LOST OFF ORKNEYS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20087, 6 November 1939, Page 7

LOST OFF ORKNEYS

NORWEGIAN VESSEL

ERROR BY THE MASTER

(British Official Wireless.)

Reed. 9 a.m. RUGBY, Nov. 4. The Norwegian steamer Mini, which ran asjmrc off the Orkneys while on her way to the British contraband control station at Kirkwall, was being navigated by her master at the time.

This fact is clearly established because all the boarding officers have to ask the masters of ships whether they will consent to navigate their ships to the contraband control base. Only if a master refuses to navigate his ship, does the responsibility devolve upon the naval authorities.

In the case of the Mim, a signal was made from that ship to the warship which intercepted her, stating that the master had consented to navigate his ship to Kirkwall. This signal was made before the Mim and the intercepting warship parted company.

The master of the Mim was also provided by the British naval authorities with a chart of the approaches to Kirkwall.

The wreck appears to have been due to the fact that the master failed to appreciate the strength of the tide, although this was clearly marked on the chart. The Mim has been abandoned, her crew having been saved by a lifeboat.