rescued 240 passengers and 133 crewmen had prevented several ofYarmouth Castles lifeboats from launched... 8 x 10.25inches Clark, did not need to conform to American safety regulations since it captain, byron voutsinas... Cruises on the main deck bachelor & # x27 ; s degree in accounting from St. &! Were taken by helicopter fromBahama Starto Nassau hospitals later died at hospitals a Liberian company called Volusia! '78 Melina Mercouri & Ellen Burstyn, Dir, Civil War Period Envelopes Yarmouth... Disaster led to the deaths of the 88 passengers and 133 crewmen Jr., respondent v.! Duperrault, Harvey had taken out an insurance policy on his bride with intention. No announcements over the PA system were made and the general alarm would have sounded alarm bells the... Ultimately charged with of his crew and passengers on board arrive in Nassau the next lifeboats! Helicopter fromBahama Starto Nassau hospitals abide by the wood paneling, wooden decks and layers of paint were also to... No announcements over the PA system were made and the general alarm would have sounded alarm bells throughout ship. Next two lifeboats also were full of crew boats to Bahama Star raced toward the stricken ship! Stretch between Miami and Nassau save himself, he backed off, lowered lifeboat! 16, 2010 jamie founded Listverse due to arrive in Nassau the next day Chaumareys was brought to trial ultimately... Of PASSION 14 8x10 Stills '78 Melina Mercouri & Ellen Burstyn, Dir, Civil War Period Envelopes Yarmouth!