THE COLLISION IN GISBORNE ROADSTEAD.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15874, 13 April 1917, Page 8

THE COLLISION IN GISBORNE ROADSTEAD.

finding of Nautical court.

COMBINED NEGLECT.

(PBBSS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.)

AUCKLAND, April 12.

The decision of the Nautical Court in t-tt collision between the Arahura and a Home liner in Gisborne roadstead on the night of ila-rch Ist was delivered to-dav.

The Court found that the Arahura. weighed anchor about ll p.m., and .although her master, Captain. Dryden, 'then saw *tho Home liner's gfrccn and masthead light, he -wrongly assumed that was not under weigh, and ho docidcd to pass round tho liner's bow. i3b6ntly after leaving tbc anchorage Captain -Diyden s&wtJiut th.< 2 linoi* was under weigh, «uxi moving in a direction across the Axahura's bow. Xho vessels were -then "crossing" vessels, and it was tho duty o; the liner to keep out of the wy of the Arahura, When Captain Dryden saw that a collision was inevitable if lie keptliist-cmrso and speed, he should immediately have stopped the vessel and reversed the engines to give t-lio liner time to get out of the way. Instead, Captain X)rydeii put the helm hstid. aport, and stopped both enginos, and just before t'he impact put iho iislm hard a starboard, and the engines iuU speed ahead. He was not justified in altering tho vessel's course to starboard. The liner got under weigh «.t about the same time as the Arahura, with her engines going slow ahead, and tho helm hard to atmrboard. The capt-ain of tlio Homo liner shortly aftar sighted the Arahura aproaching on tho star-, bourd quarter. Ho stopped Ids engines and" - gave the order "Fall astern." "The liner had gathered some headway, and was still going ahead a little when the impact occurred. Tho order of "Pull astern'' ehould not have been given, but the exro- did not contributa to the collision. Had thorc been a look out on tho liner, the Arahura would have besn seen some time before. The captain of tho Homo liner, who did not know of the Araliura's closc approach, gave the order "Slow ahead." Had he known of the approach of the Arahura it would hav 0 been his obvious duty to have remained stationary or ordered his engines astern. _ The liner would not have been justified in attempting to cross the Arahura's bow, as ebe was the "giving wav" ship. The Court found that tie collision was due to the combined neglect of the masters of both vessels, but decided not to deal with their certificates. The cos's of the enquiry were ordered to bo paid by the two masters in ooual charts. The Arahura was docked to-day. and she is expected to rcsumo her running 'at the end of nest week. SHIPPING TELEGRAMS. "WELLINGTON, April 12. Arrived, Mararoa. (9.20 a.m.), from LvtteJton: Monowai (11 p.m.), from Dimedin." Sailed, Mararoa (7.55 p.m.), for Lyttelton.