HARBOUR DISASTER

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 17 November 1927, Page 8

HARBOUR DISASTER

MARINE COURT OF INQUIRY

QUESTIONS FOR SUBMISSION.

HEARING OF EVIDENCE.

Sydney, Nov. 16.

The Commonwealth Marine Court of Inquiry into the Greycliffe disaster was resumed. Mr. Holman, counsel for the Commonwealth Director of Navigation, stated that no theory as to the cause of the accident would be submitted by the Director of Navigation at present. He added that in the evidence so far collected by the Director of Navigation there was a certain amount of conflict between independent witnesses, who had seen, from different points of vantage, the accident, or the vessels moving just before the accident. He mentioned that the course of Watson's Bay ferries leaving Garden Island and that of overseas vessels .necessarily crossed, and that an overtaking boat had to keep out of the way of a vessel that was being overtaken, but the latter must maintain her course and speed unchanged. Limits were provided under the Harbour Trust regulations for overseas vessels. On the western side of Fort Denison the speed was six knots and on the eastern side eight. Ferry boats were exempt. There were no regulations as to tho routes terries should take.

After stating that evidence that the Tahiti was travelling about eignt or nine knots would be given, and that other witnesses would place the speed higher, Mr, Holman said the questions to be submitted to -.he Court, inter alia, would be:

Were the Greycliffe and Tahiti navigated in a proper and seamanlike manner?

What were the speeds at the moment of tho collision, and was the speed of either excessive? Did the vessels comptv with the regulations for the prevention of collisions, and was the collision caused or contributed to by any wrongful act or default of person or persons, and, if so. who?

FERRY STEAMER CAPTAIN S EVIDENCE

Captain Clark, of the ferrv steamer Burrabra. said that when he. from

his boat sighted the Greycliffe and the Tahiti, they were on almost parallel courses, slightly converging. He saw a change of course on the part of the Greycliffe. which alteied the course io port. She seemed to swing aoout a point and a-half io port. There was no change of coulee bv the Tahiti. He heard no whistle except his own four blasts. When he steadied down on his course ho was doing about 13.', knots and appeared to gam on tho Tahiti very slowly. The Tahiti kept on her-course and his vessel. th e Burrabra, was almost astern of the Tahiti, about three cables length distant. Then the Greycliffe disappeared from his view. Bno was shut out by the Tahiti. Belore the Greycliffe sank he saw her again. She was across the Tahiti’s bows. He would not say the Piaster nf the Greycliffe steered there. He might have been knocked. Witness could not estimate the distance between the Greycliffe and the Tahiti before the former went to port, hut they did not appear far apart. The Greycliffe rolled on the starboard side. It all happened in 30 seconds. In reply to a question, Captain Clarke said there had been no danger of a collision if the Greycliffe had not altered her course, John Barry, able seaman and gunner on the destroyer Success, said he saw the Tahiti coming 200 vards behind the Greycliffe, The Tahiti was about 30 yards out from a pontoon at Garden Island and appeared tp be travelling at between 12 and 14 knots.

In reply to a question, witness mid part of his naval training was to estimate the speed of a vessel. Witness continued that he saw the ferry alter her course, hut the Tahiti did not,