NAUTICAL INQUIRY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 19, 17 October 1919, Page 10

NAUTICAL INQUIRY

STRANDING OF THE WAIRAU VESSEL LEAVES HER COURSE MATE HELD RESPONSIBLE 'i'ho nautical inquiry into the cause of the stranding of the steamer Wairau, 143 tons, 011 tlio I'iege (Beef Barrel) Hocks, French Pass, 011 the early morning of September 12, was held at the Magistrate's Court yesterday. Mr. B. l'age, S.M., presided, and sitting ivith him as assessors wero Captains C. M'Arthnr and W. Manning. Mr. J. Prendcville appeared for the Marino Department Mr. E. K. Kirkcaldie for Oaptain J. Knox, inastpr of the vessel, Mr. A. W. Blair for lfichard M'Neilly, the mate, and Mr. T[. E. Evans for Captain Eckford's estate. owner of the ship. John Knox, master of the Wairau, stated that at 1.30 p.m. on September II ho left Wellington for Puponga. Tlio wind was blowing from the south-east, nnd was rather squally. About il p.m. tlia vessel reached Admiralty Bay. At 2.20 a.m. the Middle Bank buoy wan cleared, and a course S.W. by S. was set. After clearing the buoy he handled over command to the mate, giving him instructions as to the courso to bo steered. Tho weather was elaar at tho time, and a full moon was shining. Tho vessel was steaming about seven knots per hour, and about a quarter to 3 a.m. he felt the vessel bump on tho rocka. Hushing to the bridge, he found that the Wairau was stuck hard and fast. The engines had been set at "Full speed astern" bv the time ho reached the bridge, and efforts made subsequently to heave the ship off the rocks wero unavailing. About 5.30 a.m. tlio vessel came off the rocks with tho rising tide, and the voyage to Puponga was continued. Tho cost of the repairs was between .£SO and ,£BO. Prior to leaving the bridge witness had been 011 duty for about five hours. Witness had no misgivings about giving over command to tho mate before getting out of the Current Basin. The mato_ had beon in the same locality a fortnight before with witness. There was no compass deviation.! on the course as set, and he did not think tho current was no 'compass deviation on the courso The tide ran through tbo French Pass at about ten knots, but would have eased down by the time it reached tho Basin. lis would not attempt to steam against the current at spring tide. The vessel, the draught of which was about (Ift. Gin. aft and 4ft. Gin. forward, carried no cargo. Witness could offer no explanation as to tho cause of tho casualty. Practico of Captains. To Mr. Kirkcaldie: Tho vessel carried only two officers—tho mate and himself— who took watch and watch. AVhen witness vent below at 2.120 a.m. his object was to relieve the mate at 4 a.m. Onco tho ship had been piloted through Narrows ho did not consider there was any danger when ho left tho bridge. Ho was in tho red sector of tho French Pass light and Okuri light was showing clear. Ho had never known masters to remain on the bridge all the time their vessels wero in the Current Basin, but they did tako their vessels through , tho Narrows. In n ship with two officers it was not in the intereub of efficiency for one man to remain on the bridge for prolonged periods. Tho mate had had two and a half year;/ experience in the Pateeim in the same run, and appeared to have every confidence that ha oould steer tho vessol on the course. Had the S.W._ by S. courso been kept until tho Okuri light bore east it would liavo provided ft margin of safety, Whon the vessel was put on the slip iuoro repairs wore carried out than were actually required as a consequence of the accident. In reply to Mr. Blair, tho witness said tho vessel made very little water after the accident. The planking on tlio bottom of the hull was scored by the reeks and ft small piece of rock was sticking into one ,of tlio planks. He had never heard of'the steering gear having stuck. To Mr. Evans: The vessel steered well, and he had never comjikined of her abilities in that respect, In answer to Mr. Page, Captain Knox said the tide would tend to fict the vessel towards the Beef Barrels. When rijin . squalls descended, the wind blew hard from the south-east;, and this also would cause the vessol to be set towards the rocks. On handing over to the mate lie told him to keep in the red sector of tlie Fronch Pass light, but after the vessel struck witness four.d that she was in the white 6ector to the extent of GOO or 700 ft., and about half a mile off the courso he had set. The Mate's Story. Richard M'Neilly mate of the Wairau. stated that he had been on the vessel for about nine montli9. On the morning of September 12 he went on duty iust before going through the French Pass. The' courso given him by tho mnster was S.W. by S., nnd he was told to keep in the red sector of tho French Pass light, which wns ahead for fully fifteen minutes after tho captain left the bridge. Okuri light was perfectly clear. Having the latter light to go by, .lie took no further'notice of the red sector in the other light. He was not sure of tho course from Okuri light so he took out a notebook to consult his notes with regard' to the course. The notes were taken on tho previous trip, pnd he was reading them by the light of the compass. During that time his attention was taken off tho ship. • On looking up, he noticed that he had left Okuri light and on looking over tho starboard bow he saw Tocks. He ordered the engines hard astern, but he was too close to avert stranding. The vessel was heading S.S.W. when she struck. There was a "bit of a jobblo" on at tho time flie Wairau struck, the wind being squally. The speed of ttys ship was about seven knots and the whole tiling happened so suddenly that he could .hardly explain 'tile causo of the mishap, except that the course had been altered while he was looking at his notes. The only instruction 110 gave to the helmsman was to steer for Okuri light. ln reply to Mr. Kirkcaldie, witness said lie had been through, the Pass hundreds of times, and had absolute confidence in taking charge of tho ship. He did not consider it necessnry for the captain to remain on deck. As a rulo masters only took their through the Narrows, and then haided over command to the officers. To Mr. Blair: Captain Knox had followed the same practico as masters in the Union Company obssrved. If the vessel's head had been kept with Okuri light straight ahead he could not have got into the position in which he found himself. Tho man at tho wheel could not account for tho ve.'sel getting off tho course. He had only been looking at his notes for about five minutes. Had he been able to get the wheel over to starboard u little more quickly the accident might have beon avoided. The helmsman had beon having pretty long hours. As a matter of fact, they all had long hours. 110 could offer no" suggestion as to how the helmsman got off tho course, for he was a thoroughly experienced seaman. To the Court: He did not go off the bridge to get the notebook, as it was in his oilskin. Wind and tide would tend to swing the vessol off tho course. He did not 'think tho vessel got half a mile off tho course. Mr. Page: Tho chart shows that it was over half a mile. Witness: "Whatever distance it was, the ship must have gone olf the courso in about five minutes." Ho had had his certificate for about nine months, and if was the second vessol he had been on ns an ollicor. Tho steering wheel was sl.ift in ils action, and ho understood tlml: three or four attempts to make it easier to work had been unsuccessful. The captain had given him instructions as to what course he was to steer after leaving Okuri light, and it was for tlio purpose of checking that courso with his notes that he consulted his notebook. William Thomas Doldcn, A.B. 011 the steamer Wairau, stated that he went 011 duty at the wheel at 1.30 a.m. on September 12. The master gave, him instructions regarding the course 1 follow to Okuri light. When f mate took charge witness told to keep the same courso. Tho course was never altered until tho vessel struck. Mr. Blair: You had beon keeping pretty long hours? j

