TICKET RETURNED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20085, 3 November 1939, Page 9

TICKET RETURNED

SHIP’S MASTER THE PORT BOWEN COURT OF INQUIRY CONFLICT ON LIGHTS VESSEL ABANDONED (Per Truss Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. After hearing evidence yesterday the court of inquiry appointed to ascertain tile cause of the overseas steamer Port Bowen stranding on Castlccliff Beach, Wanganui, on July 19, return the certificate of the master, Captain F. W. Bailey. The court intimated that though it would take time lo consider the evidence the case was not one where the master’s certificate should be either suspended or cancelled. Mr. J. Prendevillc appeared for the Marine Department, Mr. E. K. Kirkcaldie for the master, Captain F. W. Bailey, Captain Macindoe also watchedthe interests of the master and officers on behalf of the Navigators and Engineers Officers’ Union of England. Mr. R. C. Christie represented the owners of the vessel.

Captain Bailey said he and the fourth officer saw a distinct orange light some time before the vessel stranded. He relied on the harbour navigation lights to give him his directions and did not consider the orange light was of any consequence. It was subsequently discovered that the ship had overrun the required distance and actually the orange light was a red light at the end of one of the moles. The third engineer, Ronald Oiiphant, who was on duty when the vessel stranded, said he went on watch at midnight and, before going below, noticed the Wanganui town lights appeared to be a good distance away. When he felt a bump 14 minutes later, he remarked to the fourth engineer that he did not think the vessel could have grounded, because the shore lights were a good distance off. No Complaint About Lights

Captain I'. G. Taylor, harbourmaster at Wanganui, said lie had never known the lights on the moles to show an orange colour. Ships were constantly using the port and no complaints had been received about the lights.

Vessels were constantly using the port of Wanganui day and night and. since he had been there —a period of 10 years—no complaints had been received about the navigation lights, said the harbourmaster, Captain said the harbourmaster. He said he was not on duty when the Port Bowen stranded, but the station log hook produced would show the weather at the time. The log entry made at midnight showed there was a moderate south-easterly breeze and the sea on the bar was moderate to rough. The weather was overcast hut clear. Always Red A chart showing the approximate bearings of the different lights was also produced. Wigham oil lamps were located at the end of the north and south moles and, witness added, he had never known them to show orange. They were visible from the shore and were always red. The lamps were attended to once a month and more often if necessary. "I have never heard of any complaints about these lights since I have been in Wanganui,” said witness, who added that when he was called, about 1.15 a.m., there was a very light northeasterly wind. The weather at the time was cloudy but clear and fine on the land. High water was at 11.16 p.m. and (he tide was higher that night than the average. The first thing he noticed when he came on duty was that the lights were in good order. A statement by Captain J. Knox, who was not called as a witness but was on duty when the Port Bowen stranded, was produced. Captain Knox said he saw the Port Bowen approaching and, as was customary when a vessel was making for anchorage in the roadstead, he switched on the red beacon light.

Finding Anchorage

Captain Taylor explained that a vessel approaching the roadstead anchorage would take the rear beacon in line with the north mole light and, at the intersection of that line and the green line would find his anchorage. He had never experienced any case where a ship approaching anchorage had encountered difficulty. “I do not know anything about the chief officer’s statement that one of the green lights was faulty,” said Captain Taylor under cross-examination. Mr. Prendevillc said he did not propose to address fhe court. The two questions to be answered were: What was the cause of the grounding, and was the grounding due to any act or omission on the part of the master? Mr. Kirkcaldie said. He was speaking for a man with 28 years’ experience at sea. The number of cases where masters were held blameworthy were so few that they spoke highly of the calibre of the men in charge of the ships. The Port Bowen was a well-run and well-equipped ship. There was no question of any lack of discipline and there was a very strong distinction between honest mistakes and culpability. In the present'ease, the Port Bowen was within an ace of getting off. It only touched some distance abaft the beam and, with any luck at all, should have swung round and got clear. Counsel for the Marine Department, Mr. J. Prendevillc, said the Port Bovven, which had now been abandoned to the underwriters, was insured in London, but the amount of the insurance was not known ill New Zealand.