There they were forced to wait all night while the German U-boat awaited a reply to its request .
The passengers and crew , with the exception of the captain who decided to remain on board whatever the German decision , duly left the ship in the lifeboats .
There passengers were forced to wait all night while the German U-boat awaited a reply to its request .
The passengers and crew , with the exception of the captain who decided to remain on board whatever the German decision , duly left the ship in the lifeboats .