Witness: "Thero is not much sleep on those vessels at tlio best of times." When iu port at l'icton and Wellington bofore leaving for Puponga ho had been working on deck. At sea the routine was two hours oil and four hours oil'. Ho had had a sleep before going 011 duty at 1.30 a.m. To the Pencil: Ho could not understand how it was he got. half a mile out of his course in four miles. From the time of leaving the French Pass he kept a direct course until the ship struck. The wheel was very heavy, but it was much easier to move now The Finding. After considering the evidence the Court delivered its judgment as follows: —"The Court is of the opinion that the uasunltv was caused by the wrongtul default of the mate, Richard M'Neilly, in that: (a) He failed to keep the vessel in the red sector of the French Pass light; (b) ho failed to keep tho vessol on the courso laid down by tho master. The-so defaults of the nmto were, in the opinion of the Court, the, immediate cause of the casualty. The Court dosires to express tho view that the master should, under the circumstances shown, have remained 011 the bridge until the vessel had cleared tho Piego Hocks. The Oourt i.s of the opinion that the default of tho male was a Kfavo lapse, but as the injury done to the vessel was not a serious one, the Court hiis 110 jurisdiction to deal with the mate's certificate. The master and mate will l>e ordered to pay between them tho costs of this inquiry." Tho certificates of both master and mate were returned.