COBAR AND DUCHESS

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 795, 19 April 1910, Page 6

COBAR AND DUCHESS

. THE FINDING. RULE OF THE ROAD NOT KEPT. TWO SUSPENSIONS. Mr. W. B. Haselden, S.M., delivered yesterday the decision of the Court of Inquiry whioh last week investigated the circumstances connected with the collision that occurred between the ferry steamers Duchess and Cobar in the harbour on March : 30. Captains Grey and Stott, nautical assessors, were also on the bench. There were also in attendance Captain Jones, of the Duchess, and his counsel (Mr. Gray), Captain Williams, of the Cobar, and his counsel (Mr. Herdman), Mr. C. S. Nixon, Collector of Customs, Mr. Woston (for the Harbour Board), and Mr. Dalziell. (for the Ferry Company). , The decision was as lowe:— •'-.'. ' ■ : . ; "On March 30," 1910, at about 6.30 p.m., the Cobar left the Ferry Wharf, Wellington, for Day's Bay, via Rona Bay, and 25 minutes earlier the Duchess left Day's Bay for the Ferry Wharf, Wellington. The course of the Cobar would be-: : a straight, line from the Fony. .. Wharf to the black, buoy Halswell (passing the red buoy at' Point Jerninghain a iew fathoms ■on the starboard hand), and from the black buoy at Hakwell-Point to Eona Bay. The course of the Duchess would be a straight line from Day's Bay to the red buoy mentioned, and after' passing that, point a course to the southern end of tho Queen's Wharf, turning to the starboard before making the wharf, and thus going roiind to the. Perry Wharf. In heavy, southerly weather the course is said to be still more southerly, so as to get further into Oriental Bay and have the protection of- the hills. Two Entirely Different Stories.. x "The evidence as to the relative 1 positions of the two vessels as they approached each other near the red buoy is directly conflicting. The witnesses called for the master of the Cobar say that she was well to port of the Duchess until the Duchess turned, across the Cobar's bows. The.-witnesses for the master.of the, Duchess say that the Cobar was .well to' starboard of the Duchessi ■ In other words; each alleges that he: was to the landward, of the other.. .

"dn our judgment the two vessels approached each other almost end on, and each should have made an; early and* decided movement to starboard.; We find that the alleged custom of-the returning vessel from. Day's Bay taking the inside course; (i.e. .going to port) ' is. not sufficiently proved to, allow it to over-ride the, rules of navigation. ■■. .We incline to the opinion, that, frequently the returning boat gets inside, when it .jCan, but that, the right to.do so is- not, recognised by the .but-going boat. ' "■ In this case, the masters, of course, might ■ each have turned to port (i.e., in conformity with this alleged custo-n); ii they had: done so in sufficient time and in a sufficiently decisive manner. "•.,!. ■■■:■:•

' Neither Gave Way Till Too-Late. "Apparently the master of the Cobar thought'that as he was "showing a red, light to : the Duchess/he; could keep on his course (i.e. passing according to the rale of the road)', although it was patent that there, was danger in doing so. He kept on until too late, and then went full speed astern, which would, with his right-handed propeller reversed, tend to throw his; bow'into, the Duchess. After the Cob'ar struck the .Duchess, both vessels proceeded; on, .their/ course without' staying to ascertain? if any'.damage had been given -or,■recenred. : :. .' ..V>-.<i . . "If the; Cobar-had had several hundred passengers,; oh board' (as she-frequently has) an-appalling ' loss of.; .'life, might have occurred.' The Cobar struck the Duchess on the. starboard side,' about 'midships, and .received such injuries that , .after attempting to proceed on her run. to. Day's Bay the master deemed it advisable to put his vessel about, run across, the harbour.to the. Thorndon opening, and. beach her. She'was then in, a...sinking: condition.^'.,.'".;,,,.';.'. '-■." . , Should: Captains Be Ticket-Takers? "In our opinion' there is too'much laxity in.the control of .these harbour ferry, boats. The master, does not appear to'be sufficiently on the bridge, but at times performs incongruous duties, such as ticket'collecting. There are no mates or certificated officers on board, and we think .that' these ferry boats should be steered'.by'the master, or that the master should be;; always- '-on "the 'bridge when steaming"in. the harbour".". '"' ".The; allegation'' of; drunkenness against the master of the Duchess is not proved. The evidence was conflicting. Three reputable pwsons swore positively that he was drunk, and at least four equally reputable persons swore to the contrary. "We are of opinion that James Jones, the master of the Duchess, and John Thomas Alexander Leopold Williams, the master of the Uobar, are equally in fault and that the casualty was caused through the careless navigation of both. Twelve Months' Suspension in Each Case. ■ "We .'order-that the certificates of the said James Jones and' John Thomas Alexander Leopold Williams be each suspended for the term of oneyear from the date hereof,; and order that each pay to the Collector of Customs at Wellington the sum of £7 11s. 6d., being half the costs the Marine Department has incurred in this inquiry."