SYDNEY FERRY DISASTER.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19160, 17 November 1927, Page 9

SYDNEY FERRY DISASTER.

ENQUIRY RESUMED. CONFLICT OP EVIDENCE. (kVSI&kXMM AND H.Z. CABLB ASSOCIATION.) (Received November 16th, 7.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, November 16. The Commonwealth Marine Court enquiry into the Greycliffe disaster was resumed. Mr Holman, counsel for the Commonwealth Director of Navigation, stated that no theory as to the cause of the accident would be submitted by the Director of Navigation at present. He added that in the evidence so far collected by the Director of Navigation, there was a certain amount of conflict between independent witnesses who had seen from different points of vantage the accident, or the vessels moving just before the accident. Then he mentioned that the course o-' the Watson's Bay ferries leaving Garden Island, and that of overseas vessels necessarily crossed, and that an overtaking boat had to keep out of the way of a vessel that was being overtaken, but tho latter must maintain her course and speed unchanged. Limits were provided under the Harbour Trust Regulations for overseas vessels on the western side of Fort Denison. Tho speed was fixed at six knots, and on the eastern side, eight knots. Ferry boats were exempt, and there were no regulations as to the routes ferries should take.

After stating that evidence that the Tahiti was travelling about eight or nine knots would be given, and that other witnesses would place her speed at higher, Mr Holman said the questions to be submitted to the Court would be, inter alia:— Were the Greycliffe and the Tahiti navigated in a proper and seamanlike manner? What were their speeds at the moment of collision, and was the speed of either excessive? Did the vessels comply with the regulations for the prevention. of collisions, and was the collision caused or contributed to by any wrongful act or default of person or persons, and, if so, who? Captain Clarke, of the ferry steamer Burrabra, said that when lie, from his boat, sighted the Greycliffe and the Tahiti, they were, on almost parallel courses, slightly converging. He saw a change of course on the part of the Greycliffe, which altered her course to port. She seemed to swing about a point and a half to port. There was no change of course by the Tahiti. He heard no whistle except his own four blasts when he steadied down on his course. He was doing about 13$ knots and appeared to gain on the Tahiti very slowly. The Tahiti kept on her course, and his vessel, the Burrabra, was almost astern of the Tahiti, about three cables' length distant. Then the Greycliffe disappeared from his view, being shut out by the Tahiti. Before the Greycliffe sank he saw. her again. She was across the Tahiti's bows. He would not say the master of the Greycliffe steered there. He might have been knocked. Witness could not estimate the distance between the Greycliffe and the Tahiti before the former went to port, but they did not appear far apart. The Greycliffe rolled on her starboard side. It all happened in 30 seconds. In reply to a question, Clarke said there would have been no danger of a collision if the Greycliffe had not altered her course. John Barry* an able seaman and gunner on the destroyer Success, said he saw the Tahiti coming 200 yards behind the Greycliffe. The Tahiti was about 50 yards out from the pontoon at Garden Island, and appeared to be travelling between 12 and 14 knots. In reply to a question, witness said part of his naval training was to estimate the speed of vessels. Witness continued that he saw the ferry alter her course, but the Tahiti did not alter hers.