GISBORNE ROADSTEAD COLLISION

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3052, 13 April 1917, Page 8

GISBORNE ROADSTEAD COLLISION

COURT'S FINDING BOTH CAPTAINS BLAMED By Telegraph—Press Association. . Auckland, April 12. The decision of the iNautical Court respecting the collision between the steamer Arahura, and a Home liner in Gisborne roadstead on the night' of Alarch 1 was delivered to-day. lb was found by the' Court that "the Arahura weighed anchor about 11 p.m., and although Captain Dryden then saw the Home liner's green and masthead lights, ho wrongly assumed that she was not under weigh, and ho decided to pass round - the liner's bow. Shortly after leaving the anchorage Captain Dryden saw that the liner was: under weigh and moving in a direction across the Arahura's bow. The vessels weiu then "crossing" vessels, and it was the duty of the liner to keep out of the way of the Arahura. When Captain Dryden saw that a collision -was inevitable, if lie kept to his course and speed, he should imigediately have stopped the vessel and reversed the engines to give the lhier time to get out of the way. Instead, Captain Dryden put tlie helm hard aport, stopped both engines, and, just beforo the impact, put the helm. Hard astarboard, and. the engines full speed ahead. He was not justified in altering the vessel's course to starboard. ->

' The liner got under weigh about the same time as the Arahura, with her engines going slow ahead, and the helm hard astarboard. Tlie captain shortly afterwards sighted the Arahura approaching on the starbaord quarter. He stopped his engines and gave the order "Full astern!" The liner had gathered some headway, and was still going ahead a little when the impact occurred. The order, "Full astern!' should not have lreeu given, but the jcrror did. not. contribute to the colli'sion. ..•:■''

Had there been a lookout on the liner tlip Arahura would have been seen some time before she was noticed. The captain of the liner, who did not know of the vessel's close 'approach, gave .the order "Slow ahead!" Had he known of the approach of the Arahura is would liave been his obvious duty to liave remained stationary, or ordered the engines astern. ' The liner would not liave been, justified in attempting to cross the Arahura's bow as she was a "giving way" ship. The Court found that the collision was due to the combined neglect of 'the masters of the vessels, 1 but decided not to deal with their certificates. The i»sts of the inquiry were ordered to_be paid by the two-captains \in equar shares. ' ' . _ The Arahura was docked to-day, ana "is"expected to resume running ac ino end of next week.