Smoking on the bridge?

[Richard Z]

Dear communitiy,

Today, I came up with a small hypothesis as to why OOW Murdoch, as far as we know, didn’t spot the iceberg earlier than the lookouts in the crow’s nest. One possible reason could be that his night vision was not optimal. But what might have caused that? For example, lighting a cigar or pipe. I found on this forum that Murdoch smoked, and to smoke, the tobacco obviously needs to be lit. The light needed for that is enough to spoil night vision. And it can take up to half an hour for night vision to fully recover. So, if he had smoked within half an hour before the collision, this could potentially explain why he spotted the iceberg too late.

I’ve heard from employees of the Holland America Line that 50 years ago, smoking was allowed throughout the entire ship, from the engine rooms to the bridge. And they did smoke everywhere! I assume it wasn’t any different in 1912, but maybe I am mistaking here.

Since Murdoch was alone on the bridge just before the collision with the iceberg, no one else would have been bothered if he smoked. Or conversely: because no one else was there, it would have been the perfect opportunity to smoke without bothering anyone.

For sure, the lookouts in the crow’s nest wouldn’t have been able to smoke (if they even smoked at all), as it would have been far too windy up there.

Is it a realistic scenario that Murdoch smoked on the bridge (and therefore possibly compromised his night vision), or is this too far-fetched?

I honestly have no idea about the rules and customs on a ship’s bridge in 1912 (nor, for that matter, about the rules and customs on the bridge in 2025, although I’m quite convinced that smoking is no longer allowed nowadays).

Thanks for thinking along!

 

[Thomas Krom]

Hello Richard,


The White Star Line had strict rules about smoking on duty. Rule 8 of the officers' handbook indicates as followed:

9.-Smoking when on Duty.

Officers, Engineers, and other members of the Crew are strictly prohibited from smoking when on duty, whether at sea or in harbour, and, with the exception of the Doctor and Purser, from using the smoking rooms appointed for passengers. Indiscriminate or surreptitious smoking on the part of live stock attendants should be specially guarded against, in order to obviate risk of fire.

The White Star Line rulebook also indicated as followed:

21. Smoking.

Smoking by the officers when on duty is strictly prohibited, and is allowed only in their own cabins or on the main deck, but on no account in any of the companionways. Smoking by seamen, firemen, stewards, and others, allowed only on the main deck, forward of the main mast, when off duty.

The pipe belonging to Murdoch was also later found in a leather bag belonging to him. Knowing how professional Murdoch was as an officer, especially with him knowing that the Titanic was in the vicinity of ice (to cite his own words to lamp trimmer Hemming) while being the OOW I don't believe that Murdoch would have smoked on duty at all.


Hope this offers some insight.

Kind regards,

Thomas

 

[True_Heart_Titanic]

In addition to the above, there was also an officer's smoke room aboard the Titanic. There would be no need for him to find somewhere that he "wouldn't bother anybody", because there already existed such a place.

He was well used to operating at sea, so would have known exactly the limits within which he needed to stay.

While there was obviously minor rule bending in other areas (such as socialising with passengers), I don't believe this would have been one he was willing to compromise on, given it would impact safety.

He would definitely have known better, especially after his night vision having been so critical to avoiding the collision aboard the Arabic some years begore. So in my opinion, I don't believe it's sonething he would have compromised on.

 

[Richard Z]

The White Star Line had strict rules about smoking on duty. Rule 8 of the officers' handbook indicates as followed:

The White Star Line rulebook also indicated as followed:

Hello Thomas,

Thank you for your clear explanation. I agree: with this knowledge of the officers' handbook and the WSL rulebook, it also seems very unlikely to me that Murdoch would have been smoking while on duty.

If I may ask, where can these two books be found (online)?
Did able seamen have their own handbook, or did they follow the WSL rulebook?

In addition to the above, there was also an officer's smoke room aboard the Titanic. There would be no need for him to find somewhere that he "wouldn't bother anybody", because there already existed such a place.

The officers’ smoke room would have been used off duty; what I meant was smoking during a shift, in which case it would have made more sense for people to smoke at their workplace. Nevertheless, with the company rules prohibiting smoking while on duty, combined with Murdoch’s character as we know it and his experience on the Arabic, I completely agree that he would not have compromised his night vision by smoking.